2008 Oklahoma Fund for Teachers Fellows
Ada Public Schools
Linda Gamble and Marjorie Hollingsworth, Ada High School
Travel to Florence, Italy, to study figure drawing and portraiture to develop teaching strategies for incorporating art techniques into science classes. [Team Grant]
Altus Public Schools
Kara Benton and Crystal McVea, Will Rogers Elementary
Attend the Ron Clark Academy Summer Educators Conference in Atlanta to learn innovative strategies to augment student performance. [Team Grant]
Bartlesville Public Schools
Sandra Dossett, Bartlesville Mid High School
Explore the journey of Oklahoma migrant workers along Route 66 as depicted in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck to further the teaching of Oklahoma history and demonstrate the impact of keeping a journal.
Angela Holcomb, Lisa Tennell and Stephanie Walker, Woodrow Wilson Elementary
Discover how to inspire writing and art through the use of music by attending the Electrifying Your Classroom Teacher Summer Institute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. [Team Grant]
Beaver Public Schools
Sheryl Melton, Beaver High School
Explore various British landmarks to better understand how environment shaped the writing of Browning, Chaucer, Thomas and other authors.
Bridge Creek Public Schools
Annette Dake and Rachell Skeen, Bridge Creek Elementary
Document WWII locations and personal experiences in England, Scotland, Ireland and France to compare and contrast veteran and civilian experiences past and present. [Team Grant]
Broken Arrow Private School
Jason Smith, Grace Christian School
Travel from Maine to Florida to study early American history and develop a hands-on approach to further the students’ knowledge of the era.
Broken Arrow Public Schools
Johnnie Herring, Park Lane Elementary
Attend the 2008 Kagan Summer Academy in Florida to enhance student motivation and positive relationships with students and parents.
Kelly Docto, Cynthia Rhoades, Brenda Singleton and Lisa Wingo, Centennial Middle School
Explore the key sites involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor to enhance lessons on WWII-era novels based in Hawaii. [Team Grant]
Career Technology Centers
Kristi Stricklin, Gordon Cooper Technology Center-Shawnee
Study modern and historical architectural examples and major civil engineering structures in England and France to enhance student-driven cooperative projects.
Carol Dvorak, Meridian Technology Center-Stillwater, and Rae Ann Kruse, Mulhall-Orlando High School
Attend a five-day teachers' workshop at the New York Stock Exchange to study the capital raising process, NYSE's market system and technology to develop a comprehensive financial education curriculum. [Team Grant]
Choctaw/Nicoma Park Public Schools
Jimmi Cornforth, Choctaw High School
Study the zoology of the Galapagos Islands and the language of Ecuador to stimulate student interest in the culture and language and to increase interest in biology, zoology and botany.
Deer Creek Public Schools
LeAnn Snavely, Deer Creek High School
Study our nation's heritage by visiting historical sites in Washington, D.C., Monticello, VA, and Williamsburg, VA, to bring a greater understanding of human rights and the quest for freedom into the classroom.
Edmond Public Schools
J. Burch, Central Middle School
Travel to Venice, Florence and Rome to study Italian art, architecture, history and culture to enhance student achievement and understanding of art and culture.
Jennifer Patton and Amanda Pittenger, Central Middle School
Study various marine organisms and environmental effects on weather and marine ecosystems in the Florida Keys to develop multi-curricular lessons in math and science. [Team Grant]
Jenks Public Schools
Paula Berry, Susan Franklin and Linda Nagy, East Elementary
Travel to the Washington, D.C., area to study our country's historical roots, including historical figures, sites and national symbols and develop a unit designed to teach responsible citizenship. [Team Grant]
Cathryn Morris and Jennifer Morton, West Intermediate Elementary
Attend the CREO Institute in Barcelona, Spain, to explore the concept of creativity in the classroom and, with colleagues, to recreate the institute within the school. [Team Grant]
Don Simmons, Jenks High School
Explore the landscapes and sites of British literature to enhance classroom discussion of different literary genres.
Mary Hester, Jenks High Schools
Attend the VoiceCare Network conference at Saint John's University in Minnesota to model and teach vocally efficient, expressive singing.
Melissa Finfrock, Jenks High School
Participate in a language course at the University of Salamanca in Spain to observe and study strategies for teaching Spanish literature.
