The Orbit - October 2025

OCTOBER 2025

FROM OUTSOURCE TO IN-HOUSE

How Epic’s warehouse shift brought devices and service home

FROM OUTSOURCE TO IN-HOUSE

How Epic’s warehouse shift brought devices and service home the headaches: shipping times grew longer, customer satisfaction dropped, and Epic didn’t have the visibility to fix it.

After more than 15 months of internal preparation, the switch was an immediate one.

There was no haggling, no debating. Just a fleet of trucks showing up at the vendor’s facility and hauling thousands of laptops and MiFi devices to a newly leased facility near its 50 Penn headquarters in Oklahoma City. There, teams that didn’t exist the week prior began taking customer calls, filling orders and logging tickets.

There’s an old saying: If you want something done right, do it yourself.

What’s more, they did it all without impeding the start of the school year.

Brand-new hires, management, processes and facilities (even brand-new phone numbers That’s exactly what Epic did a little more than a to call) all culminated in something gameyear ago when the state’s largest virtual charter changing. What had been a weeks-long process to get technology into the hands of students school pulled its warehouse and technology service operations back under its own roof. After and teachers who need it gave way to a pointto-point experience of about 24 hours in most years of a third party managing the hardware cases. lifeline that keeps its students connected and learning, one thing became clear as enrollment Kimball said customer complaints started continued to surge: the old way just wasn’t declining almost immediately, by about 80%, working anymore. he estimates.

“We decided that we needed to take over that operation from the third party that we were paying a lot of money to,” said Roger Kimball, Epic’s deputy superintendent of technology.

“We felt that if we had our own employees who were trained in Epic’s culture, we would be able to provide better support and better customer service to our families and teachers in a more timely manner.”

As delivery complaints stacked up, so did

“Anytime you can cut that gap down, that puts

the student back into the curriculum, and they’re not losing valuable study time,” he said. “The saving of money was a huge byproduct, too, but it was more about providing better service to our students.”

The new operation is humming along so well, Kimball said, because of the people who make it happen. He specifically noted the work of Epic’s Service Desk, Technology Assets Distribution and Assets teams as being crucial to the move’s success. The efforts of the Customer Experience team and legion of software analysts, cybersecurity professionals and business analysts were also indispensable.

“They really do good work, and there’s great camaraderie between the teams,” he said, adding that the people running the show at the warehouse take a great deal of pride in what they do and carry a deep understanding that the faster they do their work, the faster students can learn. “When you have that kind of mindset, everything just falls into place.”

Perhaps one of the most significant results of the warehouse move has been its ripple effect.

For example, the Learning Fund (a longtime

“WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE OVER THAT OPERATION FROM THE THIRD PARTY THAT WE WERE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY TO. WE FELT THAT IF WE HAD OUR OWN EMPLOYEES WHO WERE TRAINED IN EPIC’S CULTURE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT AND BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE TO OUR FAMILIES AND TEACHERS IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.” - ROGER KIMBALL, EPIC’S DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF TECHNOLOGY

lightning rod for customer complaints) now moves faster and more efficiently, too.

Kimball said this new process allows hardware requests to be auto-approved and drop directly into the warehouse queue without any human interaction. That shift has freed the Learning Fund staff to focus more on retail orders, meaning that turnaround time is now measured in days instead of weeks.

“I really think we’ve hit a pretty solid stride,” he said. “We’re always trying to make things better and smoother, but that monumental leap we

took has really paid off in a really big way.”

In-house ownership always means risk. Building new teams, processes and systems from the ground up on day one – with no safety net – was a huge, but necessary, gamble. But the payoff has resulted in an almost unprecedented integration and streamlining of departments.

In the end, though, Kimball said it was absolutely the right choice.

“Doing it yourself isn’t about pride. It’s about responsibility,” he said. “We said we’d do better.

Now we are.”

FALL COAT Drive

Help Keep Students Warm This Fall As the crisp fall air rolls in, many families in our community are in need of warmth. Epic Charter Schools invites you to join our Fall Coat Drive, a heartfelt effort to provide coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to students across Oklahoma.

