Shavonya
Coleman
CONGRATULATIONS TO
HONORED NATIONAL TEACHING AWARD NOMINEE
Shavonya
Coleman
Positive Tomorrows
|
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma
Student Nomination Stories
Nominated by: Serenity Chrislyn Lashay
When I tell you that Mrs. Coleman has made all the difference in my child’s life, I truly mean it. My daughter, Serenity, attends Positive Tomorrows — a very special school that serves unhoused children — and her 3rd grade year with Mrs. Coleman has been nothing short of transformative. Before this year, school was a daily struggle. Serenity dreaded going to class in 2nd grade. She would tell me that her teacher wasn’t patient, that she didn’t feel understood, and that the classroom was overcrowded. She would pretend to be sick just to stay home. It broke my heart to see her losing confidence and excitement about learning. Then came Mrs. Coleman. From day one, she went above and beyond — not just as a teacher, but as someone who truly cares about her students. If a child is having a bad day, she reaches out to parents personally to see what’s going on. She pays attention to every child’s needs, emotionally and academically. Serenity told me one day, “I’m glad I have a teacher who can teach me how I learn.” That sentence alone meant everything to me. For my daughter to recognize that — at only eight years old — shows just how impactful Mrs. Coleman’s teaching is. Before this school, I had been trying for over a year to get Serenity help with speech therapy. I spoke with teachers and the principal at her old school, but nothing ever came of it. They claimed they didn’t notice anything, and when they finally did offer help, it was just five minutes a week. It felt like no one was listening. Then, on the second day of this school year, before I even said anything, Mrs. Coleman reached out and asked, “Would you mind if we put Serenity in speech therapy?” I could’ve cried tears of relief. It showed me that she sees my child — she listens, she observes, and she acts. Since being in Mrs. Coleman’s class, Serenity has grown tremendously. She went from struggling with addition and subtraction to proudly doing division problems. She’s excited about learning again — so much that she recently said, “I wish the weekend wasn’t so long.” That’s something I never thought I’d hear from her. Mrs. Coleman has that rare gift that you just can’t teach — the perfect balance of patience, firmness, and genuine love for her students. She reminds me of those “old-school” teachers who cared deeply about every child, no matter where they came from or what challenges they faced. At Positive Tomorrows, where many of the students are unhoused and may be behind academically, her compassion and dedication mean even more. She builds relationships with each child. She believes in them. And she gives parents like me hope — hope that our children can thrive, even after hard times. Teachers like Mrs. Coleman often go unnoticed, but I want her to know that her efforts have not gone unseen. She has changed my daughter’s life, and for that, I am forever grateful. Please consider Mrs. Coleman for this teacher nomination. She truly represents what it means to be a teacher — not just in the classroom, but in the hearts of her students and their families. With deep appreciation, Krystle and Serenity
Nominated by: Serenity Chrislyn Lashay
To whom it may concern I am honored to nominate Mrs. Coleman, a 3rd grade teacher at a truly special school in Oklahoma City that serves children who are unhoused. From the moment my daughter joined her class, I saw a transformation that I can hardly put into words. Before coming here, my daughter hated school. She struggled with confidence, especially in math, and often felt left behind. But Mrs. Coleman changed everything. Mrs. Coleman is attentive, patient, and genuinely cares about each of her students. She doesn’t just teach lessons—she builds trust and helps her students believe in themselves. When my daughter first started, she could barely add basic numbers. Not even 100 days later, she is confident and excited about learning. She now knows her multiplication tables and is beginning to learn division. The biggest surprise came when she told me, “I wish the weekend wasn’t so long.” I can’t remember her ever saying that before. Mrs. Coleman also noticed things other teachers overlooked. On my daughter’s second day in class, she identified a speech issue that had gone unaddressed for years. By the end of that week, my daughter was signed up for speech therapy. That kind of attention and care goes beyond teaching—it shows a deep commitment to helping kids grow in every way. Beyond the classroom, the entire school program is incredible. Students have access to after-school activities like hip-hop, journalism, and French, and my daughter participates in them all with enthusiasm. But what makes it truly special is teachers like Mrs. Coleman who pour love, patience, and dedication into children who need it most. I am deeply grateful for Mrs. Coleman. She is not only an outstanding teacher but also an extraordinary human being who changes lives every single day. Even though she probably doesn’t even think anything of it .
To see more exceptional teacher nominees, visit The Honor Roll.
