TAHLEQUAH —
In 2012, Lowrey Elementary School honored three teachers in different classroom grades as Teachers of the Year: Ella Proctor, Karla Kelley and Jennifer Swafford.
A decade ago, Swafford started her career teaching math at Lowrey.
“I enjoy teaching because of the interaction I have with the students,” Swafford said. “They make my job interesting and different every day.”
Working with students has unexpected moments at times; as most people know, kids can say anything.
“I have to admit that sometimes, I learn things from them, and I never know what that might be,” she said.
A desire to take away the fear of math motivated her to want to teach the often-challenging subject.
“I became a math teacher because I wanted to make math understandable for my students,” Swafford explained. “I have always found math not to be too difficult, and I wanted to be able to pass that along to my students so they could understand it and make it as easy for them as possible.”
The extended family aspect of rural schools is a perk new teachers sometimes don’t expect.
“It is great to teach at Lowrey, because we are like a family and we work very well together,” she said.
Being selected Teacher of the Year is always a pleasant surprise.
“When I found out I was chosen as a Teacher of the Year, I was humbled and honored,” Swafford said.
She offers words of encouragement to new teachers.
“My advice for new teachers would be to have fun with what you do, because students pick up on how you feel,” she said. “If you’re having fun, so will they. I would also encourage new teachers to be diversified in what they can teach, because it never hurts to be able to teach different subjects.”
Kelley teaches third grade at Lowrey, where she’s been employed 17 years. Her first 10 years she taught at Grand View Elementary.
“I’ve always loved kids,” Kelley said. “And [I enjoy] being a part of the kids’ learning success as they grow from the beginning of school to the year to the end of the school year.”
Kelley is a graduate of Northeastern State University.
When she found out she’d been chosen as a Teacher of the Year, she was excited and honored.
“All the teachers at Lowrey work hard all year long, and I feel they all deserve to receive the award,” she said.
She really appreciates her peers.
“The faculty, staff, and support personnel are very tight-knit,” she said. “We help each other out whenever needed.”
Kelley thinks Lowrey is a great school.
“Lowrey is the perfect size [for a] school,” she said. “The classroom student ratio is perfect in size, and you have more time to work one-on-one with students.”
Proctor was unable to sit for an interview due to a death in the family.
Features
Lowrey teachers consider profession a privilege
- Features
-
-
Area residents salute moms
Mothers give life, help their children discover joys in life, and offer life lessons.
-
Bright casuals in vogue for summer
Summer might seem like it will never come, but those 80-degree days will soon be in the weather forecast.
-
Art: For Cotton, anything else feels wrong
Art has a different meaning to each person, based on perception and experience, and whether the person is an artist or admirer.
-
Roots and Shoots lets kids help others
The sound of harp music floated along the stairs, greeting visitors who traveled to the second floor of the Northeastern State University library en route to a children’s art show Tuesday evening.
-
Rape victim’s story shows how VAWA can help
Victims of rape often experience a sense of shame, but when that feeling is compounded by first responders, the damage can be irreversible.
-
Theater evolving into music venue
The Dream Theater has long been an iconic segment of Tahlequah’s North Muskogee corridor, but what was once a popular silver-screen venue has lain mostly fallow in recent years.
-
Local memories are music to Garrett’s ears
A dream of better opportunities through education brings thousands of students to Tahlequah to attend Northeastern State University every year.
-
Men don heels as show of support
Men from all walks of life stepped out of their comfort zones Saturday, donning high heels to “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.”
-
Johnson aims for positive learning lessons
Teachers are often inspired to choose their profession because of their own early experiences as students in the classroom. Later, they want to encourage other students and pass on the positive learning lessons.
-
Volunteer enjoys helping young people, families
After retiring, some people find a hobby, others get a second career, and there are those who want to give back to their communities.
- More Features Headlines
-
Area residents salute moms
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
