Celebration of Education

Lena Tenney is the diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. They graduated from the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education in 2016 with an M.Ed. in adult and higher education.

Prior to their position at the college of pharmacy, Tenney was the coordinator of public engagement for the Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State. There they directed the national, state, and local public engagement portfolio of the Race and Cognition Program and was co-creator of the nation’s first free, publicly available online learning platform about implicit bias in K-12 education; the first free, publicly available online learning platform about implicit bias in child welfare; and a professional development module on implicit bias in health care provision in collaboration with OSU’s Wexner Medical Center. This online training is now required annually for all 26,000+ employees of the OSU health system.

During Tenney's time at the Kirwin Institute, they facilitated over 190 sessions with more than 13,000 participants in 17 states. Tenney serves on the board of directors at TransOhio and was co-founder and executive task force member of Norman United, a grassroots organization dedicated to ensuring the city of Norman welcomes and protects LGBTQ residents.

Favorite Educational Memory:
"A few weeks after facilitating a workshop on speaking up in response to bias, a faculty member who had participated came to another similar session. When I joked that she might be bored since the content would be very similar, she told me that she couldn't wait to keep learning and taking away new lessons. She continued by saying that a few days after that first workshop, her nephew came out to his family as transgender. This faculty member said that she loved and supported her nephew but would not have been able to effectively express that because lack of facility with language so often limit our ability to convey our deepest feelings. She thanked me for explaining my own pronouns and answering some questions about trans identity at the beginning of that workshop because it empowered her to effectively articulate her love and support to her nephew in that special moment because she had been given the opportunity to learn how in advance."

Rebecca Oglesby is an elementary art teacher at Ranchwood Elementary in Yukon and was the 2019 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. She is a graduate of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Prior to Yukon, Rebecca taught in Moore Public Schools, where she was a teacher at Plaza Towers Elementary. When an EF-5 tornado hit in May 2013, claiming the lives of seven students, she used her body to shield her first-graders as the twister destroyed the school. Known in her school and community as the “Batman Teacher” for the abundance of comic-book memorabilia in her classroom, Oglesby incorporates core subject areas into her art lessons, provides the opportunity for students to express their uniqueness, and provides life lessons.

Dr. Rick Cobb is the superintendent of Mid-Del Public Schools. He earned his Ph.D. in educational administration, curriculum and supervision from the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education and is a member of the college's EPD Advisory Council.

Cobb was named winner of the 2019 State Superintendent's Fine Arts Medal for Excellence in Administration, as well as the District 7 Superintendent of the Year from the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators. He was also awarded the 2019 Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Medal of Excellence winner for elementary and secondary administration.

Favorite Educational Memory:
"When I taught high school English, one of my favorite units was a survey of world poetry. Not every sophomore in Mustang shared my enthusiasm though, and they reluctantly followed along because they really didn't have any choice. After three weeks of teacher-led and student-led activites, culminating in a final project of their choosing, one of my students came up to me and said, very sweetly, 'Mr. Cobb, that didn't TOTALLY suck.' To this date that is one of the biggest compliments I have ever received."

Dr. Frank Wang is president of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) and the former chairman and CEO of Saxon Publishers, a national K-12 textbook publisher that was founded and based in Norman, Oklahoma.  In January 2003, Dr. Wang stepped down from leading Saxon Publishers to pursue his lifelong dream to be a classroom teacher, teaching at OSSM for no pay for three years and at the University of Oklahoma for two years at the invitation of then President Boren.  (Dr. Wang earned a modest stipend at OU so that he could get a faculty parking pass but donated his earnings to the OU Libraries to sponsor the Books that Inspire program.)

Dr. Wang has traveled extensively nationally as a motivational speaker and estimates he has spoken to over 30,000 teachers at conferences and teacher workshops.  He has also guest taught and worked with students nationally, including students from the NYC Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Washington DC Public Schools, Baltimore Public Schools, and Dallas Public Schools.  As a teaching fellow with the Alexander Dawson Foundation, he has lived and worked with economically disadvantaged students from the region surrounding Denver, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Dr. Wang’s life story of being a child diagnosed with neurological impairment who later went on to earn a BA in math from Princeton and a PhD in pure math from MIT is chronicled in a book titled Opening Doors, a book about 13 Oklahomans who overcame adversity, authored by Tom Lindsey and whose publication was funded by Gene Rainbolt, whose biography was also authored by Lindsey. 

