OKC teacher wins $10,000 award

ByTim Willert

Read the full article at NewsOK.com >

A public charter school teacher in Oklahoma City received $10,000 as part of an award recognizing her work in the classroom. Denise Elmore, who teaches reading and writing at KIPP Reach College Preparatory on the city’s northeast side, was among 12 educators to receive the 2015 Harriet Ball Excellence in Teaching Award.

Elmore was chosen based on her leadership, her ability to improve student achievement and her commitment to equipping students with the skills they need to go to college. For three straight years, each of Elmore’s eighth-graders earned a passing grade on the state reading and writing test. KIPP Reach is one of 13 charter schools in the Oklahoma City district and serves 300 low-income students in fifth through eighth grade. KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), is a national network of 183 open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools that prepare students in underserved communities for success in college and in life.