Former House Speaker Kris Steele joins TEEM as executive director

OKLAHOMA CITY  — The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) announced today (Thursday, November 15) that Kris Steele, former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker, will join the interfaith non-profit organization as Executive Director, effective November 26. 

“The vision and vitality that Kris brings to TEEM will ensure we can continue providing the services to meet the needs of our community for many years to come,” said Reverend Tony Zahn, TEEM’s current executive director who will continue at as Executive Director Emeritus. “I look forward to working together with Kris in moving TEEM forward to a new level.”

Steele will lead management of TEEM in this new capacity, as well as programming and operations. Since being elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2000, he has been serving as Associate Pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Shawnee. Prior to his public service, Steele served as a Baptist minister and a public school teacher. He earned a B.A. in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University.

“This position provides an opportunity to continue advocating and helping those who are disadvantaged,” said Steele. “Tony and I will work together toward empowering those who face challenges to develop more job skills and become self-sufficient citizens.”

TEEM board chairman Jim Robertson, CEO of Western Industries Corporation, stated, “We are fortunate to bring on Kris with his strategic vision for TEEM. He will be an effective leader and will do great things for TEEM and the community we serve.”

TEEM is an interfaith non-profit organization founded in 1987 and has served and nurtured 12,000 lives and families in Oklahoma. Its mission is to reduce poverty, homelessness and unemployment in Oklahoma. The ministry’s leaders affirm that “At no charge, TEEM provides education, social services, and job training and placement so students are able to become self-sufficient and pass on their legacy to their children.”