💪🐾 COUGAR PRIDE ’26 starts THIS SUMMER! 🐾💪
Keys athletes — this is where champions are built.
The offseason is your opportunity to get stronger, faster, quicker, and more confident before next year begins.
Whether you’re preparing for football, basketball, softball, baseball, track, cheer, soccer, or any other sport, our Summer Strength & Speed Program is designed to help every athlete improve.
🔥 Olympic lifting & strength training
🔥 Speed & acceleration work
🔥 Agility & change-of-direction training
🔥 Sport-specific conditioning
🔥 Injury prevention & mobility
If you want to compete at a higher level next year, the work starts now.
Let’s pack the weight room, compete together, and build a culture of hard work and Cougar Pride all summer long! 🖤❤️
#CougarPride26 #KeysCougars #BuiltNotGiven #SummerWork #GetBetterEveryDay
Keys athletes — this is where champions are built.
The offseason is your opportunity to get stronger, faster, quicker, and more confident before next year begins.
Whether you’re preparing for football, basketball, softball, baseball, track, cheer, soccer, or any other sport, our Summer Strength & Speed Program is designed to help every athlete improve.
🔥 Olympic lifting & strength training
🔥 Speed & acceleration work
🔥 Agility & change-of-direction training
🔥 Sport-specific conditioning
🔥 Injury prevention & mobility
If you want to compete at a higher level next year, the work starts now.
Let’s pack the weight room, compete together, and build a culture of hard work and Cougar Pride all summer long! 🖤❤️
#CougarPride26 #KeysCougars #BuiltNotGiven #SummerWork #GetBetterEveryDay
Congratulations to our Top 5% of our Class 2026 for being honored by the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce for their outstanding school career.
Congratulations to Keys Senior Madison Hood for signing with Eastern Oklahoma State College Livestock Judging Team.
Due to forecasted thunderstorms, the JH Baseball Game vs Kansas has been cancelled.
Baseball Regional Information at Lincoln Christian
SPRING BASEBALL REGIONAL BRACKET - April 30th-May 2nd 2026
Day 1:
Game 1 Thursday, 11:00 am-Lincoln Christian vs Keys
Game 2 Thursday, 1:30 pm-Holland Hall vs Atoka
Game 3 Thursday, 4:00 pm-Winner game 1 vs Winner game 2
Game 4 Thursday, 6:30 pm-Loser game 1 vs Loser game 2
Day 2:
Game 5 Friday, 4:00 pm-Winner game 4 vs Loser game 3
Game 6 Friday, 6:30 pm-Winner game 3 vs Winner game 5
Day 3:
Game 7 Saturday, 2:00 pm-If Necessary
Tickets will be available through GoFan for $7 (plus service charge), or you can pay $10 cash at the gate.
https://gofan.co/
SPRING BASEBALL REGIONAL BRACKET - April 30th-May 2nd 2026
Day 1:
Game 1 Thursday, 11:00 am-Lincoln Christian vs Keys
Game 2 Thursday, 1:30 pm-Holland Hall vs Atoka
Game 3 Thursday, 4:00 pm-Winner game 1 vs Winner game 2
Game 4 Thursday, 6:30 pm-Loser game 1 vs Loser game 2
Day 2:
Game 5 Friday, 4:00 pm-Winner game 4 vs Loser game 3
Game 6 Friday, 6:30 pm-Winner game 3 vs Winner game 5
Day 3:
Game 7 Saturday, 2:00 pm-If Necessary
Tickets will be available through GoFan for $7 (plus service charge), or you can pay $10 cash at the gate.
https://gofan.co/
📣 Now Open: Pre-Enrollment for 2026–2027!
Keys Public Schools is excited to welcome new and returning students for the upcoming school year!
✅ Strong academics
✅ Caring, student-centered staff
✅ Opportunities in athletics, fine arts, and more
Secure your child’s spot today and be part of a district that is committed to excellence and growth.
📝 Pre-enroll now and get ready for a great year at Keys! Enrollment packets Online at keyscougars.org .
