
ELAINE HUTCHISON
FAIRVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT
2013 OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

2013 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Press Release
View the 2013 TOY Announcement
Great Oklahoma teachers challenge, motivate, and inspire their students to do their best; they make learning exciting, engaging, and continuous; they are respected by their peers as well as local school officials, parents, and students; they are caring and creative, seeking to enrich the lives of their students and build a better future for us all. Honor teachers at the local level by participating in the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program.
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2014 Teacher of the Year Information
2013 Teacher of the Year Information
The $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a high school senior in the current Oklahoma Teacher of the Year’s district.
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2013 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Finalists
2013 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Announcement
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News Releases
Handouts & Downloads
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Region I
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Elaine Hutchison Fairview Public Schools
“A teacher’s enthusiasm ignites greatness! If we want our students to be excited about learning, they must feed on our passion. We must work as though our daily contributions are what make or break our students’ success.”
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Lee Ann Stone Woodward Public Schools
“In a Kindergarten classroom, everything that happens offers a teachable moment, so as the day progresses, I am inundated with opportunities for engaging my students in some kind of discovery. There is nothing more exciting and rewarding for me than to watch them apply their knowledge and make those all-important learning connections!”
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Region II
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Daniel Buckmaster Oklahoma City Public Schools
“Knowing I am inspiring hope for my students as my teachers did for me is what I believe is my most profound achievement. I get up every morning excited about the potential of making a difference. Every day I walk into my class, I can change a life. I can make a difference.”
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Angela McKenna Edmond Public Schools
"Every child has a voice. It is my job to help find that voice, celebrate its uniqueness, and encourage its growth."
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Region III
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Cindy Bailey Altus Public Schools
“Attitude is everything is a motto that makes everyday life in the classroom a place where students and teachers can reach their full potential.”
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Andrea Brock Moore Public Schools
“When a child says, ‘You make math fun and easy,’ when a parent states, ‘My child loves math for the first time,’ and when a former student proclaims, ‘I still use your math songs,’ I know I am making a difference.”
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Region IV
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Kyle Cooper Coweta Public Schools
“My greatest accomplishments of all lie in the hearts and minds of my students.”
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Lisa Lamont Muskogee Public Schools
“My mission is to establish an educational environment where my students, colleagues, and community come together to develop a passion for learning in all students.“
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Region V
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Tiffani Cooper Owasso Public Schools
“I have found students will rise to the level you set for them when met with equal parts passion for learning and compassion for their individual circumstances.”
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Lane Matheson Tulsa Public Schools
“Critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and creativity are the key skills I teach to unlock students’ academic potential and prepare them to engineer their lives.”
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Region VI
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Carol Brinsfield Checotah Public Schools
“I look forward to going to school each day to offer instruction to my students, as well as learn from them. I try to live by the Golden Rule and have found working with children to be a blessing from God.”
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Brenda Roberts Byng Public Schools
“I love teaching! My passion for teaching has driven me to strengthen and improve my teaching techniques so that my students and I work together for a higher quality educational experience.”
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Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program
The Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program is coordinated through the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Janet Barresi. The program is in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year Program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers, the ING Foundation, and Target.
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.
General Qualifications
All Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 classroom teachers in state-accredited schools are eligible for nomination. It is important that every teacher be given the opportunity to participate in this recognition process. No minimum years of teaching experience is 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 Committees
There are six regional committees that meet in June to review all portfolios received and to select twelve finalists, two from each region. A list of counties by region is below. The twelve finalists are announced in July.
State Selection Committee
The state selection committee will follow procedures identified below for each of the twelve finalists in order to select the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year:
- Conduct an interview;
- View a DVD of classroom teaching. Each of the twelve regional finalists will be responsible for submitting a ten-minute DVD of classroom teaching in early September. If the local district does not have taping capabilities, assistance will be provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (each finalist may view previous Oklahoma Teacher of the Year videos upon request); and
- Recommend the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year to the State Superintendent.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
In September, the State Superintendent announces the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year who will serve as the Oklahoma Ambassador of Teaching.
The State Superintendent presents the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year to the State Board of Education in September.
In November, the State Superintendent nominates the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year to the Council of Chief State School Officers National Teacher of the Year Program.
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.
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Edward C. Joullian III Scholarship
As chairman of the State Fair Board of Directors for eleven years, Edward C. Joullian III honorably served Oklahoma. As a promoter of the partnership between the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year program and the Oklahoma State Fair, Mr. Joullian has shown his dedication to the education of the children of this great state.
Established in 1999, the $5,000 Edward C. Joullian III Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior in the current Oklahoma Teacher of the Year’s district. The scholarship was established to support students with their postsecondary education, recognize the state Teacher of the Year’s school district, and celebrate the contributions of Mr. Joullian to the lives of Oklahoma’s young people.
