Photos by Jennifer Rushing
Teachers chose Dalan Larason as Madill Schools teacher of the year Monday night. Other site teachers of the year Derinda Williams, Martha Gaylor and Mandy Clement were recognized and the late Sandra Phillips was the honorary teacher of the year.
Click to Watch Teacher of Year Presentation on Demand from Feb. 11
Madill School Board president Mike Mathis (left) and middle school principal Gaylynn Smith (right) present Dalan Larason (middle) with the teacher of the year award Feb. 11 at the Wildcat Fieldhouse.
Dalan Larason has been named the Madill Middle School Teacher of the Year. Mr. Larason received his Bachelor of Science Education and Master of Education in Reading Specialties. This is his 29th year to teach. Over those years he has taught 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades. He currently teaches 6th Grade Life/Physical Science. Mr. Larason is actively involved with the Madill Church of Christ and has been for the last 17 years. He served as a deacon there in various capacities helping with education, widows/shut-ins, building renovations and Hispanic relations. He has done construction/medical aid mission work in Honduras. Mr. Larason also has taught a Sunday morning Bible class at the Brookside Nursing Home for the last 10 years. He won the 2018-2019 MMS chili cook-off challenge. He has noted that he has ever-increasing grey highlights and a receding hairline that won’t quit. His four year old granddaughter, Carys, calls him “Pa” and thinks he is the ultimate hide and go seek partner.
Madill School Board president Mike Mathis (left) and elementary principal Devin Birdsong (right) present Martha Gaylor (middle) with the site teacher of the year award
Martha Gaylor has been named the Madill Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She received her Bachelor’s Degree and Masters in Reading at Southeastern Oklahoma University. Mrs. Gaylor began her teaching career 41 years ago at Valliant, Oklahoma teaching high school English and Speech. Later, she moved to Madill where she has taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, reading, and the last three years ELL. Over the years, Mrs. Gaylor has tried making learning fun and most importantly instill a love of reading with each of her students. Reading is the foundation of everything. In her spare times, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves her pets and Oklahoma Sooner football. Mrs. Gaylor is a member of Madill Church of Christ and Madill Daughters. She has two sons, Jeff and wife, Elizabeth Gaylor and Barry Gaylor. She was married to Rick Gaylor.
Madill School Board president Mike Mathis (left) and early childhood center principal Elissa Cox (right) present Derinda Williams (middle) with the site teacher of the year award
Derinda Williams has been named the Madill Early Childhood Center Teacher of the Year. She received her Bachelor’s in Physical Ed./Health/Safety and is certified in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Williams is currently in her 14th year of teaching kindergarten at the Early Childhood Center. Prior to being in the classroom, she spent 12 years coaching gymnastics and helping teach martial arts. Ms. Williams has served as grade level chair and mentor. She has tutored and taught after school. In the past, she has coached gymnastics and martial arts, along with earning her black belt. Ms. Williams is active in her church, serving on mission trips and in women's ministries. She has been a sponsor at Falls Creek camp, taught at sports camps and Bible school. She also has also coached Upwards basketball.
Madill School Board president Mike Mathis (left) and high school principal Jason Ward present Mandy Clement (middle) with the site teacher of the year award
Mandy Clement has been named Madill High School Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Clement received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Masters in Psychology. She is certified in American History, Geography, Ok History, World History, and U. S. Government. Mrs. Clement taught one year at Wilburton High School. She began teaching at Madill High School in the fall of 1993. She became the High School Counselor during the 2011 - 2012 school year, and is currently still serving in this capacity. Mrs. Clement is a member of the American School Counselors Association, the Oklahoma School Counselors Association, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling. She volunteers as the MHS Graduation Coordinator, Varsity Basketball Official Score Keeper, Track Lead Timer and Finish Line Coordinator. She is also the Asst. Director of the Winter Classic Tournament and is a member of First Baptist Church.
Madill School Board president Mike Mathis, Wanda Anderson and Lisa Jackson present the late Sandra Phillips’ family with the honorary teacher of the year award. Phillips’ sister Susan, daughters Liz, Jessie, niece Brook, daughter Bethani and husband Perry accepted the award
Sandra Phillips has been named the Honorary Teacher of the Year for Madill Public Schools. Sandra graduated from Texas A & M, Commerce, Texas, with her bachelor’s degree, and she received her master’s degree from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma . She worked for several years as a licensed family counselor. She later obtained her teaching certificate in special education and came to Madill Schools, eight years ago, as one of the middle school special education teachers.
Sandra was a collaborative and dedicated team player who was instrumental in bringing success through individual improvement in ALL students. While teaching in the summer school and after school programs, she was especially successful in restoring self-esteem and understanding of the students with special needs to those in the regular education classroom. During the school year, Sandra taught students with severe and persistent learning and behavior challenges in her self-contained classroom while monitoring and successfully implementing interventions for students with learning disabilities. She was a strong advocate for her students and never gave up on them even when other people had. She truly loved each student she taught.
During the past year, as she was going through her battle with cancer, her dedication to her teaching career and her students was very evident. After her passing, we needed her passwords reset, George re-set it as Fighter 1, which we thought was very appropriate. Sandra was truly a fighter. She continued to teach, and on her planning periods, a lot of the time, she would lie down and rest, then go outside and do her recess duty. She never complained about her health, even though she was suffering with pain. She loved supporting Special Olympics and taking students to the events. Her last day at the school was the horse shoe event with Special Olympics. She truly loved her “school” children.
In her spare time, Sandra loved spending time with her family, watching anything that Texas A & M was participating in, cooking for her loved ones, and reading.
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