This year, in her fifth year teaching, special education teacher Mrs. Megan Scheinkoenig was named Bixby West Elementary’s Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Scheinkoenig prefers coffee over tea, summer over winter, and dogs over cats.
Mrs. Scheinkoenig was led to teaching after experiencing a family member’s benefit from interventions. She wanted to be a similar resource for others and began a master’s degree in special education. Because she wanted to support a broader range of students, she chose teaching over working in a specialized clinic.
As it becomes harder to be a teacher, Mrs. Scheinkoenig stays because “the kids mean the world to [her], seeing their growth and their successes.” As a teacher, Mrs. Scheinkoenig feels successful when a difficult topic for students “suddenly…clicks,” and “you can just celebrate them.”
Mrs. Scheinkoenig believes her best quality is adaptability. This is a necessary quality in a classroom where each student “receives their own individualized education plan,” and “no two days are ever the same.”
To future teachers, Mrs. Scheinkoenig would advise remembering your “why” at school, and keeping in mind that “you are a person,” and “what you do outside of school matters too.”
Mrs. Scheinkoenig is an incredible addition to the community of instructors at BPS, and her kindness and passion for teaching shine brightly. When asked what they would thank Mrs. Scheinkoenig for, a student of hers said, “Thank you for helping,” and brought tears to her teacher’s eyes. Congratulations Mrs. Scheinkoenig!