The days at Tahlequah Public Schools go so quickly!! The final quarter of the 2023-2024 school year began on March 11th. There are 42 teaching days in this final quarter and by the time this is in print only 31 days will remain. We are ready to finish strong! The 520 plus employees that work at TPS are committed to doing everything possible to make school a success for every student, every day!
Every year Tahlequah Public School recognizes a Teacher of the Year at each site and at the district level. Teachers must have three years of experience at TPS and must be nominated and voted on by their peers at their site. After this process, all site teachers of the year are then interviewed by our professional development committee and a District Teacher of the Year is chosen.
The Site Teachers of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year have been chosen. These include Toni Felts at Sequoyah PK, Randi Roberts at Cherokee ES, Leslie Richardson at Greenwood ES, Kim Parker at Heritage ES, Misty Boston at Tahlequah MS, and Heather Willis at Tahlequah HS.
District Teacher of the Year interviews were held, and the professional development committee selected Heather Willis as the Tahlequah Public School’s 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year. Congratulations!
Site winners receive a $200 stipend, and the district winner receives $500. The winners are also honored at a district reception and receive a plaque. The TPS District Teacher of the Year will now apply for the Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year. We are immensely proud of Ms. Willis and are excited for the rest of the state to learn what an amazing and dedicated teacher she is!
This month on April 11th from 4:00-7:00 pm is our final Parent-Teacher Conference of the year. Please watch for information from your individual sites to make an appointment to see your child’s teacher(s). Parents and families are our most valuable partner. Please also ask about or find our Parent Survey online or on Facebook. We need your input! Feedback is vital for us to improve as a district.
In May every year, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. At TPS, we celebrate all employees at this time. This year the week is May 6th through the 10th. We are honored that our 522 employees choose to be a part of the Tahlequah work family. Working with students every day is a calling and we are confident that we have the best! Please take the time to tell the school employees that work with your child they are doing an excellent job! Your kind words are more important than you know.
Thank you for trusting us with your children. We are committed to making their educational experience the best one possible. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, I am available. You may contact me by phone at 918.458.4100 or by email at jonest@tahlequahschools.org. Thank you and remember, “Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger!”
Written by Tanya Jones/Superintendent