Dr. Wang continues to teach and teaches a semester long class called Special Topics in Math where he introduces OSSM students to number and set theory, abstract algebra, topology, real analysis and game theory.  He lightheartedly calls this class “Math Dim Sum” after the style of Chinese eating where diners sample little plates of different foods. 

Dr. Wang co-authored a widely used high school calculus book that was published when he was 23 years old and served on the math advisory panel for President Clinton’s Proposed National Voluntary Test and was on the Mathematical Sciences Education Board during President George W. Bush’s administration.  He graduated from Norman High School in 1982 and while he was attending Norman High walked to and from OU to take classes at OU.

Frank has been married to Judy Wang for nearly 29 years and they have four children, Christopher (age 24), Emily (age 22), Waverly (age 20), and Olivia (age 16).

Assistant Professor Daniel Hamlin joined the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at OU Tulsa in 2018 after a post-doctoral fellowship at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. In his two-plus years at OU, he has deepened his inquiry into issues of school choice, safety and parental involvement, emerging as a recognized expert in these areas.

Nearly half of his 17 peer-reviewed journal publications to date have been solo authored and he currently has five more under review. Dr. Hamlin is also a committed teacher and advisor and mentor to our master’s and doctoral students, currently serving as a dissertation advisor for 12 students and eight more as a committee member. He has given back to the college by playing an instrumental role in the evolution and success of the Professional Development Leadership Academy at OU-Tulsa and has been an integral part of the work at the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy.

Associate Professor Crag Hill joined the JRCoE faculty in 2013 as part of the English education program and has been a leader in research focusing on how young adult literature and comics speak to adolescents about their world and helps develop strategies to teach critical engagement. He is especially interested in examining how young adult literature and comics reinforce or challenge cultural assumptions about poverty, friendship, individuality, the environment and other issues pertinent to adolescents.

Since arriving at OU, his research has been shared through five edited books, 14 books chapters, six peer-reviewed articles and dozens of conference proposals. Another notable area of his research efforts is his co-founding of the online journal Study and Scrutiny: Research in Young Adult Literature which provides a venue for established and new scholars of young adult literature to publish their research on a wide range of societal issues. His new line of inquiry in poetry and poetry education has worked toward sharing his and other’s poetry through anthologies and exhibitions.

Associate Professor Mirelsie Velázquez joined our faculty in 2014 and was named a Rainbolt Family Endowed Education Presidential Professor in 2020. Dr. Velázquez consistently receives the highest scores on student evaluations in the department and college, and her advisees speak passionately about her presence in their lives. Her students have shown themselves to be active participants in college discussions and events, asking questions through concepts that reflect deeply entrenched structural inequities in education, jobs, housing, and policing.

In nomination, her students refer to her guidance, mentorship and teaching style as having given them a personal sense of belonging in academia. Dr. Velázquez creates a space where rigorous discussion is pursued in a way that people are drawn in rather than cast out. One of her doctoral students wrote that Dr. Velázquez has challenged her to think critically about issues of equity in schools and how historically rooted structures and policies influence how diverse populations experience education. Dr. Velázquez models what engaged, transformative learning looks and feels like.

Associate Professor Aiyana Henry tirelessly strives to improve the life of the ILAC department as the elementary education program coordinator, and of the college as associate dean for professional education, as well as inspires and students and colleagues to be the very best versions of themselves through her hard work, dedication and commitment to justice. As elementary education program coordinator she has updated and streamlined processes and procedures, built connections to local school partners, worked across program areas to improve the experiences of students, and built strong relationships with students and faculty alike. Since being appointed as associate dean, she has continued to lead through her ability to form strong relationships and respond to a variety of needs while maintaining a focus on the good of our students and our college.

