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Tracy Grunwald of Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy honored as Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist
Summary
Tracy Grunwald, a high-school math teacher at Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, was recognized by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board as a 2026 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist and described how OVCA’s virtual model supports struggling students through structured, interactive instruction and wraparound supports.
The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board spotlighted Tracy Grunwald of Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy on Feb. 9 as a finalist for the 2026 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
Audrey Plamer, identified as head of school for the Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, introduced Grunwald and described OVCA as serving more than 4,300 students, including about 1,500 high school students, and employing Oklahoma-certified teachers. Plamer praised Grunwald’s classroom practice and the school’s wraparound support model.
Grunwald, a high-school math teacher, told board members that her virtual classroom uses structured interactive instruction: whole-room chat, digital whiteboards, small-group 'tables,' and targeted intervention sessions. She said virtual instruction, when designed with rigor and layered supports, can provide an environment where students who froze in traditional settings find confidence, engagement and academic progress.
On classroom practice she said she uses assessments and polls to check understanding, holds three open help sessions weekly, and offers two targeted intervention sessions. Grunwald shared a case of a student who had previously failed algebra and later gained confidence in geometry through virtual instruction, ultimately participating on the mic and turning on a camera.
Board members asked several practical questions about applied math projects and encouraged Grunwald and OVCA staff to continue sharing instructional practices across the sector. The board wished Grunwald well in the statewide Teacher of the Year competition.
