Stillwater Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is excited to launch the 2025 Most Valuable Pioneer (MVP) campaign. Sponsored by Oklahoma Community Credit Union, MVP is a special initiative that allows the community to honor exceptional SPS teachers and staff while supporting a great cause. From April 1 to April 25, you have the opportunity to nominate your favorite teacher/SPS employee to be recognized as an MVP, all while helping to fund vital services for students at Stillwater Public Schools.
The MVP campaign invites families, students, colleagues, and community members to nominate any SPS teacher or employee who has made a lasting impact in the classroom and beyond.
The process is simple: visit the MVP nomination page, nominate educators and/or staff members, and make a donation to Stillwater Public Schools’ Special Services program. Every dollar raised will directly support programs that provide essential resources for students with special needs, ensuring that all students at Stillwater Public Schools receive the care and attention they deserve.
How to Participate:
Nominate – Submit your nomination online for those you’d like to recognize as Most Valuable Pioneer.
Donate – Nominations are accompanied by a donation of any amount to support Special Services at Stillwater Public Schools. Each nomination cost $25 (or $100 for five).
Celebrate – The MVP winners will be selected by SPEF’s Allocation Committee and awarded at the districtwide Teacher of the Year celebration on Friday, May 2.
Austin Hula, Assistance Special Services Director for SPS, explains the need for this initiative:
Stillwater Public Schools take great pride in offering top-notch special education services to children ages three through twenty-two. The history of excellent education for all students, including those with disabilities, runs deep in our district. The cost of providing these services continues to increase at an alarming rate.
Equipment required for students with unique medical and/or physical limitations is quite costly. Our district is responsible for purchasing all necessary equipment, regardless of the cost, if it is needed for the child to access his/her education. One piece of equipment can easily cost in excess of $5000 and sometimes must be updated due to growing bodies. Along with an increase in operational cost, the number of certified special education teachers is decreasing across the state.
In an effort to better support the great staff that are currently working for SPS, and support new staff to our district, we are expanding our mentorship program. These mentors are able to work beside our certified special education staff, providing assistance with instructional delivery, classroom management, and the legal documentation that is required in special education. These mentors are a pivotal component in the success of our certified Special education staff, and we are excited to grow in this area.
Special education is partially funded through the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). However, the incoming funds from IDEA cover less than 20% of the cost for our district. The remaining cost is covered by our district general fund. Our partnership with SPEF is such an important one! We deeply appreciate any and all financial assistance we can receive to help us continue to provide the best possible education to our most vulnerable student population.
“The MVP campaign is a wonderful way for our community to come together to celebrate the teachers who make a difference every day while also supporting those who need it most,” said Emily Lewis, Executive Director of the Stillwater Public Education Foundation. “We hope that this campaign will not only highlight the incredible work of Stillwater teachers and staff but also provide essential funding to Special Services programs that help our students thrive.
We’re grateful for our title sponsor, Oklahoma Community Credit Union, presenting sponsor, Mayes Contracting, and community sponsors: 4KidzSake.org, C-Star Property Management, Central Rural Electric Cooperative, and Lucas Grounds - State Farm. They make this program possible and we’re thankful for their support!”
Nominations are open now and will run through April 25. Each donation to the MVP campaign helps create more opportunities for students with disabilities to receive the support they need for a successful educational experience. For more information, or to nominate your favorite teacher, visit spef.stillwaterschools.com.
SPEF programming is made possible through the continued, generous support of SPEF’s Corporate Partners: Gold level - Cockrell Eyecare Center, Eskimo Joe’s, OnCue, Stillwater Medical Center, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, and Wilson Auto Family; Silver-level - 505 Architects, BancFirst, BlueSky Bank, C-Star Property Management, Exchange Bank, Grand River Dam Authority, Great Plains Bank, InterWorks, Inc., Kicker , Lambert Construction, Oklahoma Community Credit Union, Oklahoma State University, OSU - College of Education & Human Sciences, Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold, Simmons Bank, Stillwater News Press, Tinker Federal Credit Union, and Willowbrook Construction Services.
Stillwater Public Education Foundation is a non-profit seeking to build strong community connections and support for Stillwater Public Schools. In the past 40 years, SPEF has awarded over $1.8 million to enhance educational opportunities for SPS students.
