Press Releases
June 24, 2024
Three Distinguished Educators Selected for Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame proudly announces the induction of three exemplary educators—Robert Franklin, Kevin Hime, and Cornel Pewewardy—whose impactful careers have significantly shaped education in Oklahoma and beyond. The induction ceremony will take place on November 1 at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.
“Our 37th class of Hall of Fame honorees highlights the incredible work of educators who have influenced generations of Oklahomans and whose legacies are not yet complete,” said Sharon Lease, executive director of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. “Their contributions have benefited the youngest among us, are ensuring paths to success for youth and adults, and are contributing to an ever-greater understanding of the importance of Indigenous education. The opportunity to recognize their life’s work is an honor.”
Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame President Eugene Earsom also lauded the inductees.
“This year’s honorees are unlike any class before them in the breadth, depth and diversity of their work,” Earsom said. “Education is not a monolith. This class illustrates the far-reaching yet distinct impact educators can make, and we are thrilled to induct them in the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame.”
Franklin, a pioneer in special education and virtual learning, has dedicated over four decades to championing innovative educational programs and supporting students with disabilities. His leadership roles at Sand Springs Public Schools and Tulsa Technology Center have left a legacy.
He began his career in 1981 as a special education teacher with Sand Springs Public Schools, where he worked with elementary-aged students at a hospital for children with developmental delays and later served as an assistant principal at the hospital, a traditional junior high and at a juvenile treatment center.
In 2002, Franklin took over as principal at Charles Page High School before becoming assistant superintendent of Sand Springs Public Schools in 2005. Since 2010, Franklin, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeastern State University and a doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, has served as associate superintendent of Tulsa Technology Center.
During his time in Sand Springs, Franklin advocated and administered community and philanthropic partnerships to expand early childhood education opportunities and created a program to support underachieving high school juniors and seniors as each Sandite Scholar became first-generation college students.
Franklin also was an early champion for virtual learning. As coordinator of Tulsa Tech’s e-School Consortium, he organized and facilitated a partnership among 21 school districts to deliver online and blended learning platforms for students throughout the Tulsa region. From 2011 to 2022, the consortium served more than 7,200 secondary students and provided professional development to enhance teaching practices and school policies associated with virtual learning.
Franklin also has a long history of serving Oklahomans with disabilities. In 1985, he co-founded Make Promises Happen, a non-profit camping and recreational program that has now served more than 50,000 youth and adults with disabilities. Since 2021, Franklin also has worked with local, state and national partners to support the Project Search program that provides young adults with disabilities with job-training opportunities.
He has served on the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board since 2018 and currently serves as its chairman. Franklin has also served on the governing boards for the Home Buildings Association Charitable Foundation, the Jenks Chamber of Commerce and the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce.
“Robert is a consummate professional who takes immense pride in his work to create meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages and abilities,” said Stacey Butterfield, superintendent of Jenks Public Schools. “Over the years, countless individual students and their families have benefited from his commitment to improved outcomes.”
Hime, known for his visionary leadership, has transformed educational practices in multiple districts, including Woodland, Clinton, and Lawton. Over 39 years of education service, Hime has built a track record of breaking down barriers and building partnerships to elevate student success and strengthen families and communities.
While at Clinton, Hime created only the state’s third intergenerational pre-kindergarten program where two classrooms met at a local nursing home. He also was recognized as an educational technology innovator as the district implemented a program to ensure every Clinton student received either an iPad or Chromebook.
Hime also leveraged emerging technology and social media to elevate professional development and education conversations statewide through development of an online #oklaed chat and in-person learning opportunities for educators and education leaders.
In just five years at Lawton, Hime has become known for his focus on what he calls the three Es for every student: enrolled in a college or certification program, enlisted in the Armed Forces, or employed in a job with growth opportunities.
