State Superintendent Janet Barresi announced Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year finalists at a special presentation last week at the annual conference for Oklahoma’s school administrators at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.
“It is a pleasure to congratulate these finalists,” said Superintendent Barresi. “These teachers are the best and brightest representing the broad array of expertise among Oklahoma’s teachers, and the commitment of our educators to constant improvement and innovation. I’m honored to stand with them today.”
Six state regional committees comprised of teachers and parents each selected two of the 12 finalists. A state committee comprised of education, business and civic leaders will choose the winner, with Superintendent Barresi scheduled to make the announcement in ceremonies at the Oklahoma State Fair in September.
The winner represents Oklahoma in the national Teacher of the Year competition, receives more than $50,000 in cash and prizes and serves as Oklahoma’s “Ambassador of Teaching, presenting to teachers and civic groups throughout the state for one year.
The finalists for Teacher of the Year are:
• Jody Bowie – is a OSTA member who teachers 10th through 12th grade Physics, Earth Science, and Physical Science teacher at Putnam City High School with 4 years of experience. (Jody serves OSTA as a member of the Communications Committee).
• Betty Henderson – is an OSTA member who teachers 11th and 12th grade Advanced Placement Biology II and Anatomy and Physiology teacher at Bartlesville High School with 23 years of experience.
Other teachers named are:
• Amy Braun – has spent 6 of the last 8 years as a 1st grade teacher at Northmoor Elementary School in Moore Public Schools.
• Trina Evans – has been an 8th through 12th grade English, Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Advanced Placement Calculus, and Advanced Placement Statistics teacher at Liberty High School for the 11 years of her 12-year career.
• Ebony Harris – has taught for 13 years, with her last 10 years teaching 9th through 11th grade Algebra; Algebra II; and Geometry at Seminole High School.
• Dawn Poyndexter – has taught 1st and 2nd grades looping at Cedar Ridge Elementary in Union Public Schools for 11 years, with a total of 22 years of teaching experience.
• Kristin Shelby – a 16-year educator, Shelby has taught 4th grade for the last 3 years at Sallie Gillentine Elementary School in Hollis.
• Lori Sosenko – a Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public School teacher with 18 years total experience, Sosenko currently teaches 4th grade at James Griffith Intermediate.
• Jill Steeley – With 40 years of experience in education, Steely currently teaches 2nd grade at Central Elementary School in Coweta Public Schools.
• Tonya Stites – has taught Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade students Physical Education at Liberty Elementary in Sallisaw for the last 5 years of her 12-year career.
• Mark Thomas – a 10th through 12th grade Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, and Advanced Placement Calculus teacher from Stillwater has 16 years of experience, with the last 4 being at Stillwater High School.
• Lyndal Westmoreland – has 29 years of experience as an educator, the last 22 being as a Advanced Placement English Literature; 8th grade English; 7th and 8th grade Reading; and Speech, Drama, and Debate teacher at Okarche High School.