Stone Canyon's Kristin Resendiz Named OPS Teacher of the Year

OWASSO – Kristin Resendiz, Special Education teacher at Stone Canyon Elementary, was named the 2026 Owasso Public Schools Teacher of the Year on March 25 during a ceremony at the Mary Glass Performing Arts Center. Additionally, Cherie Vanlandingham was honored as the District’s Support Employee of the Year, while Lauren Reeves was selected as the Substitute Teacher of the Year.

Resendiz was selected from a group of 15 OPS site Teachers of the Year by a committee of 30 OPS educators throughout the district. Additionally, a pair of district committees voted on a group of nominees to identify finalists and winners of the Support Employee and Substitute Teacher of the Year awards.

“Tonight’s event was truly inspiring as we celebrated what it means to Be Your Best across our district,” OPS Superintendent Dr. Margaret Coates said. “We had the privilege of honoring not only an exceptional teacher, but also a dedicated support employee and a committed substitute teacher who each embody excellence in their own unique ways. I feel incredibly blessed to be part of a community where educators consistently strive to be their best for students, colleagues, and Owasso families.

“Kristin Resendiz exemplifies what it means to be your best through her unwavering dedication to meeting the needs of every learner. Her passion, patience, and commitment create an environment where all students can grow, succeed, and feel valued. Cherie Vanlandingham demonstrates excellence in her role as a support employee, consistently going above and beyond with a spirit of service, reliability, and care that positively impacts our entire school community. Lauren Reeves represents the very best of our substitute teachers, stepping in with flexibility, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to maintaining a strong learning environment for students each day.

“It is an honor to recognize these three individuals who truly embody the Be Your Best spirit. Their contributions make a lasting difference, and I am both grateful and proud that they are part of our Owasso Ram family.”

Resendiz is in her 21st year as an educator and this is her 13th year with Owasso Public Schools. She is the lead special education teacher at Stone Canyon, the Student Council sponsor, and leader of the staff Sunshine Committee. A native of Lawton, Okla., Resendiz earned a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from Oral Roberts University in 2005. 

Education has always been a passion for Resendiz, whose answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was, “a teacher” from an early age. Time spent babysitting, working at summer camps and daycares, and volunteering in her church nursery only strengthened that belief that the teaching profession was her calling.

After graduating from Oral Roberts, Resendiz taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 4th Grade and served as a Special Education Resource Teacher and Developmental Delay Program Teacher over the course of eight years in Tulsa Public Schools before coming to Owasso in 2013. She knows that she has truly found her niche in education, having been in the same role as Developmental Delay Program Teacher, first at Barnes Elementary and then at Stone Canyon, for the last 13 years.      

“I am deeply honored and, honestly, a bit overwhelmed to be named District Teacher of the Year,” Resendiz said. “Teaching is a team effort, and I feel incredibly fortunate to do work that I love alongside colleagues who inspire and support me each day. It is a privilege to serve students who bring so much joy to our schools and teach me something new every day.”

Resendiz teaches with a simple philosophy in mind: do what is best for the individual student. She works with students who have a wide range of abilities and diagnoses, and it is not uncommon for her to welcome a student whose diagnosis is unfamiliar. When that happens, she takes the time to educate herself on best practices so that she can best support that student. 

Each student brings unique strengths, challenges, personalities, preferences, and abilities, and Resendiz is committed to meeting students where they are and building from there. Because many of her students cannot go home and share details about their day, she prides herself on maintaining open, honest, and frequent communication with families. Resendiz believes that building trust with parents is essential, and she works diligently to earn it.

Resendiz will complete the application process to be considered for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year over the next several months.

Meanwhile, Vanlandingham is the administrative assistant for District Services, a role that she has served in for nine years. In this role, Vanlandingham supports the departments of Child Nutrition, Construction, Operations, Safety & Security and Transportation. She coordinates donations of school supplies each year to support students in need, while she also schedules District venues for youth sports such as Future Owasso Rams (F.O.R.). Vanlandingham has done this and more over the past year all while beating cancer. 

Reeves has been a substitute teacher throughout the district for the last seven years, serving primarily at the secondary level. This year, she has served as a substitute 67 days, including as a long-term substitute at the Sixth Grade Center. 

Video Links
Kristin Resendiz Spotlight
Cherie Vanlandingham Spotlight
Lauren Reeves Spotlight