Kimberly McCallum, a second grade teacher and STEM Club coordinator at Liberty Elementary STEM Academy, was named Sapulpa Public Schools’ District Teacher of the Year during a celebration Friday evening.
Superintendent Rob Armstrong announced the honor during the annual Teacher and Support Employee of the Year banquet at First Baptist Church of Sapulpa.
McCallum, who has taught at Liberty Elementary for 14 years, said she is humbled and honored to receive the recognition.
“I wanted to be a teacher at Liberty when I was living overseas,” McCallum said. “I saw the school’s website and this is where I wanted to be. I couldn’t have told anybody why I wanted to be here. But 14 years on, my head now knows what my heart knew back then — that it is a blessing to teach here.”
Liberty Elementary Principal Jazzman Musgrove praised McCallum’s commitment to students and families.
“Miss McCallum is such an amazing teacher. She creates a family environment in the classroom,” Musgrove said. “When it’s a student’s birthday, she brings them their favorite cake to celebrate. She constantly communicates with families and maintains relationships for years.”
In addition to her classroom work, McCallum leads annual STEM Club trips, giving students hands-on learning experiences across the country focused on natural resources, ecosystems and the environment.
“There is an understanding that comes when you experience something firsthand that you don’t take away just from a book,” McCallum said.
Sapulpa Junior High custodian Shelby Kling was named the SPS/United Sapulpa Educators Support Employee of the Year. Kling has worked for the district for seven years.
“There’s a real sense of support and teamwork,” Kling said. “It feels like everyone is working toward the same goal. At the Junior High especially, the staff are some of the best people I’ve worked with, and being part of that team makes coming to work something I look forward to.”
The banquet brought together community members, business and civic leaders, district administrators and families to celebrate site teachers of the year and support employee finalists.
Each finalist received a personal citation from State Sen. Todd Gollihare and State Rep. Mark Lawson, along with monetary awards and gift baskets made possible through community sponsorships.
Ted Fisher and Dedra Belden from SeneGence International joined First United Bank Vice President Kirk Bartgis and Judge Rick Woolery of the Sapulpa Public Schools Education Foundation in recognizing honorees and presenting monetary awards.
The district’s Teacher of the Year is selected through a multi-month process. Each school site names a Teacher of the Year, who then submits a portfolio outlining their experience and teaching philosophy. A committee reviews submissions and conducts interviews before selecting the district winner based on a scoring rubric.
Armstrong said the program stands out as one of the best in the state, thanks to strong community support. Cash donations alone totaled nearly $32,000.
Sapulpa Public Schools recognized the following sponsors for their support: SeneGence International, Sapulpa Public School Foundation, American Heritage Bank, First United Bank, Reed Architecture & Interiors, Cherokee Pride Construction, American Fidelity, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, First Baptist Church of Sapulpa, Whole Foods, Wimpy’s Sandwich Shoppe and Zips Car Wash.
First Baptist Church of Sapulpa hosted the event. Students from Sapulpa High School’s Culinary Arts Department, led by instructor Christine Linder, along with other student volunteers, served the meal.
Other finalists for Support Employee of the Year included transportation secretary Raelyn McDonald, Freedom Elementary custodian Heather Whisenhunt and Sapulpa Middle School Title I assistant Renee Adkins. Site Teachers of the Year in addition to McCallum included Rosemary Hill from Sapulpa Junior High School, Ryan Wright from Bartlett Academy, Mary Lollis from Sapulpa Middle School, Brett Mercer from Freedom Elementary, Megan Loghry from Jefferson Heights Elementary, and Kari Peterson from Holmes Park Elementary.