[Article by Granger Meador]
The fun-filled Bruins of the Year event was held on Thursday, April 17, 2025 on Rigdon Field at Doenges Stadium. At the conclusion of the event, LeeAnn Pressler of Central Middle School was recognized as the District Teacher of the Year. Earlier she had been introduced by student Jesse Pippin.
The Special Education teacher at Central Middle School received a monetary award from the Schmoldt Foundation for Education as well as Southwest Airlines tickets courtesy of Spears Travel. The travel award was presented by Austin Spears, with Gary Spears on the field. The travel award has been given for decades, first by Chuck and Charlene Spears, then Gary, and now another generation.
The event celebrated both certified and classified staff from each school, with each Teacher of the Year introduced by a current or former student.
Mark Rushing, a Special Education Paraprofessional at Jane Phillips Elementary, was named the Classified Person of the Year.
Sidnie Brown, who teaches Third Grade at Wayside Elementary School, was named the District Rising Star Teacher, an award for teachers with one to four years of experience.
Elizabeth Farmer, the counselor at Wilson Elementary School, was named the Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Grant Schreppel, who teaches Social Studies at Bartlesville High School, was named the Secondary Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Tasha Posch, who is a Title I Reading and English Language Development teacher at Wilson Elementary School, was named the “Fan Favorite” at the event, a recognition that includes a breakfast from Chick-fil-A for the Wilson staff.
Amy Dickey, who teaches Kindergarten at Wayside Elementary School, received the Kurt Schmoldt Teacher Appreciation Award, which included a monetary award from the Schmoldt Foundation for Education.
Sheila Wood was named the Substitute Teacher of the Year.
The Bartlesville Education Association presented its Friends of Education Award to Young Scholars of Bartlesville.
Service pins were awarded for employees with 5-45 years of service. 40-year pin recipients were Joyce Nickels of Ranch Heights Elementary and Vicki Howell of the Education Service Center (ESC), and Wade Kester of the ESC received a 45-year pin.
BruinTV streamed the event, which is still available online in Part 1 and Part 2.
The Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation (BPSF) and the school district’s Professional Improvement Committee hosted the event. Event photos are available on Smugmug.
The BPSF thanked Presenting Sponsors Arvest Bank and Patriot Chevrolet; Grand Slam Sponsor ConocoPhillips; All-Star Sponsors Musselmen Abstract Company, Schwegman Insurance & Financial Services, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Gateway Bank, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Keleher Architects, Truity Credit Union, Safari Smiles; and Trading Card Sponsor Jim Moore State Farm.
The BPSF and the district also appreciate the Schmoldt Foundation for Education (Teacher of the Year and Kurt Schmoldt monetary awards), Spears Travel (Teacher of the Year travel award), Chick-fil-A Bartlesville (Fan Favorite award), the Wilson Elementary Select Choir (National Anthem), Wade Kester (printing), Michael Colaw (emcee), Chris Batchelder (announcer), Bartlesville High School Broadcasting (live stream), Tamara Walker and the BHS Jazz Choir (service year introductions), Trey Stumpff (sound), 3 Bulls Upcycling (Fan Favorite Award Design), Truity Credit Union Print Shop, Homeland (water), and Michael Wray (program design and photography).
Businesses donating school staff gift cards for the event included Chick-fil-A, Freddy’s, HTeaO, Jared’s Frozen Custard, Jimmy’s Egg, McAlister’s Deli, Moxie on Second, Nicole McKinney, Price’s Meat Market, QuikTrip, Restorations Medical Spa, Sal’s Daylight Donuts, The Eatery, The Haberstroh Family, The Hough Family, Three Sisters Nutrition, Truity Credit Union, The Local Juice Company, and Tropical Smoothie.
BPSF Event Committee members were Nicole McKinney, Kimmy Hough, Karen Leinen, Cathy Riner, Tawny Saddoris, and Cory Snelson. Professional Improvement Committee members included LaTori Carter, Stacey Goodwin, Jennifer Felton, Meggin Blasi, Joy Caulkins, Sherrie Lavery, Laurie Marshall, Aspen Pirtle, Jana Higgs, Suzanne Villines, Joe Rockwell, Heather Davis, Staci Bankston, Brent Massey, Aaron Kuntz, Rhonda Willcox, LaDonna Chancellor, Jason Langham, Stephanie Curtis, Granger Meador, Morgan Axsom, and Kelli Bryant. Bartlesville Education Association Officers included Anna Thom, Nate Vance, Heather Davis, Jayleen Mayes, Megan Freeman, Alana Murphy, Sidnie Brown, and Caroline Rojas. Bartlesville Education Classified Personnel Organization officers were Christie Young, Sarah Rowe, Carrie Fodor, and Jan Watt.