Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Lindel Fields announced the 10 finalists for the 2026 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding educators from across the state who demonstrate excellence in teaching, leadership, and service to their school communities.

The winner will be announced at the Teacher of the Year Gala in June.

“Oklahoma educators are second to none, and these 10 teachers represent the best of the best,” Fields said, per a press release. “I am incredibly proud of these educators. I hope all Oklahomans can join me in celebrating this accomplishment and expressing our support and appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to our students.”

The 10 finalists include four elementary school teachers, three middle school and three high school teachers.

Here are the 10 finalists for the award:

Kasey Bennett, Durant Public Schools

Bennett teaches STEM to kindergartners through fourth graders at Northwest Heights Elementary in Durant. She said one of her most meaningful accomplishments as a teacher was founding the school’s Science Fair/STEM Night.

“What makes this event truly meaningful is its commitment to inclusivity: every student, regardless of background, ability or learning style, has a place to shine,” Bennett said, according to OSDE.

Keely Flynn, Tulsa Public Schools

Flynn is a physical education teacher at Lindbergh Elementary in Tulsa. She said her favorite thing about teaching is the connections and community she’s built through movement and relationships.

“I’m proud of what we’ve built, but the moments that fuel me most aren’t awards; they’re the everyday reminders that students feel connected,” Flynn said, according to OSDE. “It’s a child counting down the days until their next P.E. class. It is when students are proudly sharing they chose water instead of juice, went on a walk with family, or tried a new food because we talked about balance.”

Tobi Gordon, Moore Public Schools

Gordon is a deaf education teacher for seventh- and eighth-graders at Brink Junior High School in Moore. She said she strives to create a learning environment where deaf students can not only succeed academically and linguistically, but also build confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging.

The Oklahoma Sooners will be having a spring football game once again in 2026, after taking a one-year hiatus in 2025. On Wednesday, OU set a date for the spring game, which will take place on Saturday, April 18th in Norman.

The spring game will be the first opportunity for fans to see the ’26 Sooners, after a run to the College Football Playoff in 2025. Additionally, with no spring transfer portal window this offseason, the spring game will be a pretty good look at what OU’s final roster will look like come the fall.

Oklahoma did not have a spring football game in 2025, instead opting for the “Crimson Combine”, which was essentially just a brief practice in front of fans. Many programs have gone away from traditional spring games in the transfer portal/NIL era of college football, but it looks like the Sooners are going back to the basics in 2026.

Head coach Brent Venables’ team lost a lot from their ’25 squad that made the CFP, but they also return a lot as well. Add in new recruits and portal additions, and there’s plenty of promise for the Sooners in 2026.

After both Expand Energy and Devon Energy recently announced relocations to Houston, Texas, one question arises: What makes the Texas city so attractive to Oklahoma City businesses?

The two moves stem from different circumstances — Devon through its merger with Houston-based Coterra and Expand through leadership shakeups — but together they’ve generated concern in Oklahoma City’s energy sector.

But Devon and Expand are not the first businesses to move to Houston from OKC. Here a look at what the companies have said about the shift.

More: Harold Hamm says Continental Resources will stay in OKC as rivals move to Houston

Devon Energy announces move to Houston in merger

Devon Energy announced Feb. 2 that it plans move its headquarters from Oklahoma City and merge with Houston-based Coterra Energy.

Devon Energy spokesperson Michelle Hindermarch said in a call with investors that the headquarters relocation was a part of the merger.

“This wasn’t an easy decision, but it was required for the success of the transaction and is the right one for a company of our scale to compete most effectively,” Hindmarch said.

As for Houston itself, Hindmarch noted that the city “provides greater access to commercial counterparties, many of our peers, and other industry resources.” 

Hindermarch did not provide any information about how the move to Houston would impact employment numbers in Oklahoma City, only that the company will continue to have a significant presence.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 10, it is known that CEO Clay Gaspar and other executive positions will make the move to Houston.