From Oct. 1 - Nov. 21, we’ll be collecting new or gently used items at micro sites statewide.

Every coat, every pair of gloves, every scarf you give wraps a child in warmth and love.

Together, we can make a difference. Start collecting now and be a part of something bigger this fall.

Collecting at various Epic micro sites.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS Order directly from Amazon via the wishlist.

AMAZON WISHLIST

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Stay connected with all the exciting opportunities happening at Epic. From upcoming events to unique field trips, our Event and Field Trips page is your go-to resource for what’s next. Visit the page regularly to stay informed and make sure you don’t miss a chance to be part of the experiences that bring our school community together.

EVENTS AND FIELD TRIPS

Dates & Locations:

UPCOMING

SCHOOL PICTURE DAYS

Oct. 6

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

3810 S 103 r d Ave East Tulsa, OK 74146

Oct. 7

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

1900 NW Expressway, Floor R3 Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Nov. 3

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

2525 NW 112 t h St Oklahoma City, OK 73120

Nov. 4

School pictures made simple: multiple dates, multiple locations, zero stress. Book the slot that fits your schedule and let's make this year's photos your best yet.

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

3810 S 103 r d Ave East Tulsa, OK 74146

Dec. 2

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

1900 NW Expressway, Floor R3 Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Dec. 4

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

3810 S 103 r d Ave East Tulsa, OK 74146

PICTURE DAY DATES

Find Your Passion, Build Your Path

Epic offers a wide range of student-led and staff-supported clubs, from Chess and Drama to Academic Bowl, Key Club and many others.

• Make friends.

• Grow leadership skills.

• Explore your interests beyond the classroom.

Explore the list of student clubs, how to join, and helpful information.

Information is also available on the Epic Website’s Club Page.

Questions? Contact katrina.cooper@epiccharterschools.org.

EPIC ORS T A V O INN DAY

GET READY FOR AN EXCITING DAY OF INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND DISCOVERY! Join us for our Science Fair, Inventor & Entrepreneur Fair and STEAM Day:

INSTRUCTION PACKETS Download the resources now to begin preparing your projects.

Dec. 2 – Oklahoma City at 50 Penn Dec. 4 – Tulsa at Woodward Building

Science Fair Grades 1-3 Science Fair Grades 4-8 This is your chance to showcase your projects, ideas and inventions, connect with other Epic students and have fun Science Fair Grades 9-12 exploring science, entrepreneurship and STEAM activities.

Inventor/Entrepreneur Grades 1-3 We have so much to offer, whether you choose to present Inventor/Entrepreneur Grades 4-8 Inventor/Entrepreneur Grades 9-12 a project or not. Everyone is invited to attend.

• Present your projects and creative ideas.

• Compete for awards and recognition.

• Enjoy hands-on STEAM activities.

• Celebrate learning in a fun, exciting environment.

CLICK BELOW TO REGISTER OKLAHOMA CITY

TULSA

NESS

READI R E E R A C COLLEGE &

O T E M I T IT’S E H T E T E COMPL ut Form O t A p O S e h t F d n FA: Both the 2026-2027 FAFSA a. 1. Please take action

Seniors or after Oct n o n nt as early e e p o m e o t ir u d q le re u d n are sche is graduatio h t y f is t a s d n a immediately as possible.

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COLLEGE & CAREER ADVISING

ATTENTION STUDENTS IN GRADES 8-12 Remember to connect with your College and Career Advisor to complete your Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). ICAP must be completed each year and is required for graduation.

E G E L L O C Y A W H T PA

TEL

If you would like to withdraw from your TEL course for the fall 2025 semester, tickets must be submitted to the GSS by Wednesday, Oct. 29.

ECA

ECA Eagle for a Day on the campus of Oklahoma Christian (OC) University will be held on Friday, Oct. 24. Please check your Epic inbox for the RSVP form from OC. You must register to attend. We would love to see you there!

AREA COLLEGE

Concurrent Enrollment and the Learning Fund — Action step required for concurrent students: If you are taking concurrent courses at an area college and you have not already requested that your concurrent bill be sent to our invoice department, please read the information in this resource for Epic invoice information and a mandatory action step that you will need to take.

