Two Oklahoma educators receive award

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Two Oklahoma educators have received one of the nation's top teaching awards. <br><br>Norman teacher Kristy Crabtree and Ginger Mendenhall-Underwood of Tulsa [pictured] received

Friday, December 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Two Oklahoma educators have received one of the nation's top teaching awards.

Norman teacher Kristy Crabtree and Ginger Mendenhall-Underwood of Tulsa [pictured] received the 2002 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and a $25,000 cash prize Thursday.

State schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett said they will be recognized with 98 other national award recipients in the spring.

``Being chosen as a Milken Educator Award honoree means these educators have demonstrated exceptional educational talent which has made a lasting impression on the lives of our children, their families and our school families,'' Garrett said.

Crabtree and Mendenhall-Underwood bring the number of statewide recipients to 11 since the award was first presented in 1985.

Crabtree has taught kindergarten at Norman's Jefferson Elementary School for 11 years. She was instrumental in starting her district's pre- kindergarten program and has been named head teacher by her co-workers for the last three years.

``I was so stunned,'' Crabtree said. ``Kids make it (the school) the place to be. They make learning happen; we're just the guide.''

Mendenhall-Underwood said she is still in shock. She had to look at the giant check at her house Wednesday night to remind her of the honor.

She has taught fifth grade at Tulsa's Marshall Elementary school for nine years. A past recipient of the STAR Teacher Award from Northeastern State University, Mendenhall-Underwood was also named her district's 2002 Teacher of the Year.

Mendenhall-Underwood plans to use her $25,000 to take her students on a special field trip. Crabtree has not decided how to spend the money, but she said she may invest a portion of it.

They will join 1,877 teachers from 46 states who have received the award. The Milken Family Foundation has presented almost $47 million to teachers across the country.