News

Michelle Williams has been selected as the 2024-2025 Memorial High School Teacher of the Year!

This is Michelle's 25th year teaching math at Memorial. She also serves as the the math department lead, building testing coordinator, Student Council sponsor, and one of the activity planners for the school. 

We asked Michelle a few questions to learn more about her and her time at Tulsa Public Schools.

How many years have you spent with Tulsa Public Schools?

I did my internship at Memorial High School under the supervision of my high school Algebra 2 teacher -- I graduated from Hale. I enjoyed Memorial and everything about it, so the department lead at the time helped me get hired after my college graduation. I started at Memorial August 2000. I am still in the same classroom. For 25 years, same school, same classroom! 

Why did you want to work in education?

I always thought I would be a teacher. The only other option for me was to be an accountant, like my mother. My senior year I took an accounting class at TCC as a concurrent student. I decided then that accounting was not for me. I loved math and it was a no brainer for me to become a high school math teacher.

Can you tell us a bit about your time at TPS?

I enjoy each of my students and try to build that relationship with them while they are in my class. Students will come back the following year to say hi and talk. They come back years later to visit (or they are in my building and stop by to chat). I will be out, at the grocery store, shopping, at my children’s activities - anywhere, and students will spot me to chat. It is hard because they have grown and changed, I don’t always recognize their face. But they always have a story about something that happened within my classroom. That warms my heart and that is why I love teaching – these relationships. 

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My children. My son is a senior and will be graduating in May. He is an Eagle Scout and has played soccer since he was four years old. My daughter is a junior and is very involved with dance. So, if I am not at school, then I am either at the soccer field or at a dance competition with my family.  

Is there anything else you would like everyone to know?

I have several previous students that I teach along side now. It is amazing how much we, teachers and staff, try to make the students feel comfortable for them to be their true self, that they do not want to leave us. Currently I have at least seven coworkers that were once my students. Memorial builds that family atmosphere, and it is important to have a sense of belonging and validation at your work.