Please note the potential out-of-pocket verbiage on the resource document that is linked.

If you have questions, please email Shannon Starr at shannon.starr@epiccharterschools.org.

COLLEGE PLANNING

OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AWARD Attention Epic Charter Schools Seniors!

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Academic All-State Award honors 100 outstanding students each year for excellence in academics, leadership and community service.

If you have a composite ACT score of at least 30, a combined SAT score of at least 1370 or are a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, you are eligible to apply!

This award not only recognizes your hard work but also includes a $1,500 prize and an

EXPLORE YOUR FUTURE: OCT. COLLEGE SESSIONS Epic 8th-12th grade students and families, get ready for a full month of exciting virtual opportunities to plan your future! Whether you are exploring career paths, researching college options, considering military academies, or working through the college admissions process, there is something for everyone.

College Planning + Admissions Office Hour 10/02/2025 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Zoom Is College Right for Me? / Career Exploration 10/08/2025 | 12-1 p.m. | Zoom College Planning + Admissions Office Hour 10/09/2025 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Zoom College Information Session Series: OSU, OU, UCO 10/21/2025 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom

invitation to the special Academic Awards Celebration in May 2026 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Don’t miss your chance to join this elite group of scholars. Start your application now and showcase your achievements. Please click here to apply.

For questions or support, please email College Planning Counselor, Brianna Strickler, at: brianna.strickler@epiccharterschools.org.

Military Academy Information Session Series: USAFA 10/22/2025 | 10-11 a.m | Zoom College Planning + Admissions Office Hour 10/23/2025 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Zoom College Fair: ORU, OSU, OU, TU, UCO 10/23/2025 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom College Information Session Series: ECU, RSU, SOSU 10/28/2025 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom Military Academy Information Session Series: USNA 10/29/2025 | 10-11 a.m | Zoom College Planning + Admissions Office Hour 10/30/2025 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Zoom Military Academy Information Session Series: USMA 11/05/2025 | 10-11 a.m | Zoom

SCHOLARSHIPS

• FAFSA - Seniors, the 2026-2027 FAFSA and the Opt Out Form is scheduled to open on or after Oct. 1. Please take action immediately and satisfy this graduation requirement as early as possible.

• Reminder to all 8-12th-grade students: You can apply for scholarships throughout all your years in high school! Some 11th and 12th-grade opportunities are highlighted on the Scholarship Search in Naviance. All students may use this to guide their scholarship journey.

• Considering OSU? Apply before Nov. 1 to be considered for the new Horizon Scholars Program.

• Early admission to certain universities across the state and nation could automatically secure scholarship money for you! Seniors are encouraged to complete all college applications before Nov. 1 to best position themselves for receiving early admission scholarships.

(Especially true for OU and OSU) • Oklahoma’s Promise is now accepting applications from students in grades 8-12.

Note: 12th-grade students must complete their application before Dec. 31.

If you have questions or need support, contact our Financial Aid and Scholarship Counselor, Micah Burk, at micah.burk@epiccharterschools.org.

INFORMATION SESSIONS FAFSA: General Open Q&A (2026-2027 FAFSA) 10/21/2025 | 4-5 p.m. | Zoom

INTERNSHIPS

• Do you love horses? Working with children? Want to learn more about running a non-profit? Three internship options with The Right Path!

• Premier indoor playground is looking for fun and energetic teens for their paid internship! Kidz Funtown

WORK/WBL

Seeking employment in the north OKC or Edmond area? These companies are looking for Epic students.

• Tropical Smoothie • Edmond Chick-fil-A Dates to Remember Tulsa Welding School Information Sessions Oct. 7 | 2-3p.m. | Zoom Tulsa Welding School Information Sessions Oct. 7 | 6-7p.m. | Zoom Internship & WBL Assignment Workshop Weekly on Wednesdays | 3-4 p.m. | Zoom

R E E R A C Y A W H T PA

CAREERTECH

CAREERTECH APPLICATION SEASON IS HERE! Application season has officially begun!