Dr. Henry has been actively engaged with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability, and the Oklahoma Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. She initiated a program in coordination with Norman Public School's Indian Education Program which has brought hundreds of second grade students to the College of Education. In addition, she helps to organize and lead the Find Your Future Summer Education Camp, which aims to bring together students of color from across the state and provide support as they envision themselves at universities and in education professions.

Ron McCarty is the director of technology for the college and has been instrumental in keeping faculty, staff and students connected during this last year. Ron has always gone out of his way to support their needs. As the college made the shift to online instruction last spring, he was instrumental in making sure everyone had the tools and resources necessary to support instruction and learning. Those who nominated Ron for this award spoke over and over about his kindness, patience and willingness to help no matter the time of day or task at hand. As one person said, he is a great asset to the University of Oklahoma, and we are very fortunate to have him and all the IT personnel in the education department.

Brittany Egger is currently the Director of Child Care Partnerships and Quality Assurance for Tulsa Educare, a high-quality early care and education program with three centers serving over 500 ‘at risk’ children, age birth to 5, and their families. For the past six years, Egger has worked to oversee the successful implementation of two Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships Grants with seven child care partners. In addition, Egger oversees the internal and external monitoring systems for Tulsa Educare.

Egger has 10 years of early childhood education experience including five years as a classroom teacher. She is also a certified Program for Infant and Toddler Care trainer. A graduate of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at OU-Tulsa with a degree in early childhood education, she lives in Sand Springs with her husband and two children.

"I chose the field of early childhood education to make a difference in the lives of the youngest children. Access to high quality early childhood education can change the trajectory of a child’s life. I have chosen to spend my entire early childhood career thus far at Tulsa Educare because of the commitment to the area’s most at risk children. Working in a field and at an agency that aims to transform the lives of children and their families understands that you have to share your practices with others. Through the partnership grants with Early Head Start I have had the opportunity to share resources and funding with other centers and family child care homes in Tulsa, thus increasing access to quality care."

Charlotte Gordon retired from the public school system in 2005 after having served as a teacher, basketball coach, counselor, and principal in Norman and Moore.  She has served as a consultant for Collaborating for Results, a substitute teacher, an Instructional coach for elementary teachers, teacher of Language Arts, Social Studies and part time Reading Resource Specialist for middle school. Gordon spent several years working for Pioneer Library System’s Norman Public Library branch as a children’s story time storyteller.

She has also been active in the community and has served on numerous boards at the University of Oklahoma and for the city of Norman. Gordon has researched, planned and coordinated the Norman Public Library’s yearly African American Read-In and Crown’s Tea events.

Currently, Gordon is a supervisor for intern teachers for the University of Oklahoma and as a leadership coach for Moving Up, a program designed for supporting assistant and early career principals. She is a member of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Board of Advocates.

"The value of education was stressed early for me because parents knew that education was the key to unlock doors to greater opportunities and freedom of thought and purpose. We were a farm family, but our parents made sure that our home was filled with literature of all kinds so that we’d know there was a larger world beyond the farming community.

Observing the impact that my village of parents, teachers, prominent local civil rights leaders had on educating the community strengthened my resolve to commit to my calling.  My siblings, extended family, and dolls could not escape me when I wanted to play school. My Sunday school teachers allowed me to prepare lessons and teach students who, many, were my own age. My small local newspaper even indulged me and allowed me to submit weekly articles of news from my community.

I didn’t choose this job of being a lifelong teacher; it lovingly chose me. I wanted to be that voice to help others to find theirs, that window as a way of escape from any darkness, that stronghold for the misunderstood and tossed aside, that ear that actually heard. I wanted to be that force for students to see their worth when they couldn’t see it for themselves.  It excites me that I’m still awakening and assisting in discovery of learners. Always mindful of possible hidden potential, I know that education is  the route for learners to think critically with intent and purpose. I strive to be the kind of educator that  inspires students to pass the torch to others. Education has been my work of heart and my life is been richer for it."

