Oklahoma State Teacher
of the Year

Surely a teacher understands as well as anyone that "new occasions teach new duties." A teacher is continually challenged to find new ways of reaching students, new approaches to helping them relate the world of ideas to their own daily lives. This program is designed to identify and recognize the best of the best.

The program is under the auspices of the Oklahoma State Department of Education. In an extensive process, local Teachers of the Year are selected. These go to regional contests and, then, to the state. Each teacher prepares an  extensive curriculum vita, as well as a video tape. There is an extensive interview process as well.

It must be a very difficult task to choose between the 12 finalists. Each is outstanding--each is a credit to Oklahoma and to our schools. But a State Teacher of the Year is chosen. The Foundation presents a check for $5,000 to the State Teacher of the Year. He or she is expected to spend their year going from school to school, speaking to groups  of teachers and students, inspiring and challenging others to excel. The funds from the Foundation help cover some of the teacher's expenses for the year.  We also present a check for $1,000 to each of the 11 runners-up. And we send a certificate of appreciation to each local Teacher of the Year. In the year 2008, we presented 144 certificates.

Also, during the presentation ceremony each year, a check for $5,000 from the Foundation is also presented to the State Teacher of the Year's school district to be used for any education related purposes.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

2008 - 2009

Heather Sparks

 

Grade 8
Algebra, Pre Algebra
Oklahoma City Public Schools
Taft Middle School

She writes the following: 

"We must change our expectations of schools . . . the workforce skills of today must evolve and communities and parents should expect and demand change from their schools to meet these changing needs."


             

OTHER FINALISTS:

Nolan Watson
6th Grade
Social Studies
Cache Public Schools
Cache Middle School

Denise Radcliff
Grades 9 - 12
Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Placement Biology
Pre-Advanced Placement Biology, Principles of Biometrical Sciences
Claremore Public Schools
Claremore High School




Matthew Holtzen
Grades 11 - 12
United States History; Political Science
Enid Public Schools
Enid High School




Cheryl McCord
Grades 11 - 12
Spanish, Language Arts
Jenks Public Schools
Jenks High School

Phillip Scott
Grades 10 - 12
Biology, Astronomy, Conceptual Physics,
Advanced Placement Physics B
McAlester Public Schools
McAlester High School

Debbie Flowers
Grade 1
Meeker Public Schools
Meeker Elementary School
 

Sherilynn Admore
Kindergarten - Grade 5
Special Education
Midwest City-Del City Public Schools
Soldier Creek Elementary School

John Nolan
Grades 9 - 12
Current Issues, Advance Placement European History,
International Problems, General Education Diploma
Math, English, Social Studies, Science
Norman Public Schools
Norman North High School

Valorie Lewis
Grade 3
Stigler Public Schools
Stigler Elementary School

Betsy Glad
Grade 3
Union Public Schools
Cedar Ridge Elementary School

Mandy Rowley
Grade 1
Woodward Public Schools
Cedar Heights Elementary School

2008 Dist winners

PAST STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR