2009 Teacher of the Year Finalists

Yesterday, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett announced the 2009 Teacher of the Year Finalists. Congratulations to these 12 outstanding teachers:

- Sherilynn Admire of Midwest City Public Schools. Admire teaches severe to profoundly disabled special education students at Soldier Creek Elementary and has 31 years experience in education.

- Debbie L. Flowers of Meeker Public Schools. Flowers teaches first grade at Meeker Elementary and has 22 years experience in education.

- Betsy Ellen Glad of Union Public Schools. Flowers teaches third grade at Cedar Ridge Elementary and has 26 years experience in education.

- Matthew Holtzen of Enid Public Schools. Holtzen teaches U.S. History and political science at Enid High School and has 10 years experience in education.

- Valorie Ann Lewis of Stigler Public Schools. Lewis teaches third grade at Stigler Grade School and has 14 and a half years experience in education.

- Cheryl McCord of Jenks Public Schools. McCord teaches Spanish at Jenks High School and has 31 years experience in education.

- John Daniel “Dan” Nolan of Norman Public Schools. Nolan teaches Current Issues, International Problems and Advanced Placement European History. He also teaches GED classes for ages 16 to 70 and has 16 years experience in education.

- Denise Radcliff of Claremore Public Schools. Radcliff teaches Anatomy and Physiology, Pre-Advanced Placement and AP Biology, and the Principles of Biomedical Sciences at Claremore High School. She has 10 years experience in education.

- Mandy Rowley of Woodward Public Schools. Rowley teaches first grade at Cedar Heights Elementary and has 11 years experience in education.

- Phillip R. Scott of McAlester Public Schools. Scott teaches Biology I, Astronomy, Conceptual Physics and Advanced Placement Physics, and has 12 years experience in education.

- Heather Sparks of Oklahoma City Public Schools. Sparks teaches Algebra I and Pre-Algebra at Taft Middle School and has 15 years experience in
education.

- Nolan Watson of Cache Public Schools. Watson teaches 6th grade social studies at Cache Middle School and has 11 years experience in education.