OKLAHOMA CITY —Elmore City-Pernell teachers Tina Casey and Catherine Johnson are among 14 Oklahoma educators who will embark on self-designed professional development experiences this summer after receiving fellowships from Fund for Teachers.
Casey and Johnson will use the fellowship grant to research across England, Scotland and France the lives of William Shakespeare and other literary giants to highlight how great authors shape cultures across centuries and demonstrate that curiosity, scholarship and ambition can take them anywhere.
Oklahoma’s grants are made possible through a partnership between Fund for Teachers, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and the Tulsa Community Foundation.
“We are proud to support this incredible opportunity for our Oklahoma educators,” said Elizabeth Inbody, OFE executive director. “We love watching educators design innovative professional development experiences that reflect a deep understanding of their students’ needs. The impact of these fellowships will be felt in Oklahoma classrooms for years to come.”
The grants are available to Oklahoma educators who teach pre-K through 12th grade. Individual teachers may apply for up to $5,000, while teams may apply for up to $10,000 in grant funds.
OFE is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The foundation elevates public education through esteemed honors, mentoring grants, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators.
Other Oklahoma teachers selected for 2026 fellowships include Jennifer Addison, Union Public Schools; Lauryl Bennington, Jones Public Schools; Stephen Biggs, Tulsa Technology Center; Amanda Bowser, Broken Arrow Public Schools; Olga Caulfield, Moore Norman Technology Center; William Ferguson, Bixby Public Schools; Kylee Graumann, Moore Public Schools; Shelly Hale, Edmond Public Schools; Kristyne Hamilton, Union Public Schools; Akash Patel, Epic Charter Schools; Sarah Rhodes, Union Public Schools; and Julie Valsaint, Wagoner Public Schools.
