ACHIEVERS

Thirty-six Oklahoma teachers returned to their classrooms this fall with a renewed passion for early American history and a variety of new interactive lesson plans after attending the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute in Virginia.

While in Colonial Williamsburg, Oklahoma teachers met character interpreters of 18th-century people — from Powhatan Indians and plantation slaves to British loyalists and Founding Fathers. Educators were immersed in early American history through hands-on activities and re-enactments of historical events.

This marks the 26th year Oklahoma teachers have attended the institute through a fellowship program coordinated by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, a statewide nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in public schools.

The institute celebrated a milestone this summer with the graduation of its 1,000th Oklahoma educator — Ana Chavez, of Jenks East Intermediate Elementary School.

This summer’s Oklahoma participants included 28 fifth-grade teachers and eight eighth-grade educators. Fifth-grade teacher participants, listed by school district, were Sunny Stephens, Allen; Melia Wheeler, Arnett; Julie Randol, Beggs; Jennifer Winchester, Bridge Creek; Kimberly Medrick, Broken Arrow; Courtney Tennell, Butner; Lauryn Capsey, Catoosa; Cindy Turner, Chickasha; Glory Hoover, Depew; Gena Schuck, Edmond; Mitzi Ridinger, Gore; Ana Chavez, Jenks; Carolyn Dock, Mangum; Sarah Morehead, Midwest City-Del City; Luann Gilbert, Moore; Annalea Stevenson, Muskogee; Becky Stanton, Newkirk; Amber Smith and Janet Trotter, Norman; Selena Espinoza and Angela Fang, Oklahoma City; Emily Quint, Osage; Ronda Boston, Putnam City; Regina Mabray, Stuart; Olivia StandingBear, Tulsa; Jennifer Addison and Sarah Rhodes, Union; and Sarah Francois, Vanoss. Vanna Owens, a Claremore teacher, was selected to serve as peer facilitator for the fifth-grade Oklahoma delegation.

Eighth-grade teacher participants, listed by school district, were Traci Smith, Claremore; Jill Hill and Dalton Savage, Edmond; Denise Aguilar, Lawton; Matthew Mitchell, Mustang; Nancy Brewer, Oklahoma City; Patrick Terry, Putnam City; and Julie Pierson, Sequoyah.