From Wylie East's Ready, Set, Teach to Oklahoma’s Most Valuable Educator

When former Wylie ISD student Carey (Strong) Muñoz was starting out in the Ready, Set, Teach (RST) program at Wylie East High School, little did she know that the courses she was taking in the education pathway would pave the way for an award-winning career.

Today, she is not only a proud educator, but also a two-time Teacher of the Year in Santa Fe South Schools, and most recently, Muñoz earned the prestigious "Most Valuable Educator" award from the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board and Oklahoma Natural Oil and Gas (OERB).

“The day I found out about the award, they walked in my classroom and surprised me,” Muñoz said. “It was so sweet to celebrate with all of my students!”

The OERB made sure to include her students in the celebration as well.

“On top of the very generous check, they also awarded my class a field trip to see the Oklahoma City Blue (the NBA G League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder, a professional basketball team) play at the Paycom Center,” Muñoz said.

During this game, in front of her students and an arena filled with fans, Muñoz was brought down on the basketball court, presented with a generous $5,000 check, and announced as the OERB “Most Valuable Educator.”

The Start of her Educational Journey

Muñoz's story is a testament to the power of education, the guidance of inspiring mentors, and the opportunities provided by Wylie ISD to pave the way for future educators.

In the RST program, now known as WE Teach, Muñoz was able to try her hand at being a teacher when she student-taught at Akin Elementary. 

“That program was amazing!” Muñoz said. “I got to work alongside friends who were also aspiring educators and spent every morning in first grade with Jennifer O’Neall at Akin -- who was incredible to learn from. I learned so much from my time in the RST Program.”

Muñoz said that she knew pursuing the education pathway at WEHS would ultimately confirm whether she was meant to major in elementary education or explore a different career path.

“It really solidified what I knew I was called to do,” she said. “It also showed me how much I still had to learn to become a successful educator.”

Muñoz attributes her decision to become an educator to her RST teacher, Jessica Taylor, who is now a counselor at WEHS.

“Ms. Taylor was our teacher in the program and she was amazing,” Muñoz said. “She was so organized and thoughtful in how she created and ran the program. She listened to her students and wanted them all to be successful.”

Taylor always knew Muñoz would one day make a great educator.

“Carey was always so good with kids and brought energy to the classroom,” Taylor said. “I knew that she would make a great teacher back when she was in high school!”

Her Legacy Continues to Grow

After graduating from WEHS in 2012, Muñoz went to Shawnee, Okla., to play volleyball at Oklahoma Baptist University, where she majored in elementary education. College volleyball took her to Oklahoma, and family kept her there.

“After I graduated from OBU, I married my husband, Jason, and we both had jobs lined up in Oklahoma City,” Muñoz said. “Once our families were both out here and we started having children, it was a no-brainer to stay in Oklahoma!”

Muñoz currently teaches first grade at Santa Fe South Shidler Elementary in Oklahoma City --  a proud example of a Wylie ISD graduate leaving a lasting legacy, not only in her hometown district but also in Santa Fe South Schools.

“I love thinking back to my favorite teachers, and I can remember them so easily because they were so kind and loving,” Muñoz said. "I hope my students will one day look back and say the same about me. That I valued them uniquely and brought out their best. That I was kind, inclusive, encouraging, and I taught them well. I am doing my best to tell my students that though they are 6 and 7, they will always have a place at the table, and they have a lot to offer!”

Muñoz makes sure that her classroom is fun while also creating a community of kids who know how to express emotions and communicate them respectfully.

“I am honoring their childhood,” she said. “We honor feelings and make decisions together. I want my students to know that the classroom is theirs, not just mine and that they must love it and treat it with kindness.”

Muñoz’s success is a reflection of the strong foundation she built through Wylie ISD’s education pathway and the mentors who helped guide her along the way. Her story highlights the district’s ongoing commitment to preparing future educators who go on to make a difference in Wylie and beyond.