News

Kelly Holder is the 2025-2026 Cooper Elementary Teacher of the Year!

Kelly started teaching music at Cooper two years ago. We asked her a few questions to learn more about her and her time in Tulsa Public Schools.

What led you to a career in education?

I was born into a musical family and because of my natural abilities and my commitment to musical studies that began at the age of 5, everyone was so sure I would be a music instructor in some capacity. I taught piano lessons for many years and always found myself performing music in multiple arenas, but I also had a deep interest in psychology. My senior year of high school, I was introduced to Music Therapy—a career that paired my love of music and my interest in psychology. I pursued my degree in Music Therapy, and I worked for 20 years with children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders in an educational setting. My husband accepted a position as a Missions Pastor in Sand Springs in 2020, and our family moved from Mississippi to Oklahoma. Through a connection at church, I met the assistant principal at Cooper Elementary, who just happened to be looking for a music teacher. I obtained my emergency certification, and I am discovering that music therapy and music education are so connected; I have loved music all my life, and I have the amazing privilege of not only instilling a love for music in my students but also using music as a means for expressing emotions and coping with difficult situations.

What is your favorite thing about your work?

I am a specials teacher, and the best part of this is that I have the unique opportunity to work with all of the students in all of the grades! My favorite part of teaching music is the joy, pride, confidence, and excitement I witness in these musicians’ faces as they truly understand musical concepts and as they perform in front of their families and friends. I also love getting knocked over with hugs and hearing my name shouted in the hallway accompanied by huge grins and hands waving dramatically. What an honor it is to be part of their educational journey!

What is one thing you are passionate about outside of teaching?

I absolutely love being with my family! My husband, Will, and I have one daughter, Olivia, who is a freshman in high school. She is part of the drumline, so, as any good band parents would, we basically follow her around to every football game and band competition—she keeps us busy! More than anything I enjoy being with them as we watch movies, play games, serve in our church, travel, or just talk and laugh together.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I love Cooper Elementary! I work with some of the most fun-loving, incredible teachers and staff, and the teamwork and collaboration I have experienced since day one is exceptional. I hope our families know just how much their children are loved and how much time and effort goes into giving these students the best educational experiences possible. I am also so grateful for the opportunities provided for our students in Tulsa Public Schools to attend events throughout the year that cultivate an appreciation for the arts. The students are given the chance to attend professional opera, ballet, and instrumental performances as well as opportunities to explore visual arts—trips that these students might not otherwise be able to experience.