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Teachers of the Year HONORED
Matt Hurdle Ryan Kelly
Matt Hurdle with his advisory on senior beach day. Ryan Kelly with his band students.
Hats off and a round of applause are in order for the 2019-20 OCS “Teachers of the Year.” High School History Teacher and Director of the Institute of
Global Leadership Matt Hurdle and Middle School Director of Bands Ryan Kelly are the recipients of this year’s Atsinger
Teaching Excellence Award. The gentlemen were recognized at the summer commencement ceremonies for each school in front of their peers, students and OCS families.
In introducing Hurdle, last year’s high school recipient,
History Teacher Jeff Dewey, said, “I marvel at his ability to adapt form and function of classroom management and instruction to meet the needs of wide-eyed incoming freshmen, while at the same time serving the needs of our savvy college bound seniors.”
Flexibility, adaptation, collaboration and problemsolving are some of the traits that Hurdle has demonstrated in the classroom and with his student advisory group.
“Matt maintains an impressive educational balance between academic rigor and student learning outcomes while generating genuine bonds of endearment and mutual respect among his students and colleagues,” Dewey added.
In this last year, Hurdle has helped establish the Institute of Global Leadership, training students in entrepreneurship, leadership and global issues. Students have enjoyed guest lectures from experts in the fields of law enforcement, business and enterprise, as well as on-site excursions to area businesses.
Hurdle has taught at Oaks Christian since 2010. He and his wife, Hannah (OCS Class of 2006) have two children.
Head of School Rob Black awarded the Middle School Teacher of the Year Award to Kelly during the live streamed eighth grade commencement.
Even though considered electives, Kelly’s classes have continued to grow in popularity. Demand for band classes has steadily increased so that more sections were added with students on a waiting list. Kelly developed a new jazz lab and students eagerly showed up at 7:30am to be able to participate.
In addition, Kelly has been an important arts ambassador to the community, forming partnerships with local schools and organizations to bring non-OCS elementary students on campus for special OCS theatre performances they otherwise would not have been able to attend.
Kelly has taught at Oaks Christian since 2005, and has six children with his wife, Tricia, all OCS students or alumni. Their youngest, Ashlyn, is a current OCS student. Liam graduated from Oaks Christian in 2017. Aidan, Brendan, Jackson and Morgan are quadruplets and graduated with the Class of 2014.
ATSINGER FAMILY Establishes Endowment for Annual Teacher Award
Ed Atsinger, a founding member of the OCS board of trustees and former chair of the finance committee, along with his family, has given a generous gift to Oaks
Christian School to endow an award given annually to the teacher of the year in both the middle school and high school.
Atsinger and his wife, Mona, began serving at Oaks Christian School in 1999 when he joined the founding board. Throughout the last 20 years the Atsinger family has Mona and Ed Atsinger at the 2019 OCS Gala Dinner Auction. displayed a tremendous heart for teachers. Their daughter-inlaw, Katrina was on the English faculty at Oaks Christian High School from 2001 to 2005 when she stepped down from the position to start a family. Katrina is now an adjunct professor of English at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Atsinger family believes it is important to leave a legacy at Oaks Christian. When they were exploring options to do so, establishing an endowment was a perfect fit. Through the annual proceeds from the endowment, Oaks Christian will be able to provide the teacher of the year award bonus in perpetuity. Aptly named the Atsinger Family Teacher of the Year Award endowment, we are so thankful to Ed and Mona for their ongoing, generous donations.
