Oklahoma Teacher of the Year
The Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program is coordinated through the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Joy Hofmeister. The program is in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year Program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the ING Foundation.
Application and Selection Timeline Changes
We're excited to announce some improvements to the selection timeline for the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program! The application for 2021 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year is now active at the link below. The deadline for submission will be August 31, 2020. The 2021 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year ceremony will be scheduled in February of 2021 and the newly selected Oklahoma Teacher of the Year will travel Oklahoma as an ambassador for teachers during the 2021-2022 school year.
Teacher of the Year Application
Please contact us with any questions.
Phone: (405) 522-8767
Email: teacheroftheyear@sde.ok.gov
Teacher of the Year Request to Speak |
Teacher of the
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Teacher of the Year Ceremony Photos |
2020 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year
Jena Nelson
Jena Nelson teaches 8th-grade composition and academic enhancement at Deer Creek Middle School. Jena is a 15-year educator and formerly taught theater, musical theater, and stagecraft. A longtime advocate for career-based curriculum, Jena has helped her students earn over $4 million in scholarships and incorporates career readiness in all her classes. She has been selected twice to direct at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and was also chosen as a presenter at the International Music Festival in Campina Grande Brazil. This year she was selected by Congresswoman Kendra Horn to attend the State of the Union Address in Washington D.C. She is former Edmond North High School Teacher of the Year, Read Across America Ambassador for the OEA, and was named Outstanding Partner in Education from Crutcho Schools. Jena is thrilled to start her revolution of morale and represent and advocate for the profession she loves.
Congratulations, Jena Nelson!
Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Topics
- General Qualifications
- Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Recognition
- Edward C. Joullian III Scholarship
- Oklahoma’s Past Teachers of the Year
- Contact Information
Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program
General Qualifications
All Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 classroom teachers in state-accredited schools is eligible for nomination. It is important that every teacher is given the opportunity to participate in this recognition process. No minimum years of teaching experience are required to be qualified for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
Nominees should be exceptionally skillful and dedicated classroom teachers who are planning to continue in an active teaching status. According to the director of the National Teacher of the Year Program, a classroom teacher is one who teaches a group of students every day within the confines of the classroom and does not have administrative duties. Nominees should communicate effectively and demonstrate creative and imaginative teaching on a day-to-day basis. The nominee should have the ability to inspire the value of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities and assure academic success. Nominations should be made without regard to age, sex, race, or religion.
Selection Process
At the local district level, the Teacher of the Year program is coordinated through the district superintendent. It is the responsibility of the district superintendent to make sure that every teacher is given the opportunity to participate in the recognition process. It is important to emphasize that the search is not for “the best teacher,” but for one who exemplifies the finest in the profession.
Local District Selection Process
The local school district determines the local selection process and announces the local Teacher of the Year.
Regional Selection Committee
The regional selection committee will evaluate the applications that have been submitted by local Teachers of the Year and select twelve finalists to continue on to the State Selection Committee.
State Selection Committee
The state selection committee will follow procedures identified below for each of the twelve finalists to select the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
- Conduct an interview
- View a digital video file of classroom teaching. Finalists will partner with the OSDE videographer to create a short video that will document highlights of their classroom instructional methods.
- Recommend the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year to the State Superintendent
Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Recognition
The Oklahoma Teacher of the Year serves as Oklahoma Ambassador of Teaching, representing Oklahoma in the national competition by sharing knowledge and resources with fellow educators around the state and encouraging education as a profession.
Edward C. Joullian III Scholarship
The $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a high school senior in the current Oklahoma Teacher of the Year’s district.
The Oklahoma State Fair Board established the Edward C. Joullian III $5,000 Scholarship to be awarded to a high school senior in the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year’s school district. The scholarship winner is announced at the Oklahoma State Fair. This scholarship was established to encourage students to continue their education, recognize the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year’s school district, and celebrate the contributions of Mr. Joullian to the lives of Oklahoma’s young people.
Former Oklahoma Teacher of the Year List
| Year | Name | Year | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Jena Nelson, Deer Creek Public Schools | 1984 | Gwen Pasby, Elk City |
| 2019 | Becky Oglesby, Yukon Public Schools | 1983 | Nancy O’Donnell, Perry |
| 2018 | Donna Gradel, Broken Arrow | 1982 | Kathlyn Reynolds, Putnam City |
| 2017 | Jon Hazel, Durant | 1981 | Alice Gregg, Okay |
| 2016 | Shawn Sheehan, Norman | 1980 | Sherry Morgan, Sand Springs |
| 2015 | Jason Scott Proctor, Tahlequah | 1979 | Frances Herron, Altus |
| 2014 | Peter Markes, Edmond | 1978 | Pat Kellogg Roller, Ada |
| 2013 | Elaine Hutchison, Fairview | 1977 | June Richardson, Duncan |
| 2012 | Kristin Shelby, Hollis | 1976 | Wilda Walker, Enid |
| 2011 | Elizabeth Smith, Byng | 1975 | Maralene Wesner, Idabel |
| 2010 | Brian Grimm, Tulsa | 1974 | Valerie Carolina, Wewoka |
| 2009 | Heather Sparks, Oklahoma City | 1973 | Frankie Minton, Lindsay |
| 2008 | Stephanie Canada, Shawnee | 1972 | Vernice Ware, Bartlesville |
| 2007 | Linda-Hasler Reid, Muskogee | 1971 | Albert Clark, Enid |
| 2006 | Robyn Hilger, Oklahoma City | 1970 | Ruby Browning, Grove |
| 2005 | Susan Illgen, Grove | 1969 | Trudy McFarland, Stillwater |
| 2004 | Cindy Ball, Muskogee | 1968 | Edward Hennessee, Lawton |
| 2003 | James Kerr, Union | 1967 | Evelyn Findley Williamson, Oklahoma City |
| 2002 | Mike Bynum, Sand Springs | 1966 | Helen Cosgrove, Norman |
| 2001 | Talita DeNegri, Oklahoma City | 1965 | Sam Evans, Oklahoma College for Women |
| 2000 | Mitsuye Conover, Bartlesville | 1964 | Lawana Trout, Sand Springs |
| 1999 | Lynn Peacher, Jenks | 1963 | Bona Gordey, Tulsa |
| 1998 | Kay Long, Broken Arrow | 1962 | Flossie Beckett, Lindsay |
| 1997 | George Abshire, Jenks | 1961 | James Jenkins, Oklahoma City |
| 1996 | Stephen Smallwood, Broken Bow | 1960 | Mary Gillentine, Ron School |
| 1995 | Linda Kay Webb, Broken Arrow | 1959 | Edna Donley, Alva |
| 1994 | Mary Jane Bassett, Woodward | 1958 | Helen White, Duncan |
| 1993 | Betsy Mabry, Enid | 1957 | A.B. Herring, Prague |
| 1992 | Rhonda Harryman, Edmond | 1956 | Mary Lawrence, Claremore |
| 1991 | Marilyn King, Stillwater | 1955 | Ethel Briggs, Barnsdall |
| 1990 | Eugene Earsom, Moore | ||
| 1989 | Mike Adkins, Moore | ||
| 1988 | Dale Long, Oologah-Talala | ||
| 1987 | Geraldine Burns, Fairview | ||
| 1986 | Jane Kennedy, Yukon | ||
| 1985 | Barbara Smith, Miami |
If you have any questions regarding the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year process; please contact:
Justin Newton
Events
Oklahoma State Department of Education
(405) 522-8767
teacheroftheyear@sde.ok.gov
