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Finalists Selected for District Teacher of the Year 2025

Top 5 Finalists Graphic 2025
Anna Aguilar

Moore Public Schools announced teachers as the Top 5 Finalists for the 2024-25 District Teacher of the Year.

Moore Public Schools surprised five teachers this week as the Top 5 Finalists for the 2024-25 District Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced during the Excellence in Education Ceremony on April 10.
 
The five finalists were selected from among all MPS school site 2024-25 Teachers of the Year who were selected in the fall. The winner will compete for the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s Oklahoma Teacher of the Year honor, to be announced in the fall.
 
MPS Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines, Social Studies/Business Education Coordinator David Burton, and multiple administrative staff members surprised each of the finalists in-person with large banners and applause from students and colleagues. 
 
JonGee-TOYFinalist
Jon Gee teaches math at Central Junior High. He holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Oklahoma. Gee has served as the Math Department Chair since 2016, he is a mentor teacher for CJH, and also helped pilot a Math Design Collaborative (MCD) program for Moore. He has been an educator for 18 years. 
 
Gee had influential elementary teachers while growing up, and one of his OU professors helped turn his heart toward teaching after he first thought he wanted a degree in musical theatre.
 
"My 5th grade homeroom class felt like being with family and I knew I wanted to have that kind of effect on students of my own," said Gee. 
 
Gee is also driven by his love for his son, Parker, who has Down Syndrome and Apraxia of Speech. Parker's need for processing time has encouraged him to be more patient with his students when they don't grasp concepts or need time to process.
 
"Teaching is clearly what I have been called to do. It is a calling because teaching is a servant’s position. Even though we are heads of our respective classrooms, we are serving our schools, our students and our communities," Gee said.
TobiGordon-TOYFinalist

 

Tobi Gordon is the 7th and 8th-grade Deaf Education teacher at Brink Junior High. She holds associate degrees in American Sign Language and Sign Language Interpreting through Oklahoma State University, a bachelor's of science degree in Sign Language Interpreting from Siena Heights University, a graduate certificate in Deaf Education through Missouri State University and a master's degree in Deaf Education through Flagler College. She is also the Brink esports sponsor. 

She holds professional memberships in the National Association of Interpreters in Education and is on the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf. She also served as an advisory member of the professional group Oklahoma Deaf Education. She is also highly involved in Cavett Kids, a nonprofit that works with kids who suffer from life-threatening or chronic illnesses. Gordon has worked with deaf and hard-of-hearing students for 14 years in K-12 classrooms. 

"Through my work (as an interpreter) I quickly came to feel that while my work was vital, I wanted to have an even deeper role in deaf and hard of hearing students' education," Gordon said.

She continued, "My work as both a deaf education teacher and educational interpreter has allowed me to make meaningful contributions to the teaching profession by mentoring future educators, fostering collaboration among staff, and advocating for inclusive and accessible, student-centered practices."

MichelleLaw-TOYFinalist

Michelle Law teaches Special Education, English Language Arts (ELA) and math at Heritage Trails Elementary. She holds two bachelor's of science degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University; one in Mental Retardation and another in Learning Disabilities. Over her 27 years as an elementary educator, Law has served as a department head and as a trainer and facilitator for Special Education professional development. 

Law has worked with special needs children since she was eight, when her little sister, Candi, was born with Down Syndrome. She worked closely with her sister until she went to college when she realized she wanted to work in education with special needs children. After college, she was hired as a teacher at MPS to work alongside her sister's former teachers, who became her mentors.  
 
"The biggest impact on the teaching profession I have is the support I give to those who are new to special education or new teachers. I am willing to share what I know in a way that new teachers can take the information and build processes and plans that will fit their teaching style and needs in the classroom," said Law. 
 
LoriNewmark_TOYFinalist_24-25
Lori Newmark teaches STEAM for K-6th graders at Oakridge Elementary. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Oklahoma State University and is National Board Certified as an Elementary Childhood Generalist. She has been an educator for 30 years. She holds multiple professional memberships with the OK Writing Project, OK Ag in the Classroom and FIRST Lego League. 
 
After high school, Newmark worked with the National Cheerleading Association as a lead director for dance camps across the U.S. She made lessons and worked with students from elementary to high school. When she got into college, she kept thinking about how rewarding that time was and decided that education was her pathway. She was the first in her family to finish college and became a model for her sister and her Mom to finish their degrees. 
 
"My job is never done. There is always something new to learn, a new resource to share, a new method of teaching – all with real-world issues. My kids are excited when I go to a workshop because they know it opens new opportunities for learning for all of us.
 
"The world is changing every day, and I want my students to be prepared, to know as much as possible, and to be successful in whatever they decide to do," said Newmark.

 

Tamara Woodring teaches 6th-grade Math at Briarwood Elementary. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from OU and a master's degree in Early Childhood. She is also National Board Certified as a Middle Childhood Generalist and has been an educator for 34 years. 

TammyWoodring-TOYFinalist

She attended MPS as a student and said many of her teachers influenced her decision to become an educator. She applied for positions in Moore and has stayed with the district.  

"I feel my greatest contributions and accomplishments are being able to form bonds and develop relationships with my students and provide them a safe environment to flourish.

"Students will learn more when they make a connection with you. My ability to relate to students and connect with them is what makes me most effective as a teacher," she said.