SHAWNEE — Shawn Singleton, a history teacher at North Rock Creek High School, has been named the 2024 Shawnee News-Star and Patriot Auto Group Teacher of the Year, an award that allows to him drive a courtesy vehicle from Patriot Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Chandler for one full year.

Singleton was presented with the honor alongside his new ride – a purple Dodge Charger, during a surprise school assembly last week. All of the students were cheering for him, even if he didn’t know why, at least at first.

“I was totally knocked over … in shock” he said about learning the car and the celebration was for him. He thanks Patriot Auto Group for the amazing gift of a vehicle for a year.

“It’s a cool car – and lots of fun to drive,” he said, adding this award shows the community truly cares about and supports teachers.

For Singleton, now in his 27th year of teaching, getting a car to drive for a year is a pretty big deal – and a big help for a teacher.

He said he loves teaching high school history in unconventional ways. And that includes showing students an array of antiques or wearing costumes of the era that match the history lesson – or even dressing up in overalls when teaching about the Great Depression. Singleton said he immerses himself in teaching history — he goes to museums and reads lot of books to prepare for lessons. All of those things and his teaching style helps Singleton bring history to life in the classroom.

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Singleton said he is fortunate to be at NRC and to have the support of Superintendent Blake Moody for his effective style of teaching.

“I love my job,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better place to be.”

Singleton, who was initially named the Amazing Teacher of the Month for April 2023, was one of 12 finalists vying for the overall Teacher of the Year award in a program sponsored by the News-Star and Patriot Auto Group.

Singleton currently teaches 11th grade U.S. History and 10th grade World History at NRC and been a teacher for most of his career in Pottwatomie County. He spent his first 21 or so years of teaching at McLoud High School and the last six years at NRC.

“My parents were my biggest influence on my decision to become a teacher,” he said. “From a very young age they were always promoting hands-on learning through local museum trips, summer vacations, regular trips to the library, and antiques they collected on the farm we lived on. I also think helping my parents with Sunday school and Vacation Bible school helped give me a love for teaching.”

He has teachers on both sides of his family – his mom was a former elementary teacher, and his great grandma also was a teacher.

“I loved the hands-on aspect of her style of teaching at church. I thought it would be cool if I could take all of these experiences and apply them to teaching history in a high school classroom,” he said. “All these experiences helped me realize by the time I was in high school that this was what God was calling me to do with my life.

Singleton graduated from Grace Christian School in Oklahoma City in 1993 and is a 1998 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University.

There are many rewarding aspects to teaching as well, he said.

“I think there is no greater feeling as a teacher than seeing a student develop a love for learning new things due to some new way I have presented the information in class and or taking one of our field trips through our NRC History Club.” Singleton said. “I am blessed to be part of a school that realizes there are many styles of learning that lead to success in the classroom.”

Singleton is inspired each day with the fact that he teaches students who will become the future of the United States.

“Making connections from our past and making it relevant to the future is so important for understanding the rights we have as Americans. Teaching students to respect each other even when they disagree with each other and teaching critical thinking skills are needed now more than ever,” he said.

Years from now, “I hope my students will say that I lit a fire in their quest for learning and that I taught them to critically think about things they hear, see and read as future citizens.”

His own life experiences have influenced how he teaches history as well.

“My parents took me on many day trips around Oklahoma and a summer vacation every year where we traveled the backroads of the country,” he said. “I think one of the greatest aspects of teaching history is being able to tell a story which my travels have helped with. I have also had the opportunity to get first hand stories from people I have interviewed over the years.”

He also is thankful to all the teachers at McLoud Schools that gave him advice while he was substitute teaching during college.

“Their advice really helped me figure out things that worked for me as a teacher when I was hired there after graduation,” he added.

Singleton is married to his wife, Christine Singleton. He has a stepdaughter, Elaine Spears, and a stepson, Brett Koelsch, along with six grandchildren.

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