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5th Grade Teacher Cory Allen Named Union District Teacher Of The Year

Andersen Elementary fifth grade teacher Cory Allen has been named the 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year for Union Public Schools.
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Andersen Elementary fifth grade teacher Cory Allen has been named the 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year for Union Public Schools. The announcement was made this morning at the Union Performing Arts Center during a day planned for professional development activities.

Superintendent Dr. John Federline, Associate Superintendents Charlie Bushyhead and Sandi Calvin joined others as they congratulated Allen on her selection, following a special presentation that recognized all of the Site Teachers of the Year.

Shea Ludwig, executive director of the Union Schools Education Foundation, also congratulated Allen, presenting her with a check for $1,000.

“As a teacher, the most important thing I do is to teach the whole child, not just academics, but also how to be kind,” Allen said, but said there are “Bonus points if they love school during the process.”

Allen said, “The children of Oklahoma deserve great teachers. I still have a lot of learn as an educator, but I hope I can do them justice in the process.”

Allen started teaching in 2006, and joined the team at Union Public Schools in 2011.

Allen graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in human development and family science with a focus on early childhood education. She plans on seeking her master’s degree.

Allen and each of the Site Teachers of the Year were recognized on stage. There was a really funny segment when Alternative Teacher of the Year Trent Spencer and Alternative Principal Chris Ducker rode scooters on stage during their introduction. Many teachers jumped or twirled as they were introduced.

Kirby Mackenzie, the district’s Teacher of the Year last year, gave an emotional and funny speech about how teachers influenced her life, causing more than a few in the audience to shed a tear. The show was emceed by Calvin and Bushyhead who showed off their quick-witted banter. Assistant High School Principal James Douthat, or as he called himself, “assistant principal of fun” served as announcer. Special thanks to the Union Highsteppers and Drumline for entertaining the crowd.

Union’s upcoming all-school musical, “Footloose” which will take place February 6-8, also got a nice plug.

Teachers are spending the rest of the day in professional learning and development exercises before a three-day weekend. School is closed Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

 

Meet 5th Grade Teacher Cory Allen -
ndersen Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2025!

See video

 

 

Video Highlighting the Site Teachers of the Year

Union's Teacher of the Year told her mom to skip event since she wasn't likely to win

Cory Allen hopes she is not in too much trouble with her mother.

A fifth grade teacher at Andersen Elementary School, Allen was announced Friday morning as Union Public Schools’ 2024-25 Teacher of the Year at a ceremony at Union High School’s Performing Arts Center.

Having been sure she was not going to win, Allen confessed during her improvised acceptance speech, she told her mother to skip the event.

“She’s going to be so mad at me,” she said afterward. “I told her: ‘Mom, listen, there are so many good teachers and so many great nominees. Don’t worry — there’s no way I can win it. I’ll do my best because my site voted me in as Teacher of the Year, and I have to give my heart out and do it to represent them.’” Continue reading

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