LPS Teacher of Year makes elementary school a ‘saving grace’

School proved to be the saving grace of Shaelynn Jones and she wants to provide that kind of environment for her young students.

Jones, who teaches 4 year olds at Brockland Learning Center, was recently named Lawton Public Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year, an honor she never expected.

“I still can’t believe it,” she said. “I never in a million years thought it would be me. I froze, actually. My fiance was sitting next to me and he said, ‘You have to get up’.”

By her own admission, she grew up in a turbulent household, with an alcoholic adoptive father. In order to escape his outbursts and to protect her three younger siblings, she turned to playing school. As the eldest, she says she took on certain responsibilities for her siblings.

“I knew my mother couldn’t,” she said.

So she created a classroom in the sunroom next to her bedroom. There she had wooden desks and chalkboards provided by her grandparents, who were both teachers. In that makeshift classroom she taught her siblings how to color inside the lines, how to count, say the Pledge of Allegiance and sound out words.

“I took them in there when it was scary. It was all about protecting them and wanting them to learn. I didn’t want them to be out there,” she said.

Jones said her baby sister was really young, so she let her color.

“I told the other two, ‘You two, you are old enough. I want to see the letters’. My older brother says I tortured them,” she laughed as she sat in a small chair designed for a 4-year-old in her classroom at Brockland recently.

School became a haven for Jones from her chaotic family life.

“I knew there weren’t going to be any harsh consequences,” she said of attending school. “I didn’t want to mess up. I wanted everyone to be proud of me. That is ultimately what made me want to be a teacher.”

Jones said of those early days of playing school that she was just mimicking what she saw – her grandfather was a math teacher and her grandmother taught home economics. Her grandfather, whom she called Poppy, also was instrumental in starting the EDGE Alternative Academy in Stephens County.

“Poppy’s passion was in giving kids second chances,” she said. “It was his way to be real with them. He taught them it was time to believe in themselves.”

Taking a lesson from Poppy, Jones, too, learned to believe in herself when it came time to choose a career. Although she was drawn to teaching, she briefly considered public relations. She said she took one course, but, “I knew my heart wasn’t in it.”

She said her mother also tried to talk her out of becoming a teacher, telling her she would always be scrounging and saving.

“She said if I was going to be a teacher, I wouldn’t have any money,” Jones said.

But Jones persisted in following her dream and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education from Cameron University in 2019.

She began her teaching career at Bishop Public School in 2020, where she taught prekindergarten. She joined Lawton Public Schools in August 2021 and taught kindergarten at Freedom Elementary School until 2024. In August 2024, she began teaching pre-K at the newly opened Brockland Learning Center.

Jones said one incident in particular confirmed for her that she had made the right career choice.

She said a few years ago she had a young girl in her class who refused to leave when the last bell rang. After investigating, Jones learned that her parents fought regularly. Jones writes in her bio for the Teacher of the Year award that the girl told her she wanted to stay at school because she felt happy in Jones’ classroom and knew that Jones cared for her.

One morning the police showed up at Jones’ classroom before school started to inform her that the little girl’s mother had stabbed her father and that the girl wanted to be taken to Jones’ classroom.

“When they want to be with you in a traumatic event, that speaks volumes to the impact we have,” Jones said. “She just needed love. It was my life-changing moment. This is that moment I’ve been thinking about since becoming a teacher. I wanted her to feel safe here.”

Creating a safe, loving environment for all of her students is of paramount importance to Jones and one of the reasons she loves teaching prekindergarten students. While she wants to impart knowledge, that is not her primary focus.

“I want so badly to teach them to be good kids first. I want them to be a good citizen first and a good learner. It is important to start a good foundation for learning. Pre-K lays the foundation for the rest of school,” she said. “I want them to know that they can do hard things. No matter what happens, they can make it. I hope they know when they leave here that they are loved. When they know that, it changes their whole life.”

Brockland Principal Katie Caughron said Jones’ empathy is evident.

“When I think of Ms. Jones, I envision the epitome of a dedicated prekindergarten teacher. She is compassionate, nurturing, and always willing to assist, regardless of the time or effort required. Brockland’s first year has been a success, largely due to her unwavering dedication,” Caughron said.

While her students were happy that she was named Elementary Teacher of the Year — “They said, ‘Well, you are the best teacher’” — it is Poppy to whom her thoughts turn.

“I hope he would be proud,” she said. “He probably would say I need to teach them better math. He is why I am here. I saw that (the difference he made) and I wanted to be that, too. My Grammy is so proud. She’s glad I’m teaching skills like she did.”

And how do her first pupils feel about her award?

“My sister said, ‘I can’t live up to you.’ My brother said, ‘I guess torturing us paid off’,” Jones said with a laugh.

Being named Elementary Teacher of the Year is just one accomplishment in Jones’ life this year. Her son is attending Brockland this year, “his mommy was named Teacher of the Year” and she is getting married soon.