Jefferson’s of Joplin is pleased to announce that Sara Ozbun has been named the first-ever Jefferson’s Joplin Teacher of the Year! Ozbun has been a teacher for 13 years, and currently teaches special education at Galena High School. She teaches inclusion, which supports students in the general education classroom, and resource, which provides specially designed instruction directly to students.
Ozbun was chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day–today, May 6–aims to recognize one of Joplin’s many deserving educators. Jefferson’s selected Ozbun as the Joplin Teacher of the Year for her big heart and her pattern of going well beyond the call of duty for her students.
“Ozbun’s nominators spoke of her compassion and generosity,” said Jefferson’s President Brandon Graham. “Sara Ozbun makes sure that none of her students go without. She’s reached into her own pocket to buy essentials for students, including food, school supplies, and toiletries. Her door is open to anyone who needs support, and we’re honored to recognize Sara Ozbun for her dedication and her contribution to the Joplin community.”
Ozbun will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and her achievement will be commemorated with a “Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year” plaque for all restaurant patrons to see.
“I started out as a paraprofessional in Pittsburg, KS, which is when I fell in love with special education,” Ozbun said in a statement. “My favorite memories throughout my teaching career have been when my students triumph: a student winning an award for “Most Improved” in their class, or a student increases their reading ability by leaps and bounds, when they make honor roll or are exempt from finals and that has never happened before for them…those are my favorite memories.”
This year is the pilot run for the Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year award, launched as a sister program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative was open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.