OSDE announces finalists for Oklahoma’s 2026 Teacher of the Year award

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.

“I believe that some of my greatest accomplishments as an educator so far include helping create a school environment that is understanding and accepting of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and one in whichstudents are not simply passed along, but are expected to learn and to be great,” Gordon said, per OSDE.

Tracie Grunewald, Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy

Grunewald is a high school geometry teacher at Oklahoma Virtual High School. She’s worked in education for 18 years and remains convinced that education has the power to change lives.

“I became a teacher because I know firsthand the lasting impact educators can have on students’ lives,” Grunewald told OSDE. “I remain deeply committed to my students, to young people, and to the profession that helped shape who I am today.”

Vanessa Jones, Bethel Public Schools

Jones is a 10th-grade biology teacher at Bethel High School. She described her approach to teaching science by engaging students in the process of discovery rather than telling them what they need to know. Jones has been in the industry for the past 20 years.

“I want (students) to see science as a tool for understanding the world, solving problems, and contributing thoughtfully to society,” Jones said, according to OSDE. “I emphasize that science is not a static body of facts to be memorized, but rather, a study of dynamic and evolving processes.”

Serena Neely, Shawnee Public Schools

Neely is a first-grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary in Shawnee. She sees teaching as a larger mission to serve, inspire and empower the next generation of learners.

“I got into the education field for the love of my children… and convenience,” Neely said, per OSDE. “I quickly learned that education isn’t convenient at all. Education is urgent. I live and breathe education for the love of all children: mine, yours, and future generations yet to be impacted by encounters, big or small.”

LeeAnn Pressler, Bartlesville Public Schools

Pressler teaches middle school special education at Central Middle School in Bartlesville. She’s been a teacher for over a decade and said she’s learned that sometimes the path we resist most becomes the path that shapes us the most.

“Middle school is a complicated, messy, beautiful stage of life,” Pressler told OSDE. “I never thought I would find my purpose here. But I did. And I found a career that reminds me, again and again, that impact is built one connection at a time.”

Ellie Pryor, Woodward Public Schools

Pryor is a library media and literacy skills and research at three elementary schools within Woodward Public Schools: Cedar Heights, Highland Park and Horace Mann Elementary. She follows the philosophy that everything in life should be dynamic, ever-growing and ever-changing.

“The beauty of teaching lies in understanding how humans grow, change and learn, and crafting learning experiences that reflect this understanding,” Pryor said, according to OSDE. “I strive to create experiences for my students that will stay with them for a lifetime.”

Elizabeth Reed, Owasso Public Schools

Reed is an eighth-grade advanced English language arts teacher at Owasso Eighth Grade Center. She credits her career to a former educator who believed in her and shaped the possibilities that led her to the classroom.

“I teach with the understanding that growth rarely looks perfect up close,” Reed said per OSDE. “My greatest accomplishments occur in small, micro-moments each day and throughout the year when a student’s eyes light up, reflecting understanding.”

Mary Tyree, Alva Public Schools

Tyree teaches physical science, engineering, aeronautics and crime scene for all grades at Alva High School. She started the aeronautics program, the TSA chapter and the esports club at the school, in addition to serving as the cross-country coach.

“With each of these programs I mentioned, I did not seek out what only interested me but rather found a need, listened to the students, and provided what they needed to succeed,” Tyree told OSDE. “I am deeply passionate about listening to what our youth need and helping them find a way.”

Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.