(OKLAHOMA CITY – Feb. 15) The Oklahoma Supreme Court will recognize Laverne Elementary teacher Janet Cook as Teacher of the Year and Ada High School as School of the Year at an awards ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 20 in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the State Capitol building.

As the Teacher of the Year, Cook will receive a $1,000 stipend and a plaque for her excellence in teaching citizenship skills.

Cook, who teaches fourth grade, has been heavily involved in the Project Citizen program for several years. The program is a civic education curriculum designed to involve students in public policymaking. Every year, Cook’s students choose an issue they want to address. A few areas they have covered include the need for a local skate park, improving the city park’s playground equipment and bullying. The students are responsible for researching, conducting surveys and listing practical solutions. They present their findings to either the school board or town board.

After being involved with Project Citizen for several years, Cook was asked to be a regional coordinator for the program. She has attended and presented workshops on the program, and in January 2006, she traveled to the Czech Republic and Slovakia to share her knowledge with European teachers.

Cook said the community of Laverne has presented her with one of the most effective teaching tools – its people.

“I believe that bridging the gap between the classroom and the real world is of utmost importance in today’s world. No longer is it enough for our children to learn ‘reading, writing and ‘rithmetic,’ but they must learn how to use critical thinking skills to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” she said.

In her nomination form, Laverne Elementary Principal Tawn Rundle said Cook’s passion for learning has had a major impact on everyone in the Laverne School System.

“She provides a caring and enriched learning environment where students are not afraid to become risk takers. Through her sharing of what she has learned, her enthusiasm and unselfishness in mentoring others, she has impacted the rest of our faculty and their students,” Rundle said.

As School of the Year, Ada High School will receive a $1,000 stipend and plaque recognizing the school and students for their achievement.

The Ada High School Leadership Program began in 2002 with an enrollment of 25 students who focused on citizenship, community government, service and character growth. Today, the program has grown to include more than 120 students, and many other schools across Oklahoma have adopted similar programs. The Ada program is directed by Krystal Joplin. Students in Joplin’s class develop projects that have benefited Ada High School and the surrounding community. Some of these include “Project Ignition,” a county-wide safe driving program for teens and “Empty Bowls,” a soup dinner that raised money and created awareness of the Matthew 25 Food Bank.

The leadership students regularly volunteer with United Way projects. They frequently attend Ada City Council meetings and are often asked to make presentations at civic meetings. The students also are involved with mentoring programs at the Ada Boys and Girls Club.

The leadership class has received many awards for its programs, including a statewide Spirit of Service Award and the Outstanding Service to the Community Award from the Ada Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, Ada High School became the first public high school in Oklahoma to require school and community service for graduation.

Paula Kedy, director of curriculum for Ada City Schools, said Joplin and Ada High School Principal Charles Golightly should be praised for their commitment to the program.

“Many schools would not see fit to hire a teacher whose day is spent teaching leadership,” Kedy said. “However, I feel the Ada High School Leadership Program is creating lifelong learners, citizens who will shoulder the responsibility in communities throughout our state for years to come.”

Developed through the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Law-Related Education (LRE) Committee, the awards recognize teachers and schools that develop creative, innovative approaches and programs in citizenship education. The LRE program is committed to emphasizing the concepts of good citizenship. For more information, contact OBA/LRE Coordinator Jane McConnell at (405) 416-7024 or e-mail janem@okbar.org.