For Bartlesville middle school teacher, there's no place like home

In one of the most poignant lines in movie history, Dorothy reflected on the lessons she had learned while wandering as a stranger in the bizarre land of Oz.

She concludes her statement thusly: “…if i ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.”

Shannon McKinney understands.

The Madison Middle School teacher grew up in Bartlesville, went off to college and found that her heart drew her back home to build a life and an impact here.

For 27 years, McKinney has employed her talents and caring in teaching both elementary-age and middle school-age students.

She currently serves as the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Chair.

“I’m originally from Bartlesville,” McKinney said. “I graduated in 1990, played basketball and did all the high school things,” she said.

She attended Northeastern Oklahoma State in Tahlequah for her undergraduate studies, but knew she would be coming home.

“I decided to stay in Bartlesville. … I wanted to teach here,” McKinney explained.

She credits her high school educators and coaches for helping influence her in setting her career course.

“I had a lot of teachers who were really special,” McKinney said. “They helped me be the person I am.”

She singled out basketball coach Gerald Thompson as one of them.

“He helped me be who I am today,” she said. “He taught me to have respect for others, to always try hard and to never give up. I hope to instill that in my kids today.”

For her first 11 years in the Bartlesville district, McKinney taught fourth-graders at Hoover Elementary.

Then she transferred to Madison and worked seven years as a seventh-grade English teacher.

She then became a STEM teacher at Madison and is now a leader of the program.

STEM helps prepare students to develop the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed and contribute in the technological realm.

“We want kids to find their passion in the STEM world,” she said.

Teaching middle school children requires focus.

“They are very interesting children,” she said. “They are probably the most difficult to teach. They’re trying to find out who they are and where they fit in. I think the most enjoyable thing for me to see is when I see the light bulb go on for a student.”

McKinney’s hope is to guide her children toward positive choices.

“You feel good when making an investment in their life and you make a difference,” she said. “I want to help kids to reach their full potential. I also want the kids to grow up to be kind, respectful human beings. I hope to show that by example.”

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville teacher finds home is where her heart is