Sand Springs, OKLA. – The Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA) has named two leaders from Sand Springs Public Schools as 2025 State Administrators of the Year. Superintendent Sherry Durkee has been named the 2025 OASA State Superintendent of the Year, and Assistant Superintendent Shawn Beard has been named the 2025 OASA State Assistant Superintendent / Central Office Administrator of the Year.
Both Durkee and Beard were also honored as District #5 awardees before being selected for statewide recognition by a committee of leading Oklahoma school administrators.
“Leadership is about building community, cultivating and empowering other leaders and focusing on student success,” said Dr. Pam Deering, CCOSA/OASA Executive Director. “School leaders are leading through many challenges. They work tirelessly to provide opportunities for students to learn, grow and realize their full potential. Ms. Durkee represents the best of Oklahoma school administrators as the State Superintendent of the Year. We are excited and proud to recognize Ms. Durkee and the many other outstanding leaders at our upcoming CCOSA Conference.”
“Assistant Superintendents and Central Office Administrators play vital roles in promoting best practices that lead to the highest standards of student achievement, including best practices in instructional excellence, financial and budget integrity, efficient facility and transportation operations and fostering community support,” said Dr. Deering. “These leaders support the leadership team, the superintendent, and the district as a whole. We are excited and proud to recognize Shawn as an outstanding school leader who represents next-level leadership.”
Durkee is wrapping up her ninth year as the superintendent of Sand Springs and has been with Sand Springs Public Schools since 1997, holding several roles within the district. Starting as a coordinator and psychologist with Sand Springs, Durkee moved into her first administrative role as their Director of Special Education and Federal Programs in 2010 and then became the Assistant Superintendent in 2013. Durkee received her master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Studies from Oklahoma State University and has since completed and received her post-graduation certification in School Psychology from Northeastern State University. Sherry is heavily involved within the Oklahoma Superintendent community and currently serves as the AASA Governing Board Office #2 chair on the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA) board. Sherry is a passionate and unwavering advocate for public education—amplifying the voices of students and educators through civic engagement, legislative outreach, and transparent communication with the Sand Springs community.
“I am deeply honored to be selected 2025 OASA Superintendent of the Year, especially knowing how many of my colleagues across the state are equally deserving. Public schools exist to serve all children, all families, and all communities. Being a school administrator is one of the most fulfilling callings imaginable. The ability to positively impact the lives of future generations is both humbling and profoundly important. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the families and children in Sand Springs alongside an amazing administrative team who keep our mission at the center of our work”
Shawn Beard’s career in education has spanned 29 years, beginning as a teacher at Charles Page High School, Sand Springs PS in 1996. Additionally, Beard served as an instructor with Tulsa Community College and Tulsa Tech at night while teaching at Sand Springs. In 2009, he accepted a full time position with Tulsa Tech, working there until 2011 when he returned to Sand Springs Public Schools as their Director of Career Tech and Virtual Learning. Currently, Mr. Beard is the Assistant Superintendent over Teaching and Learning with Sand Springs and serves his district with the personal philosophy that every student possesses the potential for academic success and achievement. Beard received his master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Digital Learning from Abilene Christian University and is committed to giving back to his fellow education community by sharing his expertise in digital learning and AI in education at professional trainings and conferences across the state.
“I am profoundly thankful and truly humbled to be named OASA Assistant Superintendent of the Year. To be recognized by a committee of my peers makes this honor even more meaningful. Serving as an educator has been one of the most rewarding endeavors of my life, and the journey I've taken to reach this point has been every bit as fulfilling.”
Both leaders will be recognized at the upcoming CCOSA Summer Leadership Conference. Durkee will also be honored at the 2026 AASA National Conference on Education.
To view past Administrator of the Year awardees or learn more about OASA and CCOSA, visit www.ccosa.org.
ABOUT OASA
OASA supports adequate funding for Oklahoma public schools, supports accountability measures, rigorous and relevant academics, fair treatment of education employees, and seeks to reduce state intrusion in local board of education matters.
ABOUT CCOSA
The Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration is an incorporated, not for profit organization which establishes close and continuous communication and cooperation between educators, taxpayers and legislators to improve the effectiveness of professional school administrators and to communicate the needs of the schools. The Council is the umbrella organization for the following professional associations: the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA), the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals (OASSP), the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals (OAESP), the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association (OMLEA), and the Oklahoma Directors of Special Services (ODSS).
ABOUT SSPS
Serving nearly 5,000 students, Sand Springs Public Schools is one of the oldest school districts in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. With small town charm and a tight-knit community, Sand Springs deeply values its citizens, schools, and children. Its dedicated educators are proud to serve the children of this community by providing the best possible learning experience. Each classroom is unique, tailored to the distinct needs of every student.