Three Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education graduates were recently named Teaching and Leading Initiative of Oklahoma 20 Under 2 award winners.
20 Under 2 celebrates twenty high-performing Oklahoma teachers in their first or second year in the classroom.
Across the state, principals, veteran teachers, and district leaders submitted their top novice teachers for consideration. Each nomination was reviewed by a committee of education professionals and chosen through a multi-stage selection process. The 20 honorees were selected for outstanding classroom culture, fostering academic success, and their commitment to Oklahoma students and communities.
Morgan Dragg is a 2020 graduate with a degree in early childhood education and teaches first grade at Monroe Elementary in Norman. Dragg also was recently named the Norman Public Schools Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Emily Gonzalez graduated in 2020 with a degree in mathematics education and teaches 8th-grade math at Midwest City Middle School.
Alice Lee is a 2019 graduate of the early childhood education program at OU-Tulsa and is teaching Pre-K at Jennings Elementary in Jennings, Oklahoma.
Thanks to the support of T.D. Williamson and Magic City Books, 20 Under 2 honorees will receive a $250 gift card to Magic City Books to build their classroom library. Honorees will also receive a gift box that includes a custom 20 Under 2 plaque, a Round Table membership from Magic City Books, a custom notebook and other goodies.
“Celebrating this year’s 20 Under 2 honorees is a bright spot amidst an especially difficult year,” said TLI Executive Director Dr. Joanna Lein. “Oklahoma’s 2021 honorees have not only persisted through the pandemic, but their tremendous skill, hard work, and dedication has distinguished them as some of our most promising educators. It is critical that we continue to find ways to invest in our state’s teaching talent because our students deserve the most skillful and experienced educators.”