At Russell Babb Elementary School in Harrah, fifth-grade teacher Pam Holland brings learning alive for her students. She uses creative, hands-on activities, such as Desktop Teaching, a project in which her students teach fellow classmates and their parents. Ms. Holland establishes a climate of mutual respect in her classroom and encourages responsibility, integrity and compassion among her pupils. An educator for seven years, Ms. Holland has been a Great Expectations certified instructor for four years and has presented professional development workshops on Great Expectations in Oklahoma. Last year, Ms. Holland was selected to participate in the Educators' Leadership Academy. She is also an academic coach, serves on numerous school committees, is president of the Alpha Chi Honor Society, and was recently named the Russell Babb Elementary Teacher of the Year.
