MARY PACE

Mary Pace received her Bachelor of Arts degree from East Texas Baptist University with an English major and history minor. In 2003 she received her Masters of Science Management from Southern Nazarene University followed two years later by her National Board Teaching Certification while at Whittier Middle School in Norman. With 17 years teaching experience, Mary has taught grade levels 6 through 12 and is currently teaching 7th grade English at Whittier.

When her husband's work transferred them from Texas to New Mexico, Mary took a break from teaching and began a 15 year career with JCPenney, where she began as a department manager in Alamogordo, NM and retired as Assistant Manager in Shreveport, LA in 2000. Having been in the public workforce for 15 years, she realized the value of the work ethics and expectations she learned and feels she can transfer some of these values to her students. She views returning to teaching as her latest challenge and is surprised at how much she is enjoying the middle school level after having taught 12 years in the high school arena.

Some of Mrs. Pace's insights in her Teacher of the Year portfolio include: "Each year I teach I am reminded of the impact I have on young minds and how important it is for me to stay motivated to continue learning on a personal level while I challenge those in my classroom to continue their educational challenges. Even though times and fashions have changed, the core element for teaching has not, which is teachers must remain passionate about what they are doing, never becoming complacent. They must realize their purpose, their need, and their value to the educational environment and those under their care. What an invigorating commitment and challenge to face on a daily basis!"

Mary Pace, Norman Teacher of the Year, Selected as FINALIST for 2010 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year! OKLAHOMA CITY - State Superintendent Sandy Garrett on July 15, 2009 announced the 12 finalists for 2010 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year as part of the Oklahoma Department of Education's annual "Leadership" conference at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Representing more than 160 years of teaching experience in all core subject areas and world languages, and from elementary, middle and high school grades, the finalists symbolize the high quality of Oklahoma's teaching force, Garrett said. "Teaching 21st century learners is not for the faint of heart or for those who lack passion for their chosen profession," Garrett said. "These 12 men and women are the epitome of that can-do, pioneering spirit that all children need leading their classrooms and who strive to make lasting impressions on youth. Each of these educators is outstanding and would make an extraordinary Oklahoma Teacher of the Year." [ more... ]

2009 District Teacher of the Year Finalists

2009 Site Teachers of the Year

See also: Photographs