2022-23 Teachers of the Year: Mr. Ridenour and Mrs. Barger
By McKenna Worsham
Picture of Mrs. Stephani Barger taken from owassops.org
Picture of Mr. Shane Ridenour taken from owassops.org
When it comes to Owasso High School's immense pride in their teachers and faculty, Mr. Shane Ridenour and Mrs. Stephani Barger are some of the best examples. The title of “Teacher of the Year” is something that most teachers strive for at some point in their careers; this 2022-2023 school year, that dream was accomplished by Ridenour and Barger. Two incredibly intelligent and kind individuals who work hard every day to lead their classrooms in a way that fractures the status quo.
The West Campus’ winner of Teacher of the Year, Mr. Ridenour, is anything but a boring history teacher. He teaches a World History class, an AP World History class and also helps run OHS’s LARP (Live Action Roleplay) club. While he has only been teaching for five years (all five at OHS), he is an essential part of our Owasso community and an amazing asset to the OHS teaching staff. Although he is somewhat new to teaching, Ridenour is not a stranger to hard work.
“I worked at Walmart, I was a manager there for 18 years and at Toys “R” Us for a year and a half…my favorite part was always teaching people how to do things, training them…I was really good at it,” Ridenour recalls.
His love for his students is unmistakable in the way he leads his class in more of an open discussion, rather than handing them a packet over whatever dead king they’re talking about that week.
Ridenour mischievously explains his class’s daily activities, “I ask questions [from the lecture] then I roll dice, all my desks are numbered and whoever I roll has to answer…but they can ask for help…it’s okay to ask for help.”
This kind of interactive learning and teaching is part of the reason he was a perfect choice for this award. In addition, Ridenour’s grateful personality shines through in everything he does, including having the honorable title of Teacher of the Year.
“As far as what it means to me, it meant a lot to me. You know I took a huge pay cut to be a teacher…so I’m not in it for the money,” he laughs. “It’s nice to be recognized by the teachers and faculty…it makes me feel like I am appreciated!” Ridenour exclaims.
As for the East Campus’ Teacher of the Year, there could not have been a better fit for this recognition. Mrs. Barger is a one-in-a-million kind of teacher. She is one of Owasso’s amazing Special Education teachers and her love for this job is evident in the way she beams speaking about her students.
Barger, who has been teaching for 23 years (17 at Owasso High School), is truly one of the kindest people to come across. If one were to catch her in her classroom, they’d see her brainstorming new ways to help her students live their lives to their fullest potential. A 1991 Owasso High School graduate, Barger decided to come back and teach at her alma mater, everywhere else just wasn’t ‘home’.
“I know this is really gonna sound cheesy, but I felt like it was a calling…like God just said this is what you need to do. You need to be a cheerleader, not really a teacher but a cheerleader for the kids who sometimes get forgotten,” Barger describes teaching in her hometown with such passion.
Barger was very open about her ultimate goals as a teacher and where that love for kids with special needs came from.
“Well I gotta make a difference, I want to come back and be a teacher and I want to promote inclusion…My lessons don’t come out of a textbook, they come out of everyday experience,” Barger proudly exclaims.
Her intense connection and love for these students goes to show how inclusivity and simply loving those that are unique can truly make a difference. Barger’s students are the most incredible and loveable group, which is related directly to the way she runs her classroom.
Barger is a perfect representation of Teacher of the Year and all that title entails.
Barger expresses gratitude towards her peers, “Yeah it kind of fell in my lap…it has been a whirlwind…it is a great honor [and] it's just great being recognized”.
Both Ridenour and Barger are phenomenal additions to the Owasso High School teaching staff and we are so grateful for their passion and dedication to what they do!
Congratulations Mr. Ridenour and Mrs. Barger!