Tulsa Tech — Applications Open Oct. 1 Canadian Valley — Virtual Information Session Oct. 2 | 12 p.m. | Zoom Moore Norman — Student Tour Oct. 3 | 10 a.m. | Registration

As a reminder, students apply for CareerTech the year before they wish to attend. Most programs are open to juniors and seniors and are designed as two-year programs.

ALL — CareerTech Application Support Oct. 7 | 11:30 a.m. | Zoom

Applications are currently open at:

KTC Poteau — 9th Grade Reality Check Oct. 7 | 12 p.m. | Registration

• Moore Norman.

• Metro Tech.

• Southwest Tech.

Use our One-Stop Shop to view all upcoming tours and application timelines.

KTC Idabel — Virtual Information Session Oct. 7 | 1 p.m. | Zoom

West Tech Burns Flat — 9th Grade West Fest Oct. 8 | 12:30 p.m. | Email Hadley Miller for more info Red River — Virtual Information Session Oct. 8 | 1 p.m. | Zoom West Tech Burns Flat — 9th Grade West Fest Oct. 9 | 12:30 PM | Email Hadley Miller for more info

CareerTech is very competitive, so students are encouraged to start planning and exploring their ICTC Sallisaw — Virtual Information Session options early.

Oct. 9 | 1 p.m. | Zoom Schedule a meeting with Epic CareerTech Specialist Hadley Miller: Book a Meeting

Great Plains — Virtual Information Session Oct. 9 | 2 p.m. | Zoom

DATES TO REMEMBER

Pioneer Tech — 8th Grade Days Oct. 13 | 12:30 PM | Email Hadley Miller for more info

Green Country — Virtual Information Session Oct. 1 | 11 a.m. | Zoom KTC McAlester ­­­— Virtual Information Session Oct. 1 | 1 p.m. | Zoom Meridian — ­ 8th Grade Discovery Day Oct. 1 | 9 a.m. | Registration Canadian Valley, El Reno/Yukon — Applications Open Oct. 1 Canadian Valley, Chick — Open House Oct. 1 | Time TBD

Tri County — Sophomore Meetings Oct. 20–23 | Time TBD | Email Hadley Miller for more info Moore Norman — Student Tour Oct. 21 | 2 p.m. | Registration NETech Pryor — Virtual Information Session Oct. 21 | 2 p.m. | Zoom Metro Tech | Virtual Information Session Oct. 22 | 11 a.m. | Zoom KTC Atoka — Virtual Information Session Oct. 22 | 1 p.m. | Zoom

KTC Stigler — Virtual Information Session Oct. 23 | 1 p.m. | Zoom Canadian Valley, Chick — Sophomore Presentations Oct. 27–30 | Time TBD | Email Hadley Miller for more info KTC Poteau — 8th Grade Career Quest Oct. 28 | TBD | Email Hadley Miller for more info Caddo Kiowa — Virtual Information Session Oct. 29 | 1 p.m. | Zoom Red River — Sophomore Tours Oct. 29 | Time TBD | Email Hadley Miller for more info

Red River — Applications Open Nov. 3 Chisholm Trail — Virtual Information Session Nov. 4 | 12 p.m. | Zoom Tri County — Sophomore Tours Nov. 4–6 | Time TBD | Email Hadley Miller for more info NETech Pryor — 8th Grade Tours Nov. 5–8 | Time TBD | Email Hadley Miller for more info KTC Poteau — Virtual Information Session Nov. 6 | 1 p.m. | Zoom Moore Norman — Student Tour Nov. 7 | 10 a.m. | Registration

TRANSITION SERVICES ATTENTION EARLY GRADUATES

Are you planning to graduate early? Transition Services is here to support you as you plan your next steps. Whether you’re exploring college, training programs, a job, or the military, guidance is available to help you move forward with confidence.

1:1 Appointments Schedule a personalized meeting to: • Explore post-graduation options.

• Get help with resumes, applications, or interviews.

• Ask questions and receive tailored guidance.

Book your appointment today: Click here to schedule Tip: Bring a list of your interests or potential plans to your appointment.

It’s the first step toward creating a personalized future plan.

