Donna Gradel, 2018 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, has officially launched her yearlong tour of Oklahoma, vowing to visit schools in all 77 counties by June 30.

Gradel has been speaking across the state since assuming her full-time Teacher of the Year duties July 1, but with the new school year now in full swing, her focus is connecting with teachers in their classrooms. Last week, she visited Putnam Heights Elementary in Oklahoma City Public Schools and Putnam City West High School in Putnam City Schools.

“This is the ‘Year of the Teacher’ in Oklahoma,” Gradel said. “Despite a shortage of funds for over a decade, there are so many tremendous teachers in Oklahoma who remain devoted to providing the best possible learning opportunities for their students. They deserve to be recognized and respected for their hard work and commitment to excellence, and we must acknowledge the power of teaching and the positive impact our teachers are having across the state.”

Gradel aims to celebrate exceptional teacher initiatives or education projects through social media and to personally encourage teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, especially emergency-certified teachers who are new to the classroom.

“I hope to meet as many educators as possible to express gratitude and appreciation for their dedication,” said Gradel, who uses the hashtag #yearoftheteacherOK. “I want to hear their concerns and highlight their achievements.”

An environmental science teacher from Broken Arrow High School, Gradel has already visited a few schools in northeastern Oklahoma.

“One commonality I have found, regardless of grade level, socio-economics or geographical setting, is optimism. There is an underlying theme that the tide is changing and the needle is moving in the right direction,” Gradel said.

The Oklahoma Teacher of the Year remains in the classroom until the next school year. Becky Oglesby, a Yukon elementary art teacher, was named the 2019 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year at a Sept. 18 ceremony at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. She will begin her tour the state July 1.

Follow Gradel on Twitter @GradelBAHS. Read her blog at http://sde.ok.gov/sde/newsblogs/otoy.