Toward that commitment, Hime has overseen the creation of Lawton’s national award-winning Life Ready Center expanding the availability of Advanced Placement and concurrent courses to more Lawton students; a middle school hands-on career exploration program; makerspaces on every elementary campus; and a 5,000-student virtual school, including an evening program that expands educational access and flexibility for students and families.
“Kevin is a leader with a vision that continually challenges those around him to grow for the betterment of those they serve … and welcomes those with opposing views and mindsets, but not for trying to change them,” said Jason James, an administrator who has served with Hime in Clinton and Lawton. “He wants to gain understanding and begin conversations that lead to great impacts for our students and community.”
Hime holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Among numerous professional honors, Hime was named Superintendent of the Year by both the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators and the Oklahoma School Public Relations Association in 2022. Earlier this year, he was selected as an Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Medal for Excellence winner.
For more than half a century, Pewewardy’s distinguished research and scholarship have profoundly influenced public and higher education, particularly for Native American students, educators and administrators. He has challenged and expanded the understanding of Indigenous education, teacher training and tribal leadership preparation in Oklahoma and nationwide. Colleagues also praise his mentoring relationships with students and early career faculty.
Pewewardy is Comanche and Kiowa and former Vice Chair of the Comanche Nation. He currently serves as an associate professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, a professor-of-practice at Kansas State University, and as an adjunct faculty member at numerous colleges and universities in Oklahoma and across the country. He’s also an author and frequent presenter on Indigenous education issues.
Beginning as a recreation assistant for the-then Sequoyah Indian High School in Tahlequah in 1975, Pewewardy went on to serve in education roles throughout the United States through positions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M; the University of Oklahoma; the University of Minneapolis; Saint Paul (Minnesota) Public Schools; the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha; Cameron University in Lawton; Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio; Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS; Comanche Nation College in Lawton; Portland State University in Oregon; and Kansas State University. He also founded Comanche Academy Charter School in Lawton.
Pewewardy has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeastern State University (Tahlequah), a master’s degree from New Mexico State University, a post-graduate certificate from the University of New Mexico and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.
Fives times, he has been named the Big XII Outstanding American Indian Faculty of the Year, and he also received the Crystal Eagle Award for Outstanding Leadership at the University of Kansas. The National Indian Education Association (Lifetime Achievement Award), the University of Kansas Endowment Association, Portland State University, the Oregon Indian Education Association, the Oklahoma Council for Indian Education also have recognized him for teaching excellence.
“Dr. Pewewardy’s illustrious career is testimony to his profound impact on the state educational community and his unwavering dedication to enhancing Indigenous education,” said Belinda Biscoe, senior associate vice president for the University of Oklahoma’s Senior Associate Vice President for Outreach at the College of Continuing Education. “His efforts have enriched the educational landscape and fostered a greater understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and perspectives.”
For more information and ticket information, contact Lease at 405.692.3190 or [email protected].
About the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame was constituted and incorporated in 1984 as a nonprofit organization to recognize and to honor those professionals who have exemplified a commitment of quality public-supported education while demonstrating exceptional abilities in leadership, service, and research benefitting Oklahoma education.
“Our 37th class of Hall of Fame honorees highlights the incredible work of educators who have influenced generations of Oklahomans and whose legacies are not yet complete,” said Sharon Lease, executive director of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. “Their contributions have benefited the youngest among us, are ensuring paths to success for youth and adults, and are contributing to an ever-greater understanding of the importance of Indigenous education. The opportunity to recognize their life’s work is an honor.”
Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame President Eugene Earsom also lauded the inductees.
“This year’s honorees are unlike any class before them in the breadth, depth and diversity of their work,” Earsom said. “Education is not a monolith. This class illustrates the far-reaching yet distinct impact educators can make, and we are thrilled to induct them in the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame.”
Franklin, a pioneer in special education and virtual learning, has dedicated over four decades to championing innovative educational programs and supporting students with disabilities. His leadership roles at Sand Springs Public Schools and Tulsa Technology Center have left a legacy.
