Published: May 13, 2008 12:47 pm            

Eloise Rees Writing Award goes to Memorial teacher

EDMOND — Edmond Memorial High School teacher Kelly Bristow received the Eloise Rees Writing Award for 2007-08.

Bristow is the fourth Memorial teacher to receive the award, following in the footsteps of former Memorial teachers Brandi Barnett, Elizabeth Bailey and Carole Heitz, who was the first award winner.

Other district teachers who have received the award include Heather Devoe, an English teacher at Central Middle School.

“Eloise Rees lived her dream of writing,” Heitz said. “Not only does Kelly teach writing, but she spends a lot of time writing herself.”

Rees earned a teaching certificate and worked toward her master’s degree. Although she never taught full time, she always substituted whenever she could.

“At that time teachers could not be married,” Rees said. “My husband proposed and although I was going to earn $125 a month, more than most of the men, I chose the better route.”

A few years later the rule was changed, but her husband was called to the service. Although they lived in 12 places during the next four years, Rees said she taught wherever she could.

“My mother was a teacher before she got married,” Rees said. “I am a writer. I’ve been a writer for years.”

With seven published novels, she said she always has written and still loves writing.

The family of Eloise Rees gives the award every third year. Along with the award is a stipend of $1,250 per year for three years.

“The award is given to teachers of writing who encourage their students to write and who also write themselves,” Bristow said.

Bristow is a member of the writing group The Inklings, comprised of former English teachers.

“At this time I am working on a novel, and I write poetry as well as short fiction stories,” Bristow said.

Bristow said her novel is one of revenge and redemption.

“A young girl who accidentally shoots her brother examines her relationship with her parents,” Bristow said. “The girl comes to the realization she didn’t kill her brother intentionally and with a reconciliation with a character in the story comes a twist and an unexpected ending.”

In her 10th year of teaching, Bristow teaches senior English and creative writing, although she has taught freshmen, sophomores and seniors.

She is in her third year of advising the school’s award-winning writing magazine, Broken Barriers. The magazine has won Sweepstakes — the highest award given by the Oklahoma Interscholastic Press Association for the third year — and won an “Excellent” rating from the National Council of Teachers of English.

“I write for the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Inc. and have won six awards from first place to honorable mention,” she said.

She already has put her stipend to good use by attending the OWSI Writing Conference in Midwest City recently, and she plans to attend the Heartland Writing Conference put on by Hawk Publishing and William Bernhardt in Tulsa on June 21-22.

Bristow said she had no idea she was in the top running until she was sent an e-mail by the Edmond Schools Foundation for the Celebration of Excellence.

“I am honored,” Bristow said, “although I have taught for 10 years and this is not the first time I personally have been recognized, the Eloise Rees Award is the most prestigious award I have received.”



pmiller@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 171

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.