Sanford Jackson Named OKCPS 2006-2007 Teacher of the Year

At the annual Stars of Education celebration on Tuesday, April 18, more than 900 people inside the Cox Business Services Convention Center jumped to their feet as the 2006-2007 Oklahoma City Public Schools District Teacher of the Year was announced.

Sanford Jackson, Science Teacher at Taft Middle School, took home the top honor. Having been an educator for 13 years, Jackson has been at Taft for the last six years, all in the science classroom. Mr. Jackson feels that properly teaching each student helps bring about meaningful learning that will last for generations.
 

Choking back tears, Sanford Jackson thanked his principal, Lisa Johnson for “providing the staff development that helps him do his job.” He also thanked his wife Angela and his daughter Cassidy for letting him “try science experiments at home before bringing them to the classroom.”

As OKCPS Teacher of the Year, Jackson receives $2,000 and his school receives $700 to help students continue the quality education they receive in Jackson’s classroom. He also receives other donated gifts and will represent Oklahoma City Public Schools at the state level when he competes for State Teacher of the Year this fall.

Sharing the spotlight with Jackson were the District Teacher of the Year 1^st runner-up, Gene Williams from Emerson High School, and 2^nd runner-up Christie Barris from Prairie Queen Elementary.   

“Oklahoma City’s youth benefit from the unselfish efforts of these educators,” says Superintendent of Schools Bob Moore. “They all continue to prove the Oklahoma City School District has tremendous teachers with incredible credentials.”

Presented by the OKCPS Foundation, Greater OKC Chamber and OKCPS, the 2006 Stars of Education event also recognized outstanding teachers, support personnel, student scholarship winners and grant recipients throughout this school year.