Hofmeister announces 12 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalists

NORMAN, Okla. (KOKH) — It's down to a dozen in the running for Oklahoma's Teacher of the Year.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister introduced the 12 finalists for the award in a ceremony at Norman North High School. The announcement came during the EngageOK on the Road summer conference.

“These 12 teachers represent some of Oklahoma’s finest educators who are making a difference in the lives of our students every day,” said Hofmeister. “We value their hard work, dedication to their craft and the commitment to excellence they demonstrate day in and day out. These men and women are doing important work to advance the development of our state through the growth and success of our children.”

The finalists are:

Catherine Adams - Piedmont Elementary School

Adams teaches social and emotional skills and bullying prevention to Pre-K through fourth grade at Piedmont Elementary School in Piedmont Public Schools. She has been an educator for 29 years and has held her current position for nine years.

Natalie Fielden - Freedom Elementary School (Sapulpa)

Fielden teaches kindergarten at Freedom Elementary School in Sapulpa Public Schools. She has been an educator for 18 years and has held her current position for 16 years.

Shari Gateley - Putnam City West High School

Gateley teaches 11th-grade English language arts at Putnam City West High School in Putnam City Schools. She has been an educator for seven years and has held her current position for seven years.

Amy Greenhaw - Jenks High School

Greenhaw is a special education teacher at Jenks High School in Jenks Public Schools. She has been an educator for 16 years and has held her current position for five years.

Carol Hunsperger - Grove Lower Elementary School

Hunsperger teaches third grade at Grove Lower Elementary School in Grove Public Schools. She has been an educator for 22 years and has held her current position for 19 years.

Teresa Lansford - Lincoln Elementary School (Norman)

Lansford is a teacher librarian for Pre-K through fifth grade at Lincoln Elementary School in Norman Public Schools. She has been an educator for 14 years and has held her current position for six years.

Jenny Morphis - Hilldale Lower Elementary School

Morphis teaches first grade at Hilldale Lower Elementary School in Hilldale Public Schools. She has been an educator for 19 years and has held her current position for four years.

Warren Neff - Bartlesville High School

Neff teaches physics and STEM mathematics at Bartlesville High School in Bartlesville Public Schools. He has been an educator for 15 years, all of it in Bartlesville.

Rebecca Oglesby - Ranchwood Elementary School (Yukon)

Oglesby teaches Pre-K through third grade art at Ranchwood Elementary School in Yukon Public Schools. She has been an educator for seven years and has held her current position for two years.

Jessica Robinson - Altus High School

Robinson teaches AP literature and social studies at Altus High School in Altus Public Schools. She has been an educator for six years and has held her current position for six years.

Michelle Shelton - Pioneer Intermediate School (Noble)

Shelton teaches fifth-grade reading and English language arts at Pioneer Intermediate School in Noble Public Schools. She has been an educator for nine years and has held her current position for two years.

V. Jannean Thompson - Berryhill North Elementary School

Thompson teaches fifth grade at Berryhill North Elementary School in Berryhill Public Schools. She has been an educator for 24 years and has held her current position for 18 years.

The 2019 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year will be named on September 19 in a ceremony at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.