Mustang teacher wins prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence

A Mustang 6th grade math teacher won the highest recognition for a K-12 STEM teacher.

Tuesday, February 4th 2025, 5:46 pm

By: Mike Glover


Mustang schools knew that they had something special with math teacher Mandy Tuttle, and now the secret is out, and the entire nation knows about her.

“I really love when that lightbulb moment happens for students,” said Canyon Ridge 6th grade math teacher Mandy Tuttle.

She’s been teaching math for twenty years,

“It’s always been my dream, I’ve never deviated from it, I don’t know what else I would do if I wasn’t in the classroom,” said Tuttle.

Her approach is anything but traditional.

“There are very few worksheets in the class, a lot of our work is done on these big whiteboards, where it’s a very collaborative class, you know the kids work together,” said Tuttle.

Her methods were successful, so much so that it caught the attention of the district.

“She works hard to make math come alive for her students, they don’t walk in and go oh it’s math class, they walk in excited,” said Dr. Robbyn Glinsmann, Director of Intermediate and Middle School curriculum Mustang Public Schools.

Dr. Glinsmann was so impressed with Mrs. Tuttle’s work she nominated her for the Presidential Award for Excellence.

“I knew that we could put her up against any teacher that the state of Oklahoma has,” said Dr. Glinsmann.

She won, being one of 108 teachers from across the nation to receive the highest recognition a K through 12 STEM teacher can receive.

“It was very exciting because it was still unexpected to be such a prestigious award,” said Tuttle.

“She is the well-rounded package of what you want as a teacher,” said Dr. Glinsmann.

“When you have teachers in the building like that, everybody is going to win,” said Canyon Ridge Principal Christy Woodson.

Woodson was ready for the celebration once the announcement came down.

“You know immediately the next morning we load up on cupcakes and cookies and we have a big celebration,” said Woodson.

For winning Mrs. Tuttle will go to the White House to receive the award.

“And she receives a $10,000 personal check,” said Glinsmann.

“And there’s the money,” said Tuttle.

The school district will do a special recognition for Mrs. Tuttle at the February school board meeting, and as for that nice check, there is a nice family vacation in the works.

Mike Glover

Bio coming soon

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