There are times in some of our lives when we are headed down a path. But at some point, we realize that is not the way we are supposed to be going. That is what happened with Michele Sparks, who realized that her heart was in education.
“I started my work life in marketing,” she said. “But I grew up in a family of educators and am married to an educator. My husband and I moved to Anadarko for his job and I was asked to substitute in a special education classroom for a week. I loved it and I went to Southwestern Oklahoma State University to get my teaching degree at 35 years old.”
Michele is a resource teacher at Elk City High School, teaching Algebra and Geometry. She is in her 19th year in education overall, and her fourth with Elk City Public Schools. She has previously taught at Anadarko High School and Pioneer Elementary School in Grady County.
While being around a lot of educators helped nudge her into the classroom, Sparks says that seeing her student be successful is really great.
“I enjoy helping my students reach their goals and celebrating their progress as they become adults,” she said. “The best advice I have received is to be consistent in my attitude and demeanor. Don’t take student behaviors personally. We don’t always know what a student is going through.”
The teachers that she had growing up also made an impact on her life and helped shape her into the person she is today. She says that one of her elementary teachers had a great influence on her.
“I will never forget my first grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan,” she recalled. “She taught us to read with such kindness, patience, and love. I love to read because of her, but she also greatly impacted the way that I teach.”
When she is not in the classroom, Michele enjoys spending time with her husband Mike and their two kids, Alex and Chase. She also likes to cook, read, and spend time in the garden.
