Sherry Dew

I should start by saying I never felt called to become a teacher in the traditional sense, but I realize that I have been placed in positions that led me to the place I was meant to be. My parents never went to college but instilled in me a love of learning and a core value system that combined a strong work ethic, patience and compassion. Although I didn’t always have the greatest grades, my parents blessed me with a support system and encouraged me in anything I wanted to do. My love and passion for history only grew in college with two of the best history teachers I ever had. They showed me that it’s not always about content, but the conversations that can be started as a result.

I graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a degree in History and a minor in Political Science and thought about joining the FBI as an analyst. However, life stepped in and I was put on another course. After being a stay at home mom while my kids were small I was asked to fill a history position for a teacher who resigned at my children’s private school. I fell in love with teaching and have never wanted to do anything since. Throughout my almost 20 years of teaching I have taught in private school, Edmond Public Schools, but fell in love with the diversity of Oklahoma City and have spent the last 17 years with OKCPS, with the last 7 at Southeast High School.

As someone who did not become a teacher until almost 15 years after graduating college I had a lot to learn. I am blessed to have been placed in schools that had wonderful teachers that shared their experience and knowledge. I owe so much of what I am as a teacher to those that were a constant source of inspiration over my teaching career.

“Excellence in education is when we do everything we can to make sure they become everything they can.” Sometimes teaching history is easier than convincing students they are smart and capable of overcoming their challenges. Within lessons about civil rights, conversations develop on how to handle conflict and much more. The goal of my class is to teach history, but make it relatable to their lives and in doing this I hope to inspire them to make their futures and mine better.