Oklahoma governor and Eskimo Joe's commend Oklahoma teachers

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Sherry Morgan, second from the left, the 1980 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, models the T-shirts sold by Eskimo Joe's that support teacher scholarships at Oklahoma State University and the Stillwater Public Education Foundation. With her are OSU College of Education Dean Pamela Fry, Eskimo Joe's owner Stan Clark, and Scott Petty from the Stillwater Public Education Foundation.

A proclamation by Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and specially designed T-shirts by world-famous Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater and owner Stan Clark are helping Oklahoma State University celebrate teachers and raise funds for future teacher scholarships this year.

The proclamation was presented during the annual “Celebration of Teaching: Teacher Recognition Day,” which honors exceptional Oklahoma teachers. The event was held April 2 at the Wes Watkins Center in Stillwater.

“The Celebration of Teaching was created to focus national attention on the outstanding contributions teachers make to us individually and as a community,” said Pamela Fry, dean of the OSU College of Education.

Henry said experts conclude that the best way to improve education in this country is to give teachers the status and recognition they deserve as professionals.

“We must recognize that all of us know of exceptional teachers and that there is a great deal of good work being done in our schools,” Henry said.

T-shirts designed by Eskimo Joe’s will be sold as part of the “Thank a Teacher” campaign, which aims to raise scholarship funds for future teachers in the OSU College of Education and support the Stillwater Public Education Foundation.

Stan Clark, owner of Eskimo Joe’s, revealed their newest T-shirt that reads: “Eskimo Joe’s salutes teachers: Changing the World.”

“Teaching is one of the noblest professions and we commend you,” Clark said.

His wife, Shannon, is an alumna of the college and a former first-grade teacher in Stillwater.

“More than $40,000 has been raised so far to create these scholarships for future teachers as people recognize and acknowledge the teachers who impacted their lives or the lives of their children,” Fry said.

T-shirts can also be purchased online at www.eskimojoes.com.

“We’ve had many people ask about purchasing T-shirts to present to their favorite teachers,” said Brenda Solomon, senior director of development for the college.