20 Northwestern Seniors Placed in Student Teaching Assignments at Local Schools

January 30, 2026

ALVA, Okla. — Twenty Northwestern Oklahoma State University senior education students recently began their student teaching assignments at local schools to gain critical hands-on experience.

The students will return to campus monthly to assess their progress, attend a service learning day at the Oklahoma State Capitol in March and complete their exit interviews in May. Commencement is scheduled for May 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Ranger Field.

Listed below are the students, their majors, hometowns and teaching assignments.

Agriculture Education

Baylan Byrd of Rush Springs at Ringwood Junior High/High School

Early Childhood Education

Kaitlyn Corn of Magnolia, Texas, at Longfellow Elementary in Alva

Rhianna Grace of Newkirk at Shidler Elementary School

Madison Vaverka of Hennessey at Dover Elementary School

Elementary Education

Maria Almaraz of Enid at Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Elementary in Enid

Kaylee Beck of Enid at Hayes Elementary in Enid

McKenzie (Mashak) Killian of Cimarron, Kansas, at Beeson Elementary in Dodge City, Kansas

Madison Morse of Enid at Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Elementary

MaKynlee Mulbery of Balko at Forgan Public Schools

Jamie Niblett of Cooper, Texas, at Ringwood Elementary

Stacy Pedersen of Gillette, Wyoming, at Tonkawa Elementary School

Naomi Soderstrom of Bartlesville at Longfellow Elementary in Alva

Christina Tuton-Lunow of Union City at Drummond Elementary

Teagen Wright of Alva at Longfellow Elementary in Alva

English Education

Ashland Crites of Hennessey at Drummond High School

Health and Sports Science Education

Mia (Graves) Jones of Clinton, Utah, at Washington Elementary School in Alva

Daniel Riojas of Laverne at Alva High School

Mathematics Education

Ashlan Light of Enid at Okarche Junior High/High School

Social Science Education

Dylan McLane of Covington at Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Junior High/High School and Waukomis Public Schools

Jessica Myers of Enid at Chisholm High School

For more information on Northwestern’s teacher education program, contact Dr. Jennifer Oswald, division chair and associate professor of education, at jdoswald@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8451 or visit the Northwestern Division of Education webpage.

-NW-

Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480