Karen Stein Chosen as Outstanding Teacher of the Month

With enthusiasm in her voice, Spanish teacher Mrs. Karen Stein was eager to talk about her love for teaching and show us why she was chosen as this month’s Outstanding Teacher. Originally from Peru, Stein came to the United States in 2002. She first began teaching at a Christian Pre-School in Chickasha and now teaches middle school and high school Spanish at Geary Public Schools for the past two years. This year, Stein says she was a little nervous to start her second year at Geary as teaching middle schoolers is still a new endeavor for her. “I had never taught middle school before, but we started the year great,” Stein said. “The middle schoolers love learning Spanish.” When it comes to adjusting to a more virtual side of teaching, Stein says she uses technology to her advantage and did so before the pandemic. Whether it’s using iPads, online apps, Zoom conferences, Stein has always encouraged the use of technology in her classrooms. A particular favorite of Stein’s has been using Kahoot, an online quiz game that allows her students to learn while being able to have fun. For Stein, all of her efforts pay off when she gets to see her students succeed, and she says she views that as the best part of teaching. “It doesn’t matter what route they take. Some kids go to college, some go to a vocational school,” Stein said. “Seeing them be successful in society and their lives is rewarding” As for what motivates her, Stein says it’s her passion for teaching. If she faces a challenge, she will do everything she can to overcome it. With her history in teaching and education, Stein says that she has always known she wanted to be a teacher as she has always loved to help others. While it was a bit tougher to acknowledge notable moments from this school year compared to others, Stein was still able to see the positive throughout the year. “Watching the students become more responsible about their education really stuck out to me,” Stein said. “They had to remain selfdedicated and they have to be more responsible because they now have to sign in from home.” Looking ahead, Stein says she hopes to be able to finish the year without having to go virtual. “This year hasn’t been normal for the students or us. The relationships are a little different. When you are with a student here in class, you’re able to see if something is wrong,” Stein said. “When you’re virtual those little things about our students are harder to see.” High School Principal Christa Burns, she had only positive things to say about Stein. “She is just flat out amazing. No matter what task is thrown at her, she conquers it and with a good attitude,” said Burns. “She loves her students, and they love and respect her. She makes learning fun. Stein also has done a great job with virtual learning. She is also a great leader. I am so blessed to have Stein as part of our Geary family.” When Stein isn’t teaching her, favorite hobby is traveling. She has visited places such as Europe, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Her love for traveling doesn’t end there though. She hopes to visit China at some point in the future. “There are so many countries I want to visit. I love learning about other cultures,” Stein said. “I especially love going to Peru. All of my family is in Peru and if I could go see my family all the time I would.”