Juan Renteria, Jr. is a fifth-grade teacher at Truman Elementary in Norman, Oklahoma where he also serves as head teacher .As a teacher, Renteria considers his role as an educator his highest leadership responsibility. He is introduced to a new group of students and parents every year and is expected to lead them. He analyzes each students' strengths, weaknesses, and formulates growth plans to ensure that students are achieving academic and social success.

He is responsible for creating positive alliances with families in order to cultivate a strong support system for all his students. Through his experience in public education, he has learned the value of communication, collaboration, and consistency as essential factors for success.

Renteria is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma where he received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education as well as his Master of Education in Educational Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision. His professional and community involvement includes Norman Public School’s Diversity Enrichment Council, Norman Public School’s Leadership Academy, University of Oklahoma Alumni Ambassador, Leadership Oklahoma LOYAL Alumni, as well as being an active member of Antioch Community Church.

In addition, Renteria was recognized as Norman Public Schools’ inaugural Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2015 and he is currently a district finalist for Norman Public Schools’ 2021 Teacher of the Year. He is originally from Hennessey, Oklahoma and now resides in Norman. A first-generation college graduate and the proud son of hard-working immigrants, Renteria enjoys going to the movies, spending time with family and friends, OU football, and reading Harry Potter. His goal is to continue changing lives in the classroom and to someday become a school administrative leader.

"My family history is an important part of my professional journey as an educator. My parents raised me, loved me, and pushed me to fight for the future I wanted, just like they had. Additionally, my parents always valued the idea of education and the promise it carried of infinite possibilities that sadly, they weren’t afforded. In retrospect, it truly is no surprise I chose to become a teacher. From a very young age, I knew that I had to do well in school. Not just for myself, but to honor my immigrant parents and the many sacrifices they had made for me. One of the greatest longings of my heart has always been to prove to my mom and dad that I was worth it. Even though they’ve told me I was, am, and continue to be, I can’t help but want to keep proving to them that I am as resilient and driven as they are. If anything, I want to show my parents how proud I am to be their son; their American dream. As a first-generation college graduate, I’ve been able to contribute something so special to my students that my parents instilled me, which is a deep sense of pride and respect for education. By sharing my journey with others, I have been able to highlight the beauty of learning and the towering walls it can tear down."

Erin Simpson (she, her, hers) is the Director for the Gender + Equality Center and Coordinator for the OU Advocates at the University of Oklahoma. In this role, Erin directs the gender-based violence prevention programs, advocacy response to sexual assault, gender outreach programming, and LGBTQ+ education and programming for all three University of Oklahoma campuses. She has previously served in Residence Life at the University of Oklahoma, focusing on the first-year experience, curriculum development, assessment, and graduate student development. Erin currently holds two degrees in education from the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education as well as Women’s and Gender Studies. She is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at OU.

"Education has the opportunity to be liberatory, the promise of unlocking a better future for all of us. I chose to become an educator because I wanted to be an agent of change; what I didn’t know is how much the learning would fundamentally change me. Audre Lorde taught us “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” I would have never had the lens or the vocabulary to understand that truth if it were not the for the educators who have taught and cared for me. My single greatest hope is to be able to pass along that same care and space for learning."

John Waldron began his teaching career in Washington DC and came to Oklahoma to teach social studies at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa in 1999. In his twenty years at Booker T., he received awards including Tulsa Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year in 2003, the National Council for International Visitors Educator of the Year Award in 2006, and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Secondary Teaching Award in 2013. In 2016, he ran for State Senate because he was frustrated about the state of education policy in Oklahoma. He lost, but subsequently won election to the House of Representatives in 2018. He currently serves on the Committees for Common Education, State’s Rights, Wildlife Conservation and A&B Select Agencies. He lives in Tulsa with his wife Krista and their son Van, aged 12.

"Education matters because providing a good public education to every child is part of the American creed. Education is the great equalizer, having the capability to uplift all Americans and allow our young people to rise up to achieve their potential. I am committed to fighting for better education policies for and investment in Oklahoma public schools."