Tara Denevan is involved in a several different areas of the Oxford School District. From food drives to charity organizations to substitute teaching, Denevan nearly does it all and was recognized for those efforts this week.  

The Oxford School District selected Denevan as their 2019 Parent of the Year during their monthly board meeting on Monday. Denevan was also named the Parent of the Year for Oxford Elementary.  

“Anybody who was at that meeting the other night saw my facial expression. I was absolutely shocked,” Denevan said of the honor. “There was so many wonderful amazing parents in this school district and honestly, to give this award to just one person, I think there are many people that do just as much as I do and if not more on a daily basis. Those of us that do put our hearts into this do it with 110 percent everyday. I was very honored.” 

Denevan serves as the fundraising chair for Check It Chargers program and has been involved with Love Packs food drive, Helping Hands and Christmas gift drives. She also devotes time as a substitute teacher while currently serving as secretary for the Oxford Intermediate School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).  Denevan’s efforts also include providing door decorations for all OSD schools from her business Bugsy Burlaps, which she is the owner of. 

Denevan has two children in the Oxford School District system, Brody in fifth grade and Lyla in first grade. 

“I do what I do because I love the teachers. I love the staff  of all the schools and working with the children everyday,” Denevan said. “To be able to receive an award for it really made it that much sweeter.” 

The school district honored other Parents of the Year from their respective schools along with Denevan. Angela Manly was named Parent of the Year for Bramlett Elementary; Kyle Still was selected as Della Davidson’s Parent of the Year; Mary Beth Austin for Oxford Intermediate; Mary Margerate Case for Oxford Middle School and Liza Fruge for Oxford High School.