Lasallian Founder's Alumni Award: Distinguished Alumni, Tenille Standaert Brown

November 9, 2023

From the Bishop Kelley Class of 1995.

With a brother who was four years older than her, Tenille Standaert Brown walked into Bishop Kelley’s doors as her brother Jimmy Standaert was graduating from this school. Tenille and Jimmy were raised by their parents in Coweta, having both attended Coweta public schools through the 8th grade. So when Tenille entered Bishop Kelley as a freshman in August of 1991, she literally knew no one except a few of her brother’s teachers. She is grateful that her parents gave her the gift of a Catholic education at Bishop Kelley.


Although she wasn’t from Tulsa, Tenille didn’t let that stop her from becoming a part of the Bishop Kelley community. She tried out for the basketball team and made it. Being on the team helped her to make friends and build her own community.  She fondly remembers home basketball games, road trips on BK buses, and even team practices.  She had never taken a foreign language until she came here and took Latin.


She recalls theology classes and Mass with then Father Dan Mueggenborg who is now Bishop Mueggenborg. While she has been Catholic her entire life, she had never had classroom teaching of the Sacraments and the philosophy of our faith until her time at Bishop Kelley. Tenille recalls her Christian Living class where students had to take a programmed baby for 72 hours. You probably recall those mechanical babies which were programmed to randomly start crying and students had a key on their wrist that they’d used to get the baby to stop crying. If only it were that simple in real life!


She recalls being in the middle of Brother Chris’ class when she learned of the Oklahoma City bombing and the entire class instantly started praying. One of her favorite memories of Bishop Kelley took place the night before she graduated in 1995 as Tenille recalls the beautiful baccalaureate Mass for her senior class.


Tenille was chosen as Bishop Kelley’s distinguished alumni for the 2023-24 school year. She serves as the US General Manager for the Bama Companies. Bama is a privately owned, food manufacturing company based in Tulsa and it produces pies, biscuits, pancakes and pizza dough for the largest restaurant chains in the world. Bama has 900 team members in Tulsa across three manufacturing facilities and one frozen storage facility. 


As General Manager, Tenille’s responsibilities include aligning Bama’s strategic direction with the Operations, People Systems, Business Development, Research and Development, Quality Systems and Food Safety, Supply Chain, and Engineering departments. She works on system view approaches for the long-term success of the company and its members. 


Tenille spent many years leading Bama’s customer group, where her team was responsible for innovation, commercialization, sourcing and pricing, marketing insight, promotional management, and customer service. Her favorite pie is the chocolate cherry cheesecake developed in Bama, Poland and sold throughout Europe. 


After Bishop Kelley, Tenille earned her BBA from the University of Oklahoma and her MBA from the University of Tulsa. Tenille is the proud wife of Jeff Brown and the couple has two sons. Grant is 14 and is a freshman here at Bishop Kelley and Will is 12 and a 7th grader at All Saints Catholic School.


Please welcome Bishop Kelley’s Distinguished Alumni, Tenille Brown.


Lasallian Founder’s Alumni Award

Recognizing the accomplishments of Outstanding Bishop Kelley Alumni who exemplify the five core principles of the Lasallian Mission; Faith in the Presence of God, Quality Education, Concern for the Poor & Social Justice, Respect for All Persons & Inclusive Community.


If you know a deserving BK Alumni, please nominate them here:

https://www.bishopkelley.org/alumni#LasallianFoundersAlumniAwardsNominationForm

Building Bridges Through Learning: How the North Tulsa Learning Center Is Transforming Lives

July 8, 2025
By Ms. Christine Tyler, Social Studies Faculty, NTLC Volunteer Adviser In the heart of North Tulsa, where vibrant community spirit meets a passion for equity, a quiet revolution in education is underway. The North Tulsa Learning Center (NTLC) is not just a place for academic tutoring—it’s a thriving hub of mentorship, empowerment, and opportunity. Founded in the 2021–2022 school year, NTLC was born from a vision shared by the sister parishes of St. Monica and St. Augustine, along with members of the Bishop Kelley High School community. These leaders came together in the spring of 2021 to confront educational disparities and respond directly to the needs of the Tulsa community. What started as a grassroots initiative has blossomed into a dynamic, student-powered program that bridges more than just achievement gaps—it bridges communities. At its core, NTLC offers free, student-led tutoring in reading and math for K–8 students, serving as a lifeline for young learners in underrepresented neighborhoods. But it’s more than tutoring; it’s a movement toward academic growth and socio-demographic equity.

BK's Ms. Christine Tyler Nominated for Lumen Christi Award

July 8, 2025
TULSA — A lifelong Tulsa educator has been nominated for the 2025-26 Lumen Christi Award presented each year by the Catholic Extension Society. Christine Tyler is a model for setting a positive tone and loving your neighbor as yourself. As a history and social studies teacher at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa — coincidentally, named after Catholic Extension Society's founder and the Diocese of Tulsa's second bishop, Francis Clement Kelley — she sees each student through the eyes of God. She is highly regarded by her students for her unwavering mentorship well beyond the classroom. But her passion doesn't stop there-it shines in her work toward North Tulsa Learning Center's mission to empower students and bridge the achievement gap among K-8 youth from north Tulsa's underrepresented areas. Tutors and volunteers at NTLC are moved by Mark 12:31 in their work for young learners: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The center launched collaboratively in 2021 between leaders from two northside parishes — St. Monica and St. Augustine — and Bishop Kelley High School to provide free tutoring in reading and math. Tyler has been instrumental in creating a more accessible program in the last few years. Since its inception, NTC hosts monthly STEM, athletics and fine arts activities with nearly 100 Bishop Kelley students contributing more than 500 hours of service annually — a testament to Tyler's role in building bridges between the school and Tulsa neighborhood communities. Her impact is also felt outside academics. She actively supports the faith by incorporating Catholic values into her teaching and playing piano at school Masses. Bishop of Tulsa David A. Konderla commended Tyler's tireless work. Read more about her work with the North Tulsa Learning Center HERE. About Catholic Extension Society: Founded in 1905, Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. For more information visit www.catholicextension.org ; follow on Facebook at: facebook.com/catholicextension or on X at @CathExtension. About the Lumen Christi Award: Since its inception in 1978, the Lumen Christi Award, Catholic Extension Society’s highest honor, has been given annually to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve. This year’s 41 nominees are individuals and institutions who lead others closer to God and transform communities. They have been nominated for this award by their bishop because their stories showcase the mission of the Church in action. Each nominee will receive $1,500 to benefit their ministry. From this group of finalists, the Lumen Christi Award honoree will be named in the fall, along with a $100,000 prize. ($50,000 to their nominating diocese and $50,000 to advance the honoree’s ministry).