OKC school district names top teacher
The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools threw a party Tuesday night for teachers and others who serve more than 45,000 students in the state’s largest school district.
About two hours into the foundation’s Stars of Education event, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School teacher Anthony Chancellor was named Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year for 2017-18.
Chancellor teaches leadership to seventh- and eighth-graders. The former band and orchestra teacher paid tribute to the educators who influenced him, including his fifthgrade science teacher, who was seated at his table.
“When I teach what I teach now I get to teach students about life ... about being good citizens, he said. “That’s why we’re teachers, is because what we do matters.”
Chancellor received a check for $1,500 and a watch. He will be considered for state Teacher of the Year honors.
The first runner-up was Dwight Cunkle (Horace Mann Elementary) and the second runner-up was Joanna Eldridge (Edgemere Elementary).
“Anthony Chancellor’s hands-on approach to leadership allows students to use their talents and abilities to be great leaders now, not just sometime in the future, said Mary Melon, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer. “His dedication to students and commitment to community involvement make him an exemplary teacher of the year.”
A performance by the Starry Nights jazz choir from Classen School of Advanced Studies punctuated the event, which drew about 400 people to the OKC Farmers Public Market.
“This is a party. This is about celebrating education,” Melon said.
Mayor David Holt, a former foundation board member and the parent of district students, also joined in the celebration along with acting Superintendent Rebecca Kaye and Paula Lewis, school board chairwoman.
“Tonight we celebrate you,” Holt said. “Thank you for what you do.”
District volunteers, support staff and community partners were also recognized for their contributions.
And for the first time, the foundation recognized two principals for their leadership.
The winners were Margaret Saunders-Simpson (Johnson Elementary School) and Scot McAdoo (Webster Middle School).
The night, though, belonged to teachers, including the nine finalists for Teacher of the Year.
Other finalists were Cynthia Bothwell, Capitol Hill High; Doretha Guion-Colbert, F.D. Moon Academy; Jamie Hinds, Webster Middle School; Kyla Kaufman, Bodine Elementary School; Jami Keys, Coolidge Elementary School; and Cara Viviani, Sequoyah Elementary School.
“Teaching is the best profession because you never wake up in the morning and wonder why you were born,” Kaye said.
Madison Wingate, the district’s 2016-17 Teacher of the Year, said she didn’t get into teaching for the short work weeks and summers off.
“We do this job because we believe in a bright future for our students,” she said.
Anthony Chancellor reacts Tuesday night after being named Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year. Next to Chancellor is Teacher of the Year finalist Cynthia Boswell. [PHOTO PROVIDED BY DANIELA M. MELLO DE ALMEIDA, OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS]