Teachers of the Year unleash educational greatness for Lawton students

To hear Lawton Public Schools teachers of the year share their stories, it’s a miracle they’re even here.

But the common thread between them is that, through others who made a difference, they, too, are now making a difference in the lives of their students.

During Friday’s LPS “Celebration!” at the Eisenhower Middle School auditorium, the theme to this year’s Teacher of the Year ceremonies was “Unleashing the Greatness.”

For Lawton High School math and media production teacher and coach Jeff Elbert, he said it was God who gave him the grace to grow from being a 14-year-old who joined a gang to becoming a homeless drug addict 10 years ago to becoming an educator and mentor for young people.

“God is good, God exists,” he said. “I thank God every day.”

When his name was called as Secondary Teacher of the Year, cheers erupted and his student sponsor who’d spoken of Elbert’s impact, Jonathan Acevedo, erupted from his seat and cheered his mentor to the stage furiously. In his testimonial about Elbert’s impact, he spoke of being a kid without confidence who now knows he, too, can make a difference.

“These kids make us who we are at the end of the day,” Elbert said. “I know I make a difference and my kids love me. The recipe for that is to treat them like human beings.”

For Elementary Teacher of the Year, Freedom Elementary first-grade teacher Gina Hinton credits her school family and understanding the mission of being a school on the military post as her guideline.

“I would not be here without the staff and faculty,” she said. “Freedom students are resilient; our educators are resilient.”

Hinton knows about resiliency. She shared her story of being an orphan in Korea. Scarred from abuse and quiet, not knowing her own name or birthday, the faith her adopted mother had when choosing her, is the faith she said she carries to her students.

“To the woman who did not give me life but gave me a life, I say thank you, mom,” she said. “This is why I teach.”

Superintendent Kevin Hime opened the day’s ceremony, saying it was an exciting day. In the past, the honoring would be at the end of the school year but this year called for a change. With classes out for Christmas break, it allowed for all the district’s teachers and staff to be on hand for the celebration.

“This is the first time we have all the staff there to help us recognize our winners,” he said.

Last year’s Elementary Teacher of the Year Stephanie Overby and Secondary Teacher of the Year Alisha Cortes had fun with their short-term reign. With great humor, Overby reminded the incoming nominees they would be sharing the award with them through the end of the school year.

“A few, short months ago we were teachers of the year,” she said. “We’re not upset about it, we still got the checks.”

In selecting the “First Class” award, LPS awards outstanding new teachers in the first year of their careers. In selecting Lincoln Elementary fifth-grade teacher Kiyoko McCracken, the smiling face of the future danced and hopped to receive her award. In one year, her “enthusiasm, dedication, and unwavering commitment to education” has created a ripple effect throughout her school, according to Principal Oscar Castro.

It takes more than teachers to make an impact for successful students, Hime said. It was in that spirit that Alicia Gouveia was selected as Educational Support Person of the Year. In her 49th year with LPS, she has and continues to make a difference.

Unable to keep from crying at the honoring, Gouveia’s tears were shed from the joy of knowing she has made a difference. That’s the signature of one who strives to make others’ lives better.

That’s the reason “Unleashing Greatness” is the theme to this annual “Celebration!”