He began his career in 1981 as a special education teacher with Sand Springs Public Schools, where he worked with elementary-aged students at a hospital for children with developmental delays and later served as an assistant principal at the hospital, a traditional junior high and at a juvenile treatment center.
In 2002, Franklin took over as principal at Charles Page High School before becoming assistant superintendent of Sand Springs Public Schools in 2005. Since 2010, Franklin, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeastern State University and a doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, has served as associate superintendent of Tulsa Technology Center.
During his time in Sand Springs, Franklin advocated and administered community and philanthropic partnerships to expand early childhood education opportunities and created a program to support underachieving high school juniors and seniors as each Sandite Scholar became first-generation college students.
Franklin also was an early champion for virtual learning. As coordinator of Tulsa Tech’s e-School Consortium, he organized and facilitated a partnership among 21 school districts to deliver online and blended learning platforms for students throughout the Tulsa region. From 2011 to 2022, the consortium served more than 7,200 secondary students and provided professional development to enhance teaching practices and school policies associated with virtual learning.
Franklin also has a long history of serving Oklahomans with disabilities. In 1985, he co-founded Make Promises Happen, a non-profit camping and recreational program that has now served more than 50,000 youth and adults with disabilities. Since 2021, Franklin also has worked with local, state and national partners to support the Project Search program that provides young adults with disabilities with job-training opportunities.
He has served on the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board since 2018 and currently serves as its chairman. Franklin has also served on the governing boards for the Home Buildings Association Charitable Foundation, the Jenks Chamber of Commerce and the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce.
“Robert is a consummate professional who takes immense pride in his work to create meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages and abilities,” said Stacey Butterfield, superintendent of Jenks Public Schools. “Over the years, countless individual students and their families have benefited from his commitment to improved outcomes.”
Hime, known for his visionary leadership, has transformed educational practices in multiple districts, including Woodland, Clinton, and Lawton. Over 39 years of education service, Hime has built a track record of breaking down barriers and building partnerships to elevate student success and strengthen families and communities.
While at Clinton, Hime created only the state’s third intergenerational pre-kindergarten program where two classrooms met at a local nursing home. He also was recognized as an educational technology innovator as the district implemented a program to ensure every Clinton student received either an iPad or Chromebook.
Hime also leveraged emerging technology and social media to elevate professional development and education conversations statewide through development of an online #oklaed chat and in-person learning opportunities for educators and education leaders.
In just five years at Lawton, Hime has become known for his focus on what he calls the three Es for every student: enrolled in a college or certification program, enlisted in the Armed Forces, or employed in a job with growth opportunities.
Toward that commitment, Hime has overseen the creation of Lawton’s national award-winning Life Ready Center expanding the availability of Advanced Placement and concurrent courses to more Lawton students; a middle school hands-on career exploration program; makerspaces on every elementary campus; and a 5,000-student virtual school, including an evening program that expands educational access and flexibility for students and families.
“Kevin is a leader with a vision that continually challenges those around him to grow for the betterment of those they serve … and welcomes those with opposing views and mindsets, but not for trying to change them,” said Jason James, an administrator who has served with Hime in Clinton and Lawton. “He wants to gain understanding and begin conversations that lead to great impacts for our students and community.”
Hime holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Among numerous professional honors, Hime was named Superintendent of the Year by both the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators and the Oklahoma School Public Relations Association in 2022. Earlier this year, he was selected as an Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Medal for Excellence winner.
For more than half a century, Pewewardy’s distinguished research and scholarship have profoundly influenced public and higher education, particularly for Native American students, educators and administrators. He has challenged and expanded the understanding of Indigenous education, teacher training and tribal leadership preparation in Oklahoma and nationwide. Colleagues also praise his mentoring relationships with students and early career faculty.
Pewewardy is Comanche and Kiowa and former Vice Chair of the Comanche Nation. He currently serves as an associate professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, a professor-of-practice at Kansas State University, and as an adjunct faculty member at numerous colleges and universities in Oklahoma and across the country. He’s also an author and frequent presenter on Indigenous education issues.
