Editor’s Note: Yukon Public Schools’ 11 “Teacher of the Year” finalists are being profiled in The Yukon Progress. Finalists were selected by peers to represent their school sites. A committee of past YPS winners and professional development site representatives will select Yukon’s Teacher of the Year with the winner announced at a March 26 banquet.
Meagan Deckard has been named the 2019-20 Teacher of the Year for Parkland Elementary. Deckard began her teaching career as a student teacher at Parkland and was fortunate enough to be hired after graduation.
This is Deckard’s fifth year teaching, with all years being in Pre-K at Parkland.
Deckard was thrilled to be selected as Parkland’s Teacher of the Year.
“I feel so honored to be chosen by peers to represent our wonderful school,” she said. “I work with the most amazing and supportive teachers. Not only are we co-workers, but we are a family. To be chosen by them is truly a blessing and honor.”
Deckard always knew that she wanted to teach because of the many influential teachers that she has had in her life. One of her favorite things about teaching Pre-K is seeing the progress that students make throughout the year.
“When students come into Pre-K, it is most likely their first time in school. It is really amazing to see the transformation that students make from August to May,” Deckard said.
Deckard is proud to have been born and raised in Yukon. She attended Yukon Public Schools kindergarten through graduation and went on to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she received a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Her husband, Tyler Deckard, is also a graduate of Yukon High School and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. They have one son, James Emmett.
“My husband and I always knew that we wanted to raise our family in the same great community that we were very fortunate to be a part of,” Deckard said.
She is also a member of the Oklahoma Education Association and Yukon Professional Educators Association.
