Oklahoma Teacher of the Year to speak at NSU Celebration of Teaching

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--On Tuesday, March 3, the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, Sean McComb will speak at the Northeastern State University Celebration of Teaching in Tahlequah. Jason Proctor, the 2015 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, will also be there, serving as moderator for a panel discussion.

The Celebration of Teaching program has the mission of assisting public school students, especially minorities, to have early, positive experiences with college and those who educate teachers. NSU hosts this annual event in hopes that many of the students who attend will chose a career path in education.

The program will take place in the NSU Center for Performing Arts, starting at 9:45 a.m. and conclude at 1:45 p.m. at the University Center. The presentation by McComb and panel discussion are open to the public and will run until 11:45 a.m.Lunch, numerous hands-on, interactive workshops for students and teachers and an opportunity to learn more about college life will be provided for those who have registered.

The keynote speaker of the event, McComb is a high school English teacher from Baltimores Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts. With only eight years of experience in the classroom, 30-year-old professional is now one of the youngest Teachers of the Year recipients to date.

McComb takes every opportunity to get his students excited about learning, however, this was not always the case for him growing up. McComb experienced a chaotic home life, and it wasn't until high school, when two of his teachers took extra interest in ensuring his success that his passion for learning ignited. These teachers were compassionate about McCombs situation; however, they held him accountable for holding himself to high standards. Now, McCombs carries the motto, Kids before content and love before all as an educator.

Jason Proctor, one of Tahlequahs very own, has been in education for 13 years, serving as a math instructor at Tahlequah High School for the past nine years.

Proctor approaches learning from a multi-directional point of view, encouraging his students to participate in active discussions and debates with one another. Although math classes are generally the most dreaded for many students, Proctors ability to make the subject matter engaging, simple and approachable has many students at THS are signing up for tough courses such as AP Calculus.

The panel discussion that Proctor will be moderating will be comprised of Oklahoma Teachers of the Year finalists Diane Walker, History teacher at Muskogee High School and Tonya Boyle, fifth grade teacher at H. Cecil Rhoades Elementary School in Broken Arrow, Norman High School Teacher of the Year, Shawn Sheehan, a special education teacher, and Heritage Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Lezlie Gilbert, a second grade teacher.

For those interested in registering or for more information, please contact Dr. Tobi Thompson at thompsto@nsuok.eduor by calling 918-444-3749.