ADA ā Two East Central University graduates ā Mara Richards and Susan Rindal ā are
two of 12 nominees for the State of Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Award, it was recently
announced.
The stateās teacher of the year will be announced at the Oklahoma State Fair later
this month in Oklahoma City. The winner will take part in the national teacher of
the year competition and serve as Oklahomaās āambassador of teachingā, according to
Regional University System of Oklahoma Regent Richard Ogden.
Richards received a masterās degree in library media from °µĶųTV after completing her
bachelorās degree in biology from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She teaches
at Durant Middle School in Durant.
°µĶųTV also graduated Rindal, who earned a masterās degree in reading education. She
teaches at Vanoss Elementary School in Vanoss.
āAt °µĶųTV, we have adopted a continuous improvement model that utilizes input from parents,
employers and other stakeholders, as well as assessment data to ensure our programs
are effective,ā said Brenda Walling, dean of °µĶųTVās College of Education and Psychology.
āMara and Susanās successes in the school library and classroom show our graduates
are prepared for the challenges of teaching. They continue °µĶųTVās long, proud history
of preparing outstanding teachers.ā
Alums that have gone through the °µĶųTV program have ultimately been named Oklahoma Teacher
of the Year. They include: Elizabeth Smith, elementary education with a concentration
in physical education, from Byng (1993 °µĶųTV graduate); Stephanie Canada, health, physical
education major with a concentration in recreation/exercise science, from Shawnee
(1995 °µĶųTV graduate); George Abshire, math education, from Jenks (1997 °µĶųTV graduate);
and Pat Kellogg Roller, science educator named teacher of the year in 1978.
Most of this yearās nominees actually graduated from the Regional University System
of Oklahoma (RUSO) universities, the stateās traditional teacher education schools.
The Regional University System of Oklahoma is composed of °µĶųTV, University of Central
Oklahoma, Northeastern State, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southeastern Oklahoma State
and Southwestern Oklahoma State.
āSeven of the 12 nominees earned degrees from one of our six universities,ā said Ogden.
āSince voters included these schools in our constitution as a vital part of the stateās
vision for the future, we have recognized the importance of education and of dynamic
teachers for Oklahomaās growth and well-being.ā
Some 87 percent of the systemās graduates stay in Oklahoma and return almost $10 in
benefits for every $1 of state resources spent on the studentsā education, Ogden said.
āThatās an enviable return on investment. Leading the list of nominees shows the investment
produces great results for the children of our state and the future of our people,ā
said Ogden.
Also nominated from RUSO institutions were:
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- Therese Rawlinson, received bachelorās degree in elementary education and master of education degree in reading education from Northeastern State University. She teaches at Jane Phillips Elementary in Bartlesville.
- Gentry Guinn earned bachelorās degree in education from Northeastern State and teachers at Porter High School in Porter.
- Tera Landrum received a bachelorās degree in elementary education from Northeastern State and teaches at Oak Crest Elementary in Broken Arrow.
- Chelsea Roberts earned a masterās degree in history from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. She teaches at Woodward Middle School in Woodward.
- Barbara Bayless received a masterās degree in reading from the University of Central Oklahoma. She teaches at James Griffith Intermediate School in Choctaw.
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