Teacher of the Month: Karla Cunningham

Jane Phillips Coordinator Claims Monthly Honor

by Tim Hudson

BMonthly is pleased to announce that our Teacher of the month is Jane Phillips Student and Family Support Coordinator Karla Cunningham. Karla has been teaching for 32 years at Jane Phillips Elementary School. She started as a fourth grade teacher before becoming the school’s Instructional Coach. As most are aware, all our Teachers of the Month are the result of suggestions and nominations from readers. Karla has been a favorite for a few months. We were glad to be able to feature Karla and had the opportunity to sit down with her for a few questions:

What’s your favorite part about being a teacher?

A: My favorite part about teaching is building relationships with the kids and making creative units and lessons that kids will get excited about.

What made you want to get into education?

A: I became a teacher because my mother was a teacher. She began her teaching career at Lincoln Elementary School, in Bartlesville. She spent many years in Woodward, teaching second grade. I would go to her classroom and work with her students. Her love of teaching and the dedication she gave to her students inspired me to pursue a career in education as well.

Can you give us a story where you felt like you made a difference in a students life?

A: When I was teaching fourth grade at Jane Phillips, I started a field trip to Oklahoma State University. We took all the fourth graders and toured the campus and attended a football game. I have had several students tell me how that made a difference in their life, and that it gave them a goal to work towards and to achieve. I also had a former student that gave me the nicest compliment and thanked me for sparking his interest in NASA and space travel. He is now a welder and has worked on many NASA space projects. The latest project is the Cimarron’s Starliner. I am so proud of him. That is why a teacher must build relationships with their students and make learning FUN!

What do you wish more people knew about the education system?

A: The education system is rewarding, however, a dedicated teacher that wants to make a difference in children’s lives puts in many hours before and after school preparing creative lessons and units to hook their students to learning — it is not a nine to five job. Also, teachers are seeing more kids facing situations in their lives that some teachers or others have never faced before.

What are your plans for the future?