Hailey Couch is a district Elementary Instructional Coach for Norman Public Schools in Norman, Oklahoma. She previously taught Kindergarten and 2nd Grade, and was an Instructional Coach for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She has served on the Kindergarten Advisory Board and Early Childhood Advisory Committee. She helped to revise the kindergarten report cards, realigning the standards-based report with new state academic standards. Hailey received the Milken Educator Award in 2018 as a kindergarten teacher, as well as was named Teacher of The Year the same school year. She co-authored the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act bill, which was passed in 2021. This piece of legislation permits educators to create play-based learning opportunities in the realm of movement, creative expression, exploration, socialization, reading for pleasure, and dramatic play. She heavily advocates for all students and educators across Oklahoma. Hailey models continuous improvement and lifelong learning through coaching conversations which focus on instructional and classroom management strategies, resulting in student achievement across the school district. She offers and facilitates countless support and professional development opportunities to novice and veteran teachers in her school district to ensure growth and improvement for instruction and learning. Hailey earned a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Oklahoma City University, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision from The University of Oklahoma. Hailey strives to advocate for public education in the state of Oklahoma and hopes to positively impact as many educators and students as possible through her career.