LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Megan Cox was nominated by her colleague, Maria Korphage.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina, Mrs. Cox moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in the summer of 2012.  She moved to Tulsa from Wilmington, North Carolina to work with Teacher for America. Teach For America finds outstanding leaders who commit to expanding educational opportunity, beginning with at least two years teaching in an under-resourced public school. After her two years in Tulsa, she knew that her time as an educational advocate in the heart of green country had just begun. Seven years later, Mrs. Cox has continued to expand her impact as a volunteer, classroom teacher, instructional coach, school leader, and chief academic officer.

Mrs. Cox began her career at College Bound as a volunteer on the CBA start-up team before the school was even formed. She canvassed from door to door, informing local families of a new school that would be a free, public, college-prep elementary charter school of choice for families looking for another option outside of their neighborhood school. As one of the founding teachers and team members of College Bound Academy, Mrs. Cox has been the driving instructional force behind creating an environment of warmth, high expectations, academic achievement, and personal growth from the very start. 

The mission of College Bound is, “Through rigorous academics, character development, and a joyful, achievement-oriented school culture, College Bound Academy Charter School will equip every K-4 scholar with the freedom to succeed in middle school and high school, graduate from college, and access the professional career of their choice.” These words adorn the hallways at CBA, but they live in the heart of Mrs. Cox's heart, words, and actions. 

Mrs. Cox is an innovator at heart. She created a “centers room” at College Bound for the youngest and most vulnerable students to apply their learning through play-based application. She creates a culture of community and acceptance. You would be hard-pressed to not hear her say, “Do you understand? I love you. Have a great rest of your day,” after checking in with a student. 

Mrs. Cox saw a need for further social-emotional development support. She created a new role at her school that allows every student in Kindergarten through fourth grade to engage in a learning experience that gives them guidance on how to make friends, productively solve problems, and collaborate with one another. Who knew that social-emotional learning could be an enrichment class?

Mrs. Cox is an active member of the Tulsa Charter Compact. She collaborates with her school's authorizing district and a multitude of charter schools across Tulsa to create avenues of choice for families who might be looking for a different option. 

Mrs. Cox is a learner. While teaching full time, she went back to school at the University of Oklahoma to complete her Master’s degree in education administration, curriculum and supervision. 

Mrs. Cox is a leader. As a teacher in Tulsa Public Schools, she was the recipient of the coveted “Golden Apple Award.”  She has created a leadership pipeline at College Bound to help new instructional coaches to develop around organizational skills, culture building, data analysis, and coaching new teachers. She coaches and supports a team of four instructional coaches to grow, develop and guide teachers across her school. Mrs. Cox is not only impacting students here and now, but she is also working to impact students for generations to come.

"Megan is a LifeChanger in our school community, our city, and in the lives of the 480 students that she loves and leads, each and every day," said Korphage.