For Randy Roth, teaching wasn’t part of the original plan, but it turned out to be a calling. Now entering his eighth year at Oklahoma Bible Academy, Roth teaches eighth-grade American History and ninth-grade Oklahoma History and Civics, bringing passion, purpose, and personal experience to every lesson.
Before stepping into the classroom, Roth spent over two decades in another career. But in 2017-18, while serving as a lay coach for the OBA basketball team, something clicked. “That year was such a positive experience and the OBA community was so amazing,” he said. “When the opportunity arose to teach here, I felt like it was the Lord opening a door—and I’m so thankful I walked through it.”
Roth has a gift for connecting with students at a critical stage in their lives. “I get to watch a lot of personal and spiritual growth happen between 8th and 9th grade,” he said. “It’s rewarding to play a small role in shaping not just their minds, but their hearts. That’s something unique to OBA—we’re helping students grow in their relationship with the Lord.”
A Broken Arrow High School graduate, Roth was inspired by his own history teacher, Mr. Joe Staggs. “He made history come alive. His passion was contagious,” Roth recalled. It’s a passion he now passes on to his students.
Coming from the corporate world, Roth leaned on mentors and colleagues to help him make the transition. “Experienced teachers and coaches poured into me,” he said. “I received invaluable feedback and encouragement from people like James Cheatham and Jenelle Crismas. I wouldn’t have made it without them.”
Outside the classroom, Roth loves to travel—often with students on educational tours. This past March, he took 35 OBA students to Italy. When he’s not traveling for work, he’s traveling with family, chasing two shared goals: visiting every Major League ballpark (12 to go!) and supporting his daughter as she runs marathons in all 50 states.
Randy and his wife Beth—whom he credits for her endless patience and support—have three children: Resse, a firefighter in Enid; a daughter living in Northwest Arkansas; and Russell, a sophomore at OBA. For Roth, teaching is more than a job—it’s a blessing and a mission.
