LPS teacher named finalist for State Teacher of the Year

A Lawton Public Schools teacher has been nominated as a finalist for State Teacher of the Year.

Overby, who teaches kindergarten at Eisenhower Elementary in Lawton, said Thursday it meant a lot to be nominated for the award.

“I will say that I work hard, but I really have an amazing team here,” Overby said. “It feels good to represent our school because it’s an amazing school. I’m really excited to just be part of the teaching profession at this point.”

Overby, as well as the students and faculty, were surprised when the Eisenhower High School drumline performed while walking toward her classroom. Students and faculty were lined up against the wall while the faculty were watching from the office. Following the drumline were LPS administrators and other media professionals.

Overby said the nomination is a recognition that she’s working outside and inside the community.

“I work in the community so I do a lot of things outside of school,” Overby said. “I don’t know if my kids are really going to understand what it means and everything, but just the community saying, ‘Oh, she’s doing things not just outside, but inside too.’”

Overby said she’s been teaching for five years. She has won LPS Teacher of the Year and Rookie of the Year in previous years. This will be her first nomination for State Teacher of the Year.

Finalists were initially selected by their peers at their school site, then by district leadership as their district’s Teacher of the Year. The finalists will be interviewed and evaluated by a panel of Oklahomans to determine the state Teacher of the Year.