OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — The 10 finalists for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year were recognized Friday during a ceremony at the State Capitol hosted by House Common Education Chairman Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, with each finalist receiving a check provided by the Masonic Charity Foundation.
Lowe, who also participated in finalist interviews earlier in the day as part of the 2026 selection committee, praised the educators’ work in classrooms and communities across the state.
“It’s an honor to recognize these outstanding educators who are making a real difference in the lives of Oklahoma students every single day,” Lowe said. “The impact of these educators reaches far beyond test scores and directly shapes the character of and opportunities for the next generation.”
Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, chair of the Senate Education Committee and Education Subcommittee, also congratulated the finalists, calling them “the very best of their profession” and thanking them “for your passion and for being shining examples of excellence in Oklahoma schools.”
The 2026 Teacher of the Year will be announced in June.
2026 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalists
- Vanessa Jones, Bethel High School (Bethel)
- Serena Neely, Will Rogers Elementary (Shawnee)
- Tracie Grunewald, Oklahoma Virtual High School, Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy
- Tobi Gordon, Brink Junior High School (Moore)
- Mary Tyree, Alva High School (Alva)
- Ellie Pryor, Cedar Heights, Highland Park and Horace Mann Elementary (Woodward)
- LeeAnn Pressler, Central Middle School (Bartlesville)
- Kasey Bennett, Northwest Heights Elementary (Durant)
- Keely Flynn, Lindbergh Elementary, Tulsa Public Schools (Tulsa)
- Elizabeth Reed, Owasso Eighth Grade Center (Owasso)