Beginning as a recreation assistant for the-then Sequoyah Indian High School in Tahlequah in 1975, Pewewardy went on to serve in education roles throughout the United States through positions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M; the University of Oklahoma; the University of Minneapolis; Saint Paul (Minnesota) Public Schools; the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha; Cameron University in Lawton; Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio; Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS; Comanche Nation College in Lawton; Portland State University in Oregon; and Kansas State University. He also founded Comanche Academy Charter School in Lawton.
Pewewardy has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeastern State University (Tahlequah), a master’s degree from New Mexico State University, a post-graduate certificate from the University of New Mexico and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.
Fives times, he has been named the Big XII Outstanding American Indian Faculty of the Year, and he also received the Crystal Eagle Award for Outstanding Leadership at the University of Kansas. The National Indian Education Association (Lifetime Achievement Award), the University of Kansas Endowment Association, Portland State University, the Oregon Indian Education Association, the Oklahoma Council for Indian Education also have recognized him for teaching excellence.
“Dr. Pewewardy’s illustrious career is testimony to his profound impact on the state educational community and his unwavering dedication to enhancing Indigenous education,” said Belinda Biscoe, senior associate vice president for the University of Oklahoma’s Senior Associate Vice President for Outreach at the College of Continuing Education. “His efforts have enriched the educational landscape and fostered a greater understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and perspectives.”
For more information and ticket information, contact Lease at 405.692.3190 or [email protected].
About the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame was constituted and incorporated in 1984 as a nonprofit organization to recognize and to honor those professionals who have exemplified a commitment of quality public-supported education while demonstrating exceptional abilities in leadership, service, and research benefitting Oklahoma education.
Feb. 24, 2023
STATEMENT FROM OKLAHOMA EDUCATORS HALL OF FAME
For nearly 40 years, the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame has celebrated those who have dedicated their lives to Oklahoma’s children and their futures. We honor their expertise, commitment, sacrifice, leadership, and service every year. We will continue to do so.
Since the non-profit organization’s incorporation in 1984, OEHF has partnered with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to honor and recognize these individuals who collectively represent the best of a noble profession.
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters recently ordered the removal of the portraits of Hall of Fame inductees from a corridor of the state Education Department. We read through the media that he referred derisively to the inductees as “union bosses” and “bureaucrats.” He made this change without notice to the Hall of Fame, which retains ownership of the portraits. The inductees or the persons who nominate them pay for the portraits, and the Hall of Fame has them framed professionally for display.
We have reached out to Superintendent Walters and the state Education Department for conversation. We respect his commitment to parents and students. Every educator knows that education is most effective when it is a partnership between schools, educators, families, students and the community.
We are hopeful a dialogue will result in Mr. Walters’ reconsidering his decision, and that he will place the portraits on display at a location in the Oliver Hodge Building (named for an inductee) that is accessible and visible to the public and honorees’ families, that will protect the craftsmanship of the portraits, and that will dignify the honorees’ individual and collective service to Oklahoma.
We firmly believe it’s possible to honor and recognize parents, students and esteemed educators who spent their professional lives working with and for young Oklahomans.
Over the years of selecting honorees, OEHF selection committees have engaged in vigorous debate over nominees. The beauty of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame is that it’s never been about political leanings but rather how nominees have advanced education and served Oklahoma.
Collectively, Hall of Fame honorees have served tens of thousands of Oklahoma students in pre-K-12, career technology, and higher education. They have broken racial barriers, shattered glass ceilings, challenged the status quo, changed hearts, and filled many, many young minds with the confidence they needed to pursue their hopes and dreams. Many of their names are found in Oklahoma history books and on buildings throughout the state.
Many inductees are no longer with us, but their colleagues, former students and families hold their loved one’s Hall of Fame induction as a cherished memory and evidence of an enduring legacy. That legacy and history are part of us as a state and as an education community.
