Long before job titles and programs evolved, Betsy Easley built her career on one simple belief: students thrive when they feel seen, challenged, and valued. That belief has guided her for 32 years at Ponca City High School, where she has become a steady, trusted presence for generations of Po-Hi students.
Easley began her career straight out of Oklahoma State University and never left, proudly calling herself a “Po-Hi lifer.” For many years, she was known as a sophomore English teacher and Student Council advisor, shaping young writers while helping students find their voices as leaders. Today, her role has expanded to include Advanced Placement, Gifted & Talented, Testing Coordinator, and Instructional Coach, allowing her to influence learning across the entire campus.
Her decision to become an educator came from a desire to help students reach their potential and gain confidence in their abilities. She also believes deeply in the power of literature and art to transform lives, something she strives to pass on in every role she fills. As a student herself, Easley was shaped by teachers who left lasting impressions. Her junior English teacher, Mrs. Burrows, inspired her love for language and teaching through passion and expertise. Another teacher left an impact in a very different way. After losing her mother and moving to a new state, Easley entered a third-grade classroom where she felt unwelcome and unsupported. That experience stayed with her and became a powerful reminder of how much a teacher’s attitude matters. It pushed her to be a patient, steady, and welcoming presence for students who might be carrying unseen burdens.
What Easley treasures most about teaching is the relationships she’s built over decades. She loves reconnecting with former students to hear about their careers, families, and lives beyond high school. She also appreciates the humor, creativity, and raw honesty students bring every day, even during challenging moments. Teaching, she says, is hard, but she can’t imagine doing anything else.
The best advice she’s received centers on relationships and high expectations. Building trust with students while holding them to strong academic and behavioral standards helps them grow into their potential.
Outside of school, Easley enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog, reading, church activities, and growing her small business, Okie Beads. Reflecting on her career, she feels grateful to have built her life in Ponca City, surrounded by a supportive community she proudly calls home.
