Celebration of Excellence

from Boyd Street Magazine June 2022

Cups of Joe

District celebrates educators and staff at annual celebration

Each year, Norman Public Schools sets aside a special night to honor the innovative achievements of teachers and staff. Among the many prestigious honors awarded at the annual banquet is the District Teacher of the Year.

This year, Dr. Rob Bradshaw received the honor to represent educators in the district both as an advocate within the district and at the state level as a contender for State Teacher of the Year.

Bradshaw is the orchestra teacher at Longfellow Middle School, but he also wears many other hats including as a board member for both the NPS Visiting Artist Program and the NPS Orchestra Advisory Board and is the artistic director of Scissortail Productions, a Norman-based nonprofit arts organization.

He started the ScissortailNEXT program which provides local K-12 students with opportunities to perform alongside concert artists.

Bradshaw has been a public school teacher for five years. Previously, he taught at the University of Oklahoma and Mid-America Christian University before joining NPS. He said he intended to continue pursuing a career as a college professor, but a friend encouraged him to give public education a try.

“The amount of kids and different life experiences I see in a day, to get to see their eyes light up when they see each other learn something new, is amazing,” he said.

Bradshaw said his favorite moments are when his students get the chance to show off their skills, especially at competitions and during the All-City concert.

“My first year teaching at Longfellow, I took the students to a competition. I love watching that energy,” he said. “They knew they did good and to see the look of joy on their face was so rewarding, even more than any of the accomplishments that I ever experienced as a student.”

Bradshaw is the child of an educator. His mom taught at Kennedy Elementary. He also gives credit to the district’s strings program that helped him find his passion.

“I would not be doing what I do if it weren’t for NPS,” he shared. “Programs like the strings program light a spark for kids, helping them find their passion and what the future might hold for them. That is what public school is all about.”

Bradshaw said he is honored to represent Norman educators.

“I want everyone to know that the teachers in Norman are some of the best, most prepared and innovated educators I have ever met,” he said. “I see the things teachers do every day and it amazes me.

“I stand on the shoulders of giants.”– BSM