Kingfisher Public School
Sheila Redwine and Terry Willis, Kingfisher Middle School
Tour the original thirteen colonies and explore America's developmental history to increase understanding of society, culture and the political institutions of our country. [Team Grant]
Lawton Public Schools
Lori Newell, Lincoln Elementary School, and Donna Sloas, Pioneer Park Elementary
Tour, study and photograph historic sites from the colonial to Civil War eras to enhance American History curriculum. [Team Grant]
McAlester Public Schools
Jason Smith, McAlester High School
Attend "The Art of Band Conducting Workshop" in Austin, TX, to learn new ideas and methods for teaching music that will be implemented in the band classroom.
Moore Public Schools
Angela Dudley, Brink Junior High
Participate in a seven-day journey through Cambodia, sharing Dara's experiences in the novel The Clay Marble, to give students a better understanding of that country’s culture and history.
Julie Halcomb and Carol Thompson, Brink Junior High
Travel to New York City to observe, study and visit the educational programs of the arts, fashion and culinary institutes to develop a career exploration unit. [Team Grant]
Pamela Blevins and Rhonda Snow, Brink Junior High
Participate in a 14-day study tour of European Holocaust sites in Holland, Germany, Poland and Austria to provide a historical and literary perspective for a study of the Holocaust. [Team Grant]
Mountain View-Gotebo Public Schools
Charlotte Wheeler, Mountain View-Gotebo Elementary
Explore the ruins, museums and excavation sites of the ancestral Pueblos in southwestern Colorado to enhance a unit on Native American culture and history.
Mulhall-Orlando Public Schools
Rae Ann Kruse, Mulhall-Orlando High School, and Carol Dvorak, Meridian Technology Center-Stillwater
Attend a five-day teachers' workshop at the New York Stock Exchange to study the capital raising process, NYSE's market system and technology to develop a comprehensive financial education curriculum. [Team Grant]
Muskogee Public Schools
Georgie Chapuis and Ronia Davison, Sadler Arts Academy
Travel to Europe to study the environments that inspired Monet, Van Gogh and other artists and construct an outdoor Impressionists “walk” on school grounds. [Team Grant]
Mustang Public Schools
Sue Ann McGowan-Miller, Centennial Elementary
Explore, research and photograph storybook England to bring to life its cultural heritage to improve literacy and writing skills of students.
Norman Public Schools
Amy Radtke, Norman North High School
Explore the abiotic and biotic environments of the Galapagos Islands and provide data to students who will act as scientists on a zoological survey.
Oklahoma City Public Schools
Linda Tucker, Extended Educational Services, and Karen Tucker, Northwest Classen High School
Research and explore the cultural impact of the ancient Olympics in Athens, Greece, and Rome, Italy, to help create a unit of study that expands students’ knowledge of history, geography and cultures. [Team Grant]
Karen Billings, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
Research the cultural impulses of tolerance and intolerance across time in the province of Cordoba, Spain, and the region of Bohemia, Czech Republic, to develop a new unit that chronicles, compares and contrasts the two regions.
Stephanie Gilliam, Madison Elementary
Travel to Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., tracing the development of the United States following the American Revolution and gathering resources to incorporate into a year-long social studies center.
Owasso Public Schools
Sherryl Johnson, Larkin Bailey Elementary
Travel to England to study the impact of the evacuation and separation of children from their parents during WWII to provide students with a greater understanding and appreciation of history.
Pauls Valley Public Schools
Tonya Tobey, Pauls Valley High School
Attend The Creativity Workshop in New York City to explore alternatives to traditional forms of education in artistic expression and creative writing.
Ponca City Public Schools
Tammy Bright, Ponca City East Middle School, and Diana Blair, Garfield Elementary
Attend the Win-Win Discipline Workshop at the 2008 Kagan Summer Academy in Florida to create an action plan for implementation of strategies to increase student achievement and emotional growth. [Team Grant]
Putnam City Public Schools
Marie Harris, Ralph Downs Elementary
Travel to the United Kingdom to survey and document British and Celtic folk traditions, incorporating the research into a cross-curricular social studies unit.
