Troubadour Teacher of 
the Year

David Dean is an English teacher at Street School. With over two decades of teaching experience, David has shared his talents in classrooms over Europe, California and Oklahoma. He was named Tulsa Met Teacher of the Year six times—a testament to his dedication, creativity and connection with students. David’s classroom is an extension of his belief in the power of music and storytelling. Over the past two years, 30 of his students have submitted their work for the Mavis Staples Freedom Highway Essay Award. David is an active member of the American Song Archives Education Advisory Committee, where he contributes curriculum that will be available for teachers to use in classrooms all over the country. As a teenager, David found inspiration in the music and message of Woody Guthrie, sparking love for punk rock and a passion for playing bass guitar. Together with his wife Kris, he keeps Woody’s legacy alive through their two-person rock band, Fat Dracula. At home, they share their lives with a dog, a chicken, a collection of cats, books and records.

Pam Lee is the Network Expanded Learning Coordinator for Tulsa Public Schools. She began her professional career in youth development as a Program Specialist for the local Girl Scout Council in Tulsa. In this role, she planned, coordinated and implemented skill-building and leadership programs for middle and high school-aged girls. She went on to serve as the Executive Director of an after-school tutoring and mentoring program that supported underserved students in North Tulsa. This program was a collaborative effort between Holland Hall Episcopal School and St. Aidan’s Church, focused on academic support and mentorship. From 2001 to 2013, she worked as a Prevention Educator, teaching substance abuse prevention and life-skills training to students in Tulsa Public Schools, Union and Jenks school districts. Between 2013 and 2018, she served as a Community Schools Coordinator and community organizer, providing student and family support programs across Tulsa and Union Public Schools. Since 2018, she has worked for Tulsa Public Schools as a Network Expanded Learning Coordinator. In this role, she oversees the development and delivery of engaging, age-appropriate expanded learning opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students, enriching the educational experience through after-school and out-of-school-time programs.

Elmer is the Expanded Learning Administrator from Monroe Demonstration Academy. Mr. Thomas hails from Kansas City, Kansas. He began teaching 4th grade in KC before moving to Tulsa in 1996 where over the course of his careers has taught 5th grade, served in administrative roles at Cooper Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Unity Learning Academy until he accepted the position as Climate and Culture position at Monroe and eventually his current position of Expanded Learning Administrator. According to his colleagues, Mr. Thomas is dedicated, kind and steadfastly committed to advancing unique opportunities for the students at his school. He has a vast knowledge of child development and best practices for programs to provide meaningful experiences for his students to participate. He is the calm in the storm that is middle school.

Kendrea is the Expanded Learning Coordinator from Hawthorne and Anderson Elementary Schools. Ms. Greene is a proud graduate of Tulsa Public Schools and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She began her career in education in 2003. She has worked with students who are incarcerated, the big brothers and big sisters program, teens who are in foster care, student parents. When asked about Ms. Greene, her colleagues have said she has an energy for helping youth that is unmatched. She pours passion into her work, on behalf of her students and families and it is inspiring. Her can-do spirit and sunny disposition are infectious.

Nate holds a bachelor’s degree in English and multiethnic studies from the University of Nebraska and a Master’s degree in English and Cultural Studies from Kansas State University. During his education career, he has taught at a variety of public and private high schools, as well as Tulsa community college and Kansas State University. He is a past recipient of the Rudd/WLA K-12 teaching award for curricular design from the Western Literature Association, the Poet-Warrior award from the Oklahoma Literary Arts Alliance for his work promoting youth poetry initiatives and is a lifetime member of the Sigma Tau Delta National honor society for English. He served for years as chair of the English department at Holland Hall School. His proudest achievements are the many student-poets he has had the chance to teach and coach as part of the Louder Than A Bomb national youth poetry SLAM program. Nathan visits the centers regularly with his students. Nate is currently in administration at Street School.

Stephen has just completed his 11th year of teaching. Stephen is currently teaching US History, AP US History and American Music History, which is a class he developed. He has also taught Humanities and Broadcasting. He serves on the summer item review/writing committees for the Oklahoma Department of Education. He has previously taught at Bartlesville High School, where he won the Rising Star Teacher of the Year in 2014. Stephen is the advisor for the PRISM club, a student-led group for LGBTQ+ students and their allies. Stephen has visited our centers several times and has brought classes during both semesters of the school year. He is an advocate for his students, creating a safe space for them.