But to see Teachers Warehouse for the first time only validated her company’s efforts to participate in the second Team Up OKC school supply drive, spearheaded by Michael Morrison, who serves as a board member for The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools and owns Comtech. Boone works for Ideal Homes, which placed school supply donation boxes at several of its model homes in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Norman.

“Ideal wants to solidly contribute to the health and vitality of the schools in all of the communities we serve and make sure all students have their needs met,” said Boone, who visited Teachers Warehouse to celebrate the final delivery of school supplies donated during the November drive.

Lori Dickinson, Michael Morrison, and Joe Penhall pose in front of the unloaded supplies delivered to the Teachers Warehouse by Comtech Direct Mail Solutions

The estimated value of supplies collected during the drive exceeds $80,000 – an impressive amount for only the second such drive. All of the donations are sent to Teachers Warehouse, a program of The Foundation that seeks to bridge the gap between what schools have and what teachers and students need to be successful. Morrison launched the first Team Up drive in 2009 and collected about $3,000 in supplies.

The recent drive featured more corporate partners and more than two dozen drop-off locations. Sponsors of the Team Up OKC drive include Comtech, Panera Bread, Farmers Insurance Group, Oklahoma City Barons, Oklahoma Employees Credit Union, Bank of Oklahoma, FAA Credit Union, T&S Web Design, American Cleaners, Ideal Homes, Oklahoma Gazette, OKC Biz, Clear Channel Communications, Feed the Children, SportClips, Hertz, Red Bud Financial Group, The Journal Record, Social-ism.biz and Jason’s Deli.

“More students will have the supplies they need to help them succeed,” said Lori Dickinson, executive director of The Foundation. “We are grateful for Michael and all of the corporate partners that want the children of Oklahoma City to have the same access to supplies and opportunities as other children.”

The Foundation’s Competitive Edge program is creating critical opportunities for our students, who otherwise might not be exposed to exploring their talents, college potential and career plans.  Already this school year, more than 3,000 students have attended artistic or academic competitions.  Hundreds are on the waiting list for Spring.

Attending academic and artistic competitions is an essential ingredient of a well-rounded education. While this support may be readily available from schools and parent organizations in other, more affluent school districts, students in the Oklahoma City Public School District sorely need financial support.

COMPETITIVE EDGE grants cover expenses, such as meals, lodging, transportation, and entry fees, up to $2,500 per contest to help fill this need.

COMPETITIVE EDGE PLUS grants provide additional funding for students who win competitions and have earned additional opportunities or for students who have achieved the opportunity to participate in Regional and National competitions where the cost to participate may be prohibitive without additional grant support.

Click here for more information on Competitive Edge.

The community-wide celebration starts in the fall of each school year when District staff, students, parents and community members submit nominations for the Perfect Partnership Awards, Super Support Staff Awards and Valuable Volunteer Awards.

Each school site also selects their “Building Teacher of the Year” each fall. This gives the District’s top educators time to put together a comprehensive portfolio demonstrating the educator’s teaching philosophy, which is then reviewed by past District Teachers of the Year finalists, honorees and State Teachers of the Year. With a lot of hard work, these submissions are narrowed down to an elite group of finalists, who compete to represent the Oklahoma City Public School District in the State Teacher of the Year competition.

The celebration picks-up in the spring as site-based award ceremonies are held throughout the District celebrating the top partnerships, support staff and volunteers. As the school year draws to a close, the Stars of Education celebration concludes with the District Teacher of the Year announcement and release of the Stars of Education magazine.

Click here if you or your organization would like more information on Stars of Education.

National Board Certification is a voluntary system developed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to assess and certify teachers who meet high and rigorous standards. It is a symbol of commitment to excellence in teaching.The Jean G. Gumerson Endowment for the Pursuit of Teacher Excellence was created to support certified teachers of the Oklahoma City Public Schools in pursuing National Board Certification.

“National Board completely changed the way I teach,” said Meredith Wronowski, 2010-2011 Oklahoma City Public School District Teacher of the Year and 2011 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist.  Wronowski began her career as a biochemist before pursuing a master’s of education in cross-cultural teaching to become a high school science teacher at Capitol Hill High School.  “My graduate professors said educators should be ‘reflective,’ but didn’t give us the tools or understanding to incorporate that technique into our teaching methods,” said Wronowski. “During my first years of teaching, I was determined to stick with my lesson plan no matter what.  The National Board process taught me how to be flexible and evaluate my lessons as I teach.  If the lesson plan isn’t working and reaching my students, then I change the lesson immediately.”

Heather Sparks, 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and Taft Middle School teacher agrees. “Earning National Board Certification made me a more reflective teacher as well,” said Sparks. “I began to think about, ‘How will this particular lesson or sequence of lessons impact this particular group of students?’”
Studies prove National Board Certification improves teaching quality by providing teachers the skill set needed to link subject-matter knowledge and effective teaching practices to student learning and achievement within the context of rigorous national teaching standards. Certification is offered in 25 different subject areas and student developmental levels. It can take up to three years to complete.

In recent years, a $5,000 annual stipend from the state attracted teachers to the intensive certification process.  The Foundation partnered with the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation’s Education Leadership Oklahoma Program to ensure every qualified OKCPS candidate either received a state scholarship or a Foundation scholarship.  Unfortunately, Oklahoma House Bill 3029 placed a two-year moratorium on state funding for scholarships, as well as the $5,000 annual stipend for newly certified teachers.

“The Foundation is committed to partnering with OKCPS to improve the quality of teachers in our classrooms and will scholarship all qualified candidates wishing to pursue National Board Certification,” said Lori Dickinson, The Foundation’s executive director.  “Our challenge will be to recruit new candidates without the appeal of a $5,000 annual stipend from the state for the next couple years.”

Wronowski encourages her fellow teachers to consider the pursuit of certification despite the absence of an annual stipend. “I tell my colleagues all the time that using National Board’s tools will pay off immeasurably in the classroom for you and your students,” explained Wronowski.  “Even if you don’t certify, the process has a tremendous positive impact on your teaching.”

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools’ board of directors and generous Oklahoma City donors recognized the importance of National Board Certification in 2002 and established the Jean G. Gumerson Endowment for the Pursuit of Teacher Excellence.  Initially, the endowment provided scholarships to qualified candidates to pursue National Board Certification.

The Teachers Warehouse is back in full swing this month providing free classroom materials and teaching tools directly to OKCPS District teachers. New and gently-used supplies are donated by businesses and community members who believe the community plays an important role in the success of every child.

Click here for more information on The Foundation’s classroom support programs.

Gift of Education

This year, as you make your holiday list for those special people in your life, consider something truly special—a Gift of Education. Your gift to The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools will not only honor those you hold dear, it will prepare children to succeed. Through our programs, services and advocacy, The Foundation advances teaching excellence and high achievement in every classroom, at every school, for every child.

Simply complete the online form or paper form and The Foundation will do the rest! You will receive an acknowledgement for your gift and your loved one(s) will receive a card with a message that a donation has been made in his/her honor.

Donate online | Print a form to get started, click here.