Published: November 06, 2009 09:26 am      

Teacher to receive USAO award

Editor’s Note: This is the third of a three-part series on the distinguished individuals who will be honored by the USAO Alumni Association at this year's annual Homecoming on Nov. 6-8.



Andrea Wood Brock has been described as a "wonderful teacher and a leader in her school." The 2004 USAO graduate will be honored this year as she receives the Young Alumni Award during Alumni Homecoming at USAO Nov. 6-8.

Brock will be honored with Hall of Fame inductees Emma Jean Smith Stover and Vicki Easley during a Nov. 7 ceremony. Homecoming registrations still are being accepted for all alumni at the USAO Alumni Development Office, (405) 574-1290. Registration packages for the entire weekend are $50, which is an all-inclusive package that includes all meals.

"While she is only now finishing her fifth year of teaching, Andrea Brock has already become a wonderful teacher, a leader in her school and has impacted many children's lives. She does not teach content, but children," said Dr. Jeanne Mather, professor of education at USAO.

"Andrea is never satisfied with doing average, but always goes the extra mile. She has a superior value system and high moral values. That type of character has enabled Andrea to earn numerous recognitions and responsibilities early in her career," said Dr. Nancy Warden, professor of mathematics at USAO.

Brock graduated from USAO with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She received the Outstanding Graduate Award from the Division of Teacher Education and Speech Language Pathology as well as the Distinguished Graduate Award from the USAO Alumni Association.

Brock has taught sixth grade mathematics at Choctaw Elementary School and Kingsgate Elementary in Moore. She has served as her school's Grade Level Chair, Math Site Improvement Committee Chair and on numerous district educational committees. She has served as professional development coordinator and presented staff development workshops for other teachers.

Brock was named Teacher of the Year at Kingsgate for 2008-09, was a semi-finalist for Moore Public Schools District Teacher of the Year, was a 2009 Oklahoma Outstanding Teacher in Mathematics Award nominee and winner of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year Award.

As her school's staff development coordinator, she received a suggestion that teachers in the school needed to learn the Heimlich maneuver.



Brock made arrangements for the training. One day at school, one of her six-grade students was hurriedly eating lunch and lodged a corn dog in his throat. Brock rush over and performed the Heimlich maneuver on her student.

After two or three attempts, the corn dog popped out of the boy's throat. Brock simply commented on how humbling and amazing it was to be a part of something like that. The mother of the student commented that her son was fortunate to have Brock as his teacher.

Brock is active in numerous professional organizations and was chosen to present at the Oklahoma Council of Teachers on Mathematics Summer Conference in 2009. She served on a panel at the State Conference of the Oklahoma Student Education Association where she made it a point to sit with and encourage USAO students that attended the conference.