TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation honored 13 educators recently during the tribe’s annual Teacher of the Year awards banquet held at the Chota Conference Center in Tahlequah.
The honorees were recognized for exemplifying traditional Cherokee attributes and values integral to leadership and achieving shared goals.
“I’m incredibly proud of the educators who were nominated on the basis of their hard work and dedication,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Our Nation will always have the back of our educators and those around them.”
The traditional Cherokee attributes displayed by the honored teachers reflect the Cherokee understanding of effective leadership to realize a designed purpose.
The 2025 Teacher of the Year is Carla Campbell of Gans. Other honorees recognized for embodying Cherokee attributes included Michaella Whittington of Tahlequah (Self-Confident); Patricia Berkley of Oologah-Talala (Communicate), Toni Keener-Gordon of Briggs (Patient), John Turner of Tulsa (Integrity), Nick Mooney of Roland (Humble), Loni Ratliff of Hulbert (Strong), Carrie Steele of Kansas (Responsibility), Lara Stricker of Moseley (Respectful), Whitney Shelley of Keys (Determined), Katelyn Smith of Muldrow (Teach), Pamela Glass of Salina (Leader) and Ali Ryder of Collinsville (Cooperative).
Deputy Chief Bryan Warner praised the award recipients.
“We are proud to recognize this group of teachers who embody our traditional Cherokee values,” Deputy Chief Warner said. “It’s imperative to make sure our students develop the core attributes and values of Cherokees, which will help them develop as our future leaders.”
Nominations highlighted how the honored teachers exemplify the Cherokee attributes in their classroom, such as holding students sacred, persevering through challenges, upholding consistent standards, modeling admirable behavior, engaging in open communication, instilling self-assurance balanced with humility, collaborating to lift up the community, dedicating themselves fully to the role of educator, generously sharing knowledge, approaching their work with patience and humility, and demonstrating resolve rooted in cultural identity.
“I can’t believe this and I’m just so thrilled to be nominated for Teacher of the Year,” said Carla Campbell. “I’m proud to stand beside all of the other wonderful teachers who were recognized. We all work so hard and sometimes we don’t get the recognition that we need. My mom and dad were both educators and I watched them touch people throughout their careers. I appreciate getting to work with my students and the wonderful Gans staff.”
Honorees were nominated by their respective school district administration before selection by a panel of Cherokee Nation education leaders.
Each awardee received a basket made by Cherokee National Treasure Robert Lewis along with a cash prize.