2019 Teacher of the Year Recipients press release
2019 Teacher of the Year Recipients
For Immediate Release: March 28, 2019
Contact: Deann Balash
deann.balash@mcsd.org
970.240.6431
RE: 2019 Teacher of the Year Recipients
The Montrose Education Foundation, Inc. hosted a breakfast for the Teacher of the Year candidates on March 28, 2019. The Montrose Education Foundation Teacher of the Year Program recognizes licensed classroom teachers for the significant contributions they make to their schools, district and their community. Nominations are submitted by parents, students, colleagues or community members and are accepted in October through mid-November.
Fifty-nine teachers were nominated and were introduced during the American Education Week Reception which was held on November 13, 2018. Eighteen outstanding educators completed the Candidate Essay Questionnaire, which is based on the Colorado Teacher of the Year Standards and were eligible for consideration. The 3 level recipients; Elementary, Middle & High School Teachers were awarded a $500 check by Alpine Bank to use in their classrooms. They are also eligible to apply for the Montrose Education Foundation $10,000 Impact Award.
Congratulations to the following recipients. Quotes from their application answering ‘what they believe makes them an outstanding teacher:’
Elementary School Recipient – Christina Kohout – Northside Elementary – 5th Grade Teacher
“My personal belief is that every student, no matter what their barriers, can and will learn if given the right circumstances. As a teacher, I believe that I get out of teaching exactly what I put in. This is my philosophy for my life in general, but certainly applies to education. To be an outstanding teacher, I think is something that I am always striving for. I feel that as if I can wake up one morning and say, “I am now an outstanding teacher,” than that is the day that I may have just lost my curiosity for learning.”
Middle School Recipient – Shay Freeburg – Columbine Middle – Language Arts Teacher
“I am an outstanding teacher because I am cool. Ok, I try to be cool. Actually, I am probably not cool at all. I love show tunes, Bob’s Burger, regularly talk about the time continuum and story lines of the Avengers and X Men and drone on about Harry Potter for hours. I take my affliction of following pop culture and connect with my kids. I try to make relationships. The great teachers that I look up to agree that one of their driving beliefs and aspirations is that they want, not have to, but WANT to make connections with their students.”
High School Recipient – Rusty George – Montrose High – Science Teacher
“My teaching philosophy is built around a love of learning and a strong passion for science education. There are many discrete factors that must all be melded together in a never-ending quest for lessons that reveal mastery in teaching and maximize student learning. Each student enters your room with their own learning style, strengths and limitations, so each student must be seen as an individual with a different set of expectations to maximize each student’s growth.”
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Fill out your 2019 Nomination Packet and make sure to turn it in by the deadline November 6, 2018.
The Montrose Education Foundation, Inc. hosted a breakfast for the Teacher of the Year candidates on March 20, 2018.
Sixty-fours teachers were nominated and were introduced during the American Education Week Reception which was held on November 16, 2017. Twenty-two outstanding educators completed the Candidate Essay Questionnaire, which is based on the Colorado Teacher of the Year Standards and were eligible for consideration. The 3 level recipients; Elementary, Middle & High School Teachers were awarded a $500 check by Alpine Bank to use in their classrooms. They are also eligible to apply for the Montrose Education Foundation $10,000 Impact Award.
Congratulations to the following recipients. Quotes from their application of what they believe makes them an outstanding teacher:
Elementary School Recipient – Melissa Good – Oak Grove Elementary – 5th Grade Teacher
“I teach the whole child, I invest in them and their future. I believe that an outstanding teacher works well with everyone. I pride myself in the fact that I have fabulous relationships with my students and their families; this helps my students grow so much more than they would without the home support. My students become an active part of their education and this shows in the growth they make each year.”
Middle School Recipient – Jamie Gann – Centennial Middle – 8th Grade Writing Teacher
“Unabashed enthusiasm. For their subject, their students, their life. A sincere excitement that is expressed as equally between the processes of learning, as it is in the resulting knowledge. Honesty makes the enthusiasm credible and sincere. Which is important because students learn more from a teacher they can trust. I strive to inhabit the qualities I’ve described above. When a student writes something that takes my breath away, I tell them.”
High School Recipient – Jeffrey Mitchell – Olathe High – English Teacher
“What makes me stand out from other teachers is my relentless commitment to make sure students understand WHY IT’S IMPORTANT we are learning particular topics and skills. If labor predictors are right—many jobs my kids will have in the future are not even created yet. Therefore, to get them ready for life—I teach them HOW to learn. When my students can stand independently, I know that I have achieved remarkable success.”
Auditions are January 20, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Bridges Golf Course Community. All ages and talents are welcome to apply.