Scholarship Winners
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| 2012 |
Liana Minguara |
Hollis High School, Hollis Public Schools |
| 2011 |
Cheyenne Counts |
Byng High School, Byng Public Schools |
| 2010 |
Taylor Elise Johnson |
Edison Preparatory High School, Tulsa Public Schools |
| 2009 |
Alejandra Campos |
Northwest Classen High School, Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| 2008 |
Ashley Dea Owens |
Shawnees High School, Shawnee Public Schools |
| 2007 |
John Hammons |
Muskogee High School, Muskogee Public Schools |
| 2006 |
Thelma Ramirez |
Classen School of Advanced Studies, Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| 2005 |
Tiffany Romasanta |
Grove High School, Grove Public Schools |
| 2004 |
Angela Jefferson |
Muskogee High School, Muskogee Public Schools |
| 2003 |
Amber Lynn Allison |
Union High School, Union Public Schools |
| 2002 |
Adam Moss |
Charles Page High School, Sand Springs Public Schools |
| 2001 |
Ike Akinwande |
Southeast High School, Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| 2000 |
Magdalena Jurkiewicz |
Bartlesville High School, Bartlesville Public Schools |
| 1999 |
Jamie Ann Mathew |
Jenks High School, Jenks Public Schools |
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2012 Sponsors of the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program
Gold Sponsors
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American Fidelity Assurance Company
- Two tickets to Oklahoma City Thunder home game with in-game recognition (finalists)
- $2,500 tuition credit toward graduate classes, certification program, or professional development (State teacher)
- $500 credit for a “Classroom Make-Over” (State teacher)
- Two tickets to 4 home Oklahoma City Thunder games with in-game recognition during one game (State teacher)
- Personalized Thunder jersey (State teacher)
Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma
- $5,000 award (State teacher)
- $5,000 award (State teacher’s district)
- $1,000 award (finalists)
- Personalized Certificates (local teachers of the year)
- Luncheon for State Selection Committee and 12 finalists
- $500 award (Rising Stars)
Oklahoma State Fair
- In Cooperation with John Vance Auto Group, use of a Ford Escape for one year (State teacher)
- Ceremony/brunch, State Fair admission, and certificates of acknowledgment, (state teacher, finalists, and local teachers of the year)
- acrylic apples (finalists)
- Framed certificate and Baldric (state teacher)
- State Fair Medallion (finalists)
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Oklahoma State Fair Board
- $5,000 Edward C. Joullian III Scholarship (High School Senior from state teacher’s school district)
SMART™ Technologies
- SMART Board™ with projector or Smart Document Camera, All Supporting Software included (State teacher)
- SMART Software package (finalists)
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
- Free field trip to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum (local teachers of the year, finalists, state teacher)
- A variety of educational resources and materials (local teachers of the year, finalists, state teacher)
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Silver Sponsors
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American Fidelity Assurance Company
- $100 gift card, collection of gifts (finalists)
- $1,000 gift card, collection of gifts (state teacher)
- The Teacher’s Desk, Greg Burns print (state teacher)
eInstruction™
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Insight 360 Classroom Instruction System. Includes the Insight 360 software, a Mobi 360 mobile teacher device, a 32 pack of Pulse 360 Student clickers, and Examview Assessment Suite and Learning Series (State teacher)
Oklahoma Schools Insurance Group
- Laptop computer (State teacher)
- Commemorative plaques (Rising Stars)
- $500 award (Rising Stars)
Marvin Stokes Endowed Lecture at East Central University
- $1,750 stipend (state teacher)
Oklahoma Education Association
- One year of professional services (state teacher)
- Crystal Apple Gift (state teacher and finalists)
- Luncheon following ceremony (state teacher and finalists)
- Commemorative gift (Rising Stars)
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Professional Oklahoma Educators
- One year of professional services, commemorative plaque, bouquet of roses (state teacher)
- Commemorative plaques (finalists)
- Sports backpack (local teachers of the year)
- Travel mug and tote bag (Rising Stars)
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Bronze Sponsors
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American Federation of Teachers – Oklahoma
- $500 cash award and one-year honorary membership (state teacher)
MTM Recognition
- Teacher of the Year crystal diamond award (state teacher)
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National State Teachers of the Year, Oklahoma Chapter
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University Tuition Waivers
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Northeastern State University
- 36 hours graduate tuition waiver (State teacher)
Oklahoma State University
- 36 hours graduate tuition waiver (State teacher)
University of Central Oklahoma
- 36 hours graduate tuition waiver (State teacher)
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University of Oklahoma
- 36 hours graduate tuition waiver (State teacher)
- 16 hours undergraduate tuition waiver for son/daughter or local student (State teacher)
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
- Full tuition waiver for one academic year for son/daughter or local student (State teacher)