The Hall of Fame inductees earned this recognition over decades of service. The very least we can do is honor them in a manner befitting their leadership, service, and legacy.
For additional information, contact OEHF President Eugene Earsom or Executive Director Sharon Lease.
Since the non-profit organization’s incorporation in 1984, OEHF has partnered with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to honor and recognize these individuals who collectively represent the best of a noble profession.
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters recently ordered the removal of the portraits of Hall of Fame inductees from a corridor of the state Education Department. We read through the media that he referred derisively to the inductees as “union bosses” and “bureaucrats.” He made this change without notice to the Hall of Fame, which retains ownership of the portraits. The inductees or the persons who nominate them pay for the portraits, and the Hall of Fame has them framed professionally for display.
We have reached out to Superintendent Walters and the state Education Department for conversation. We respect his commitment to parents and students. Every educator knows that education is most effective when it is a partnership between schools, educators, families, students and the community.
We are hopeful a dialogue will result in Mr. Walters’ reconsidering his decision, and that he will place the portraits on display at a location in the Oliver Hodge Building (named for an inductee) that is accessible and visible to the public and honorees’ families, that will protect the craftsmanship of the portraits, and that will dignify the honorees’ individual and collective service to Oklahoma.
We firmly believe it’s possible to honor and recognize parents, students and esteemed educators who spent their professional lives working with and for young Oklahomans.
Over the years of selecting honorees, OEHF selection committees have engaged in vigorous debate over nominees. The beauty of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame is that it’s never been about political leanings but rather how nominees have advanced education and served Oklahoma.
Collectively, Hall of Fame honorees have served tens of thousands of Oklahoma students in pre-K-12, career technology, and higher education. They have broken racial barriers, shattered glass ceilings, challenged the status quo, changed hearts, and filled many, many young minds with the confidence they needed to pursue their hopes and dreams. Many of their names are found in Oklahoma history books and on buildings throughout the state.
Many inductees are no longer with us, but their colleagues, former students and families hold their loved one’s Hall of Fame induction as a cherished memory and evidence of an enduring legacy. That legacy and history are part of us as a state and as an education community.
The Hall of Fame inductees earned this recognition over decades of service. The very least we can do is honor them in a manner befitting their leadership, service, and legacy.
For additional information, contact OEHF President Eugene Earsom or Executive Director Sharon Lease.
Hall of Fame Announces 2022 Inductees
A trio of Oklahoma educators whose dedication to public education has benefited generations of Oklahoma children have been selected for induction into the prestigious Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame.
Weldon Davis, H.J. Green, and David Pennington will be honored at a Nov. 4 induction ceremony at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.
“Our 35th class of hall of fame honorees served the state in so many different ways but always focused on ensuring the success of Oklahoma students,” Sharon Lease, executive director of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame, said. “They are the type of educators we should all aspire to be, and we’re thrilled to recognize their incredible contributions.”
Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame President Eugene Earsom also lauded the honorees.
“It is heartwarming and appropriate to honor these three whose devotion to the teaching profession has been so admirable and accomplished,” Earsom said. “This year’s inductees collectively have more than a century of dedication to achieving a first-class quality education for every student in Oklahoma.”
Davis’ education career began small, teaching elementary and junior high students in Barnsdall. Returning to his hometown of Lawton, he spent two decades as a teacher, counselor and adjunct professor. During his time in Lawton, Davis grew into a formidable public education advocate, while rising to president of the Lawton Association of Classroom Teachers.
He left Lawton schools for the halls of the state Capitol as the first multi-year Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) president. During his six years as OEA president, Davis traveled statewide to fight for public education. He provided advocacy opportunities to teachers, recruited and campaigned for pro-public education legislative candidates, and deftly navigated Capitol politics to help secure new state revenue for schools and better retirement benefits for teachers.
