On my way to interview the Springer Schools Teacher of the Year, the lyrics to “We Go Together” from the movie “Grease” kept running through my head. As strange as that may sound, it’s actually quite appropriate.
Springer’s Teacher of the Year is Gay Lynn Allen. And Allen was actually my elementary school music teacher. When I was in fourth grade, we performed songs she taught us from “Grease.”
To this day, my wife makes fun of me for knowing the words to that song.
Now in her second year at Springer, Allen has been named Teacher of the Year.
“I have been Ardmore Teacher of the Year before, so I have seen what it is like in a large school system,” Allen said. “When I learned that I had been named Teacher of the Year here at Springer, I was a little surprised because I have only been here two years.
But it is a great honor. It shows that people have confidence and appreciation in what you are doing. So it is an honor.”
Allen’s career has spanned 30 years, most of that in the Ardmore School system. Her passion and inspiration for teaching comes from one of her own high school teachers.
“My high school choir teacher is probably the main reason I decided to become a teacher,” Allen said. “Her name was Elaine White, and she was fantastic. She was so musical, and such a hard worker. She engaged us and knew how to keep our attention.
She was a perfectionist and knew how to do things very, very well. I try to follow her lead in my teaching now. We work hard and I teach the kids that if they work hard, good things happen.”
Allen graduated from East Central University. Once she became a teacher, she said she had the unique opportunity to learn from the best.
“My high school teacher was the reason I went into teaching, but I think my work ethic comes from spending my first 10 years of teaching with an outstanding co-worker,” Allen said. “I was teaching at Ardmore and was lucky enough to work with Charlotte Hudgins. I got on-the-job training from her and I really learned what it takes to be a good teacher. Every teacher should be so lucky. I still work with her on projects to this day.”
I
n her brief time at Springer, Allen has seen substantial improvement in the music program. Nearly half of Springer’s high school population is involved in the program.
“When I came here, they didn’t have a high school music program,” Allen said. “My first year, I had maybe 15 total high school students in choir. This year, we are up to 35.”
Allen has also seen her students achieve at higher levels.
“I had two girls compete in state competition this year, and they received superior ratings,” Allen said. “Then, we also took three ensembles to state and one of those three received a superior rating. The kids have worked very hard and I am very proud of them. They have come a long way since last year. There has been a lot of improvement.”
One of those student success stories is senior Domineque Carey.
“Mrs. Allen is great because she actually teaches the music,” Carey said. “She is one of, if not the best, teacher that I have ever had. I have only been in music for two years, and she has helped me make the state FFA chorus. So I am very thankful for what she
does.”
Another senior spoke of the special bonds Allen forms with each of her students.
“(Allen) knows how to connect one-on-one with each student and she shows us that she really cares,” Shaye Krohn said. “She is also fun because she is willing to joke around with you. We are able to learn and have fun at the same time.”
Allen said showing students that hard work pays off is what she loves most about
teaching.
“I love seeing students work hard and seeing their faces when they see the results of hard work,” she said. “Seeing their faces light up is amazing. I love showing these kids that they can achieve great things if they work hard. My goal has always been to show them that hard work gets good results.”
Allen is also quick to give credit and thanks for the support she receives from school administrators.
“I really appreciate the support that Springer principal Brenda Foster gives here,” Allen said. “She is the reason I came here. I had been in Ardmore for 28 years, and it is pretty easy to stay right where you are. She was very enthusiastic about building the program here. She supports me in everything I do and is very helpful. So I have to thank her for her support.”
Thirty years in any business would normally have one thinking about retirement. Allen said retirement has crossed her mind, but she has no plans for it anytime soon.
“I discussed retirement this year,” she said. “But I have a daughter who is a sophomore in college, and a daughter who is a sophomore in high school. So that means I have a few more years to go. I will be working until I get my girls through college. No doubt about that. So that means at least six more years.”
Allen’s oldest daughter, Jessica, is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University studying to be a physician’s assistant. Her younger daughter, Julie, is a sophomore at Ardmore High School.
Micah Groves, 221-6542
micah.groves@ardmoreite.com
