Angela Reed walks through the halls of Eisenhower Elementary with a sense of purpose. Each step holds the confidence of someone who knows she is exactly where she was meant to be. 

“Just having connection with my students and knowing that I really am making a difference in their lives is definitely the best part of my job,” she says, with a smile across her face.

As a finalist for the Norman Public Schools Teacher of the Year award, Angela carries not just the weight of her own accomplishments over the last 27 years of teaching, but also the aspirations of all her students.

“Being a teacher is so much more than a job, It's not just about teaching ‘one plus one is two.’ I think about how old some of my kids are that I've taught before,” she thinks out loud. “They're getting close to almost 40! And I still keep in touch with quite a few of them. That's what I mean by it's not just a job.”

Angela's journey to becoming a fifth-grade teacher was a winding one, shaped by her own experiences as a child. Her dad’s job kept her family moving from place to place, school to school. She found stability and inspiration in the form of her own fifth-grade teacher, Ms. Jones. 

"The thing I remember the most about her is just how she made me feel," Angela reflects. "She made me believe in myself."

It was that belief in the transformative power of education that led Angela to pursue a career in teaching. Despite initially considering paths in mechanical engineering, accounting, and law, she felt a calling to guide and inspire young minds. 

"From the very moment I thought about being a teacher, I knew that that's what I needed to do. I wanted to help kids feel the way that I did in those classrooms."

In her own classroom, Angela creates an environment where students feel valued, supported, and empowered. From personalized morning greetings to end-of-day reflections on one good thing, she cultivates a sense of community and belonging.

"Having kids feel safe and welcomed is a big part of what we do," she emphasizes. "It's about building trust and relationships."

But Angela's impact extended beyond the walls of her classroom. As a mother of three and a grandmother, family is also at the center of her life. 

"Our kids have had some really great teachers and we love them like family too.”

For Angela, being a finalist for the district Teacher of the Year award is a humbling reminder of the countless educators, including many of her coworkers, who work tirelessly every day to make a difference in their students' lives. 

"There are so many teachers throughout Norman that deserve it," she acknowledges. "I feel the responsibility of being a good representative."

While she takes her finalist status very seriously, she refuses to let her students miss the wonder of their final year of elementary school.

"It's about embracing the joys of childhood," she remarks. "Letting kids be kids, having fun, and laughing at ourselves sometimes."

The joy that Angela brings to her students is one of the many reasons she’s a Teacher of the Year finalist. Your commitment and enthusiasm for your students inspire us every day. We’re thankful that you’ve chosen Norman Public Schools, and we thank you for shaping the future for years to come.