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Poteau board approves Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment payouts for teacher-of-the-year awards
Summary
The board approved the district’s OTEP (Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program) plan for 2026–27; superintendent said the amounts for this cycle were $4,500 for site teachers of the year and $7,500 for the district teacher of the year.
The Poteau Board of Education voted to approve the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program plan for the 2026–27 school year.
Superintendent Mr. Kibnet explained that the OTEP funds are state-allocated and used to reward teachers of the year as a retention tool. “So this year, it was 4,500 for the... site teachers of the year, and the district teacher of the year was 7,500,” he told the board, noting that the program is subject to state allocation amounts and a year lag in distribution.
Board members moved to approve the plan, a motion was seconded and the approval was recorded by roll call.
Administrators said the program is intended to help retain high-performing teachers by offering supplemental pay tied to the teacher-of-the-year recognitions; the superintendent also noted that if recipients do not remain employed the following year they would forfeit that benefit because the awards are tied to service in the next contract year.
