September 7, 2024 Issue, Page 11 of 12

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The Elk City News SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 + 11 definitely changed. She was such and courageous and amazing” never meets a stranger in western HONOR a kind-hearted person and loved Oklahoma? -Crystal Burton (Tracy O'Hara Morgan) Continued from page 1 everyone the same. It didn’t mat- “Coach Sisemore, a true pillar “Debbie Sisemore would go to ter if you were rich or poor, be- of Elk City, always pushed us to ‘bat’ for any student at Elk City and beyond to help others. I am cause she really cared about her represent with pride and excel- High School. It did not matter glad Debbie Sisemore got the rec- students as people, not as a social lence. Her infectious energy kept the kid's last name or social status, ognition she deserves, and it was class.” (Devin Sisemore Sieger) us cheering, tumbling, and stunt- if they needed her advocation, awesome just to see many of you Now, here are some words or ing during games. Who else re- she stood firm ground. This re- again. I've been asked to share the short stories by others: members her iconic call, “GIRLS!” quired her to often go against the speech that was delivered during “Tve always had a great rela- urging us to get back to cheering grain, Sisemore created and is the halftime, so here it is... tionship with Debbie, and we had with all our might? Memories of Elk City High School spirit. She “IF you know her, you love her. many good conversations over high school are filled with her un- made us proud to be part of the If she coached you...well, you the years. One day, it was a couple wavering dedication - always the ‘brown and white? Cheer prac- knew you better stand tall, wear of minutes before a football game first there and the last to leave! tices could be grueling, but in the your bow high, expect to practice where the Cheerleaders would She would always tell us, ‘Its not end, we would be one of the most to perfection, and you darn sure perform their weekly cheers and competitive squads around. She even cold; and looking back, we knew you better yell as loud as stunts in front of the crowd, and now know why she was never taught us work ethic and how to possible when the Big Elks took I would do some broadcasting. cold with her iconic fur coat, all do hard things. Sisemore had a the field. Under the Friday night A girl who Debbie knew was go- to keep us moving and cheering. hand in shaping who I am as an lights her undeniable voice could ing to sign the National Anthem, Love you Sisemore, may you feel adult. Tam lucky to have known always be heard across the crowd and Debbie called me shortly all the love and prayers you de- her’ (Stephanie Fields). chanting ‘Go - BIG - ELKS! Be- before the game, ‘Shawn, you're serve” (Tiffany Ford) “T will say that Sisemore was ‘was not something you going to kill me, The gir! that was “Hey sister (Note: sent to Deb- one of the best teachers I had. took lightly under Sisemore’s di- supposed to sing the National bie’ daughter who helped com- Never felt judgement from her no rection, You always faced your Anthem could not make it... pile some of these stories/quotes), matter what was going on, When team with your poms high in pause... ‘kill me but please don't this is my story of how I met your most teachers would write us off, the air, and with a smile on your be mad at me, I told them that mom: I moved in and tried out Sisemore never made me feel ‘less face. You didnt just cheer for tead of her, you would do the for cheerleader my senior year, than’ anyone. Lam forever grateful the team...you LOVED them. Cheerleaders who honored Debbie Sisemore during half time at the singing! Will you forgive me? so I didn't know how I would to her for that!” (Tracy Williams) She taught that. These qualities season’s football opening game between Canadian and Elk City. ‘OK;I responded, when do I need be treated coming in as an out-“Sisemore always had a way of are not something you find in a dren of their own. a thing about my years at Elk City to go sing? ‘In one and a half sider. After I tried and made the making me want to be better, no book, or on a worksheet. ‘They Here are some words by Deb- high school and I thank God for minutes!’ she responded, ‘I would cheer squad, I was treated like matter what activity. She had a are taught by example, and the bie herself, that start the story... my opportunities” have done it in 30 seconds, Deb- family. Your mom made me feel high way of expectations, and we students of Elk City High School “I started teaching in 1974 ‘And here are some words by bie has always meant the world to welcome from day one! It was by were eager to meet them, She was couldn't have asked for a bet- in Elk City. I loved teaching. I her daughter, who was not only a me!” (Shawn Wilson) far the best year I ever had as a more than our teacher and coach, ter coach and teacher. She led us taught speech, drama and was the student, but a daughter and a wit- “When I was a senior, I had cheerleader and one I have never she was family” (Tammy Davis not only in words, but in spirit, cheer and the Academic Coach. I ness of what teaching and leading a crush on Utah Robinson. He forgotten. To this day, when I see Benson) She didn’t just teach drama or had no idea my life would be so is all about: had graduated in 1998 and was your mom, she speaks, she hugs We had contact with several speech, she taught love. Love for blessed when I moved to Elk City. “My Mother was a fair and a home for the summer. He came she smiles and always tells me she more, some who didn’t write their our peers, love for our school, and My students were everything to great coach. She never treated by the Elk City Cheerleader fire- is happy to see me and loves me. thoughts, but who expressed a love for our town. She showed me and I hope I was there for me differently than the other girls work stand like so many former She loves deep, she is always the deep love and understanding us what being a BIG ELK was all each of them (note: according to or showed me any. favoritism, students did. Everyone loved to same every time you see her, she of the now retired teacher and about. She gave us confidence, them, you were!). Doing the plays She wanted us to be the best as come and visit Mrs. Sisemore at is truly one of the most genuine coach, realizing that they met and a sense of pride. She was, and ‘was so exciting and fun especially a team. I really don't remember the fireworks stand (they could and loving people I've