BROKEN BOW (May 17, 2024) – Michael Cox, who waited almost thirty years to begin his teaching career, is the 2023-24 Broken Bow Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Mr. Cox teaches Biology at Broken Bow High School and was nominated for the award by his fellow faculty members at the High School. This year’s other nominees were Rector Johnson Middle School teacher Melissa Patel, Bennett Elementary teacher Virgie Autrey, and Dierks Elementary teacher Amee Price. All four nominees were recognized and celebrated at the annual End-of-Year Awards Assembly held in Jinkins Auditorium on Friday, May 17th.
Cox, a graduate of Haworth Public Schools, is a lifelong resident of McCurtain County. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1991 and then spent the next three decades employed by Walmart, Inc. in various positions throughout his career. “Mr. C.” says that when he first left college, he thought that maybe he was too young and inexperienced to be a teacher, so he took a retail job instead. But, after 29 years with Walmart, he knew he was ready to “get out” of the corporate world. In the Fall of 2020, he was recruited to teach science at Broken Bow High School. After four years in public education, Cox says he now “regrets not doing it all along”.
“It is a special, special thing we do”, says Cox. “When the kids ask me how I can do this job, I just tell them that 29 years at Walmart was a job. This is fun. I look forward to coming to work every day. I love working with this staff at Broken Bow High School and I couldn’t ask for anything better than this Administration we have”, he continued. “Teaching is not a job, it’s a calling. It is about getting students to see beyond the limits they have placed upon themselves”.
Cox has been married to his wife, Kimberly, for thirty years and together they have three children and four grandchildren. He describes himself as an “avid outdoorsman” and says he especially loves spending time in nature with his grandchildren.
Rector Johnson Middle School Teacher-of-the-Year Melissa Patel has taught at Broken Bow Schools for 23 years. She currently teaches 8th Grade Science. Melissa, a 1991 BBHS graduate, has been married to Chet Patel for 31 years and together they have four children and seven grandchildren. She is a graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Bennett Elementary Teacher-of-the-Year Virgie Autrey is a 1982 graduate of BBHS and currently serves as Bennett’s Reading Specialist, a job she hopes to continue until retirement. Virgie has taught school for thirty years, all but one of those years with Broken Bow Public Schools. She has been married to Truman Autrey for almost 43 years with whom she has three daughters and ten grandchildren. She holds a Master’s of Reading Degree in Elementary Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Dierks Elementary Teacher-of-the-Year Amee Price is a 2001 graduate of BBHS and now teaches First Grade at Dierks Elementary. This was her 17th year as an educator, the last eight of which were spent with Broken Bow Public Schools. Amee earned a degree in Early Intervention Child-Development from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is currently certified in Early Childhood Education. She is married to Kane Price and has four children.