Jill Klein is a third-year teacher at Ponca City High School where she teaches Geometry and PreAP Geometry to the freshmen and sophomores. She and her husband Tim, who works for Phillips 66, have two children Gabe and Bethany. Gabe is a freshman at OSU while Bethany is a junior at PoHi. After working as an engineer for several years, and then staying home when her children were little, Mrs. Klein says, “teaching fell into her lap.” The school needed help and her passion for teaching pushed her to pursue an alternative certification. She had found her calling! Then she jokes, saying it could be genetic because both of her parents are now retired teachers. She has also taught at Ponca City Christian Academy. Outside of school Jill enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, exercising with friends, and serving in her church. 

Mrs. Klein says she was blessed with so many amazing teachers. “My dad was my American History and Government teacher, and he was fantastic.” But her love of math and science came from her high school teachers, Mr. Ratzlaff and Mr. Zerger. 

Klein expressed that she loves her students and that it is a privilege to be a part of their lives.

“It is so exciting to watch them succeed – not only in the classroom but also on the basketball court, at a band concert, or wherever their passion might be,” she said.

Some of her best teaching advice has been to develop a positive relationship with the students and that it should be a top priority. 

“Students need to know that you genuinely care about them. Your classroom should be a safe place to ask questions and share ideas.”