OK Teacher of the Year Nominee has ties to Lawton

The Oklahoma Teacher of the Year nominee has ties to a group accused in an FBI investigation into terrorism. A 20-year-old man with British citizenship was recently arrested after he tried to join ISIS, according to law enforcement officials. The suspect is not related to the teacher who was nominated for her work leading and mentoring students at Lawton high school ,

The Oklahoma Teacher of the Year nominations were released this week, and one of the contenders is from Lawton! Sheila Treadwell grew raised in Lawton and now works as a Pre-K teacher in Snyder, Oklahoma. 

When the Newton family came to town, I was struck by how similar their family was to ours. They relocated due to the military, and we were overjoyed to have new females in our church! Sandy was a year or two younger than Sheila, and Sheila was my age. Shirley, their mother, has also been a fixture in Lawton for a long time Shirley worked at the Armed Services YMCA for a number of years before becoming a teacher at Trinity Christian Academy.

What I know about all of these women is that they like children, as shown by her district’s Teacher of the Year honor and now her State Nomination. Sheila, many congratulations! Make Lawton, Oklahoma, proud!

Joy Hofmeister, the state superintendent of public instruction, introduced the 12 candidates for Oklahoma’s next Teacher of the Year today.  

“These 12 instructors represent some of Oklahoma’s top teaching talent,” Hofmeister remarked. “These finalists are outstanding examples of the enormous effect that a single individual can have on the lives of children. Each of these educators exhibits a strong dedication to their students’ development and is well-deserving of this recognition.”  

After their applications were assessed by a team of educators, policymakers, and civic leaders, all finalists were chosen teachers of the year for their districts or schools.   

In March, the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year for 2022 will be announced. The recipient will begin full-time Teacher of the Year responsibilities on July 1, which will include speaking engagements and acting as Oklahoma’s ambassador for teachers, encouraging others to enroll or stay in the field. Jessica Eschbach, the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year for 2021, will continue traveling the state until July.  

During an announcement this morning at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City Hofmeister was accompanied by the finalists. 

Finalists for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year in 2022

Tina Dewey, L.W. Westfall Elementary School (Choctaw/Nicoma Park Public Schools) Special Education Teacher “Physically, emotionally, socially, and academically, each kid is unique. As educators, it is critical that we attempt to recognize and embrace these distinctions. To reach every student and help them achieve, we must educate in line with their distinctions.”

Greenwood Elementary School Speech Language Pathologist Emily Freise (Tahlequah Public Schools) “I feel that two of the most significant contributions I have made in the area of education are assisting students in developing life-long communication skills and educating future educators. Working with primary kids and assisting them in developing excellent communication skills that will serve them for the rest of their life is a privilege.”

“Teaching nowadays requires so much more than curriculum and grades,” says Kerry Ingersoll, kindergarten teacher at Bethel Lower Elementary School (Bethel Public Schools). So many of our kids are suffering and shattered when they come to us. While it is not our responsibility to cure their wounds or break generational trauma, it is our responsibility to love and lead with high expectations. It is our responsibility to breathe life into youngsters so that we may illuminate their environment with fresh possibilities.”

“There are numerous perks in teaching!” says Cindy Johnson, a 10th-12th grade mathematics teacher at Collinsville high school (Collinsville Public Schools). One of them is hearing my pupils say how much they appreciate coming to class. Every day, I endeavor to make my students’ stay with me a pleasant one. I want them to know that I am always there to help them with anything they need. Seeing my pupils graduate and go on to be successful in the world is a greater pleasure.”

“Teaching High School was never part of the plan,” says Rebecka Peterson, a 10th-12th grade mathematics teacher at Union high school (Union Public Schools). This work came to me rather than the other way around. Apart from my family, this profession gave me the greatest gift of my life: it showed my purpose and revealed a passion I couldn’t ignore. When I’m with my students, I feel alive. When I’m with them, I adore who I am. “This is my vocation.”

“As teachers, we must emphasize the value of inclusion and cooperation,” says Juan Renteria, Jr., fifth grade teacher at Truman Elementary School (Norman Public Schools). These two basic principles complement one other and help to confirm our students’ identities while adding more value to our joint efforts, regardless of cultural, political, religious, or financial disparities.”

Donna Ross, McKinley Elementary School fourth grade teacher (Tulsa Public Schools) “Because I like teaching, I strive to create an energetic atmosphere.” For my pupils and myself, every day is an adventure packed with learning. I become equally as engaging as my rivals – television, video games iPad, and Social Media – while providing a lesson. My enthusiasm for the work revitalizes the learning environment in my classroom.”

“We have to discover new, unique methods to engage our kids and give the tools to bring motivation along with learning,” says Shelley Self, a ninth-12th grade art teacher at Coweta High School (Coweta Public Schools). We live in a Digital Age therefore we must embrace and close these knowledge gaps. We need to provide them the chance to experiment with both new and classic ways. Teachers must collaborate with their pupils in order to help them develop the enthusiasm and confidence necessary for success.”

“I want to be an example for my children, particularly the child for whom everyone else has exhausted all options,” says Kortni Torralba, Therapeutic Educator Moore Alternative School and Treatment (Moore Public Schools). While I didn’t always want to be a teacher, I couldn’t envision myself doing anything else once I entered the classroom.”

“My biggest achievements are around three feet tall and cannot wait to come back to school the following day to see what wonderful things we will learn about,” Sheila Treadwell, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher John D. Moeller Primary School (Snyder Public Schools) says. These are what I refer to as my PreK kids’ achievements! I want my kids to enjoy learning, to feel valued, to be self-assured, to take chances, and to care about others. When this occurs, I will have had a significant influence on their learning.”

“Teaching is like scaling a mountain,” says Lauren Vandever, a seventh-grade reading teacher at Bristow Middle School (Bristow Public Schools). To reach the summit, we must depend on our own power, but we must also be ready to care for the mountain along the way in order to provide a wonderful experience for those who follow us.

Take a look at how school cafeteria meals have evolved over the last century.

Stacker has used data from press and government publications to track the history of cafeteria meals from their beginnings to the current day. Continue reading to see how different legal actions, culinary trends, and budget cutbacks have influenced what children are served on their trays.