DATES TO REMEMBER Prepare U: How to Create a Resume Oct. 6 | 1 p.m. | Zoom Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating an old version, learn what employers are looking for and how to make your resume stand out.

Overview of Tulsa Welding School Oct. 7 | 2 p.m. OR 6 p.m. | Zoom Learn more about opportunities at Tulsa Welding School from their high school admissions representative. Choose the time that works best for you.

Prepare U: Job Search Strategies Oct. 22 | 6 p.m. | Zoom Learn how to job search with purpose. We’ll cover where to find real opportunities and tools to make the process smoother.

Counselor’s Corner Let’s be honest … Oct. hits differently. The “new year” energy has faded, the assignments are piling up and your kid might be taking their fourth “mental health snack break” of the morning.

This month, we’re focusing on sustaining motivation, setting healthy tech boundaries and bringing back balance in the home.

Strategies for Parents & Guardians Ask your student: “When does school feel the hardest?”

“What helps you keep going when you’re overwhelmed?”

Starting these conversations can feel like walking through a minefield. Here are a few tricks that make it smoother:

Regulation Strategy

Try the 3-2-1 Reset: • 3 deep breaths.

• 2 things you’re grateful for.

• 1 minute away from all screens.

It’s simple, quick and resets the brain for learning or calming down.

Bonus tip: Designate one area of the home as a “techfree zone”

Mini Challenge

Try a “screen-free Saturday morning.”

One morning a week: no phones, no TV, no laptop.

Do something analog: draw, walk, bake, nap or write your list of reasons you’re not becoming an alpaca farmer.

2. Ask, don’t interrogate — Swap “Why aren’t you doing your work?” with “What’s making school tough today?” Feels way less like an FBI interview.

3. Listen first, fix later — Sometimes they don’t want advice—they just need to dump their feelings. A good line: “Do you want me to just listen, or do you want ideas?”

4. Validate, even if it seems small — To you, it’s “just one math test.” To them, it’s the Olympics of stress. Saying, “Yeah, that sounds tough,” goes further than you think.

1. Pick your moment — Don’t drop the “How’s school?” bomb right after they log off Zoom or when they’re mid-scroll. Try car 5. Share your own stuff — “When I get stressed at work, I write everything down rides, bedtime or walks — those “side-byso it doesn’t swirl in my head. What helps side” moments are magic. you?” It normalizes stress and shows you’re human too.

2. Screens overstimulate the brain.

• Interactive use (scrolling TikTok, gaming, chatting) keeps the brain alert instead of winding down.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that kids with more screen time—especially before bed—fall asleep later and sleep fewer hours overall.

3. Short sleep = mental health problems.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls insufficient sleep in teens a “public health epidemic.”

• Sleep-deprived kids and teens report more anxiety, depression, mood swings and attention problems (Sleep Health Journal, 2017).

4. It’s not just the time—it’s the content.

Mental Health Minute

Sleep, screens, and sanity are deeply connected.

Sleep schedules tend to drift in virtual settings.

Here’s the science behind why your kid scrolling TikTok at midnight = meltdown the next morning: 1. Blue light delays sleep.

• Exciting or stressful content (gaming, social media drama, even intense YouTube rabbit holes) spikes dopamine and cortisol, which make the brain too wired for rest.

• Research in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence found late-night social media use is directly linked to poorer sleep and higher next-day stress.

5. Vicious cycle.

• Poor sleep > more stress > more late-night scrolling > even worse sleep.

• Over time, this cycle impacts not just mental health but also academic performance and physical health (weaker immune system, lower energy).

• Phones, tablets and computers emit blue light that suppresses melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy.

• Harvard Medical School studies show blue Build Healthy Sleep Habits light can shift circadian rhythms by 2–3 hours, making it harder to fall asleep at night.

• Setting consistent wake/sleep times.

• •

Logging off 30+ minutes before bed.

Keeping screens out of bedrooms.

HOPE YOU HAD A BLAST, THANK YOU FOR READING. THE ORBIT WILL BE BACK IN NOVEMBER WITH MORE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND YOU AT EPIC!

EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS