| Taylor
Wheeler -- Middle School
This is my
5th school year as a special education teacher at Collinsville
Middle School. I graduated from Northeastern State University
in May of 2010 and was hired in Collinsville shortly after that.
I have been married to my husband, Josh, for 4 1/2 years and we
have a sweet 2 year old son, Luke.
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Elizabeth
Sonnenfeld -- High School --
Elizabeth
Sonnenfeld grew up in Stillwater, attended Stillwater Public Schools,
graduating in 1978. She attended Oklahoma State University, graduating
in May of 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. After
working in the banking industry for several years, she stayed
home to raise her children. Elizabeth is in her eleventh year
of teaching math; this is her third year at Collinsville High
School. She earned her Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education
in 2007 and her National Board status in Adolescent and Young
Adult Mathematics in 2011.
Elizabeth also teaches mathematics at Tulsa Community College
and is active in her church. She has two wonderful children; her
daughter, Michelle, is a National Sales Trainer for Cydcor and
her son, Robert, is a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force.
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Amy
Duncan - Herald Elementary --
I graduated from Collinsville High School in 1996 (Go Card’s)
and attended Rogers State University. I married my best friend,
Brian Duncan, and we have four amazing children: Christian, Courtney,
Branden, and Connor.
Our oldest child was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at
the age of 6 and thus began my process of becoming a Special Education
teacher. Navigating the educational system was very scary and as
a parent, I felt overwhelmed listening to so many people talking
about my child and what we needed to do to make him successful.
I began to understand and feel comfortable in the world of a special
needs parent. I was thankful that the good Lord decided to add this
to my blessing. In 2005 I gave birth to an amazingly special child
with a rare muscular condition called, “Arthrogryposis Multiplex
Congenita Amyoplasia”. Along this path of raising two special
needs children with a “DifferAbility,” I found myself
admiring their ability to compensate and accomplish their goals
despite some of the obstacles that they faced. The more I learned
to advocate for my own children, the more I felt compelled to help
others do the same.
In 2010 I enrolled at Northeastern State University to pursue my
dream of becoming a Special Education Teacher. During my final internship
I taught in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. While there, I gained a new appreciation
and respect for English Language Learners. Additionally, I also
learned how lonely it can be, to feel completely different than
others around you. My experiences in Taiwan were life changing and
helped mold the teacher I am today.
I feel beyond humbled, blessed, and honored to be recognized by
my peers and to represent Herald Elementary as Teacher of the Year.
I am only one small part of an entire team that works together to
develop and implement an educational plan that is individualized
to meet the unique needs of our students. I pride myself in communicating
with and involving parents in their child’s education, as they
are a vital part of the educational team and their input is not
only wanted but needed. I feel privileged to say that I truly LOVE
my job, my students, and my co-workers. I am proud to be a Cardinal
through and through!
A quote that I love and that guides my instruction is: “Aerodynamically,
the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee
doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway,” (Mary Kay
Ash).
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Stefanie
Harp -- ECC --
My name is Stefanie Harp and I am honored to be chosen to represent
the Early Childhood Center as a Teacher of the Year nominee. I received
my bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science in 1995 from Sterling
College in Kansas. During the next ten years I stayed home to raise
my own children and provided day care for many other children. As
the time approached for my youngest child to go to school all day,
I decided to pursue my certification in teaching. I completed the
Alternative Certification for Education in 2005. I was given the
opportunity to teach Kindergarten here in Collinsville for the 2005-2006
school year. I have been teaching Kindergarten here for the past
ten years.
I am married to the best husband in the world, Dale Harp. We have
two amazing children: Alex who is a graduate of CHS and a student
at OSU and Sami who is a sophomore at CHS. When I am not teaching
and planning for Kindergarten I enjoy reading, cooking, and gardening.
We share our life with one dog, two cats, four horses, and seven
chickens who provide endless entertainment and chores.
I love teaching and learning with my kindergartners! They keep me
on my toes and surprise me every day with their five year old wisdom.
Most days I learn from them just as much as they learn from me.
I am rewarded every day with hugs and smiles from my students. The
children know they can count on me to love them and guide them through
the learning process every day. Kindergarten is such an important
year to grow and learn academically, socially, and emotionally.
I am very fortunate to play a role in helping these children to
achieve their goals. I have so much support from my colleagues at
the Early Childhood Center and that makes this job even better.
“If kids come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families,
it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong,
healthy functioning families, it makes our job more important.”-
Barbara Colorose
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| Carolyn
Cornett – Wilson Elementary
I have been
an elementary school teacher for twenty-seven years.
I have been
an Oklahoma school teacher for twenty-three years. I enjoyed teaching
fifteen years in Broken Arrow, two years as a second grade teacher
and thirteen years as a first grade teacher.
I married
my husband, Ron Cornett a lineman for Verdigris Valley Electric
Cooperative, eight years ago. I moved to Collinsville, and I was
fortunate to become a teacher in Collinsville. I teach with amazing
and dedicated teachers in a school district that values each student.
The Collinsville School District stands out as they recognize
and provide for each student’s educational needs. Collinsville
is unique in providing a Transitional First Grade classroom. A
Transitional First Grade classroom gives young students an opportunity
to succeed, by allowing them the time to grow and develop naturally.
Transitional first grade provides a curriculum bridge between
kindergarten and first grade. This is my eighth year to teach
at Wilson Elementary as the Transitional First Grade teacher.
I was born
in Waldron, Arkansas, and spent my early childhood in Danville,
Arkansas. My family moved to Oklahoma when I was in the fifth
grade. We returned to Arkansas when I was in high school to be
near aging grandparents. I graduated from Danville High School.
I earned my Elementary Education Degree at Arkansas Tech University
in Russellville, Arkansas.
I completed
an Early Childhood Education Degree at Carroll College Helena,
Montana and the University of Montana Bozeman, Montana. I taught
two years in Helena in first grade, and two years in an Early
Childhood classroom in the Atlanta, Georgia school district. I
was always looking forward to returning to Oklahoma.
My husband
and I have three daughters, a son and nine young grandchildren.
We enjoy time with our family and friends.
I know I am
blessed to be a teacher. I love and enjoy every day.
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