#KeysPublicSchools #EnrollNow #KeysPride
Welcome to the team, Coach Rick Kirkhart! 🏀🥎
We are thrilled to announce that Rick Kirkhart is returning to Keys as our new Girls Basketball and Softball coach! Rick brings a wealth of experience to our athletic programs. Coach Kirkhart is no stranger to success on the court and field, with accolades including:
📌 Multi-time Conference Coach of the Year for both Basketball and Softball.
📌Oklahoma Baseball Association 100 Victory Award recipient.
📌Former Athletic Director and multi-sport head coach.
With a Masters in Administration and decades of coaching expertise, we can’t wait to see the leadership and passion he brings to our student-athletes. Help us give Coach Kirkhart a warm welcome back in his new role! Go Cougars! 🐾
We are excited to announce that Nicholas Davis is joining Keys Public Schools! Coach Davis will be leading our students in the classroom as a Business teacher and taking the helm as the Head Boys Basketball Coach and Head Track Coach. 🏀🏃♂️
Nicholas brings a wealth of experience and a winning culture to our district:
Proven Basketball Leadership: Nicholas was named the 2023 OBCA Region 3 Assistant Coach of the Year and helped lead back-to-back teams to the 4A state tournament.
Championship Pedigree: He previously coached a 3-time State Champion and multiple State Qualifiers in Track.
Versatile Educator: With a degree in Business Administration from NSU and certifications in Business and Math, he is ready to help our students excel academically.
Coach Davis is dedicated to developing his athletes both on and off the court, focusing on building their skills, knowledge, and character.
Please join us in giving Coach Davis a warm Cougar welcome! We can't wait to see our programs thrive under his leadership. 🐾✨
Welcome to the Family, Mendy McKee! 🍎
We are thrilled to announce that Mendy McKee is joining Keys Public Schools as our new Elementary Assistant Principal!
Mendy brings over 13 years of experience in education, most recently serving the Tahlequah Public Schools community. With a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, she has a proven track record of supporting both student achievement and teacher development.
A few highlights from Mendy’s impressive career include:
✨ Award-Winning Leadership: Named the 2026 TPS District Teacher of the Year.
✨ Mentor & Coach: Served as a mentor for new teachers and led middle school cheer programs to foster teamwork and school spirit.
✨ Instructional Expert: Specialized in analyzing data to drive student success and implementing school-wide improvement initiatives.
Mendy is passionate about building strong relationships and maintaining a positive, structured learning environment where every student feels capable of success.
Please join us in giving a warm Cougar welcome to Mendy! We are excited to see the impact she will have on our students, staff, and community. 🐾✨
We are thrilled to announce that Mendy McKee is joining Keys Public Schools as our new Elementary Assistant Principal!
Mendy brings over 13 years of experience in education, most recently serving the Tahlequah Public Schools community. With a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, she has a proven track record of supporting both student achievement and teacher development.
A few highlights from Mendy’s impressive career include:
✨ Award-Winning Leadership: Named the 2026 TPS District Teacher of the Year.
✨ Mentor & Coach: Served as a mentor for new teachers and led middle school cheer programs to foster teamwork and school spirit.
✨ Instructional Expert: Specialized in analyzing data to drive student success and implementing school-wide improvement initiatives.
Mendy is passionate about building strong relationships and maintaining a positive, structured learning environment where every student feels capable of success.
Please join us in giving a warm Cougar welcome to Mendy! We are excited to see the impact she will have on our students, staff, and community. 🐾✨
We are excited to welcome Misty Ruckman to Keys Public Schools as our new High School Principal for the 2026–27 school year! 🎉
Misty brings over 21 years of experience in education and a deep passion for servant leadership. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and has been recognized as a District Teacher of the Year for her commitment to excellence.
Known by her colleagues as someone who is both driven and dedicated, Misty is often described as the first to step up and the last to leave. Her focus is simple but powerful—supporting the growth and success of both students and staff.
We are fortunate to have her leadership, energy, and heart at Keys High School.
Join us in giving Misty a big Cougar welcome! 🐾
Misty brings over 21 years of experience in education and a deep passion for servant leadership. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and has been recognized as a District Teacher of the Year for her commitment to excellence.
