Sarah Baker is the 2025-2026 Hawthorne Elementary Teacher of the Year!

Sarah joined Team Tulsa in 2021 and this is her fifth year as the English language development teacher at Hawthorne. We asked Sarah a few questions to learn more about her and her role.

What led you to a career in education?

My passion for education began early in my life, shaped by my love of teaching and a genuine curiosity and appreciation for other cultures and people. I was introduced early to the immigrant experience when my parents adopted six children internationally. Seeing my siblings adjust to a new language, culture, and sense of belonging showed me how critical a welcoming and understanding school environment is for children learning English.

In high school, I volunteered with English as a Second Language clubs in Tulsa, which deepened my empathy for immigrant students and their families. In college, summer education internships in Jordan, South Sudan, and Uganda further shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to working in multicultural educational settings. After college, I worked with the YWCA Refugee and Immigration Center in Tulsa in their Family Literacy Department, supporting refugee and immigrant families through education.

In 2021, I became the English language development teacher at Hawthorne Elementary. Since then, I’ve been honored to help build a vibrant and supportive community for our multilingual learners! Hawthorne has now become a place where multilingual learners and their families can come and thrive both academically in a safe and welcoming environment!

What is your favorite thing about your work?

My favorite part of my work environment is the opportunity to teach and advocate for immigrant and multilingual students while building meaningful relationships with their families. I love working in a space where English learning is paired with care, encouragement, and understanding, and where families feel supported and welcomed. Seeing students grow not only in their language and academic skills, but also in their confidence and social connections, is incredibly rewarding and reminds me every day why this work matters.

What is one thing you are passionate about outside of teaching?

I love learning about history, traveling to new places, and spending time with families and friends!

Is there anything else you would like to share?

We have a large Pacific Islander community at our school that historically had been neglected and underserved, but the past five years we have worked very hard to cultivate relationships with this community. We have after-school tutoring and family events that have built important connections between Hawthorne and the Marshallese and Chuukese communities.