Rachel Keith from Ada High School named Oklahoma's Teacher of the year for 2024

A language and humanities educator from Ada is Oklahoma's new Teacher of the Year.

Rachel Keith, who has 19 years of classroom experience, teaches at Ada High School.

The Ada School District Superintendent Mike Anderson said, "When I try to describe what sets Rachel apart from all others, I keep coming back to the words – 'she is always present' – In other words, there is not a minute that goes by when she's not there for someone else."

Anderson said Keith currently teaches Honors English II, AP English III and directs the school's Mock Trial teams.

"Mrs. Keith is obviously a great classroom teacher, but more importantly, she has the unique ability to balance her faith, her family and commitment to teaching in a way that benefits everyone she comes in contact with," Anderson said. "Whether that is mentoring new teachers, leading initiatives in her family’s church or guiding our students through the challenging times of today’s school environment, Mrs. Keith is always by your side."

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, who presented the award at a ceremony in Tulsa Monday night, said "Rachel is an exceptional example of everything we want Oklahoma teachers to be,”

“She has an excellent record of achievement in her classroom, and a sterling reputation as an advocate for her students and parents in the district.," Walters said. "Rachel will be an outstanding Teacher of the Year, embodying the best in Oklahoma education, and I am excited she will be representing our state.”

“We teachers have the opportunity to pour in to the greatest natural resource we have in Oklahoma – our children., Keith said in accepting the award. "I am looking forward to finding ways to build relationships with teachers all across the state, and help them to mentor a younger teacher and find a teacherrelationship that builds them up and encourages them.”

According to the Oklahoma Department of Public Education, Keith will spend the next year serving as Oklahoma Ambassador of Teaching, representing the state national competition, sharing knowledge and resources with felloweducators around the state and encouraging education as a profession.

Ada's last Teacher of the Year was Pat Kellogg Roller in 1978. The outgoing 2023 Teacher of the Year is Tulsa Public School’s Traci Manuel, is an English Language Arts Teacher at Booker T. Washington High School.