Mrs. Anderson as a Student Teacher in Mrs. Cooper's Second Grade at Hugh Bish Elementary
Mrs. Anderson's Biography
Teaching is my passion! From my earliest memories, I wanted to be a teacher. I was the second-grader who always finished early and then helped other students. I would go “dumpster diving” every May behind my elementary schools to gather all the goodies the teachers had discarded and use them to “play school” with my sister and friends. When I was fourteen, I began teaching Sunday School to four and five year olds and loved it so much that I continued teaching Sunday School regularly for the next twenty-five years. In high school, I tutored fellow students in both academics and music (bass clarinet). However, in high school, I also discovered another passion, public speaking, and I made the decision to pursue a career in public relations. I continued to get my teaching “fix” by teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, serving as a youth director, and working as substitute teacher.
When I took a job with Nestle Fundraising in 1992, it required me to constantly be in schools, and I realized then I would never be truly happy unless I was teaching. During an adult Bible study I was leading that year, Dr. Grace Githens, a university professor, friend, and mentor, encouraged me to consider a career in teaching. Within a few months, I had taken a job as a teacher’s aide at Hugh Bish Elementary and had begun working on my degree in Elementary Education full-time at Cameron University.
After getting my Elementary Certification in 1996, I spent the next three years substituting at every grade level in Lawton Public Schools. In August 2000, I was hired as a Fifth Grade Teacher at Hoover Elementary, which later became Ridgecrest Elementary; I also taught 2nd Grade for two years at Ridgecrest. In 1996, I achieved National Board Certification and achieved re-certification in 2016. It was my great honor to be chosen as Lawton Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year in the spring of 2010. In 2014, I began teaching 7th Grade Reading/Language Arts at Central Middle School.
When I took a job with Nestle Fundraising in 1992, it required me to constantly be in schools, and I realized then I would never be truly happy unless I was teaching. During an adult Bible study I was leading that year, Dr. Grace Githens, a university professor, friend, and mentor, encouraged me to consider a career in teaching. Within a few months, I had taken a job as a teacher’s aide at Hugh Bish Elementary and had begun working on my degree in Elementary Education full-time at Cameron University.
After getting my Elementary Certification in 1996, I spent the next three years substituting at every grade level in Lawton Public Schools. In August 2000, I was hired as a Fifth Grade Teacher at Hoover Elementary, which later became Ridgecrest Elementary; I also taught 2nd Grade for two years at Ridgecrest. In 1996, I achieved National Board Certification and achieved re-certification in 2016. It was my great honor to be chosen as Lawton Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year in the spring of 2010. In 2014, I began teaching 7th Grade Reading/Language Arts at Central Middle School.
My Achievements
I was named Lawton Public Schools' Teacher of the Year
in April 2010!
Named to Who’s Who in American Teaching April 2004
Became a National Board Certified Teacher (Click NBCT to find out more.) December 2006 and re-certified in 2016
Nominated as a Champion for Children April 2007
Chosen as Lawton Public Schools Teacher of the Year Finalist April 2008
Chosen as a Master Teacher by the State Superintendent’s Master Teacher Project May 2009
Named a Teacher-Trainer for the Oklahoma Education Association Mentoring Project June 2010
My Family
I've been married to David C. Anderson for over 30 years. He is a brilliant musician who shares his music in a variety of settings and is a piano tuner extraordinaire! We met in the Cameron University bandroom 35 years ago in August of 1984.
Click on our picture to check out his website TuneThatPiano.com.
This is our dog, Serendipity; we just call her Sara. (Click on Sara's full name to see what it means!) We rescued Sara in June of 2007, and she has been a joy ever since! Unfortunately, we lost our sweet girl to canine insulinoma (pancreatic cancer) in February of this year, but we are hoping to be ready to bring another fur baby into our home next summer.
Click on Sara's picture to visit Lawton's Humane Society website.
Click on Sara's picture to visit Lawton's Humane Society website.
This is our precious Wally who went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2003 (Click on the words to check out the Rainbow Bridge website.) . She lived a wonderful 16 years and is still often missed!
Click on Wally's picture to feed an animal with just a click on The Animal Rescue Site.
Click on Wally's picture to feed an animal with just a click on The Animal Rescue Site.