By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
That’s just what attendees of Yukon Public Schools’ 2025 Teacher of the Year Event will find out.
The individual selected to represent their peers for the next year as the Yukon school district’s top educator will be revealed Thursday night, April 24 at LifeChurch, 1101 E Main.
Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with the program kicking off at 6:30 p.m.
YPS officials recently announced these three district Teacher of the Year finalists:
- Shelby Jones, RISE (Reaching Independence Through Structured Education) teacher – Ranchwood Elementary.
- Ashlie Cravens, librarian/media specialist – Surrey Hills Elementary.
- Rachel Hilton, algebra 1 and consumer math teacher – Yukon High School.
A committee comprised of past district winners has been tasked with selecting YPS’ next Teacher of the Year, who will succeed 2024 honoree Kim Grant of Parkland Elementary.
Shelby Jones, a passionate educator with a heart for students with diverse learning needs, has dedicated her career to providing quality education for all.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master’s in Administration of Special Education from Southern Nazarene University, Jones is in her eighth year of experience in various Special Education programs.
Jones’s belief in the power of inclusion and her unwavering commitment to ensuring every student receives the best possible education are the cornerstones of her teaching philosophy.
Reflecting on her calling, Jones quotes Magic Johnson, “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in them.”
This sentiment perfectly encapsulates her dedication to empowering her students to reach their full potential.
Jones’s passion for education shines through in her daily interactions with students. She considers herself the lucky one to be the one teaching and growing alongside her students.
Ranchwood Elementary does an outstanding job of welcoming all students within the walls of their classrooms and Jones feels so blessed to be working alongside the best of the best.
This is Ashlie Cravens’ ninth year as the librarian at Surrey Hills Elementary.
Mrs. Cravens is a proud alumnus of Yukon Public Schools and the University of Oklahoma where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising. She holds a Master of Education in Library Media from East Central University. In addition to her role as librarian at Surrey Hills, she is the site communication representative and helps operate the school Facebook page.
Mrs. Cravens came to education in a nontraditional way. While she grew up in a family of educators including her grandmother who was an elementary school teacher and her great aunt who was also a school librarian, she didn’t immediately pursue education as a career.
That decision came after she began substitute teaching at Surrey Hills where her daughter was a student. During that time, she realized her childhood dream of becoming a teacher was still present. It was when she spent many weeks substituting in the library that she discovered a new passion and knew the library was where she wanted to stay.
“I absolutely fell in love with the library. The ability to touch every student and help them find a love a reading is what drives me every day,” Mrs. Cravens said.
She has used her time at Surrey Hills to encourage students’ love of reading with special library themed events like Dinocember and with multiple school wide reading events throughout the year such as the March Madness of Books. She helps encourage a positive school atmosphere with schoolwide kindness events during the year such as helping the Grinch grow his heart with kindness.
Mrs. Cravens believes that the librarian has an important role in the school beyond the walls of the library. It is important to her to collaborate with other teachers to help facilitate classroom projects and grade level initiatives. She cultivates and creates additional material for teachers to be able to use with their students.
Ashlie and her husband Jason, also a Yukon High School alum, decided to move back to Yukon so their daughter, Mackenzie could attend school. It was that decision that led to Mrs. Cravens working at Surrey Hills.
“It was important to me to give my daughter the same academic and extracurricular opportunities that I had while growing up in Yukon. Finding the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream was an unexpected and wonderful surprise,” she said.
Rachel Hilton, the 2024-25 school year Teacher of the Year for Yukon High School, is a graduate of Texas A&M University and earned her Masters degree from Concordia University. This is her 17th year teaching, and her 14th with Yukon.
Rachel started her career as a math teacher in Texas, with a strong passion for coaching. But the teaching part grew on her when introduced to co-teaching and working with special needs students. She quickly realized she needed to make the switch.
Rachel became certified in special education, moved to Oklahoma, and over time fell in love with Yukon, its community and youth, and the soccer coach – who is now her husband.
Hilton now teaches Algebra I, Consumer Math and Senior Capstone. She was the head volleyball coach at YHS for 10 years before stepping away from coaching to assist more as an IEP (individualized education program) writer, mentor teacher, and to help develop a stronger transition program at YHS.
Hilton’s passion as a teacher lies in equipping her students with skills that will transfer into “the real world” and adapting to each student’s needs in order to relate with them and build trust.
When she is not at school, Hilton is traveling or running with her husband, cheering on her Packers and Aggies, and fostering as many dogs as her marriage will allow.
BEST OF THE REST …
Jones, Craven and Hilton were chosen as the top three finalists among 12 building winners announced last fall during presentations at their respective school sites. Others were:
- Candi Smith, second grade teacher – Central Elementary.
- Mykal Haun, reading specialist – Myers Elementary.
- Shannon Adkisson, second grade teacher – Parkland Elementary.
• Ashley Langley, instructional specialist – Shedeck Elementary.
• Candice Moy, kindergarten teacher – Skyview Elementary.
• Caren Hughes, English language arts and social studies teacher – Independence Intermediate.
• Marissa Flores, English language arts and social studies teacher – Lakeview Intermediate.
• Miranda Miller, RISE teacher – Redstone Intermediate.
• Brandon Cromwell, 8th grade science teacher – Yukon Middle School.
Site principals will take turns introducing these “dynamic dozen” Teacher of the Year building winners during Thursday night’s special event.
The Yukon school district also will unveil its annual Rookie Teacher of the Year and Preston James Support Employee of the Year winners.
Winning these honors last year were teacher Kensley Mong of Surrey Hills Elementary and support employee Donna McGee of Yukon Special Services.
The Yukon school district has had two Oklahoma state Teacher of the Year winners – Rebecca Oglesby in 2019 and Jane Kennedy in 1985.
Eight YPS teachers have been state finalists – Keri Smith in 2020, Kayleen Browning in 2009, Karen Evans in 2004, Julia Wilhite in 2002, Mac DeVilbiss in 1999, Kathy Davis in 1998, Linda Knox in 1996, and Susie Grimes in 1995.
The first YPS Teacher of the Year was Elizabeth Weller, in 1962.
