OSSAA honors Marlow drama coach Paula McConnell

The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association recognized Marlow Coach Paula McConnell as OSSAA/NFHS State Speech & Debate Coach of the Year at OSSAA Board of Directors Meeting.

Paula is pictured with her principal Bryan Brantley and superintendent Corey Holland. 

Since its beginning in 1982, the Marlow High School Department of Speech & Drama has achieved many major goals.

In 1987, the Team won the first of its continuing string of Regional Championships.  Further success was achieved the next two years (1988, 1989) with back-to-back Class 2A State Championships, and returning as State Champions in 2002 and 2003, and then again in 2009 and 2011 (now under the label of 4A), and again with back-to-back successes in 2018 and 2019.  The Marlow team continually ranks very high at the state level, and is proud of its recognition as a first-class competitive team.  

In addition to the competitive team, the Department also produces a major stage production yearly.  It is our hope that each student involved in this production achieves a sense of pride with the finished work and that those students (and, indeed, everyone in the audience) acquire a life-long appreciation for the talent and hard work involved in theater arts.

The Marlow High School Department of Speech & Drama is proud to have inspired many students to continue into careers involving the arts, as either educators or performers.

The philosophy of MOST:  "Ten years from now the medals we've won will tarnish, but the memories, stories, and friendships will shine brightly forever."

 

Paula McConnell has been a teacher at Marlow High School since August 1982. Paula graduated from Cordell High School as class valedictorian. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education (summa cum laude) from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. While at Southwestern she was named Outstanding Freshman Female, Outstanding Sophomore Female, Outstanding Mathematics Student, and won the Teddy Award for Outstanding Supporting Female Actress.  There she served her senior year as vice-president of Alpha Psi Omega.   She is a member of the National Education Association, the Oklahoma Education Association, and the Marlow ACT.

Paula has been the director of the annual Marlow Invitational Speech/Debate Tournament for 33 years, as well as being the Class 4A West representative for the O.S.S.A.A. State Speech Committee since August 2004 (19 years) and the Southwest Regional Speech Tournament.  Under her direction, the MHS Speech team has earned 27 Regional and 8 State Championships, as well as 16 consecutive Academic Awards from 1995-2011, plus 2014 and 2015, along with an academic runner-up status in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023.  Paula also served as the Individual Events Division coordinator at the Cameron University Speech/Debate/Broadcast Camp in Lawton through July 2013.  
She earned the NFHS Outstanding Speech Educator Award in 2006.  Paula is the 2000 Marlow Public Schools Teacher of the Year.  2023-2024 was Mrs. McConnell's 42nd year at Marlow.  

Her favorite non-school topic is her daughter Kasey.  Her favorite movies are anything Avengers.  Her favorite vacation spot is Walt Disney World.