LPS Teachers of the Year celebrated Friday

A Spanish teacher at MacArthur Middle School and a teacher at Brockland Learning Center were recognized as Teachers of the Year during the Lawton Public Schools Celebration on Friday at Lawton High School.

Shaelynn Jones, a Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Brockland Learning Center, was named Elementary Teacher of the Year; Carlos Irizarry, Spanish World Language teacher at MacArthur Middle School was named Secondary Teacher of the Year; TJ Williams, Kindergarten teacher at Whittier Elementary School was named First Class Teacher of the Year; and Gayle Marshall, office administrative assistant at Life Ready Center, was named Support Staff of the Year.

Superintendent Kevin Hime talked about how the Lawton community supports local educators.

“Ninety-nine percent of the community supports you as teachers,” he said.

Hime presented Friends of Education awards to two who consistently support education efforts — Clayton L. “Buddy” Green and Lupi Construction. Friends of Education awards are given to those who go above and beyond to support education and educators.

Those who won are:

Shaelynn Jones

Jones, who played school with her siblings at a young age to protect them from an alcoholic stepfather, has taught in Lawton Public Schools since August 2021.

“I told myself if I was lucky enough to win this award I would take a moment to soak it all in,” Jones said in her acceptance speech.

In her bio, Jones said she used old desks, brown/lined paper and chalkboards her grandparents, who both taught, brought from their classrooms. She said she taught her siblings to color inside the lines, how to hold scissors, how to write their names, sound out words, count objects, how to sing the ABCs, say the Pledge of Allegiance and how to recognize words that rhyme.

She gave special thanks Friday to her siblings, whom she called her first students.

“I spent countless hours forcing my siblings to play school,” she said Friday. “Soon, playing school turned into going to school.”

Her grandfather, whom she called Poppy, was a coach and high school math teacher and was one of several who started EDGE Alternative Academy in Stephens County. Her grandmother, Grammy, taught Home Economics until Jones was 8. Jones said her grandmother taught Jones and her siblings home skills.

“I have always known I wanted to be a teacher, just like the teachers before me,” Jones said in her bio. “I aspire to be even half as empowering as my Poppy was, teaching students of their potential and purpose. I actively try to be as gentle and loving as my Grammy was, teaching students how to be good citizens.”

In her remarks Friday, Jones said she wants to make sure every child feels safe.

“Every child deserves a cheerleader,” she said in accepting the award.

Carlos Irizarry

Irizarry, a native of New York, has taught in Lawton Public Schools since 2019, after teaching in New York City Public Schools for four years. He attributes his interest in education to his mother, who single-handedly raised him.

“Choosing to become a teacher was a decision fueled by my desire to honor my mother’s legacy, to give back to the community that shaped me, and to be the mentor and advocate that I once needed,” he said in his bio.

“Her example of determination, resilience, and commitment to giving me a better life inspired me profoundly,” he said in his bio. “She demonstrated the value of hard work, perseverance, and the importance of giving back to the community. Witnessing her daily sacrifices motivated me to strive for success, not just for myself but for the sake of making a difference in the lives of others.”

In his remarks Friday, Irizarry encouraged his fellow educators to show up each and every day.

“We know what it is to put in the effort. Sometimes we just want to dial it in, but let’s not,” he said. “I love education and I love business. I want to make sure our students are prepared for the real world. Let’s try our best to find the next teachers, the next coaches. This is our community, let’s do the best we can for our community. We really do hold the future in our hands. Hopefully more elective teachers will take it upon themselves to make an impact.”

TJ Williams

TJ Williams didn’t let dyslexia prevent her from pursuing a career in education. She started her career as a secretary at Whittier Elementary School in 2022.

“In May of 2023, TJ asked if I thought she would be someone I would hire as a classroom teacher. I assured her she would make an excellent teacher and bring to the profession the skills and dedication she showed while working as a secretary,” Principal Brenda Walker wrote in her nomination letter.

Walker said Williams was hired to teach kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year as an emergency certified teacher. Before leaving for summer break, she borrowed the kindergarten language arts and math teacher’s guides and asked for books on classroom management.

Due to her dyslexia, she was afraid she could not pass her state teacher education tests, Walker wrote. Walker said she passed the test last summer.

“I will tell you that her students thrived in class, and progress was made by all of them, including Mrs. Williams. Mrs. Williams continues to grow and learn every day. She wants to be an excellent teacher and it’s apparent that she is on her way. Her students are learning more than just reading and math. They are learning how to be persistent and dedicated and it’s thanks to Mrs. Williams,” Walker wrote in her nomination letter.

Gayle Marshall

Gayle Marshall has been employed by Lawton Public Schools for more than 22 years. She began her career with LPS as a media secretary at Tomlinson Middle School, then became office administrator when Tomlinson became the Life Ready Center.

She said the people are what inspires her.

“The kids, they are always up to something,” she said in a video interview. “Service to me means being able to help people accomplish whatever it is they are trying to accomplish. The children make me smile. The looks on their faces, the things they say, the things they wear, the way they interact with each other. I try to love on them in a nice way while still getting on to them. I think it’s because I miss my kids. My kids are all grown and now there are no kids at home and so now I get to have everybody else’s kids.”

Marshall came to the Lawton/Fort Sill community from Fort Hood, Texas, in 1995. She worked as a substitute teacher in Germany and Texas and began as a substitute teacher before becoming a media secretary at Tomlinson.

The finalists received awards and monetary prizes. Donations from Lawton businesses this year totaled $41,544.