2023 SKIE Award recipients

The SKIE (Supporting K20 Innovative Educators) Award celebrates educators or teams of educators across the state who have demonstrated the ability to link student learning with the innovative use of technology and the K20 IDEALS. The awards are sponsored by Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives. Five regional awardees have been selected and each will receive $1,000.

Megan Nance | Central Region
8th grade Honors English and Reading
Highland West Junior High
Moore Public Schools

Megan Nance is making a lasting impact as an 8th grade honors English and reading teacher. Her journey reflects an unwavering commitment to her students’ growth and development. As a student, Megan needed one-on-one support due to her own struggles. Her personal journey fueled her determination to become the teacher she wished she had when she was a student — the teacher who believes in her students and goes the extra mile to make their education meaningful and memorable.

Katelin Frantz | Central Region
6th-8th grade Spanish
Whittier Middle School
Norman Public Schools

Katelin Frantz’s Spanish I classroom is a vibrant hub of language acquisition. Her students don’t just learn Spanish — they engage with Spanish speakers in their own school and across the world thanks to Katelin’s holistic approach to language learning that transcends Spanish textbooks. Authenticity is at the core of Katelin’s teaching philosophy. Her students write children’s books in Spanish and read them to local elementary classrooms, fostering genuine purpose and meaningful language use.

Barbara Smythe | Northeast Region
Pre-K-6th grade
Olive Elementary School
Olive Public Schools

Barbara Smythe’s approach to education is rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to a diverse array of technological tools — not only to enhance their education, but to create a more equitable learning environment, particularly for students with learning disabilities. Barbara’s unique approach to teaching is exemplified by her 5th grade class’s recent project. They delved into the world of robotics and learned about utilizing robots to perform tasks too dangerous for humans. After studying the Fukushima Daishi power plant accident, her students designed their own robots using Lego robotics materials to simulate the handling of nuclear waste. This hands-on, project-based learning approach not only fosters creativity but also instills a deep understanding of complex concepts.

Jamie Landers | Northwest Region
4th–6th grade Math
Arnett Elementary
Arnett Public Schools

Jamie Landers is a dedicated elementary school teacher, shaping young minds and instilling in them the values of responsibility and independence. Born and raised in Arnett, Oklahoma, Jamie’s journey in education reflects her deep-rooted commitment to her community. Jamie’s innovative approach to learning is exemplified by a project she introduced in her 6th grade math class where students research and market their own brand of coffee. Under Jamie’s guidance, her students conduct their own market research, including polling school staff, determining prices and estimating profits.

Taylor Perry | Southeast Region
8th grade Social Studies and Video Production
Hugo Middle School
Hugo Public Schools

Taylor Perry’s teaching philosophy revolves around choice and self-expression. With a background in video production and a passion for fostering creativity, Taylor is a dedicated educator whose impact resonates beyond the classroom. Taylor has seamlessly integrated video production into her 8th grade social studies curriculum. In addition to guiding students as they explore history and social studies, Taylor encourages her students to showcase their learning in unconventional ways.

DeLayna Basham | Southwest Region
English I, English III and Creative Writing
Frederick High School
Frederick Public Schools

DeLayna Basham’s teaching philosophy is all about promoting independent inquiry among her students. She understands that students retain information best when they actively search for it and grapple with the process of fact finding and problem solving. Her approach to teaching Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” for example, challenges her students to explore the play on their own. DeLayna gives students the resources and guidance they need while encouraging them to develop their understanding independently.

Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients. Learn more by visiting k20center.ou.edu/skie