Northeast Elementary teacher Sadie Lee honored as Teacher of the Year

Sadie Lee, a third-grade teacher at Northeast Elementary, was announced as that school’s Teacher of the Year and used her remarks to credit a former teacher for inspiring her to enter education.

Lee said she has been in education for four years, entering her fifth, and that her former second‑grade teacher ‘‘saw the potential in me’’ and pushed her ‘‘out of my shell,’’ which helped spark her interest in becoming a teacher.

"My favorite thing about teaching is definitely getting to build connections and relationships with all of my students," Lee said. She described watching students grow across the school year and recalled former pupils returning to visit and share milestones, calling those moments ‘‘so good’’ and evidence that a teacher can have a lasting positive impact.

An unidentified speaker announced the honor for Lee, saying students ‘‘get a big grin on their face’’ when asked who their teacher is and praising her for making students feel loved. Lee thanked her colleagues, saying their shared passion shows her work ‘‘does not go unnoticed.’’ She also said she is an Owasso graduate and expressed pride in the district, closing by identifying herself as "Sadie Lee" and as an Owasso Ram.

The remarks consisted of personal reflections and gratitude following the announcement; no formal actions or votes were recorded in the transcript.