Ambassador

Shelley Kathleen Self is a 30-year teaching veteran, and her classroom invites students to explore, solve visual problems and take risks. She aims to lead them to the discovery and development of their personal voice within their artwork. Store windows or face painting at the annual Coweta Central Elementary carnival often displays the artistic talents of her Coweta High School students. A National Board-Certified educator, she not only helps nurture her students' artistic ability but also teaches them about life and culture, incorporating a wide range of other disciplines. She seeks every opportunity to showcase her students' talents, not only in the classroom, but throughout the school and community as well. She often motivates students to enter local, state, and national art competitions, where they consistently achieve top honors. In her classroom are several scrapbooks of photographs and articles documenting the successes of her students—evidence that in her classroom, to be “self-taught” is to be taught by a true education professional. She was the 2022 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year Finalist.