MOORE, Okla. (April 15, 2022) -- The Moore Public Schools Foundation held its annual Excellence in Education awards ceremony last night at Westmoore High School. Dozens of employees and community partners were recognized as Site-Level Teachers of the Year, the District Finalists for 2022 Teacher of the Year, along with the Patrons of the Year per school site. The awards program was led by Executive Director of the MPSF Clayton Ramick with a welcome by MPS Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines.
Southmoore High School Teacher Alona Whitebird was named the 2022 District Teacher of the Year. She has taught Social Studies, AP U.S. History, Ethnic Studies and General U.S. History for five years at SHS.
"I became a teacher because I loved how my teachers made me feel; that is where I felt happiest. I've wanted to be a teacher since 5th grade and so when I thought about teaching, I thought about making students feel loved and seen and happy; I wanted to create that in my own classroom," said Whitebird.
She grew up in the MPS system starting in Kindergarten and is a Moore High School graduate. She said getting hired by MPS felt more like a "homecoming" because she was teaching in the same system with the teachers who made her feel good as a student.
Whitebird earned the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History 2021 Oklahoma History Teacher of the Year award in the fall. It was to recognize outstanding instruction and leadership in the field of American History education.
Sen. Darrell Weaver attended the program to congratulate winners and present printed commendations to each. Jeff Groves of Armstrong Bank - who is also a Westmoore High School graduate - presented Whitebird with a $1,000 scholarship for continued education or professional development. David Stanley Chevrolet was recognized as a new TOY sponsor and they provided $250 to each District TOY finalist and $500 to the winner. The Moore Public Schools Foundation provided the finalists with $500 awards and $1,000 for the winner.
Additionally, South Lake Elementary Nurse Crystal Dickinson, RN was named District Education Support Professional of the Year.
The National Anthem was performed by WHS students Nathan Aryeequaye and Sarah Thompson and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by WHS Senior Class President Blake Linn.
2022 DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS & VIDEOS
Brink Junior High-Phillip Revolinski: https://youtu.be/GRO8XGYgvVw
Central Junior High-Jenni Walker: https://youtu.be/lPxs7CEPd98
Heritage Trails Elementary-Ashley Wright: https://youtu.be/H8HoZO4eNJE
South Lake Elementary-Mindy Cowley: https://youtu.be/HVrXXKJEQbc
Southmoore High School-Alona Whitebird: https://youtu.be/rfPzXwpjwKo
SITE-LEVEL TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Apple Creek Elementary-Cara Cummings
Briarwood Elementary-Junae Stafford
Brink Junior High-Phillip Revolinski
Broadmoore Elementary-Alicia Wilson
Bryant Elementary-Jennifer Reeves
Central Elementary-Britny Cerda
Central Junior High-Jenni Walker
Earlywine Elementary-McKenzie Benavides
Eastlake Elementary-Shelby Webb
Fairview Elementary-Lauren Steverson
Fisher Elementary-Emily Fraire
Heritage Trails Elementary-Ashley Wright
Highland East Junior High-Shelly Hankins
Highland West Junior High-Terri Chancellor
Houchin Elementary-Natalie Campbell
Kelley Elementary-Jane Salsman
Kingsgate Elementary-Kayleigh Gonzalez
Moore High School-Melissa Wilson
Moore West Junior High-Amy Branch
Northmoor Elementary-Crystal Green
Oakridge Elementary-Kerri Guarnera
Plaza Towers Elementary-Linda Sullivan
Red Oak Elementary-Lisa McAllister
