Drew Rhodes

Drew Rhodes is the grandson of Grace and Lonnie Johnson, two life-long educators who worked for Oklahoma City Public Schools. Drew’s mother, Donna Rhodes, followed in her parent’s footsteps as life-long educators and was a third-grade teacher at Fillmore Elementary. Drew continued the trend and followed in his mother’s footsteps. He grew up understanding that education is one of the greatest gifts we will ever receive. Teaching is a calling and must be delivered with an empowering love. In 1990, he taught his first lesson at the age of 5 in his grandmother’s classroom at Martin Luther King Elementary, and in the Fall of 2009, he became a teacher for Oklahoma City Public Schools. Growing up hearing the stories of children struggling from the Eastside to the Southside of Oklahoma City greatly impacted his decision to be an educator. Drew has been honored over his years with OKCPS to be able educate students at U.S. Grant, Putnam Heights Academy, Emerson South, John Marshall High School, and Rogers Middle School. During his career, he has become known as the type of teacher any student could come speak with about any problem. His class is a safe space and his focus is breaking the generational cycles of poverty and trauma. He cherishes the opportunity to bring light to a child’s darkness and empower them to solve injustices which impact our community daily. Drew teaches with the belief that every child in the room is capable of making history and making the world a better place. Education is the key.