Patty Meyer earns state award
by Renee Fite
City of Stilwell Director of Public Relations and Media
A Stilwell educator has earned state recognition.
Patty Meyer was recently named Most Valuable Educator Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas Top 4 Teacher. The award was a benefit to Meyer and Stilwell High School.
“I was nominated and totally surprised that someone would nominate me,” said Meyer. “I felt honored to be chosen from a group of 1200
applicants. I was awarded $5,000 for top 20.”
The school received $2000.
“I was also recognized at the BOK Center at the Oklahoma City
Thunder Blue game with a group of my seniors. Later, I was recognized for Top 4 Teacher at the Paycom Center at a Thunder game,” Meyer said.
Stilwell educator Patty Meyer was named Most Valuable Educator Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas Top 4 Teacher. In her classroom on Monday, she looks at a yearbook with student Dulce Rivas.
Renee Fite photo
Meyer is very proud of the accomplishments of Stilwell students.
“Stilwell Students are involved and active in their achievements. We were awarded 8.3 million in scholarship offers last year and are on track to equal and maybe surpass that this year,” Meyer said. “And I would like to thank Jane Rhoads for always being there when we need a paper read.”
A 37 year veteran of education, Meyer currently is responsible for
Stilwell High School Senior Capstone, scholarships, college application and Fafsa.
She taught 7 years at Maryetta and 30 at Stilwell. “I have taught first, second, third, Health ninth -12th grades, Freshman Connect, Reading, P.E for K-8 and assistant varsity girls basketball coach.”
Her philosophy as an educator explains how she is successful.
“Every student has the potential to learn, and I want each of them to know that I believe in their abilities,” said Meyer. “It is important for them to realize that there are no boundaries to what they can achieve or where their dreams can take them. So Dare to Dream Big.”
Stilwell is a good place to be an educator.
“I worked seven years at Maryetta under Carthel Means where I feel like his teachings and philosophies played a big part in who I am as an educator. He was the first person I heard in a staff meeting that said all kids can learn and always treat all kids the same,” she said. ”I have always tried to live by this in my teaching career.”
While teaching at Stilwell she believes she has taught under six different superintendents.
Meyer has lots of roots in Adair County and her family is no doubt proud of her recognition. She is the daughter of Horace and Betty Hines and has one brother, Tom Hines and sister-in-law Ruth. She and husband Chris have four children and five grandchildren: Kasey and husband Brad Hayes, Kelsey and husband Matt Rucker, Rhett and wife Taylor and Raycen and Jade. Grandchildren Allie, Macie, Kensie, Reed and Carter.
Something about Meyer not everyone knows is she grew up in Proctor with a huge support system.
“I attended Proctor First Baptist Church and was baptized. I competed in the Junior Olympics and placed in High Jump and the 100 meter. I grew up on a race horse farm and was Stilwell Rodeo Strawberry Princess in third grade,” said Meyer.
