After 14 years of teaching at Durant High School, special education teacher Lori McCoy has been named as the district’s Teacher of the Year.

A selection committee comprised of nine members, including one parent, one building administrator and teachers from each Durant school, chose McCoy out of the district’s seven candidates. The process included interviews with each nominee, which were held Tuesday.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen by my peers,” McCoy said about the honor.

DHS teacher Stacy Shepherd, who won the TOY honor last year, was a member of the selection committee this year. She said McCoy is very deserving of the honor.

“She has the biggest heart for her students. She’s a firebird. She dreams big,” Shepherd said. “She’s one of the most positive people I have ever worked with.”

McCoy also works in the community, including being an adjunct teacher at Kiamichi Technology Center. This is McCoy’s second win for DHS Teacher of the Year and her first win as the district’s representative, Shepherd said.

In addition to the title of Durant Teacher of the Year, McCoy received a bouquet of 12 red roses from Brantley Florists, a $500 Walmart gift card and $750 from Sodexho. McCoy said she is very appreciative of the gifts.

McCoy has 16 years of teaching experience, all in special education. From 1993-1995, she taught at Madill public schools.

She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1990 and Master of Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1993.

In addition to special education, McCoy leads the Peer Assistance and Leadership course. In PAL, a select group of 11th and 12th graders mentor younger students — from elementary to middle school.

The high schoolers are recommended by their peers and undergo an interview process to qualify. McCoy said she has been with this program for approximately five years.

According to McCoy’s personal data sheet, she is a member of Mensa International and the Professional Development Committee and is the regional team leader for the Oklahoma Transition Institute. She also steers a committee for freshmen orientation. She presented at the fall Regional Transition Institute, was awarded summer subgrants for two consecutive years and received a DHS service award.

McCoy said her teaching is very rewarding and she enjoys the students the most.

“Durant’s students are the best in the state,” she said.

McCoy is eligible to apply for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, which will be announced next year. McCoy said she will have to “sit down and do a lot of thinking and contemplating” about her platform and how to use it to showcase Durant schools.

McCoy’s family, DHS Principal Ron Craig, Vice Principals David Brese and Dale Perrin, Superintendent Dr. Jason Simeroth, Assistant Superintendents Duane Merideth and Larry Scott, and other school officials surprised her with the news Thursday morning.

Her family members include her husband Aaron, daughter Maci, son Cooper, father-in-law Roger McCoy, mother-in-law Carolyn McCoy, sister Dawn Hix and brother-in-law Tandy Hix.

“Lori is an exceptional teacher. She works with some of our most challenging students,” Craig said. “I feel she’s great at instilling hope for success [and] helping kids believe they can do something more and better [with their lives].”

Dawn Hix, who taught at DHS for 16 years and currently teaches financial education for the Choctaw Nation, said Lori’s family is very proud of her.

“This is such an honor for her. She’s so deserving. She’s so passionate; she always has been,” said Hix, who started at DHS the same year as McCoy. “We’re so excited for her.”

Merideth said all of the candidates were very deserving and McCoy is a wonderful teacher.

“Her kids are fortunate to have her in whatever subject,” he said.

Simeroth reiterated that the Teacher of the Year candidates are nominated by their peers.

“I don’t think there is any greater honor,” he said about the peer selection. “It’s like Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player. I wish we could give it to all of the candidates.”