The Woodward News

Local News

September 19, 2012

Fairview math teacher wins state honor

Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — By Cass Rains

CNHI News Service



A math teacher from Fairview was named 2013 Teacher of the Year.

Elaine Hutchison was honored Tuesday morning during a ceremony at the Oklahoma State Fair with State Superintendent Janet Barresi.

“I am absolutely thrilled to give this title to Ms. Hutchison,” Barresi said. “I have to believe her enthusiasm for preparing students for jobs and the real world outside of high school, and her passion for her subject matter were deciding factors for the judges. I would like to stress, however, that all of our finalists bring unique gifts to the children of our state, and each are worthy of this high honor.”

Hutchison teaches at Fairview High School, Chamberlain Middle School and Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Regional Center.

“Teachers have an incredible, purpose-driven mission that merges the responsibility and power to shape the future in ways impossible to other professions,” Hutchison wrote in the portfolio considered by the Teacher of the Year selection committee. “Changing education’s future is up to us.”

A 19-year teacher, Hutchison started teaching at Fairview in 1994, then went to Pioneer Public Schools for three years. She returned to Fairview in 1998 and stayed until 2001. She took a year off and then returned to Fairview in 2002.

She teaches algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus and advanced placement calculus and also is an assistant girls basketball coach.

Fairview Superintendent Rocky Burchfield said Hutchison’s involvement with education and the community was “diverse and unique.”

“She’s an exemplary teacher who models what commitment really means,” he said. “We’re very proud of her.”

Twelve finalists were selected from a committee made up of teachers, parents and community members. A state committee that includes education, business and civic leaders selected the winner.

The Teacher of the Year will receive more than $50,000 in cash and prizes and serves as the state’s “Ambassador of Teaching” for one year. The winner also represents Oklahoma in the national Teacher of the Year competition.

“I believe that teacher quality is the most essential ingredient in determining student achievement,” Hutchison also wrote in her portfolio. “Great teachers have high expectations, are passionate about the content they teach, continuously strive to improve their teaching and enthusiastically model life-long learning.”

Woodward’s Lee Ann Stone, a kindergarten teacher at the Early Childhood Center, was one of the finalists.

In 1994, Mary Jane Bassett, of Woodward, won the honor  and Betsy Mabry, of Enid, had it the year before. The last teacher from Fairview to take home the honor was Geraldine Burns in 1987.

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