Known by her colleagues as someone who is both driven and dedicated, Misty is often described as the first to step up and the last to leave. Her focus is simple but powerful—supporting the growth and success of both students and staff.
We are fortunate to have her leadership, energy, and heart at Keys High School.
Join us in giving Misty a big Cougar welcome! 🐾
Congratulations to the Valedictorians and Salutatorians of Keys High School Class of 2026!
Valedictorians
Brooklyn Carter
Gavin Carter
Treveon Guthrie
Ty Kellner
Abby Enlow
Kenlee Comer
Salutatorians
Madison Hood
Garrett Lane
Valedictorians
Brooklyn Carter
Gavin Carter
Treveon Guthrie
Ty Kellner
Abby Enlow
Kenlee Comer
Salutatorians
Madison Hood
Garrett Lane
Our children are growing up in a digital world, let's make sure we all are ready to guide them through it. This is time well spent. Join us, PLEASE!!!
Upcoming Dates for Keys High School
Keys Public School E Sports Champions
Kaleb Denton our Esports Tournament Champion ..! Last week . April 8th
Aaron Rice our Esports Tournament Champiom ….. This week !! April 15th
Congratulations guys !
💻 E Games …
Big things are happening at Keys!
We are proud to announce that Justin Brown, our Elementary/Middle School Assistant Principal, has been promoted to District Athletic Director!
Coach Brown has made a tremendous impact during his time at Keys, serving the past two years as Assistant Principal while also leading our football program as Head Coach. His commitment to students, staff, and the entire Keys community has been evident in everything he does.
In this new role, he will continue to serve as Head Football Coach while taking on the responsibilities of Athletic Director—providing strong leadership and vision for all of Keys athletics.
Coach Brown’s passion, work ethic, and dedication to building relationships make him the perfect fit for this position. We are excited to see the continued growth and success of our athletic programs under his leadership.
Please join us in congratulating Coach Brown on this well-deserved opportunity!
#KeysPublicSchools #WeAreKeys #Leadership #GoCougars
📢 Stay Connected with What’s Happening at Keys!
Want to stay in the loop on school events, student activities, and ways to get involved? Make sure you’re following the Keys PTO!
Our PTO works hard to support students, teachers, and families—and they share important updates, event info, and opportunities for you to be part of the action.
Give them a follow today so you don’t miss out!
Follow us here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576471911282
#KeysSchools #KeysPTO #StayConnected
Keys Public Schools is growing—and with that growth comes opportunity.
As we continue to build our administrative team, Keys Public Schools is now looking for an Assistant Elementary/Middle School Principal. This is a chance to step into a role where you can make a meaningful impact on students, staff, and the overall school culture.
At Keys, we are committed to:
✔ Building strong relationships with students and families
✔ Supporting teachers to be their very best
✔ Creating a positive, structured, and engaging learning environment
We are looking for a leader who is:
🔹 Student-centered and relationship-driven
🔹 Highly organized and solution-oriented
🔹 Visible, positive, and supportive of staff and school culture
🔹 Committed to continuous improvement and teamwork
If you’re ready to be part of a district that values growth, collaboration, and doing what’s best for kids—we want to hear from you.
📩 Apply today or reach out for more information. Come be part of something special at Keys Public Schools. Email application packet to Jon Mages at jmages@kpscougars.org.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Keys art show. First place went to Kale Matthews, second to Kenna Kaplanis, and third to Rebecca Edwards in the painting category. First place went to Hazel Hatfield, second to Ashlyn Cochran, and third to Paizlee Zodrow, Amerila Brannan, and Savanna Sharette in the sculpture category.
Today's HS Baseball Game vs Kansas has been postponed due to yesterday's rain. A makeup date is to be determined. The next HS Baseball games are Tuesday at Dewey.
We love seeing our students lead and serve! 💙
Earlier this week, our middle school Speech & Debate students took time out of their busy schedules to partner with our first graders—helping them read, build confidence, and reach their AR goals. 📚
Moments like these show the power of mentorship and the impact our older students can have on the next generation. We’re proud of these young leaders for setting the example and making a difference in our school community!
#KeysPride #StudentLeaders #ReadersAreLeaders
