Landon McQuarters is the 2023-2024 Anderson Elementary Support Professional of the Year!

This is Landon's fifth year working as an autism paraprofessional at Anderson.

"My duties include setting up one on one work areas, implementing teacher planned instruction, encouraging and observing students social and emotional learning behaviors, preparing visual aids and arts and crafts for creativity and visual learning, and always ensuring safety! And my favorite: giving lots of praise, hugs, and snacks to students."

She said she works to push students beyond their comfort zone in learning.

"I won’t let their disability define who they are as a person! My main goal is for my students to have the life skills necessary to navigate through life and to encourage their independence. I enjoy kids' brutal honesty, their smiles, and resilience."

Landon attended Tulsa Public Schools, starting with Barnard Elementary and graduating in 2012 from Booker T. Washington High School. After graduation, she attended Langston University.

"I had the best 5th grade elementary school teacher, who inspired me to want to be in education. Mrs. Abraham was the absolute best!" said Landon.

Excellence in education is a family tradition. This year, Landon's sister, Ashton Blake, won Teacher of the Year at Central and her mother, Angel Hurd, won Support Professional of the Year at Mayo Demonstration School.

Outside of work, Landon loves spending time with her son, Denver, who is a 3rd grader at Mayo. She also enjoys watching sports, eating good comfort food, going to church, reading, and traveling.