Claremore, Oklahoma – Claremore Public Schools (CPS) announced that its participation in the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program (OTEP) has topped $1 million in teacher bonuses over the past three years. For the 2026‑27 school year, the district recognized 32 educators and awarded $372,000 in additional compensation, bringing the three‑year total to $1,093,500.
Broad participation across the district
The awardees represent all six CPS schools and average 14.5 years of service with the district. Eighteen of the recipients have previously earned Teacher of the Year honors at the school, district or state level, underscoring the high caliber of instruction in Claremore.
Rising interest among teachers
Interest in OTEP continues to grow. This year, 85 teachers applied for consideration, up 77 percent from the 48 applicants the previous school year. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 3.6 on Oklahoma’s Teacher and Leader Effectiveness evaluation system and are also evaluated on attendance, mentorship, committee involvement, community and family engagement, and professional development.
Professional development focus
OTEP candidates documented 1,546 hours of elective professional development and submitted 360 certificates, with reading and literacy training accounting for the largest share of hours. Superintendent Bryan Frazier said the program’s impact extends beyond the extra pay, noting improvements in teacher attendance and higher‑quality learning experiences for students.
“We have 85 educators who stepped forward this year, knowing that only 32 could receive this recognition. That speaks volumes about the caliber of teachers we have at Claremore Public Schools,” Frazier said.
State guidelines and future outlook
The state limits the number of designations each district can award, but Frazier emphasized that the cap does not reflect the overall level of excellence among CPS educators. For full program details, including bonus stipend levels and qualification criteria, readers can visit the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s OTEP page.
Original reporting: KTUL 8 (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
