Mickey Stockton

My husband Marvin is the Elementary Principal at Jay.  We have been married for 23 years. Our daughter Rhianna is 16 and the greatest kid ever. She is a remarkable young lady that gives my life true meaning.

I love my job and can't imagine ever doing anything else. When I am not a work, I am busy trying to keep up with Rhianna's activities. They include: Church, Horse Judging, showing cattle, lambs and horses, basketball and golf.

Please describe the rewards you have recieved through teaching.

During my years as a teacher, I have had the privilege of being the teacher of many great individuals. Each one has touched my life and heart in their own special way. Even though the rewards during the time they are in my class are awsome. many more come in the years after the have left me. I can't explain it any better than by tellin gyou this story.

A few days ago, I had a student come and see me. He was in my kindergarten class two years ago. after finishing his year with me, he and his family moved awat. They had come back to visit grandpa and stopped to see me. We exchanged our normal hugs and laughs before I began questioning him about where he was and how he was doing in school. His mother told me that after leaving Grove, they moved to Pryor and now was living in Chelsea. I then turned to him and alk, "Which school did you like the best Pryor or Chelsea?" He looked into my eyes, smiled and answered, "Here at grove with you." Now it doesn't get any better than that.

If you could implement one major change in education, what would it be?

I would love to be able to teach astudents and not teach a test. Each year it is a bigger challenge to keep the creativity and my own personal teaching style. It is becoming more of a standardized way of fulfilling mandates instead of molding and shaping students.