November is Native American Heritage Month, and Pryor Schools has special news to share that couldn’t come at a better time!
Pryor High School’s Cherokee Language teacher, Emma Dorman, has been honored with the Cherokee Phoenix’s Seventh Annual Seven Feathers Language Award. The gala was held on November 1, 2025, in Tahlequah.
Dorman is one of only seven recipients selected from more than 150 nominations for the prestigious recognition, which celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to Cherokee culture and community.
A fluent first-language speaker, Dorman currently teaches Cherokee language at both Pryor High School and Salina High School. She earned her degree in Cherokee Cultural Studies in 2018 and has also taught the Cherokee language at the college level.
“She has devoted her teaching career to preserving the Cherokee language. She has touched countless lives through school and community organizations to promote the culture and language of the Cherokee. She has inspired new speakers of the language to pursue careers as educators,” Dorman's nomination letter stated.
Dorman’s dedication has been recognized before—she was named the JOM Teacher of the Year in 2017 and was a finalist again in 2024.