Teachers of the Year for each of Putnam City’s 27 schools will be honored at the annual Teacher of the Year reception at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at NEWCHURCH, 9201 N. Rockwell.

In a statement given by Putnam City Superintendent Paul Hurst, he said, “On behalf of the Putnam City Board of Education, staff, and students, I wish to congratulate the Teachers of the Year from each of our schools. They represent the highest ideals of teaching and richly deserve the accolades for their teaching excellence, enthusiasm, and concern for the well-being of our students. They are truly representative of this district’s wonderful corps of educators.”

Each school’s Teacher of the Year is chosen by the school’s teaching staff.  The 2010-2011 Putnam City Teachers of the Year are:

Apollo Elementary School, Mickey Vernon
• Arbor Grove Elementary School, Amanda Lunnon
• Central Elementary School, Lou Ann Chumbley
• Coronado Heights Elementary School, Erin Frizzell
• James L. Dennis Elementary School, Ellen Stiles
• Ralph Downs Elementary School, Angela Kwok
• Harvest Hills Elementary School, Karen Kobs
• Hilldale Elementary School, Kim Stephens
• D.D. Kirkland Elementary School, Kristi Vestal
• Lake Park Elementary School, Kelli Chastain
• Northridge Elementary School, Mariah Kennemer
• Overholser Elementary School, Lisa Linden
• Rollingwood Elementary School, Lauren Collings
• Tulakes Elementary School, Kim Hooks
• Western Oaks Elementary School, Melissa Williams
• Wiley Post Elementary School, Jackie Choudhry
• Will Rogers Elementary School, Jeni James
• Windsor Hills Elementary School, Kelli Bayouth

• Capps Middle School, Karen Rice
• Kenneth Cooper Middle School, Kelli Hau
• Hefner Middle School, Michelle Rhodes
• Mayfield Middle School, Jane Slape
• Western Oaks Middle School, Shane Cole

• Putnam City Academy, Cathy O’Connor
• Putnam City High School, Jody Bowie
• Putnam City North High School, Rhonda McGuire
• Putnam City West High School, Edward Hudson, Jr.

The 27 honorees are also nominated to be one of five Putnam City Foundation Excellent Educators.  To choose the Putnam City Foundation Excellent Educators, each year the district’s professional development committee – this includes teachers, parents and administrators – combs through teacher portfolios and narrows down the selection to five outstanding educators. To qualify for Excellent Educator, applicants must be judged by the committee to be exceptionally skillful and dedicated classroom teachers, demonstrate vigorous, creative and imaginative teaching on a day-to-day basis, and have the high esteem of students, parents and co-workers. They must also be active in their communities. Five Excellent Educator winners will be announced at the March 8th reception, and one will be chosen as this year’s District Teacher of the Year. The District Teacher of the Year becomes one of the teachers from across the state eligible for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.

For more information, please contact the Teacher of the Year chairperson, Renita White, by email at rwhite@putnamcityschools.org.

The Teacher of the Year Awards Reception is sponsored by the Putnam City Schools Foundation. For more information, please call 405-495-5200 ext 1205, or email dfloresca@putnamcityschools.org.