Empire’s Tochi Monteith named Educator of the Year by OMLEA

A love for working with kids has led an Empire educator to receive a statewide award.

Last Friday, Empire Middle School teacher Tochi Monteith was named the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association (OMLEA) Educator of the Year.

It came as a complete surprise to Monteith.

“I didn’t apply for it, I didn’t even know about it until I was announced as a finalist,” Monteith said. 

Empire Middle School/High School principal Tim Whaley had nominated her for the award.

“I was completely overwhelmed,” Monteith said. “I’m a very lucky girl.”

“We are incredibly proud of her and the dedication she consistently demonstrates in her role,” read a statement from the school on its Facebook page. “This well-deserved award is a testament to her hard work and commitment to excellence.”

Her love for Empire runs deep and she feels all 106 of her students are her kids.

“I love working with the kids, I love who I work with and we have a  great administration,” Monteith said. “It’s a special place.”

Monteith returned to teaching three years ago after being a stay-at-home mom for 17 years. She taught for five years before that. It took some adjustment from her first stint to her second.

“It’s night and day how things have changed,” Monteith said. “When I was hired back, I thought I was going to be an elementary teacher, but they told me I was going to teach middle school. I discovered that middle school students are my people. They are a special breed and it takes a special breed to teach them. I just love them.”