Tulsa Public Schools has named Akela Leach as its 2026 Teacher of the Year, recognizing her impact in the classroom and her deep roots in the district.
A Tulsa native and TPS graduate, Leach attended Mayo Demonstration Elementary, Thoreau Demonstration Academy and Booker T. Washington High School before returning to teach in the same community that shaped her.
“It feels full circle,” she says. “I’ve always loved learning and felt connected to this community.”…