Davis’ career came full circle when he returned to the schoolhouse, closing out a distinguished education career with 16 years at Oklahoma City Public Schools, including the last six as principal at Northwest Classen High School. Even in retirement, Davis remains a fierce public education advocate through leadership positions with the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association.
“The breadth of Weldon’s career and educational influence is staggering,” Kenya Kraft and Joe Wynn wrote in Davis’ nomination. “He has impacted countless lives ... and has consistently been recognized as a trusted voice for education in our state.”
Pennington’s four-decade career in Oklahoma education likewise had rural roots that eventually carried him to the national stage. After teaching and coaching in Kansas and Bristow, Pennington began his career as an administrator with building and central office positions in Bristow. He began the first of two superintendencies in Blackwell in 1995, and, in 2004, he accepted the position of Ponca City Public Schools superintendent where he served for 13 years.
His leadership in Ponca City was marked by progressive initiatives to modernize the educational experience for students and for staff professional development. Pennington was deeply involved in a number of civic endeavors and his peers selected him to serve in statewide leadership roles with the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA). His time with the OASA also led to service opportunities at the national level, where he served for more than a decade with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), including as AASA president in 2014-2015.
Pennington was named OASA District 4 Superintendent of the Year four times and was honored with OASA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. AASA also recognized Pennington for distinguished service in 2017. Since his retirement from Ponca City in 2017, he has continued to serve as executive director of the United Suburban Schools Association.
In nominating Pennington for the Hall of Fame honor, Guthrie Public Schools Superintendent Mike Simpson reflected on Pennington’s impact and the respect he has within the education community.
“I have personally witnessed his service to students of Oklahoma in the districts he served,” Simpson said. “His mentorship has built countless other educational leaders, impacting instruction in Oklahoma for generations.”
From start to finish, change has been a hallmark of Green’s career path. While he hails from tiny Wakita, Oklahoma, the story of his education career has an urban foundation that led to a lifetime of work focused on high school reform. Green’s early career in Tulsa Public Schools aligned with desegregation efforts, and his leadership as Booker T. Washington High School’s principal helped establish the school’s cutting-edge specialized curriculum as part of a voluntary integration plan at the all-Black school. During his eight years as the school’s principal, he was named one of the 60 most effective high school principals by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and was eventually inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
Green’s experience as a football player at Oklahoma State University and as a high school coach served him well when he served for three years as executive director of the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association. However, his focus wasn’t just athletics. Green helped establish a statewide academic bowl and, under his leadership, OSSAA began awarding academic state championships for athletic teams. After years serving as an administrator in California, Green returned to Oklahoma in 2008 to serve as Tulsa’s deputy superintendent and turnaround officer under former superintendent Keith Ballard.
Green is also well known for a three-decade-long career as a high school and collegiate football and basketball referee. He has served on boards for several nonprofits in Oklahoma and California, including the Oklahoma Educational Memorial Trust Foundation, the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame (charter board member) and the National College Football Hall of Fame.
“It’s impossible to articulate the enormous impact of his work or the influence that he’s made on the lives of students and educators – not to mention Oklahoma history,” Kyle Dahlem wrote in nominating Green. “While other parts of the state and nation struggled to change the culture of schools, Tulsa put an integration plan in place and worked the plan all under the aegis of H.J. Green.”
Weldon Davis, H.J. Green, and David Pennington will be honored at a Nov. 4 induction ceremony at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.
“Our 35th class of hall of fame honorees served the state in so many different ways but always focused on ensuring the success of Oklahoma students,” Sharon Lease, executive director of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame, said. “They are the type of educators we should all aspire to be, and we’re thrilled to recognize their incredible contributions.”
Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame President Eugene Earsom also lauded the honorees.
“It is heartwarming and appropriate to honor these three whose devotion to the teaching profession has been so admirable and accomplished,” Earsom said. “This year’s inductees collectively have more than a century of dedication to achieving a first-class quality education for every student in Oklahoma.”
