Teacher Kelly O’Keefe Boettcher honored for dedication to Dr. King

At Rufus King International Baccalaureate High School on Friday, January 18, 2019, teacher Kelly O’Keefe Boettcher was surprised in front of her class by Principal Tanzanique Carrington and representatives from the Marcus Center. O’Keefe Boettcher was honored as 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Teacher of the Year for her dedication to teaching students about the life and beliefs of Dr. King. During her 20 years of teaching in MPS, King’s legacy has been an important part of her curriculum.

O’Keefe Boettcher, an English teacher, has actively encouraged her students to take part in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Speech, and Writing contests. She has also been an activist and leader in the community. This school year, she led discussions with students about spreading peace and positive messages, and took photos of students forming hand gestures such as peace signs, hearts, and the word “love” in sign language.

Milwaukee has celebrated King’s birthday annually since 1984, and is one of only two cities in the United States to mark the holiday for this length of time.

Paul Mathews, President & CEO of the Marcus Center, and Anthony Smith of the Marcus Center were on hand to present Tyler with a plaque, flowers, and tickets to the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Rufus King High School is currently ranked ninth in the state of Wisconsin by Newsweek magazine and offers a rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum to prepare students for challenges of college. The school is located at 1801 W. Olive St. in Milwaukee.