OKLAHOMA CITY —
State Superintendent Janet Barresi announced Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year finalists at a special presentation at the Oklahoma state Capitol on Thursday.
Deer Creek High School’s Kim Landers was one of the 12 teachers chosen from across the state to compete for Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year title.
“She is the total package,” said former Deer Creek ninth-grade principal Melonie Hau. Hau recently took the job of director of curriculum and school improvement for the Enid Public School System.
“I have known Kim on many levels,” Hau said. “I have worked with her as a colleague while we both taught, evaluated her as a teacher in my position as an administrator and admired her as a teacher to one of my sons.”
The best testament to the dedication of excellent teachers is when a student doesn’t want to leave the classroom, Hau said.
“The students love her; she understands about best practices and cares about the whole child,” Hau said.
Landers has taught for 14 years and currently teaches ninth- to 12th-grade Spanish.
“Our students are growing up in a global society where collaboration and critical thinking skills are not optional, and as teachers, we have to put our fears behind us and our students’ needs before us,” Landers said.
Landers’ philosophy of teaching is, “Effective teachers are compassionate and invest in the success of their students. At the end of the day, all educators should ask themselves, ‘Did I make the best decision for kids?’”
As educators, teachers are preparing their students to compete for jobs with individuals from other countries who speak several languages, have lived in more than one country and are comfortable in different cultures, Landers said.
She said she asks herself, “Will my students get the job?”
Landers received her Bachelor of Science degree in education, Spanish K-12 from Oklahoma Baptist University and her Master of Arts degree in adult education from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Barresi praises finalists
Barresi told the audience the 12 teachers standing before them represented a Brain Trust or a Mini Think Tank.
Barresi told the teachers she will be drawing on their expertise in the coming year to be representatives on the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness committee and she said she looked forward to their input and suggestions.
“I’m so impressed with the work of each of these finalists and by their vision for education in the state of Oklahoma,” Barresi said. “As I read about each finalist, I saw a willingness to do whatever it takes to move students to the next levels in literacy, STEM and all of learning. I feel blessed to see such passion, creativity and devotion in service of children.”
Barresi told the audience these 12 finalists represent the best and brightest in the state of Oklahoma.
“I can’t imagine the challenges they face in the classroom daily,” Barresi said. “Each of them see these challenges as an opportunity to serve.”
Committees comprised of teachers, parents and community members selected the 12 finalists — two finalists from each of the six regions in the state. A state committee comprised of education, business and civic leaders will choose the winner, with Barresi scheduled to make the announcement in ceremonies at the Oklahoma State Fair in September.
The winner represents Oklahoma in the national Teacher of the Year competition, receives more than $50,000 in cash and prizes from donors, and serves as Oklahoma’s “Ambassador of Teaching,” presenting to teachers and civic groups throughout the state for one year.
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Related Photos
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN One of 12 finalists for the 2012 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Deer Creek High School Spanish teacher Kim Landers shares her story of who her role models were and how they inspired her to become the best teacher she could be during Thursday's ceremony at the state Capitol.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Deer Creek High School Spanish teacher Kim Landers, a finalist for state teacher of the year, stands with State Superintendent Janet Barresi.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN State Superintendent of Education Janet Barresi shares information about the 12 finalists for the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Friday.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Deer Creek Teacher of the Year Kim Landers, second from left, stands with, from left, Cindy Voss, Deer Creek curriculum director; Melonie Hau, former Deer Creek freshman principal and now director of curriculum and instruction for the Enid School District; and Tracy Skinner, Deer Creek High School principal. Landers is among the 12 finalists for the 2012 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year
Discussion
Deer Creek Schools boast Teacher of the Year finalist
Former administrator says Landers is ‘total package’
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