Born and raised in Oklahoma, Elizabeth Martin-Burkett moved to Ponca City the summer before starting 9th grade and graduated from Po-Hi. Martin-Burkett considers Ponca City her hometown and is currently in her seventh year working with Ponca City Public Schools, all of which have been at Liberty Elementary with a few months at East Middle School.

Martin-Burkett has known she wanted to work with children since middle school. After high school, Martin-Burkett went to college and started by getting her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education.

“I went on to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree with my sights set on finishing Early Childhood,” said Martin-Burkett. “However, I was given the opportunity to be a nanny for a baby boy with special needs. It was my joy to be involved in his academics and training for the first seven years of his life.”

Martin-Burkett then decided to switch to working in a school environment, knowing she wanted to return to Ponca City.

She started out as a one-on-one special education paraprofessional for two years, and is currently on her fifth year in the library and as a reading interventionist.

“My favorite thing about my job is the joy of helping kids learn and seeing them grow in their reading skills,” said Martin-Burkett. “When a child falls in love with reading, that is the best!”

Martin-Burkett credits role models throughout her own education, through her family members who are teachers, and throughout her career with Ponca City Public Schools for developing her philosophy on education.

“I am so fortunate to work in an encouraging, caring, and genuine environment,” said Martin-Burkett. “Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!”