Rhonda Baker, director of education programs for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and former Oklahoma state representative, was honored with the Southern Regional Education Board’s 2025 Jack Hill Champion of Education Award. She received the award at the SREB Annual Meeting in Atlanta June 21.

“It is an honor to be recognized by SREB with the Jack Hill Award. Following in the footsteps of strong leaders that have received this award is very humbling,” Baker said. ”Prioritizing the improvement of our educational systems for student success has always been a passion of mine, and I am thankful to SREB for being a partner to me in this journey.”

An English teacher for nearly two decades at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels, Baker was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016 and retired from the legislature in 2024. As a member of the House, Baker developed a reputation as a strong and articulate advocate on education issues. She chaired the House Common Education Committee as a freshman lawmaker and served as a member of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education.

“During Rhonda’s career in the Legislature, she was consistently a leader in the effort to increase teacher pay, to strengthen standards in the curriculum and to enact legislation to ensure that our students were fully prepared to meet current and future workforce demands,” said Glen Johnson, former speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and former SREB vice chair, in presenting the award

Representative Baker served on the Southern Regional Education Board Legislative Advisory Council from 2018 through 2024 and was vice chair of the group for the 2023-24 year. She also chaired the education committee of the Southern Legislative Conference.

She received the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Distinguished Service Award for her work on the Concurrent Education Taskforce. Early in her legislative career she received the Rising Star Award by the State Chamber of Commerce for her role as a legislative leader in the business community.

Representative Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in education from the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Jack Hill Champion of Education Award

Established in honor of the late Sen. Jack Hill of Georgia, who died in 2020, the award recognizes state leaders who have made important long-term contributions to education and SREB’s work in the 16-state region. It also honors leaders who, like Hill, have shown a commitment to civility and cooperation in public service.

Prior honorees are former Senator Howard Lee of North Carolina, Representative Francis Thompson of Louisiana, Representative Alan Baker of Alabama and former Senator Joyce Elliott of Arkansas.