Published: April 08, 2008 07:00 am      

Teacher of the Year reception Wednesday

The spotlight will shine on Woodward’s teachers Wednesday in the Josie Adams Cultural Center.

Woodward’s Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Woodward News Teacher of the Year Reception. The event runs from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Teacher of the Year finalists are Jo Lynn Love, Mandy Rowley, Jim Hunt, Cheryl Lucas, Mary Servis and Danna Farley. The teacher of the year in 2007 was Brenda Gartrell.

And while the finalists will be honored and recognized, the reception is for all teachers and anyone else who wants to come and recognize their achievements and contributions to the community and the children.

“Education is very important to all of us and we need to treasure our teachers – all of them,” said Woodward News Publisher Pam Nelson. “We have some of the best teachers in the state and this is a chance for everyone in the community to come and honor them.”

The Teacher of the Year will receive a gift package that includes a trip to an Oklahoma State Park and Resort, plus gift certificates and much, much more. Over 40 businesses are taking part in the project.

For over 20 years, the Woodward News has put together the special gift package for the teacher of the year and the reception was added in 2003. Woodward was one of the first communities in Oklahoma to offer a significant gift package to its teacher of the year.

“We are pleased to continue the tradition of offering gift packages for the teacher of the year,” Nelson said. “And businesses throughout the community have once again demonstrated their outstanding support for the project.”

In addition to the gift package, the local teacher of the year winner will be eligible to compete for state honors. Mary Jane Bassett of Woodward was named state teacher of the year in 1993 and several other local recipients have been among the top 10 finalists.

Several students will attend the reception and speak during the ceremony. They include Taylor Harrison, Riley Denton, Amelia Williamson, Travis Howell, Jaci Hodges, Jason Alexander, Mikala Wynn, Samantha Hickman, Riley Pagett, Rachel Benbrook, Alysha Castor and Leah Radke.