Courtesy of Granger Meador, Executive Director of Technology & Communications
Courtney Gagan, who teaches 7th Grade English at Madison Middle School, was named the Bartlesville Public Schools 2019 Teacher of the Year on February 26, 2019. Other educators and groups were also acclaimed at a fun evening organized by the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation and the district PIC Committee:
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2019 District Teacher of the Year: Courtney Gagan, 7th Grade English Teacher, Madison Middle School
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2019 Kurt Schmoldt Teacher Appreciation Award: Leslie Sexson, College & Career Counselor, Bartlesville High School
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2019 Rising Star Teacher: Alexis Lewis, 1st Grade Teacher, Ranch Heights Elementary School
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2019 Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year: Hannah Knight, Speech Pathologist, Ranch Heights Elementary School
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2019 Secondary Rookie Teacher of the Year: Adam Hollon, 6th Grade Western Hemisphere Geography Teacher, Central Middle School
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Bartlesville Education Association Friend of Education Award: Community-Wide Steering Committee
Ms. Gagan received a $2,500 cash award from the Schmoldt Family Foundation for Education. She also received two free round-trip airline tickets via the 11th Annual Chuck Spears Memorial Teacher of the Year Travel Award, presented by Gary Spears of Spears Travel.
Each of the nine candidates for Bartlesville Public School District’s 2018 Teacher of the Year honor was introduced by one of their current or former students.
Other honors at Tuesday evening’s ceremony included the presentation of the 2019 Kurt Schmoldt Teacher Appreciation Award to Leslie Sexson, the College and Career Counselor at Bartlesville High School. Among her duties is the senior internship program. The Kurt Schmoldt Award recognizes a teacher who has made a significant difference in the lives of students. Hans Karl Schmoldt initiated the award in 1996 in memory of his brother, Kurt. As this year’s winner, Ms. Sexson received a certificate of recognition and a $1,000 cash award from the Hans Karl Schmoldt family.
Alexis Lewis, a 1st Grade Math teacher at Ranch Heights Elementary School, was named the district’s Rising Star Teacher for 2019. That award recognizes a teacher new to the profession who has exemplified excellence in their entry years of teaching. The Schmoldt Family Foundation for Education awarded $100 to a Rising Star Teacher from each school site. As the district honoree, Ms. Lewis received $500 from the Foundation.
Other young teachers who were recognized included Hannah Knight, a speech pathologist at Ranch Heights, as the Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year and Adam Hollon, who teaches 6th Grade Western Hemisphere Geography at Central Middle School, as the Secondary Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Also honored during the ceremonies was the Communitywide Steering Committee for its coordination of support for teachers and students during the school suspension in April 2018. Bartlesville Education Association President Gail Stone presented its Friend of Education Award to Dan Droege, the committee co-chair and recognized all of the various members of the group, some of whom were at the event.
Eliot Smith, the Assistant Principal of the Freshman Academy at Bartlesville High School, was recognized as the State Assistant Principal of the Year. Supt. Chuck McCauley presented him with a drive-in speaker that was retrofitted into a Bluetooth speaker by Jane Phillips Elementary School Counselor Josh Waddell.
The evening also included recognition of teachers with 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 35 years of service, with members of the BHS Jazz Choir offering movie-themed song snippets for each group. Kay Walker of Wayside Elementary School was highlighted for her 40 years of service, as was Rita Coale of Jane Phillips Elementary School for her 45 years of service.
Appreciation goes to Michael Wray for the extensive collection of photographs from the event which he shared via Facebook.