Davis’ education career began small, teaching elementary and junior high students in Barnsdall. Returning to his hometown of Lawton, he spent two decades as a teacher, counselor and adjunct professor. During his time in Lawton, Davis grew into a formidable public education advocate, while rising to president of the Lawton Association of Classroom Teachers.
He left Lawton schools for the halls of the state Capitol as the first multi-year Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) president. During his six years as OEA president, Davis traveled statewide to fight for public education. He provided advocacy opportunities to teachers, recruited and campaigned for pro-public education legislative candidates, and deftly navigated Capitol politics to help secure new state revenue for schools and better retirement benefits for teachers.
Davis’ career came full circle when he returned to the schoolhouse, closing out a distinguished education career with 16 years at Oklahoma City Public Schools, including the last six as principal at Northwest Classen High School. Even in retirement, Davis remains a fierce public education advocate through leadership positions with the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association.
“The breadth of Weldon’s career and educational influence is staggering,” Kenya Kraft and Joe Wynn wrote in Davis’ nomination. “He has impacted countless lives ... and has consistently been recognized as a trusted voice for education in our state.”
Pennington’s four-decade career in Oklahoma education likewise had rural roots that eventually carried him to the national stage. After teaching and coaching in Kansas and Bristow, Pennington began his career as an administrator with building and central office positions in Bristow. He began the first of two superintendencies in Blackwell in 1995, and, in 2004, he accepted the position of Ponca City Public Schools superintendent where he served for 13 years.
His leadership in Ponca City was marked by progressive initiatives to modernize the educational experience for students and for staff professional development. Pennington was deeply involved in a number of civic endeavors and his peers selected him to serve in statewide leadership roles with the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA). His time with the OASA also led to service opportunities at the national level, where he served for more than a decade with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), including as AASA president in 2014-2015.
Pennington was named OASA District 4 Superintendent of the Year four times and was honored with OASA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. AASA also recognized Pennington for distinguished service in 2017. Since his retirement from Ponca City in 2017, he has continued to serve as executive director of the United Suburban Schools Association.
In nominating Pennington for the Hall of Fame honor, Guthrie Public Schools Superintendent Mike Simpson reflected on Pennington’s impact and the respect he has within the education community.
“I have personally witnessed his service to students of Oklahoma in the districts he served,” Simpson said. “His mentorship has built countless other educational leaders, impacting instruction in Oklahoma for generations.”
From start to finish, change has been a hallmark of Green’s career path. While he hails from tiny Wakita, Oklahoma, the story of his education career has an urban foundation that led to a lifetime of work focused on high school reform. Green’s early career in Tulsa Public Schools aligned with desegregation efforts, and his leadership as Booker T. Washington High School’s principal helped establish the school’s cutting-edge specialized curriculum as part of a voluntary integration plan at the all-Black school. During his eight years as the school’s principal, he was named one of the 60 most effective high school principals by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and was eventually inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
Green’s experience as a football player at Oklahoma State University and as a high school coach served him well when he served for three years as executive director of the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association. However, his focus wasn’t just athletics. Green helped establish a statewide academic bowl and, under his leadership, OSSAA began awarding academic state championships for athletic teams. After years serving as an administrator in California, Green returned to Oklahoma in 2008 to serve as Tulsa’s deputy superintendent and turnaround officer under former superintendent Keith Ballard.
Green is also well known for a three-decade-long career as a high school and collegiate football and basketball referee. He has served on boards for several nonprofits in Oklahoma and California, including the Oklahoma Educational Memorial Trust Foundation, the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame (charter board member) and the National College Football Hall of Fame.
“It’s impossible to articulate the enormous impact of his work or the influence that he’s made on the lives of students and educators – not to mention Oklahoma history,” Kyle Dahlem wrote in nominating Green. “While other parts of the state and nation struggled to change the culture of schools, Tulsa put an integration plan in place and worked the plan all under the aegis of H.J. Green.”
