Northwest Heights Elementary School had its meet the teacher night Aug. 11 and NWH STEM teacher Kasey Bennett, who is Oklahoma Teacher of the Year for 2026, greeted people who attended.
Bennett was the Durant Teacher of the Year for 20242025, and she said that being Oklahoma Teacher of the Year is a really cool experience.
“Everybody’s been so supportive, cheered me on,” Bennett said. “It’s a little bittersweet because I don’t get to be in the classroom this year, but I do get to travel the state. I get to go talk about Durant STEM programs. I get to see other STEM programs. I get to see all of the wonderful things going on in education across the state and it’s been really fun so far.”
July 1 was Bennett’s first day of work after being named teacher of the year.
“I’ve been traveling, and I spoke at Broken Bow’s in service this morning as the keynote speaker,” Bennett said. “I stopped at Valliant Public Schools and I’m back here for meet the teacher even though I’m not the teacher, so it’s my third event for the day.”
Bennett will be doing keynote addresses for large groups, and she can lead professional development workshops.
“I’m doing STEM exchange with different STEM programs going in, seeing what they’re doing,” Bennett said. “Asking the teachers about developing, not necessarily a database, but just grouping that information so that other educators have access to it and then just if you have a STEM program or whatever you’d like me to see in your district, I’m just getting to go see the really cool stuff that’s going on across the state. It’s very fun.”
She said she was surprised when she was named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
“It was definitely something that I gave my all to and I knew that no matter what, I couldn’t change God’s plan, so this was God’s plan and his factor in my life and I was surprised when I won and it took me a moment to compose myself to be able to read my acceptance address,” Bennett said. “It was a really cool moment. Really fun. What an honor.”
This is Bennett’s 15th year in education. Before she became a teacher, she spent a year as a teacher’s assistant in kindergarten.
“Before that, I was actually training adults for Choctaw Nation, and I had been working with kids at church and teaching piano lessons, but in the back of two of my workshops, there sat some gentlemen who wouldn’t participate,” Bennett said. “I found out they wouldn’t participate because they were illiterate.
“They couldn’t write their name. They couldn’t cook because they couldn’t read directions and it broke my heart. I had to stop my workshop, tag in another trainer and I cried in the back of my room, and that was the day that I vowed that any kid that crossed my path would have intervention if they need it and so then I went to kindergarten.”
Bennett said she tries to meet her students where they are in their learning and what they are good at, so they feel confident.
“In STEM, there’s so much flexibility to teach kids hard things in a fun way and just draw them in where they don’t realize they’re learning, so I can take what it is they like and what they’re good at and slowly incorporate other things that they need to learn,” Bennett said. “More concepts, things they’re struggling with in the regular classroom and not too long later, they’ll know it, and they’ve had a hand in their learning without even realizing it and we’ve reached a goal and they had no idea they were learning.”
Bennett is appreciative of the support she has received for this honor.
“I just really appreciate the support of the community and how positive everyone has been and just the constant support everyone has shown not only me but Durant Public Schools throughout this endeavor,” Bennett said. “It has been such an honor and a tremendous experience.”
NWH Principal Mellissa Sherrer said she has known Bennett for a long time because Bennett grew up in Atoka with one of Sherrer’s cousins. Bennett was a kindergarten teacher at Washington Irving when Sherrer was assistant principal of WI.
“Then she came here as the STEM teacher and my daughter was in her STEM class for the last three years and it’s just incredible what she’s able to do in there,” Sherrer said. “Everything is hands on. She meets the kids where they are. Each kid is different, and she treats them that way. She really understands that math may not be a child’s strong point, but maybe art is and if that’s the case, then she meets them there and teaches the science in a way that they understand.”
Sherrer was present when Bennett was named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
“I think she was shocked,” Sherrer said. “I wasn’t shocked. I don’t think anybody from Durant was shocked, but it was really a neat moment. I think it’s definitely an honor for our school and for our school district and this is the second time Durant has had a teacher of the year, so I think we’re doing a lot of really neat things in this school district.”
Sherrer said it is bittersweet that NWH is losing Bennett in the classroom this year. Teacher assistant Joyce Ned will be leading the NWH STEM program this year. Ned was highly recommended by Bennett.
“We’re really excited to see what she’s going to do in there and of course, Mrs. Bennett will pop in and out, she’s here at meet the teacher tonight, so we will miss her greatly, but she’s going to do great things all over the state,” Sherrer said.
Sherrer said that Ned wants to teach science.
“That’s her goal, so we’re excited for her,” Sherrer said.
