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Veteran teacher Cheryl Sehon instructs her second grade class last week. Sehon has been teaching for more than 30 years in Chickasha
Discussion
36-year teacher an ‘encourager’
eaching is a balancing act, even after multiple decades of experience.
They have got to balance curriculums, and most importantly they've got to balance the students personal lives with classwork.
Sheryl Sehon, a second grade teacher at Grand Elementary, has more experience in the balancing act than most teachers. She has been teaching in Chickasha longer than any other teacher in the district. She has been here so long that she now teaches the children of some of her previous students. With all of her experience, her balancing act is the best in town.
Even after 36 years she is not tired of teaching children.
"She never stops," Third Grade Teacher Krista Cochran said. "She's still amazing. She just gets better in time."
She has seen many changes in students throughout the years, as well as changes in curriculum.
"I think we expect a lot out of them," Sehon said. "They have a lot to deal with. A long time ago it seemed like you'd have fewer kids where you wondered about their home life."
She sees her work as an art form, and is constantly trying to balance her compassion for the kids and molding them into responsible young people. She enjoys teaching the second grade because the students are moldable and for the most part enjoy being there.
"They're still very sweet. You never know what they're going to say," Sehon said. "But, it's a good reinforcement age."
Sehon is not an enforcer. She is an encourager. She has even been a big influence on Cochran. Cochran was a student of Sehon's in the early 1990s. After getting her education degree from USAO, the Chickasha native returned to her elementary school as a teacher. Once again Sehon was looking over her shoulder, guiding her and teaching her to be a better teacher.
"Mrs. Sehon was my very favorite teacher out of all the teachers I had," Cochran said. "You want to be like her. If I'm one-quarter of what she is I'll be a pretty good teacher."
Cochran is in her second year teaching and has much to learn, but she is learning from the best. USAO has the best education program in the state, and Sehon ensures that Cochran is progressing.
"She's just always helping, which is nice," she said. "We just are constantly comparing notes."
Cochran taught first grade last year, and Sehon now has a few of her students.
After 36 years Sehon is not ready to retire. Even is she were ready she wouldn't be able to.
"We won't let her leave," Grand Elementary Principal Kathy Wenzel said.
If Sehon does retire in the near future she wants it to be a partial one. She said she has an idea that would greatly help the district. She sees a need for a teacher of teachers. With her years of experience she feels that she could mentor new teachers on a part-time basis. This would increase her effect on students, while decreasing her time at school.
"Now if we could just get the superintendent to go with her plan," Wenzel said while pondering the possibilities.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