ever had someone special in their lifetime. will always be, an iconic tribute to to see the kids grow and develop ever fighting with her or hating usually sweet talk her into some the privilege of knowing. I am We personally thank everyone the spirit of the Elk City Elks, To- their character. In the late 80's her being my Coach. She was ac- free fireworks). I had told Mrs. forever grateful I got to be on her who took the time to send a note night, we honor her in the highest Gail Bliss contacted me and asked tually fun. [ always remember her Sisemore that I thought Utah was team? (DeLisa Ballou Lovelace with thoughts or story, specially regard and present her with this ifI would help get the academic taking care of others. We would cute, so the first opportunity she ECHS cheerleader 1991) Jessica Simmons and Devin Sise- Award of Excellence, Debbie, you team in western Oklahoma start- see a kid walking and she would got to tell him she couldn't wait! “Debbie Sisemore is one of my more, who helped us to directly have changed our lives, and we ed. She was the one that really got stop to pick them up. She would Ican still hear her yelling ‘GIRLS, most favorite human beings: so contact fellow students to send are now passing on your teach- it going in the state. I contacted say “that’s one of my students “ I WHO WAS IT THAT LIKED full of joy, and laughter and joy their thoughts as soon as possible ings to our own children. You are Weatherford, Clinton, and many would say ‘mom, they are?’ Ifthey UTAH ROBINSON? WASN’T and kindness. She took this shy for this printing, an icon in our school and in our schools on our side of the state. were needing help, she always IT KATIE? WHERE’S KATIE?’ high school kid and made me give ‘This all sounds that Debbie community’ history, and we are A gentleman in Cheyenne, Okla made sure she took care of them. ‘Thanks to that moment, we went speeches and put me on stage on Sisemore was more than a teacher forever grateful for your love and made the lock out system for me. Many times, I remember taking on our first date and haven't been one of her plays to give me con- and coach, she was “inspirator in devotion! Love Always, Your Elk It was fabulous and I did it until kids home after a late night on apart since! Thank you for em- fidence. She pulled some confi- chief” making students realize City High School Alumni Cheer- 1997, We also did Mock Trial and a school bus. I would be so tired barrassing the heck out of me that dence out of me that wasn't there that they could be better people. leaders” History Bee. I wanted my stu- but we would never leave until day!! Love you bunches” (Katie Note: Debbie is undergoing before. Decades later, she did the Wow! In just 280 words, you dents to experience as much as every kid was home safe. There Roles Robinson Class of 2000) same for my kid during summers expensive medical treatments not can sense a lifetime of love, teach- they could while in high school. I were times we were piled up with “Ms. Sisemore truly defined art and has loved him ever since. 1 covered by insurance. If you feel ing and leading by being a role was a teacher and I loved every- kids dropping each one and they Elk City’s spirit. Her drama class hope she knows how profoundly like helping, please contact Shawn model of all of these cheerleaders thing about it. I wouldn't change were so thankful. Times have was always a standout favorite. she impacts those of us who are Wilson at KECO: 580-225-9696 who are now adults and have chil- Everyone knows her, and she blessed to know her. She is strong for information on how to help. Free online American Sign Language classes now accepting enrollments Enrollment is now open at courses and do not count line ASL class can be found outreach by way of training son program in Sulphur and demic teams, The school also the Oklahoma School for the toward professional devel- at and ASL classes. | preschool program provides free outreach servic- Deaf for its online American opment hours or continuing ok.us. Oklahoma School for the sha, and partners es for deaf or hard of hearing Sign Language classes being education units. Donations can be made to Deaf is a division of Oklaho- with the State Department of students attending local pub- offered during the fall semes- The courses _ attracted the Oklahoma School for the ma Department of Rehabilita- Education on the early inter- lic schools. ter. 719,121 students —_ since Deaf Foundation that sup- tion Services. OSD offers free vention program for parents These services include au- The free classes are avail- the 2022-2023 school year ports students, schools and comprehensive academic, of deaf children, ages zero to diological, speech and lan- able in two eight-lesson with 683,016 coming from families from across Okla- extracurricular and outreach five and educational consul- guage, and other assessments; sections and are presented outside of Oklahoma with homa who are deaf or hard of programs to deaf or hard of tants for Oklahoma public in-service training programs; through prerecorded videos. many being international us- hearing. hearing students who live on schools. and recommendations for ad- The self-paced basic cours- ers. Last year, the school served campus four days each week, OSD students communi- aptations to the students’ ed- es in conversational Ameri- Online students will access over 500 students from commute from home, attend cate using American Sign ucational environments. OSD can Sign Language are taught these lessons from Sept. 16 roughly 145 school districts summer school or participate Language and English and had a 100% graduation rate in by OSD's Deaf ASL specialist. through Dec. 30. in 58 counties. The school in online programs, participate in sports, drama, 2023-2024. These are non-credit level The registration for on- also. provides community The school offers a Baby Bi- leadership programs and aca- MERRITT We proudly support the students, staff and administration at Merritt Schools Yes Finance 1414 W. 3rd St., Elk City, OK Great Plains Bank First National Bank Chad & Jenae Rippetoe 580.225.1525 Lipscomb Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram LocalLoanGroup.com We proudly support the Kyle Zybach, CPA, MBA [email protected] Moran Equipment students, staff and ZYBACH & 319 Industrial PAWY administration at CBA Schools FAIRCHILD,CPAs, PLLC Lipscomb Phone: 580.225.1883 Elk City, OK 73644 Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 2302 W. Third St. Elk City, OK 73644 Mobile: Fax: 405.406.8179 580.225.1897 580.225.2515