Santa Fe Elementary-Aly Morton
Sky Ranch Elementary-Angela Martinez
Sooner Elementary-Carissa French
South Lake Elementary-Mindy Cowley
Southgate Elementary-Amy Thompson
Southmoore High School-Alona Whitebird
Southridge Junior High-Daniel Woods
Timber Creek Elementary-Marti Minney
Vista Academies-Cindy Farquhar
Wayland Bonds Elementary-Kristen Lassiter
Westmoore High School-Rachel Cerney
Winding Creek Elementary-Bobbi Arrington
EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL
ELEMENTARY
Apple Creek- Autumn Gaiski
Briarwood- Maria Segovia
Broadmoore- John Duncan
Bryant- Stephanie Stanfill
Central Elementary- Michelle Cerda
Earlywine- Leanne Weigel
Eastlake- Jennifer Schwab
Fairview- Jill Wilson
Fisher- Melissa Boyd
Heritage Trails- Nancy Resendiz
Houchin- Helga Brumley
Kelley- Traci Wolfe
Kingsgate- Sandra Magerus
Northmoor- Sheila Robinson
Oakridge- Felicia Stoker
Plaza Towers- Nicki Willis
Red Oak- Nassil Al Adhami
Santa Fe- Susan Dozal
Sky Ranch- Pamela Buchanan
Sooner- Cynthia Kuminski
Southgate- Amanda Beaver
South Lake- Crystal Dickinson, RN https://youtu.be/iiyUWnwvbtc
Timber Creek- Shanda Sharum
Wayland Bonds- Theresa Cox
Winding Creek- Michel Littlefield
JUNIOR HIGH
Brink- Monica Valles
Central Jr High- Teresa Assell
Highland East- Kayla Hyden
Highland West- Jasmine Handley
Southridge- Paula Gonzalez
Moore West - LaDonna Cobb
HIGH SCHOOL
Moore- Alma Wilkins
Southmoore- Anita Kuchera
Westmoore- Dalia Trevino
DEPARTMENTS
ASC- Jessica Deck
Child Nutrition- Amanda Belden
Maintenance- Kimberly Moore
Technology- Kenny Sifford
Transportation- Dwayne Mathews
Warehouse- Dallas Warren
Vista- Jessica Guillen
PATRONS OF THE YEAR
Apple Creek – Sarah Butler
Bonds – Danielle Goodrich
Briarwood – Jennifer Brammer
Brink – Jonathan and Brittany Cramer
Broadmoore – Tasha Enix
Bryant – Amber Barthel
Central Elementary – Pastor Jermaine Vaughn and Elevate Church
Central Junior High – Tierney McDonald
Earlywine – Tricia McGuire
Eastlake – Cherree Adkison
Fairview – Sherry McClendon
Fisher – Cheri Bedford
Heritage Trails – Natalie Baker
Highland East – Julie Gardner
Highland West – Kelly Cottrell
Houchin – Crossroads Church
Kelley – Samantha Burton
Kingsgate – Carolyn West
Moore High School – Erin Morrison
Northmoor – Libby Lee
Oakridge – Julie Smith
Plaza Towers – Katherine La
Red Oak – Courtney Fincher
Santa Fe – Amber James
Sky Ranch – Anne Morales
Sooner – Cheryl Anders
South Lake – Karen Moore
Southgate – Erin Gibson
Southmoore – Jeff Preske
Southridge – Sabrina Fish
Timber Creek – Mallory Berkinshaw
VISTA – John Fitzgerald
Moore West – Cathy Adams
Westmoore – Mary Foster
Winding Creek – Kristen Bolding
Each year in September, each school selects its site-level Teacher of the Year. Each site-level TOY is then invited to complete Part One of the District TOY application during October & November. In early December, the teachers who are members of the district's Professional Development Committee use a rubric to score the submitted applications. Five finalists for District TOY are announced just prior to Winter Break.
The finalists then complete Part Two of the District TOY application by February. In March, the PD Committee scores the complete applications. In April, the winner of the MPS District Teacher of the Year is announced at the annual Excellence in Education ceremony which also honors the accomplishments of each site-level TOY and the five finalists for District TOY.
To learn more about the MPS Foundation, visit mooreschoolsfoundation.org. For information about Armstrong Bank visit armstrong.bank. For photos of all the 2022 Site Level Teachers of the year visit here.
