Current Fund for Teachers Fellows

Congratulations to the 2023 Fund for Teachers Fellows

Congratulations to our newest cohort of Oklahoma Fund for Teachers Fellows – preK-12 teachers who designed personal learning opportunities that stretch their students and strengthen school communities. Grant recipients are listed below along with their fellowship descriptions.

Kelsi Blue
Greenwood, Oklahoma
Attend Ron Clark Academy’s professional development and start-up instruction in Atlanta to implement its unique house-based strategies focused on belonging, unity, motivation that also positions students as stakeholders in learning processes.

Jinafer Brown
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Explore the mysterious megalithic stone structures in Western Europe, gather evidence from French forensic scientists and archeologists on the origins of the civilizations that built these structures and create an inquiry-based unit to improve students’ science literacy skills.

Stacey Burnette
Greenwood, Oklahoma
Attend Ron Clark Academy’s professional development and start-up instruction in Atlanta to implement its unique house-based strategies focused on belonging, unity, motivation that also positions students as stakeholders in learning processes.

Deji Dugger
Goldsby, Oklahoma
Meet with experts in England and Amsterdam on the topics of well-being, trauma sensitive yoga, therapeutic horticulture, and art therapy to address the rise in student stress post-pandemic and help them better achieve mental and academic goals for success.


Guinnevere Geyer
Norman, Oklahoma
Enroll in an English Language Developers Spanish immersion course in Roatan, Honduras while also learning about the second-largest barrier reef in the world and efforts being made to restore it to its natural state, to help all students find common ground and better support each other, particularly those of Hispanic descent.

Vanessa Gilley
Eufaula, Oklahoma
Lead a group of students on an EcoTeach excursion across Costa Rica, experiencing the country’s unique rainforest and ocean ecosystems, to become highly qualified lead teachers in the earth sciences for students in a school community suffering from high rates of absenteeism.

Johnnie Keel
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Meet with experts in England and Amsterdam on the topics of well-being, trauma sensitive yoga, therapeutic horticulture, and art therapy to address the rise in student stress post-pandemic and help them better achieve mental and academic goals for success.

Jammie Kimmel
Yukon, Oklahoma
Explore cultural landmarks along the historical Fairy Tale Road in Austria, France, Germany and Italy to ignite students’ interest in the music and literature of the Classical Period and combat COVID learning loss, specifically in reading.

Emily Morgan
Muldrow, Oklahoma
Attend Ron Clark Academy’s professional development and start-up instruction in Atlanta to implement its unique house-based strategies focused on belonging, unity, motivation that also positions students as stakeholders in learning processes.

Andi Motz
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Participate in the “Finnish Approach to Pupils’ Wellbeing” seminar in Helsinki to document how that education system leverages students’ strengths and replicate that positive classroom environment in the classroom.

Laura Pope
Piedmont, Oklahoma
Explore cultural landmarks along the historical Fairy Tale Road in Austria, France, Germany and Italy to ignite students’ interest in the music and literature of the Classical Period and combat COVID learning loss, specifically in reading.

Evan Reininger
Edmond, Oklahoma
Explore the Scandinavian Triangle (Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo) and investigate what makes this region a world leader in sustainability to engage students in environmental advocacy and motivate them to explore new tactics for a sustainable future.

Misty Spears
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Attend Ron Clark Academy’s professional development and start-up instruction in Atlanta to implement its unique house-based strategies focused on belonging, unity, motivation that also positions students as stakeholders in learning processes.

George Spears
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Attend Ron Clark Academy’s professional development and start-up instruction in Atlanta to implement its unique house-based strategies focused on belonging, unity, motivation that also positions students as stakeholders in learning processes.

Kelly Walvoord
Edmond, Oklahoma
Explore cultural landmarks along the historical Fairy Tale Road in Austria, France, Germany and Italy to ignite students’ interest in the music and literature of the Classical Period and combat COVID learning loss, specifically in reading.

Hailey Wansick
Edmond, Oklahoma
Explore cultural landmarks along the historical Fairy Tale Road in Austria, France, Germany and Italy to ignite students’ interest in the music and literature of the Classical Period and combat COVID learning loss, specifically in reading.

Jess Wells
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Attend Ron Clark Academy’s professional development and start-up instruction in Atlanta to implement its unique house-based strategies focused on belonging, unity, motivation that also positions students as stakeholders in learning processes.

Delicia White
Eufaula, Oklahoma
Lead a group of students on an EcoTeach excursion across Costa Rica, experiencing the country’s unique rainforest and ocean ecosystems, to become highly qualified lead teachers in the earth sciences for students in a school community suffering from high rates of absenteeism.

An Oklahoma Odyssey
Nathalie Lee digs for salt crystals during an excavation at the Great Salt Plains. Lee and her partner Janet DeMarco traveled Oklahoma landmarks, cultural centers, and historical sites to make Oklahoma history come alive and to provide depth to their teaching of Oklahoma social studies.
The Creativity Workshop
Diane Clark creates a story out of 10 random objects. Clark gathered tools and strategies for sparking creativity in the classroom to inspire her students.
Australian Conservation
Shanna Eicher handles a bird at the Birds of Prey exhibit at the Australia Zoo. Eicher learned about the dangers of climate change and how it negatively effects native bird species.
Earth & Space
Adam Peterson stands above the Grand Canyon at a stop on his 47-day journey to national parks and NASA centers to examine what makes habitats hospitable.
Wellness in Japan
Mary Trudgeon stands with a Shinto high priest after a ceremony during a Japanese immersion program that explores how mindfulness and meditation can be used to reduce student stress in the classroom and life.
Sneak on the Lot
Mary Henson learns lighting and photography techniques while on-scene at the Hollywood's Sneak On the Lot workshop for teacher. Henson hopes to spark her student's interest in the film industry and other creative careers.
OKC Fellow Orientation
Tulsa Fellow Orientation
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I would describe this fellowship as a game changing event in my education career. I was stretched during the application process, learning to work alongside a colleague after hours for weeks on end, travel around the world without my family (while being pregnant!) and LEAN-ing into doing hard things. I also learned a lot about what I can physically and mentally handle. All of this happened because of the amazing donors who invested in me! I tell everyone I meet about this experience!

For more information about Fund for Teachers – Oklahoma Program, contact Lauren Dow at ldow@ofe.org or call (405) 236-0006.