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National Teacher of the Year Sponsors
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Council of Chief State School Officers
ING Foundation
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Target
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Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Program Regions
(Revised in 2009)
Region I
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Region IV
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Alfalfa County Beaver County Blaine County Canadian County Cimarron County Custer County Dewey County Ellis County Garfield County Grant County Harper County |
Kay County Kingfisher County Logan County Major County Noble County Roger Mills County Payne County Texas County Woods County Woodward County |
Adair County Cherokee County Craig County Creek County Delaware County Lincoln County Mayes County Muskogee County Nowata County |
Okfuskee County Okmulgee County Osage County Ottawa County Pawnee County Rogers County Wagoner County Washington County |
Region II
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Region V
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| Oklahoma County |
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Tulsa County |
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Region III
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Region VI
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Beckham County Caddo County Carter County Cleveland County Comanche County Cotton County Grady County Greer County Harmon County |
Jackson County Jefferson County Kiowa County Love County McClain County Stephens County Tillman County Washita County |
Atoka County Bryan County Choctaw County Coal County Garvin County Haskell County Hughes County Johnston County Latimer County LeFlore County |
Marshall County McCurtain County McIntosh County Murray County Pittsburg County Pontotoc County Pottawatomie County Pushmataha County Seminole County Sequoyah County |
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2014 Program Timeline
| June 7, 2013 |
2013 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year nomination closed. Portfolios must be postmarked or delivered by this date. |
| June 2013 |
Regional Selection Committee meeting Twelve finalists selected. |
| July 2013 |
Twelve finalists and superintendents introduced. |
| August 2013 |
State Selection Committee meeting Twelve finalists participate in two interviews and one round table panel at the State Capitol for selection of Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. |
| September 2013 |
Recognition Ceremony-State Fair-Oklahoma City All nominees recognized. Oklahoma Teacher of the Year announced. |
| September 2013 - September 2014 |
Oklahoma Teacher of the Year serves as Oklahoma Ambassador of Teaching |
| November 2013 |
Oklahoma Teacher of the Year nominated to National Teacher of the Year Program Portfolio due in Washington, D.C. |
| September 21, 2013 |
Oklahoma State Fair, Oklahoma City Edward C. Joullian III Scholarship awarded to a high school senior in the school district of the reigning Oklahoma Teacher of the Year at the Xtreme Bulls event on Saturday night. |
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Oklahoma’s Past Teachers of the Year
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| 2012 |
Kristin Shelby, Hollis |
1983 |
Nancy O’Donnell, Perry |
| 2011 |
Elizabeth Smith, Byng |
1982 |
Kathlyn Reynolds, Putnam City |
| 2010 |
Brian Grimm, Tulsa |
1981 |
Alice Gregg, Okay |
| 2009 |
Heather Sparks, Oklahoma City |
1980 |
Sherry Morgan, Sand Springs |
| 2008 |
Stephanie Canada, Shawnee |
1979 |
Frances Herron, Altus |
| 2007 |
Linda-Hasler Reid, Muskogee |
1978 |
Pat Kellogg Roller, Ada |
| 2006 |
Robyn Hilger, Oklahoma City |
1977 |
June Richardson, Duncan |
| 2005 |
Susan Illgen, Grove |
1976 |
Wilda Walker, Enid |
| 2004 |
Cindy Ball, Muskogee |
1975 |
Maralene Wesner, Idabel |
| 2003 |
James Kerr, Union |
1974 |
Valerie Carolina, Wewoka |
| 2002 |
Mike Bynum, Sand Springs |
1973 |
Frankie Minton, Lindsay |
| 2001 |
Talita DeNegri, Oklahoma City |
1972 |
Vernice Ware, Bartlesville |
| 2000 |
Mitsuye Conover, Bartlesville |
1971 |
Albert Clark, Enid |
| 1999 |
Lynn Peacher, Jenks |
1970 |
Ruby Browning, Grove |
| 1998 |
Kay Long, Broken Arrow |
1969 |
Trudy McFarland, Stillwater |
| 1997 |
George Abshire, Jenks |
1968 |
Edward Hennessee, Lawton |
| 1996 |
Stephen Smallwood, Broken Bow |
1967 |
Evelyn Findley Williamson, Oklahoma City |
| 1995 |
Linda Kay Webb, Broken Arrow |
1966 |
Helen Cosgrove, Norman |
| 1994 |
Mary Jane Bassett, Woodward |
1965 |
Sam Evans, Oklahoma College for Women |
| 1993 |
Betsy Mabry, Enid |
1964 |
Lawana Trout, Sand Springs |
| 1992 |
Rhonda Harryman, Edmond |
1963 |
Bona Gordey, Tulsa |
| 1991 |
Marilyn King, Stillwater |
1962 |
Flossie Beckett, Lindsay |
| 1990 |
Eugene Earsom, Moore |
1961 |
James Jenkins, Oklahoma City |
| 1989 |
Mike Adkins, Moore |
1960 |
Mary Gillentine, Ron School |
| 1988 |
Dale Long, Oologah-Talala |
1959 |
Edna Donley, Alva |
| 1987 |
Geraldine Burns, Fairview |
1958 |
Helen White, Duncan |
| 1986 |
Jane Kennedy, Yukon |
1957 |
A.B. Herring, Prague |
| 1985 |
Barbara Smith, Miami |
1956 |
Mary Lawrence, Claremore |
| 1984 |
Gwen Pasby, Elk City |
1955 |
Ethel Briggs, Barnsdall |
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If you have any questions regarding the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year process, please contact:
Ginger DiFalco at Ginger.DiFalco@sde.ok.gov
(405) 522-8298