Fairview Math Teacher Named 2013 Teacher Of The Year At State Fair

The 2013 Teacher of The Year winner was announced at the State Fair Tuesday.

Elaine Hutchinson, a math teacher at Fairview High and Chamberlain Middle Schools, was named the 2013 Teacher of the Year by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi during a ceremony Tuesday at the Oklahoma State Fair.

"I am absolutely thrilled to give this title to Ms. Hutchinson," Barresi said. "I have to believe her enthusiasm for preparing students for jobs and the real world outside of high school, and her passion for her subject matter were deciding factors for the judges."

Twelve finalists were honored at the ceremony. Two were selected from each region. Each finalist had to submit a portfolio and is then interviewed by Barresi.

"I would like to stress, however, that all of our finalists bring unique gifts to the children of our state, and each are worthy of this high honor," Barresi said.

Hutchinson also teaches at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Regional Center. She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and has been in the classroom for 19 years.

"I was really pretty exhausted because we had made multiple trips to the state capitol, chambers of commerce and that type of thing. My son said 'momma, you gotta try. We'll get two on floor seats to the thunder game.' So bubba, I gave it a shot," Hutchinson said.

In addition to the Thunder tickets, Hutchinson will receive more than $50,000 in cash and prizes.

Hutchinson will serve as Oklahoma's Ambassador of Teaching for the next year.