2019 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Becky Oglesby teaches Pre-K through third grade at Ranchwood Elementary School in Yukon Public Schools. Her classroom filled with Caped Crusader comic-book memorabilia earned her the nickname: “Batman Teacher.” Oglesby was a second-year teacher at Plaza Towers Elementary in 2013 when a deadly EF5 tornado tore through the Moore School and claimed the lives of seven students. At the height of the storm, she used her body to shield her first-graders as the twister destroyed the school. The events of that day, she said, illustrate the dedication and compassion of Oklahoma’s teachers. “Any educator who has the heart of a teacher would have done the same thing,” Oglesby said. “Your kids become our kids, and our priority is to create a safe learning environment where they can flourish.” Oglesby identifies with Batman because he was an ordinary man of extraordinary accomplishments. “Batman believed that one man could make a difference. In turn, he became a legend. I want to be Batman for kids,” she said. “I want to be the ordinary person who puts on the mask that hides the simplicity of who I am and fights to give my students the best education that empowers them to find their purpose.” In her art lessons, Oglesby champions trauma-informed instruction. She also incorporates core subject areas, provides the opportunity for students to express their uniqueness, emphasizes state academic standards and provides life lessons.