Grand Master Glenn Almy presents Woodward Oklahoma teacher, Nancy Shore with a Teacher of the Year certificate for her outstanding leadership in her school district. For a list of all local Teachers of the Year and Finalists, click links below.
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 and a $5,000 check to his/her school district to be used for education related purposes . 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. The Foundation also presents a check for $1,000 to each of the 11 runners-up, as well as $500 to each of the five Rising Star teachers. Additionally, a certificate of appreciation is sent to each local Teacher of the Year. In the year 2011, we presented 146 certificates.
