The GPS Family at Oak Tree Elementary

The "GPS Family" is more than a phrase. It is an authentic feeling defined by the people who make it happen every day. Erica Karoly, Oak Tree’s very own Assistant Principal, and her husband, John, a P.E. teacher at OTE, sat down and described what the GPS Family culture meant to them.

A Place to Call Home
In their interview with the district, the Karoly family said that Oak Tree Elementary felt like home. "Every school has a unique personality to it, but you can tell we all work together towards one common goal for our students," said Erica Karoly. This sense of personal connection is one reason why the culture at Oak Tree Elementary, and Gilbert Public Schools as a whole, is so welcoming. 

In fact, that GPS Family culture was so welcoming that the Karolys moved all the way from Pennsylvania with their three children to attend a GPS school. After researching the community from a distance, the Karolys said, "It was just a really tight-knit community of people working together.” The family even went on a tour to make sure Oak Tree Elementary was a good fit for them and felt a genuine, welcoming culture that they instantly connected with. “It was always going to be Gilbert… the community just felt very home-like”, they added.

Nurturing Growth, Together
Oak Tree Elementary, and GPS as a whole, is also dedicated to personal growth for students and staff by providing a wide variety of opportunities available to all. Erica Karoly summed it up by saying the district "offers so many opportunities for a child in the classroom and outside the classroom." 

To keep up with the incredible culture at Oak Tree Elementary, follow up on social media.