The fun-filled Bruins of the Year event was held on Thursday, April 23, 2026 on Rigdon Field at Doenges Stadium. At the conclusion of the event, Heather Tate of Ranch Heights Elementary School was recognized as the District Teacher of the Year. Earlier she had been introduced by student Aiden Walsh.
The ATLAS Elementary Education teacher received a monetary award from the Schmoldt Foundation for Education as well as Southwest Airlines tickets courtesy of Spears Travel. The travel award was presented by Gary Spears. The travel award has been given for decades and is now the Chuck and Charlene Spears Memorial Award.
The event celebrated both certified and classified staff from each school, with each Teacher of the Year introduced by a current or former student.
Dora Keyser, a Teacher Assistant at Wilson Elementary School, was named the Classified Person of the Year.
Ruth Brown, who teaches Kindergarten at Jane Phillips Elementary School, was named the District Rising Star Teacher, an award for teachers with one to four years of experience.
Jesseca Abbe, a First Grade teacher at Wayside Elementary School, was named the Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Sara Diveley, a Counselor at Bartlesville High School, was named the Secondary Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Kealy Chapman, who teaches First Grade at Wilson Elementary School, was named the "Fan Favorite" at the event, a recognition that includes a breakfast from Chick-fil-A for the Wilson staff.
Angie Brown, who teaches Kindergarten at Wilson Elementary School, received the Kurt Schmoldt Teacher Appreciation Award, which included a monetary award from the Schmoldt Foundation for Education.
Margaux Rapier was recognized as the Substitute Teacher of the Year.
The Bartlesville Education Association presented its Friends of Education Award to Jay Wenzel for local funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which provides a free book each month to children from birth to age five.
Service pins were awarded for employees with 5-45 years of service. 30-year pin recipients were Shannon McKinney of Madison, Sherry Langham of Richard Kane, Teresa Gaines of Wayside, and ESC administrator Jason Langham. 35-year pin recipients were Christy Allgood, Susan Simmons, and Susan Vincent of BHS, Jeff Rude of Jane Phillips, Rhonda Willcox of Ranch Heights, and Darlys Lickliter of Wilson. Darla Tresner of BHS had 45 years of service.
BruinTV streamed the event.
The Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation (BPSF) and the school district's Professional Improvement Committee sponsored the event. Event photos are available on Facebook from Bartlesville Photo Studio.
The BPSF thanked Presenting Sponsors Arvest Bank and Patriot Auto Group; Grand Slam Sponsors ConocoPhillips and Jim Moore State Farm; All-Star Sponsors Musselmen Abstract Company, Class of 1975, and Oklahoma Wesleyan University; Trading Card Sponsors Truity Credit Union, Chick-fil-A, and Gateway First Bank.
The BPSF and the district also appreciate the Schmoldt Foundation for Education (Teacher of the Year and Kurt Schmoldt monetary awards), Spears Travel (Chuck and Charlene Spears Memorial Teacher of the Year travel award), Chick-fil-A Bartlesville (Fan Favorite award), the Wilson Elementary Select Choir (National Anthem), Wade Kester (printing), Maria Gus (emcee), Chris Batchelder (announcer), Bartlesville High School Broadcasting (live stream), Margie Green and the BHS Jazz Choir (service year introductions), Trey Stumpff (sound), Josh Waddell of 3 Bulls Upcycling (Fan Favorite Award Design), BHS Maintenance and Facility Staff (set up), Amanda Stratford (photography), Bartlesville Atwoods (water), and the BHS Cheer and Pom.
Businesses donating school staff gift cards for the event included Boomerang Diner, Honey's House of Flowers, HTeaO, Jared's Frozen Custard, Pop's Daylight Donuts, The Haberstroh Family, The Miller Family, The Saddoris Family, and Truity Credit Union.
Professional Improvement Committee members included LaTori Carter, Heidi Brewer, Jennifer Felton, Meggin Blasi, Darbi Johnson, Sherrie Lavery, Carrie Christensen, Michael Secora, Jana Higgs, Suzanne Villines, Joe Rockwell, Heather Davis, Staci Bankston, Brent Massey, Aaron Kuntz, Rhonda Willcox, LaDonna Chancellor, Jason Langham, Stephanie Curtis, Morgan Axsom, Kelli Bryant, and Granger Meador. Bartlesville Education Association Officers included Anna Thom, Nate Vance, Heather Davis, Jayleen Mayes, Megan Freeman, Alana Murphy, Sidnie Brown, and Caroline Rojas. Bartlesville Education Classified Personnel Organization officers were Christie Young, Sarah Rowe, Carrie Fodor, and Jan Watt.