10/23/2026
We are thankful to have Jennifer on our team of WET/WILD/PLT Facilitators!! These dedicated volunteers provide high-quality professional learning on our suite of environmental education curriculum across Oklahoma.
Connect with outstanding educators like Jennifer at https://bit.ly/OKFacilitators to schedule a workshop or learn more about EE in the WILD!
As a child, Jennifer Meyer loved coming home from school and teaching her younger sisters what she had learned that day. Her own third-grade teacher played a special role in inspiring her to become an educator. From reading under desks to bringing stories to life on the playground, those fun and memorable experiences showed Jennifer how a teacher can make learning meaningful and help students feel special.
Now in her 16th year of teaching, Jennifer brings that same love of learning to her first-grade classroom at Grove School in Shawnee. In April, she was named the 2026 Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, recognizing her dedication to helping students explore agriculture and make meaningful connections between classroom lessons and the world around them.
Jennifer describes teaching as “planting seeds.” Every day is an opportunity to grow students’ knowledge, curiosity, confidence, perseverance, kindness and love of learning. She may not always get to see how those seeds grow, but she knows they have the potential to shape a child’s future.
She loves the moment when a student goes from “I can’t do it” to “I did it!” Those small victories remind her why she chose education and why every day in the classroom matters. Through hands-on lessons, engaging activities and plenty of encouragement, Jennifer works to create a classroom where students feel valued, supported and excited to learn.
“I hope my students leave my classroom knowing that they are capable of hard things,” she said.
Her passion for agriculture extends beyond her daily lessons. Jennifer helps organize Ag Day for first through third graders, giving students opportunities to explore agriculture in meaningful ways. She also supports literacy events at her school, bringing together her love of learning and her commitment to helping students grow.
And sometimes, the impact of those lessons comes back in the sweetest ways.
One Christmas, a student gave Jennifer a handmade charcuterie board shaped like Oklahoma. His mom shared that he had specifically asked for it because he knew how much Jennifer loved Oklahoma and learning about agriculture with her students. His explanation? “You can cut all your vegetables on it.”
For Jennifer, that small gift was a reminder that classroom experiences can become memories children carry with them beyond school. It's not just about the lessons she plans, but the connections she builds and the experiences that stay with her students long after the school day ends.
Her impact extends beyond her students, too. Jennifer enjoys mentoring new and future teachers, opening her classroom to preservice educators and sharing what she has learned with colleagues. Whether encouraging a first-year teacher or helping a future educator find their confidence, she believes in planting seeds that help others grow, too.
After 16 years, Jennifer continues to teach because she believes every child deserves someone who sees their potential, believes in them and gives them the support they need to grow.
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