Please complete the application below and submit by January 18, 2018 (deadline) to: educationfoundationmontrose@gmail.com or hand deliver: MEDC, 1601 Oxbow Drive, Suite 360B, Montrose.
Grand Prize Winner receives $1,000!
Tickets are available at BrownPaperTickets.com, so come and support your favorite talent!!
Brian Simpson’s project “Engineering Design & Development Course” won the Montrose Education Foundation’s 2017 Impact Award. Brian was excited to receive the award and said, “The $10,000 will make a difference before third graders leave elementary and continue their journey to the high school! These dollars give the opportunity to take junior and senior engineering students into every third grade classroom to inspire and empower them in their education. Our vision is to work in small groups allowing them to witness firsthand the problems we solve, software, 3D printing, manufacturing, etc. Every student will receive a 3D printed item and a colored dog tag with their name and graduation year engraved on it. This is a dream come true and made possible through the Montrose Education Foundation.”
Don’t wait! Fill out your 2018 Nomination Packet and make sure to turn it in by the deadline November 6, 2018.
(L-R: John Steele, David Perfors, Tracy Reinhard)
The Montrose Education Foundation, Inc. hosted a breakfast for the Teacher of the Year candidates on March 21, 2017. Sixty-one teachers were nominated this year and were introduced during the American Education Week Reception which was held on November 17, 2016. Eighteen outstanding educators completed the Candidate Essay Questionnaire, which is based on the Colorado Teacher of the Year Standards and were eligible for consideration. The 3 level recipients; Elementary, Middle & High School Teachers were awarded a $500 check by Alpine Bank to use in their classrooms. They are also eligible to apply for the Montrose Education Foundation $10,000 Impact Award.
Congratulations to the following recipients:
Elementary – Tracy Reinhard – Johnson Elementary – K-5 Music Teacher
“Through experiences of making music, students exercise and refine important thought processes that empower them to be good problem solvers, abstract thinkers and thoughtful decision makers.” -Quote from Mrs. Reinhard.
“Tracy is thorough and mindful in teaching and provides a wide range of activities which students seem to appreciate and thrive on.” -Excerpt from nomination form from a colleague.
Middle – David Perfors – Columbine Middle – Technology Coach
“It really boils down to 3 things; 1, you must believe that all kids can learn. 2, you must be willing to work as hard or harder than you expect any of your students to work. And 3, you must be willing to embrace technology.” -Quote from Mr. Perfors.
“Mr. Perfors is Columbine’s Tech Coach and he does an outstanding job working with both teachers and students.”–Excerpt from nomination form from an administrator.
High – John Steele – Montrose High – English / Technology Coach
“It is the responsibility of a teacher to engage students with an adaptable state of mind rather than a ridged one. The curriculum can and should change as the teacher learns from his students by engaging them rigorously and enthusiastically.” -Quote from Mr. Steele.
“Mr. Steele opens the world of academia to our young minds with welcoming and inspirational arms.” -Excerpt from nomination form from students.
The MEF Distinguished Alumni Award is designed to honor Montrose and Olathe High School graduates who exemplify outstanding achievement in their life’s work and/or service to their communities. Click here for a nomination form.
Left to right: Sandy Head, MEF President; Amy McBride, MEF Board; Meghan Waschbusch; Deann Balash, MEF Board; Steve Schiell, MCSD Superintendent
At its American Education Week reception at the Montrose Pavilion on November 17th, the Montrose Education Foundation (MEF) awarded its annual Impact Award and a $10,000 check to the Centennial Creation Center, a permanent lab for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at Centennial Middle School (CtMS) in Montrose.
MEF created the Impact Award in 2011 to support innovative projects that enhance educational opportunities in the Montrose and Olathe School District. Under the Award guidelines, only recipients of the MEF Teacher of the Year award can apply.
The Centennal Creation Center project will convert an unused classroom and several “pods” to create a state-of-the-art STEM lab, and then outfit it with cutting-edge engineering tools and equipment. The new lab will be used as a “Makerspace” facility for engineering and shop students. CtMS has seen engineering class enrollment double in the past year. The project also implements a summer camp geared toward Makerspace ideals, including learning, collaboration, problem solving, and self-expression.
“Montrose Education Foundation is excited to support Centennial Middle School’s efforts to impart skills that will inspire careers in engineering,” said Amy McBride, MEF Impact Award coordinator. “We are investing in the makers of the future.”
(Montrose) At today’s American Education Week reception at the Montrose Pavilion, the Montrose Education Foundation (MEF) awarded its annual Impact Award and...
Teacher of the Year nominees were recognized during the American Education Week reception held at the Montrose Pavilion on 11-13-18.
In 2011, the Montrose Education Foundation created the Impact Award. In its first year, only the 2011 Teacher of the Year Award recipients were eligible to apply. ...
