Teaching Staff

Jennifer Grant, Lead Teacher, began teaching after receiving a bachelor's degree from Lakeland College in Wisconsin. Soon after, she started teaching high school German and English for Clover Park High School in Lakewood, WA. After a structural change in the school's world language program, Jennifer moved to elementary school teaching first grade for the district. During this time, she earned a master's degree in teaching from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Jennifer was one of a select few who had the opportunity to work with Harvard research associate Ron Ritchart in developing thinking abilities/analytical skills in students. She won the Lakewood Rotary Educator of the Month award in 2008. Last year, Jennifer moved to Oklahoma and was hired to teach middle school English and Reading, and was later asked to transfer to a first grade classroom to support the pilot program for Response to Intervention (RtI).

Michelle Johnston, Special Education Teacher , attended White Oak Public Schools for grades K-12, and then attended Rogers State University and Northeastern State University. At NSU she received her bachelor's degree in Secondary Math Education. Michelle taught math and special education for five years in brick-and-mortar schools and is looking forward to new experiences during her first year in the virtual environment.

Teachers

Alissa Olden is a graduate of Jenks High School and Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow. She has taught middle and high school English for the past four years and has recently been certified as an elementary school teacher. Alissa is thrilled to be teaching with OKVA and looks forward to a fun and enriching school year!

Audra Plummer has taught in public schools for 14 years in the Norman Public Schools. She received a master's degree in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum from the University of Oklahoma. In 2004, Audra earned her National Board Teacher Certification. Her favorite subjects to teach are writing, reading and math. She is looking forward to teaching these subjects in the virtual world. Audra is very excited to be a part of the Oklahoma Virtual Academy.

Amanda Stewart taught English in a high school in Oklahoma for eight years before coming to Oklahoma Virtual Academy. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education. In 2009, she graduated from Northeastern State University with her master's degree in Library Science and Information Technology. She loves teaching for Oklahoma Virtual Academy and loves the opportunity to teach students daily.

Sheryl Tatum has 10 years experience in education, mostly in second and fifth grade and elementary gifted programs. She earned her BS in Elementary Education from Eastern New Mexico University in 1996, and her master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix in 2000. In 2003, she obtained National Board Certification. Sheryl's favorite thing about being a teacher is building a relationship with her students and families. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to still be a teacher in Oklahoma with OKVA.

Courtney Love graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1999 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught seven years in the Putnam City and Edmond School Districts. Courtney also taught middle school and high school students who were homebound.

Mrs. Johnson graduated from Northeastern University in 1995. She has been teaching various grade levels for 13 years and is looking forward to the new challenges and experiences she will have as Oklahoma embraces the world of virtual education.

Angie Foust has been teaching for 11 years and has taught in Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma. She has worked with students in grades 2 through 12 in math, science, Spanish, study skills, and psychology, but math is her favorite. Ms. Foust is also an online student- she is working on her master's degree in Instructional Design and Technology through Emporia State University.