Simple Modern Awards $2,500 in Classroom Grants to Putnam City Schools Teachers of the Year

The Oklahoma-based company expands its third-annual Stock Your School campaign and gives $500 grants for five local Teacher of the Year educators.

Oklahoma-based drinkware and consumer goods company Simple Modern expanded its commitment to educators this back-to-school season by awarding $500 classroom grants to five Putnam City Schools Teachers of the Year.

The five $500 grants, totaling $2,500, are being awarded as part of Simple Modern’s Stock Your School initiative and are in addition to the 10 educators being recognized across the nation through the company’s third-annual Stock Your School voting campaign.

The Putnam City educators receiving grants are:

• Felicia Reasnor, James L. Dennis Elementary — Reasnor, Putnam City Schools’ District Teacher of the Year, is a kindergarten teacher who has taught for 31 years, including 25 years in Putnam City. Her teaching philosophy brings together a love for children, learning and service to others, with a focus on students’ academic, social and emotional growth.
• Renee Cantwell, D.D. Kirkland Elementary — Cantwell teaches special education for students in pre-K through second grade. She has taught for 15 years, including seven and a half years in Putnam City. Her curiosity about how children learn and how brain disorders can affect learning led her to special education, where she says seeing positive changes in her students is the best part of her day.
• Jen Evans, Ralph Downs Elementary — Evans is a fourth- and fifth-grade special education teacher with 27 years of teaching experience, including 18 years in Putnam City. She believes in a child-centered, data-driven approach to education and says watching students make educational gains is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.
• Jeremy Scott, Putnam City North High School — Scott, an orchestra director, has taught for 12 years, including nine years in Putnam City. He strives to create a collaborative classroom where students aren’t afraid to be uncomfortable as they learn, grow and discover they can achieve more than they thought possible.
• Aliza Turner, Hilldale Elementary — Turner is a first-grade teacher who has spent all 10 years of her teaching career in Putnam City Schools and is herself a graduate of Putnam City North High School. She works to create a safe classroom that nurtures curiosity and allows students to be themselves, and says the hellos and hugs she receives from former students are reminders of the lasting connections created in the classroom.

“The mission of the Putnam City Schools Foundation is to enrich and enhance educational opportunities for Putnam City Schools students and families, and partnerships like this allow us to put that mission into action,” said Joy Murphy, executive director of the Putnam City Schools Foundation. “We are honored to partner with Simple Modern, an Oklahoma company that shares our commitment to education and understands the important role teachers play in the lives of their students. Their generosity is a wonderful example of what can happen when businesses and community partners come alongside our schools to invest directly in educators and students.”

These grants are an extension of Simple Modern’s third-annual Stock Your School campaign, which this year saw record-setting participation with more than 175,000 votes and educator nominations from all 50 states. Through the nationwide campaign, 10 educators were selected by public vote to receive a Stock Your School prize package that included $500 toward a classroom wish list, 500 Simple Modern water bottles for their school, 100 Getaway Bags and a $1,000 grant.

The five Putnam City grants are separate from those national awards and reflect Simple Modern’s broader commitment to supporting education, one of the company’s five core giving pillars.

“Stock Your School was created because we believe teachers deserve to feel seen, supported and celebrated for the extraordinary work they do every day,” said Mike Beckham, co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern. “As an Oklahoma company, it’s particularly meaningful to have an opportunity to give back to educators right here in our community. Putnam City Schools also holds a special place for me personally as an alum, and I’m grateful we can recognize these five exceptional teachers and invest directly in the work they’re doing for students.”

Since its founding in Oklahoma in 2015, giving has been central to Simple Modern’s mission. The company was founded on the belief that business can be a force for good and exists to give generously. Simple Modern has committed at least 10% of annual profits to nonprofit organizations and causes, with education serving as a key area of focus.

“Stock Your School has become one of the most visible ways we live out our mission during the back-to-school season, but our commitment to education goes well beyond one campaign,” Beckham said. “Teachers have an incredible ability to change the trajectory of a student’s life. Supporting them is an investment in students, families and the future of our communities.”

The $500 grants will provide each teacher with additional resources to use in support of their classroom and students during the 2026-27 school year.

 

About Simple Modern
Simple Modern exists to give generously. As a leading drinkware and consumer goods company, Simple Modern gives at least 10% of annual profits to communities around the world, equaling millions in donations since the company’s founding in 2015. The Oklahoma-owned company offers premium quality products and unique styles for adults and kids at generous prices. Mission-driven and values-based, Simple Modern has grown into a category leader for retail partners like Amazon, Target and Walmart, serving customers in all 50 states and eight countries around the world. To learn more about Simple Modern, visit www.simplemodern.com.