McAuliffe Elementary -  Erin Wood, first grade

McAuliffe Elementary has named first grade teacher Erin Wood its 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year.

“I have always had a love for learning.” Wood said. ”As a teenager, I went on mission trips to the inner cities of Houston and Dallas to work with students during their summer tutoring sessions. This is where I found my passion for teaching and partnering with families to overcome obstacles and help them achieve the goals and dreams they have for their children.”

Wood started teaching for Union Public Schools in August of 2018 after teaching at Hamilton Elementary with Tulsa Public Schools for four years. “I am a Union Public Schools graduate and attended McAuliffe and Cedar Ridge as a child.”

After teaching third grade for seven years, Wood said she was asked to move to first grade due to an increase in enrollment numbers.

“While it was hard to say goodbye to my third-grade class and learn new routines and curriculums after the school year had started, my first-grade class is amazing, and the challenge has made me a better educator,” she said.

Educational background:

• Union Public Schools Graduate 2003
• Attended McAuliffe Elementary (2nd-4th Grade)
• Attended Cedar Ridge Elementary - 5th Grade Continuous Learning Curriculum Program
  (My children have also attended Cedar Ridge and currently McAuliffe Elementary.)
• Tulsa Community College – Associate of Arts (2007)
• Northeastern State University – Bachelor of Science-Elementary Education (2009)