Oklahoma, National Teachers of Year headline OSU Celebration of Teaching
Monday, April 7, 2008
OSU College of Education hosts 18th annual event on April 7, 2008
Pictured from left to right are: President Burns Hargis, Pamela Fry, Dean of College
of Education, Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry, Stephanie Canada, Oklahoma Teacher of
the Year, Kyle Dahlem, Andrea Peterson, National Teacher of the Year and Ann Hargis.
Peterson, a music teacher at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Granite Falls, Wash., will present the keynote address while Canada, a physical education teacher at Will Rogers Elementary in Shawnee, will deliver the luncheon address following an introduction by Henry. The 2008 Eskimo Joe’s Teacher Shirt will be officially unveiled as well.
Peterson was selected the 2007 National Teacher of the Year because of her community focus, teamwork with other teachers, and a desire to see all students succeed. In her 10 years at Granite Falls, she has revitalized the music programs at both elementary and high school levels. When she arrived in 1997, there was almost no funding for a music program and few available resources. She lobbied about the need to invest in new technologies and instruments for the program and surpassed the goal of raising $55,000 in new equipment for both instruction and performances. Teaching music is only part of Peterson’s instruction – it serves as a vehicle to other areas. Peterson introduced a cross-curriculum program, wherein she takes lessons taught in other classes, such as English and math, and expands upon them in an eight-week unit. She received bachelor’s degrees in both music education and arts music from the University of Washington in 1996, graduating cum laude. A National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), Peterson is the 57th National Teacher of the Year.
Peterson will be featured during the morning session from 9 to 9:45 a.m. in the Student Union Little Theater. Her keynote topic is “Learning, Exploring, Interacting, Serving – Connections that Matter.”
Canada was announced as Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year for 2007-08 in September. She believes that “healthy, active children learn more effectively,” which gives her a unique and fortunate role as a P.E. teacher. Canada has taught for 12 years and been with the Shawnee Public Schools since 2003. She also taught in the Checotah Public Schools, serving as the girls’ high school basketball coach from 1998-99. Canada began her career teaching higher education as an instructor in Northeastern State University’s College of Education and also worked as an assistant women’s basketball coach from 1999 to 2001. Previously, she was as assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of South Florida (1997-98) and an instructor and assistant women’s basketball coach at East Central State University (1995-97). Canada earned her Bachelor of Science in exercise science and a master’s in secondary physical education from ECU.\
Canada’s luncheon address is entitled “Education and the American Dream.” The luncheon is by invitation and will be held from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.
The College of Education partnered with Eskimo Joe’s to create the first ever teacher t-shirt in 2007. A percentage of the funds from each t-shirt sold were directed to the OSU COE for future teacher scholarships and to the Stillwater Public Education Foundation. Sales of the shirt were outstanding and OSU received enough funds to endow a future teacher scholarship, which will be awarded for the 2008-09 school year. The t-shirt theme goes along with the College of Education’s 2007-08 campaign – “Planting the Seed: Growing Future Professionals.”
This year's Oklahoma District Teacher of the Year finalists and the most recently nationally-certified classroom teachers were given the opportunity to attend with up to four of their students. Also attending will be Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education ACE and LEAP Teachers (formerly the Minority Teacher Cadet Corps) and OSU College of Education Cooperating Teachers (the classroom teachers who host student teachers). First semester teacher preparation students will attend and display posters created for the classroom. There will be breakout sessions designed to demonstrate creative teaching techniques or introduce college life.
This annual celebration is a unique opportunity for many of the state's outstanding classroom teachers and their students to meet the National and State Teachers of the Year, former Oklahoma Teachers of the Year, and others who are uniquely dedicated to education. The celebration is sponsored by the OSU College of Education, Education Outreach, COE Associates and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Minority Teacher Recruitment Center.