Education Award

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2022 Student of the Year

Luis Orquiz is from Santa Fe South High School

To say that Luis is a busy high school student would be an understatement. He is a member of Student Council, a committee co-chair, and captain of both his travel and school baseball teams. His nominating principal says, “Luis has saved the day more than once this year. Luis jumped in with his charisma, his charm, his enthusiasm, his poise, and his confidence and made things work. While I was sweating in the wings, he was confident and in control making school a better place for other students.” Luis plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall to study Education in hopes of becoming a teacher like the ones he has looked up to his whole life.

2022 Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year, Mindy Cowley from South Lake Elementary

This teacher has taken a more proactive role in working with colleagues to assimilate knowledge in a streamlined fashion. She more aware of the skills and concepts my students need to learn, and I work with teams in my building, throughout the district, and local colleges to ensure continuous student growth through vertical alignment and aligning curriculum guides to our current standards and skills.

When Ms. Cowley moved to third grade, she recognized that there was a huge gap in instruction and understanding. She studied the academic standards and has since worked to develop a scope and sequence for her students in third grade that builds upon prior learning and strengthens the foundation of learning before adding more skills and concepts. has taken a more proactive role in working with colleagues to assimilate knowledge in a streamlined fashion. She more aware of the skills and concepts my students need to learn, and I work with teams in my building, throughout the district, and local colleges to ensure continuous student growth through vertical alignment and aligning curriculum guides to our current standards and skills.

2022 Administrator of the Year

Administrator of the Year, Alicia Price from Council Grove Elementary

This individual truly possesses a passion for what they do, and they bring a positive and fun energy to the school each day. This administrator possesses the knowledge and initiative to be an instructional leader, excels at developing their internal staff for smooth building operations and safety, maintains high standards for themself and their staff and students, and has even been recognized nationally for their efforts and results.

When this administrator accepted the position in 2018, the district wasn’t in the best shape. The district was impacted by the Oklahoma teacher walk out and the school lost several teachers because of it. Out of 16 teachers, only one was certified. Under this administrator’s leadership, teachers begin training for their OGET and OSAT certification. We are happy to report that this elementary school, which had a previous high turnover rate, is a school where people want to stay and continue their careers. In addition to hiring teachers, work has begun on improving the schools climate, culture, and image in the community. During the pandemic, this principal and staff loaded up in buses and paraded through their neighborhoods, walking door to door, and conducting home visits.