Julia Crawford - Speech

My name is Julia Crawford and this will be my fourth year as the speech-language pathologist here at Hugh Bish.  I also work at Washington Elementary and Smart Start 5 Preschool.  I went to school in Colorado where I met my husband.  He is in the Army so I have lived and worked in a variety of places.  I’ve been blessed with raising 4 beautiful children – Katy, Mark, Jessy, and Lily.  As a speech-language pathologist, I work with children who have difficulties with articulation, voice, language and fluency. Along with other team members, I help students become more successful accessing the curriculum and communicating with peers and adults. 

Debbie Payne

This is my 15th year in education and my first year teaching at Hugh Bish.  I have taught in the past at MacArthur Middle School, Almor West, and Pat Henry in Lawton.  My teaching style has always been geared toward the empowerment of all students.  I have always had a strong desire to educate the minds of all my students in order to help them develop into well rounded, responsible and successful individuals.

My role as a resource teacher is to assist the classroom teacher and to provide additional one-on-one support for children with moderate learning difficulties.  I consider ways in which the curriculum can be diffentiated in the classroom, together with suitable materials and possible teaching and learning strategies.  I have set specific, time-related targets for each child in agreement with the classroom teacher and Mr. Smith.  I also arrange meetings and advise parents, accompanied by the classroom teacher, as needed, and with other professionals to include psychometrist, speech and language therapist, Occupational therapist, Physical Therapist, and Counselor.

Hugh Bish is a school where I really feel like I am part of a strong community and a winning team!  I hope you and your child will feel the same way about our school.

Brenda Ivey - Librarian

This is my sixth year at Hugh Bish Elementary and my sixth year as a Library Media Specialist. I have been with Lawton Public Schools for sixteen years and have taught at Taft, Pat Henry, Wilson, Cleveland, Howell, and John Adams Elementary either as a classroom teacher, Title 1 teacher or Librarian.  I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Education with a certification in Library Media.  I am also a certified Reading Specialist.

I grew up as a military child and moved around the world with my wonderful family.  My father retired in Lawton and I have lived here all of my adult life.  I am married and have one daughter, Mady.  My passion is for reading and love to share that passion with the young students I am blessed to teach every year.  I can’t imagine doing anything else other than teaching children to love reading.

Janet Schmahl - PE / Health

Janet Schmahl began teaching Physical Education at Hugh Bish in August of 1986.  The motto for her classes has always been to move and have fun at the same time.  Emphasis is placed on safety and well-being of all students kindergarten through the fifth grade.

Billy Spannagel - Music

In music, students will have the opportunity to sing, play instruments, learn to read music notation, and learn about music from a historical perspective.  Mr. Spannagel spends a vast amount of time teaching students about music from a theoretical standpoint, i.e. note names and lengths, adding bar lines to music notation, and musical terms.  This will help the students as they progress to middle school, where they will have the opportunity to join band, choir, or orchestra.  Students will come to music every other day for 40 minutes on a rotation with P.E.

Aside from teaching at Hugh Bish, Mr. Spannagel maintains a full private piano studio in Lawton.  He is President of the Lawton Music Teachers Association, and is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) through Music Teachers National Association.