2026 Teacher of the Year

Courses: STEM educator - K-4 at Northwest Heights Elementary in Durant Public Schools.

With 14 years of experience, she is known for her compassion, instructional versatility, and unwavering commitment to creating joyful, meaningful learning experiences for children. 

Bennett holds a Master of Education in School Administration and multiple certifications, including Early Childhood, Elementary Education, and principal certifications. She has presented at the OSDE Pre‑K and Kindergarten Conference and has been nominated for the Siegfried Excellence in STEM Award and an OSTA Award.

Her teaching philosophy centers on meeting students’ needs with empathy, high expectations, and joy. A sign she has carried to every classroom reads, “Someday I Will Change The World,” a message she strives to embody each day as students walk through her door.

She lives on a ranch near her hometown with her husband, Larry, and young daughter, Kate, embracing family, faith, and the rural roots that continue to ground her work and her life.