Melodie Beacham-Boyd, 6th grade Pre-Algebra, Math, and Science teacher at Jenks West Intermediate, is the 2024-25 Jenks Public Schools District Teacher of the Year. Beacham-Boyd was selected from a group of 10 JPS Site Teachers of the Year by a committee of JPS administrators, school board members, and Jenks teachers who previously qualified as finalists for Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year. The surprise announcement was made inside Beacham-Boyd’s classroom by Superintendent Dr. Stacey Butterfield, members of the Superintendent’s cabinet, and the West Intermediate principals.
“This is such an honor and something I didn’t think was possible,” Beacham-Boyd stated. “The students are my heart, so it means everything to be able to share this moment with them. I’m humbled because I have so much pride in being a Jenks teacher, and I am excited to represent this District and everything I stand for as a teacher. There are so many incredible, deserving teachers in this District, and it means the world to me to be chosen for this award.”
A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Beacham-Boyd has worked at Jenks West Intermediate all seven years of her teaching career. As a child, she experienced instability in her life and often felt unseen and overlooked at school. She was inspired to become an educator during an experience in high school as an aide for a first-grade teacher, and vowed to never let her students feel invisible. In her small acts of daily kindness and care that demonstrate her enormous desire to continuously lift every student, Beacham-Boyd sees her students for who they truly are-not just as learners, but as individuals with unique stories, struggles, and strengths. Beacham-Boyd believes it is her mission to help students believe in themselves and empower them to overcome.
“I am passionate about building a classroom environment where every student feels valued, heard, and understood,” declared Beacham-Boyd. “In my classroom, there is no such thing as a ‘forgotten’ student. I aim to recognize each of their individual needs, aspirations, and potential. I want them to know that they are not defined by their challenges, but by the strength they show in facing those challenges.”
“The joy Melodie Beacham-Boyd has for her profession is evident in every interaction she has with her students and her peers,” remarked Dr. Butterfield. “Her personality is contagious, and her students thrive on the energy and happiness she brings into her classroom every day. We are so proud of the work she is doing and how she is inspiring our next generation of leaders. There is no doubt she will be an outstanding representative for our teachers and our entire District.”
Watch the announcement below: