Lisa Wright has been teaching Pre-K at Jefferson Elementary for 25 years. She’s spent her entire career at one school, focusing on one grade. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It just feels like the perfect fit,” she shares. “I love seeing the awe and wonder in everything that we do in Pre-K.”

Born and raised in Purcell, Lisa was destined to become a teacher. Education runs deep in the family. Her mother, aunt, sister-in-law, and cousins are all educators, and her passion for teaching was ignited during high school. 

“I spent a huge part of my senior year volunteering in kindergarten in Purcell and really fell in love with watching those little people and how they grew and learned through the year and those ‘Aha!’ moments,” she remembers fondly.

Lisa’s goal was to return to Purcell and teach in the same system she went through. But a college experience led her to Norman Public Schools.

“During college, I started volunteering at Jefferson Elementary School and quickly fell in love with this school community and with this district.”

Over the years, Lisa's teaching philosophy has centered around creating a nurturing and inclusive environment. She believes in hands-on, interactive learning experiences tailored to each child's unique needs, abilities, and interests.

“I think my number one goal in my classroom is to make sure every child feels accepted and successful, that they are a capable learner and that school is a fun place where they belong.” 

Beyond academics, Lisa emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with her students and their families. She strives to create a sense of belonging and support for every child, and to show each family that she is truly dedicated to their child and cares deeply about their family. 

“Being in early childhood allows us to form those relationships and those beliefs about school right off the bat,” she adds. “I am at the point in my career now that I'm starting to teach Pre-K students of students I had in Pre-K. And that's such a wonderful thing about Jefferson is that we really are a generational school.”

Lisa is deeply involved in the Jefferson community. Alongside her husband, Dennis, who also teaches at Jefferson, Lisa embodies the school's motto of "Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon." Together, they support their students both inside and outside of school, attending sports games, recitals, and other events to cheer them on.

Outside of work, Lisa and Dennis share a love for travel, basketball, and all things Disney. She and Dennis also prioritize their family and enjoy their large number of nephews, nieces, great nephews, and great nieces.

“We have all of our kiddos at school and then we have such a big family that it feels like outside of school we’re always on the go to somebody's activities. Soccer, band, ball games, cow shows, pageants, recitals, the list goes on and on.  Even though they're not our own biological children, they are all still our children,” she says with a smile.

Anyone who has steps into Lisa’s classroom can see her love for Disney.

“We are very big Disney fans. We went to Disney World on our honeymoon, and my classroom is Disney now!  Disney is a happy place and mindset for me.”

Reflecting on her career journey, Lisa acknowledges the evolving nature of teaching and the importance of remaining flexible and open-minded. Her passion for learning led her to pursue further education in counseling, obtaining a masters in school counseling.  She is currently pursuing coursework to become a licensed professional counselor, with a focus on trauma-informed practices. Lisa's commitment to supporting children's social and emotional well-being underscores her belief that education goes beyond academics—it's about nurturing the whole child and forming connections and relationships with their families, as well.

“Teaching is such a rewarding profession. I know that my job today is to help these little people feel successful, yes, academically, but also socially and emotionally and to feel like they are an important person, and they met their goals today in whatever area that is. I always want to be able to work with children and make those meaningful, meaningful connections with every child and every family.”

As Lisa looks ahead to the future, she remains dedicated to serving the Norman Public Schools community. Whether she's teaching Pre-K or providing counseling support, Lisa's impact on generations of students is undeniable, leaving a lasting legacy of love, learning, and compassion. 

Thank you for your dedication to the families and students at Jefferson! Your commitment has made an immeasurable impact.