By the time Melanie Clason turned 18, the worst day of her life and the best day of her life had both happened at the end of a country driveway. As Mustang Creek Elementary’s Teacher of the Year, Clason’s story is one of sheer determination and love. 

On the first day of school of her ninth grade year, Melanie Clason stood by the mailbox at the end of the driveway waiting for the bus. She was the fifth child of 12, the second oldest girl. Her parents were old-fashioned and strict, bringing up their children in a life dominated with love and work ethic, with no television, no bank accounts, and no time for anything outside of their busy farm life. Clason didn’t mind; she had a huge family with 35 first cousins, she was loved and she had school. With 11 siblings, she and her brothers sisters played school to pass the time when they weren’t doing chores. 

As Clason waited, her father joined her at the end of the drive.  Her mother needed her help, he said, and she was good at English and had enough math. She didn’t need any more schooling. She would stay home and help with the children, the chores and the farm.   

Mustang Public Schools’ BroncoClub will be holding weekly summer camps from June 4 through Aug. 3. Parents can choose all nine weeks, or pick and choose the weeks that fit their summer schedule. The cost is $150 per week and siblings qualify for a discount. Students entering pre-kindergarten through those who will be entering the sixth grade are eligible to attend. The camp is available to all children even if they do not attend Mustang Schools. This year, breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge, including sack lunches for field trips.   

Mustang Public Schools would like to invite the public to two education forums featuring candidates for House Seat 43 and House Seat 47, previously held by John Paul Jordan and Leslie Osborn, respectively. The forum will be strictly education based. 

The forum for House Seat 43 starts at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, at the Mustang High School Event Center. The forum for House Seat 47 will be held one week later on Tuesday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m., also at the Mustang High School Event Center. As of May 7, 11 of the 13 candidates have accepted the invitation to appear at the forums.   

Trails Elementary Teacher of the Year, Jenifer Posey, has seen both the classroom and the administrative side to public education. Posey prefers the classroom, with her “group of small people,” mentally cataloguing their successes and challenges while also celebrating the changes as their third-grade year draws to a close. 

When Posey decided to enter education, she believed in her heart she would teach fifth grade. She interviewed in El Reno for a fifth grade position, but when she was offered a job, it was for second grade. The job changed to first grade before the first day of school. During her career, she’s taught 3-year-olds through fourth graders.

“I love them all,” she said. “I always think I’m in heaven every year. I always thought it would be fifth grade, but I’ve never taught fifth grade in 22 years. But for each one I’ve taught, I love them like it’s the best thing ever.”