Quapaw Public Schools
Laura Heffley, Quapaw Elementary School, and Lisa Lee, Vian Middle School
Develop and implement a summer school distance learning program and virtual field trip from the islands of Hawaii. [Team Grant]
Sand Springs Public Schools
Brenda Blythe and Debra Leonard, L.E. Rader Center School
Strengthen cross-curricular teaching by traveling to Greece to gain knowledge and insight about its culture and explore the art, architecture and history of that country. [Team Grant]
Stillwater Public Schools
Daniel Zeroski, Stillwater High School
Visit the Olympic host cities of London and Munich and meet with Olympic committee members as well as other health and fitness educators to gather information to develop a wellness and healthy lifestyles program for students.
Strother Public Schools
Wayne Stricklin, Strother High School
Attend an agricultural international expo and tour organic farms and markets in England and France to gather information for both students and fellow educators about trends in global agricultural practices.
Sulphur Public Schools
Elizabeth Crews, Kelly Dunn, Penny Runyan and Edie Watson, Sulphur Intermediate School
Research and explore the historical sites of Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to develop a unit designed to inspire civic competence in students. [Team Grant]
Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
Mary Jo Othon, Bishop Kelley High School
Participate in an eight-day expedition with the Geological Society of America to discover the unique geological features of Iceland to enhance a unit of study on the earth.
Tulsa Private School
Maria Shead, Victory Christian School
Participate in a 40-day wilderness and leadership training program in Wyoming, gathering resources for unit studies in environmental and natural sciences.
Tulsa Public Schools
Kim Eveland, Owen Elementary
Attend a Spanish language school in Costa Rica to improve communication skills with students who speak English as a second language.
Barbara McCrary, Eisenhower Elementary
Explore the historical, cultural and physical differences of Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil and establish an e-pal program for third- and fifth-grade students.
Cynthia Brown, Project 12
Participate in a yoga teacher training program at the Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, MA, to incorporate the health benefits of yoga in the classroom.
Linda Harrell, Rogers High School, and Lindsey Starr, Hale High School
Explore London and surrounding sites to study Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens and other authors and their literary time periods to create for students an appreciation and understanding for British literature. [Team Grant]
Emily Baker and Lisa Franklin, Robertson Elementary
Travel to Tanzania to study its culture, wildlife and education system to show students similarities between our countries. [Team Grant]
Teresa Stege, Carver Middle School
Research and document the geological features of the Grand Canyon.
Laura Smith, Mayo Demonstration School
Tour private and public schools in Cape Town, South Africa, to establish an Internet pen pal and gather information and resources for a school-wide curriculum on South Africa.
Leslie Brown, Remington Elementary, and Robin Leach, Nimitz Middle School
Participate in Elderhostel's Road Scholars Program to learn about Alaskan ecosystems, culture and climate change to create cross-curricular connections. [Team Grant]
Tulsa Union Public Schools
Julie Godfrey, Wendi Rutz, Jane Vanfossen and Tracy Weese, Moore Elementary
Travel to Plymouth, MA, to study the Wampanoag Indians and the 17th century colonists and gather educational resources to strengthen this unit of study. [Team Grant]
Vian Public Schools
Lisa Lee, Vian Middle School, and Laura Heffley, Quapaw Elementary School
Develop and implement a summer school distance learning program and virtual field trip from the islands of Hawaii. [Team Grant]
Weatherford Public Schools
Marsha Carman, Weatherford High School, and Linda Koebelen, Weatherford Middle School
Travel to Australia to study Aboriginal art forms, customs and traditions to provide the resources and knowledge to develop new curriculum for cultural and ethnic units. [Team Grant]
Whitebead Public Schools
Shannon Myers and Amber Wallin, Whitebead School
Travel to Western Europe as Carmen San Diego look-alikes to create suspense-filled, captivating, interdisciplinary global units for students. [Team Grant]
Wright City Public Schools
Rebecca Price and Okemah Wagnon, Wright City High School
Travel to Greece to explore the connections between its art and literature as well as the influence of Greek culture on American culture and design a unit of study that demonstrates these connections. [Team Grant]
Yale Public Schools
Melody Aufill and Donna McChesney, Yale Elementary,
Recreate the adventures of the young Abernathy Boys who traveled from Oklahoma to New York and across to Wyoming and California to inspire students to seek their own adventures. [Team Grant]
2007 Fund for Teachers Fellows
2006 Fund for Teachers Fellows