Early childhood education alumna shaping the future of education one student at a time

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Media Contact: Christy Lang | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-9740 | christy.lang@okstate.edu

Callie Huckabay, a graduate of Oklahoma State University’s College of Education and Human Sciences, has been leading her kindergarten classroom with integrity and passion since earning her degree in early childhood education.

In 2019, she completed her bachelor’s degree in human development and family science with an emphasis in early childhood education. Thanks to OSU’s 4+1 program, which allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years, she achieved her master’s in early childhood education just one year later.

Completing both degrees in such a short time frame wasn’t easy, she admits, but it was worth it.

“OSU’s 4+1 program is an excellent choice for somebody who is confident they want a master’s degree in early childhood education,” Huckabay said. “It does take a lot of commitment, but I’m a self-motivated person, so I knew it was something I could manage.”

Since graduating in 2021, Huckabay has been sharing her love of children and learning at Perkins-Tryon Elementary with her class. While she was at OSU, she was given a multitude of opportunities to immerse herself in the classroom.

One of the program’s most valuable features was its requirement to experience a variety of teaching environments, Huckabay said.

“It was a requirement to see a rural, suburban and urban school, and that was extremely beneficial for me,” she said. “It allowed me to see a variety of schools with different demographics. I think the options OSU provided are what helped prepare me for a successful career.”

A Natural in the Classroom

Huckabay felt a connection to teaching the moment she set foot in a classroom for the first time. Her determination to impact children stems from her own experience of having influential teachers.

“I was one of those kids who always played school and pretended I was a teacher,” she said. “I had several teachers who made me love school. I felt safe and loved in their presence, and I knew one day I wanted to be that person for another child.”

In 2019, Huckabay began her student teaching at Perkins-Tryon Elementary under the guidance of longtime kindergarten teacher Nikki Huckabay.

“Day one, I knew that she was a natural-born teacher,” Nikki said. “Callie’s maturity, knowledge of child development, adaptability, dependability and her ability to handle situations with wisdom, compassion and integrity were unlike any student teacher I had ever hosted. She is guided by strong values and is always supportive of others, which I believe are strong characteristics of a fabulous teacher.”

When Nikki decided it was time to step away from the classroom after 16 years, she knew exactly who should take her place.

“Leaving the classroom was bittersweet,” she said. “What made the transition even more meaningful was knowing I was leaving my legacy in the hands of someone so special to me.”

After Nikki left her role as a kindergarten teacher, she joined the CEHS faculty as a human development and family science teaching instructor in 2022. Taking what she learned while advising Huckabay, Nikki is able to encourage personal growth and a love for education in a new way with future teachers.

A Personal Connection

As fate would have it, the two teachers’ connection soon became personal.

When Nikki’s son visited during OSU’s Homecoming week, he met Callie, and the two quickly fell in love. They married a couple of years later in 2022, and soon after, welcomed their son into the world.

What began as a student-teacher relationship eventually grew into a family bond. Nikki said watching Callie grow as both a teacher and a person has been one of her greatest joys.

“In the beginning, she was sometimes hesitant to confront difficult situations, even when she knew it was what was best for her students,” Nikki said. “Over time, though, Callie has grown into a confident advocate, not only for her own classroom, but for every child in her school. She speaks with calm confidence about what she knows is right for children and stands firmly behind her beliefs, often sharing research and resources to support her perspective.”

Living the Cowboy Code

Now a full-time kindergarten teacher at Perkins-Tryon Elementary, Callie exemplifies the values she learned at OSU every day.

“The Cowboy Code encapsulates Callie as a person and as a teacher in the four walls of her classroom,” Nikki said. “She builds strong, positive relationships with parents and families, and she is deeply valued by her community. Above all, Callie is a passionate advocate for children and the kind of teacher every child deserves.”

Story By: Annie Ross | annie.ross@okstate.edu