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Month: October 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma educators can apply now for Fund for Teachers fellowships, which give teachers the opportunity to pursue self-designed professional learning.

Fund for Teachers Fellows use their grant funds to pursue educational experiences around the world. Over the summer, Oklahoma fellows studied the history of London’s theater scene, explored Renaissance art and culture in Florence, Italy, and learned about producing and preparing locally sourced produce in Washington’s Skagit Valley.

Oklahoma’s grants are made possible through a partnership between Fund for Teachers, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and the Tulsa Community Foundation.

“We are proud to support this program that empowers Oklahoma educators to create their own professional development,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “Fund for Teachers Fellows develop incredible learning experiences that reinvigorate their teaching practices and deeply impact their students and school communities.”

Individuals may apply for up to $5,000, while teacher teams may apply for up to $10,000 in grant funds.

Full-time educators who teach pre-K through 12th grade are eligible. Applicants must spend at least 50% of their time directly providing instruction to students, must be returning to the classroom in the consecutive school year, and must have at least three years’ experience teaching pre-K through 12th grade at the end of the current school year.

Educators can apply at fundforteachers.org. Applications are open until 5 p.m. Jan. 22.

OFE is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The foundation elevates public education through esteemed honors, mentoring grants, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators.

For more information, visit fundforteachers.org or contact Fund for Teachers Oklahoma Program Coordinator Lauren Dow at ldow@ofe.org or 405-236-0006.

For their Fund for Teachers fellowship, Latta Public Schools educators Darci Reeves, left, and Seth Reeves visited farms in Washington's Skagit Valley to pursue deeper knowledge in producing and preparing locally sourced produce.
2025 Fund for Teachers Fellow Erinn Rakes studied the history of London’s theater scene over the summer.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is accepting applications for its 2026 mentoring grants. New and existing Oklahoma mentoring programs that serve students in grades K-12 are eligible to apply for grants of up to $3,000.

Organizations can use the funds for programming, training, materials, start-up costs or other expenses that advance excellence in mentoring.

“Mentoring can deeply impact student success in and out of the classroom,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “We’re thrilled to elevate public education by offering these grants. This year, we’ve increased the dollar amount that organizations can apply for to better support the growth and development of these quality mentoring programs.”

To be eligible, programs must serve K-12 age children in Oklahoma. Programs must conduct background checks on all mentors and agree to report quantitative and qualitative outcomes. They must also provide proof of 501(c)(3) status or proof of an agreement with a local public school district or other qualified 501(c)(3) umbrella organization.

Applications are available at OFE.org. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 14, 2025.

During the 2025 grant cycle, OFE awarded 12 grants that are expected to impact more than 13,200 K-12 students across Oklahoma. The 2025 grant recipients were the Bartlesville Public School Foundation’s Bruins on the Run, Bartlesville; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, Bartlesville; Carney Public Schools Top Dawgs, Carney; The Comeback Kid Society’s Pathways Program, Oklahoma City; Junior Achievement of Oklahoma’s Tulsa BizTown, Tulsa; Loveworks Afterschool Leadership, Norman; Meeker High School Leadership Team, Meeker; Norman High School Elementary Spanish Mentor Program, Norman; Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation’s ReadOKC Book Club, Oklahoma City; the Okmulgee Education Foundation’s Bulldog PAWS (Partners at Work in Schools), Okmulgee; Uplift Mentoring’s M.V.P. (Mentors with Vision & Purpose) Initiative, Shawnee; and Whiz Kids of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City.

OFE is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The foundation elevates public education through esteemed honors, mentoring grants, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators.

Rebel, a student who is passionate about art, explores various art projects with guidance from his mentor, Taylor, during an engaging art class that is part of The Comeback Kid Society's Pathways program.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is now accepting applications for the 2026 Academic All-State class.

Each year, OFE honors 100 public high school seniors as Academic All-Staters. Students are chosen for their academic achievement, leadership and community service. Each All-State honoree receives a $1,500 prize, a medallion and an honor cord.

“Every year, we are awed by the accomplishments of our All-Staters,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “This powerful achievement reflects these students’ successes not just in their classrooms but in their communities. By honoring them, we send a strong signal to their peers about the importance of leadership and academic excellence.”

This will be the 40th class of Academic All-Staters. The first class was selected in 1987, just two years after OFE’s founding.

OFE will honor the Academic All-State class at the 40th annual Academic Awards Celebration on May 2 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Each All-Stater is encouraged to invite a teacher who has significantly impacted their academic career. These educators accompany the students on stage and present them with their All-State medals.

“In 2024, we started the tradition of having the teachers share the spotlight with the All-Staters,” Inbody said. “We love celebrating these outstanding educators alongside their students. Their presence reinforces the vital role dedicated teachers play in students’ lives.”

To be eligible to apply, a student must meet one of the following criteria: a composite ACT score of at least 30, a combined SAT evidence-based reading & writing and math score of at least 1370, or selection as a National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalist. As part of the application process, students must submit letters of recommendation and write an essay.

An independent selection committee made up of business, education and civic leaders, as well as past Academic All-Staters, chooses the honorees.

All-State applications are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 2. Detailed award criteria and access to the application are available at OFE.org.

OFE, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The foundation elevates public education through esteemed honors, grants to K-12 mentoring programs, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators.

The Academic All-State honorees, a group of high school seniors, sings "Oklahoma!" as the Academic Awards Celebration comes to a close.
The Academic All-State class sings "Oklahoma!" as the Academic Awards Celebration comes to a close. Photo by AJ Stegall Photography

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