Colorado Teacher of the Year

Each year, the Colorado Teacher of the Year Program honors an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled K-12 classroom teacher to represent the entire profession in the state. The selected teacher will automatically become Colorado's nominee for the National Teacher of the Year competition. The national program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. Visit the National Teacher of the Year program webpage for more information.

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Hilary Wimmer, a business teacher at Mountain Range High School in Adams 12 Five Star Schools, was named Colorado's 2020 Teacher of the Year in a surprise ceremony at the high school today.

"I'm honored to present this award to Hilary Wimmer, who inspires a culture of learning in her students that lasts long after graduation," said Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes. "Mrs. Wimmer is a bridge builder, a connector and a perfect representative of the kind of passionate and dedicated teachers who work tirelessly every day in Colorado. Mrs. Wimmer has helped students become financially literate, upstanding civic leaders and successful in their life's decisions. We are all fortunate to have her as a teacher in our state."

As Teacher of the Year, Wimmer will represent the entire profession in Colorado and be the public face of Colorado's teachers. She will be entered as Colorado's nominee for the National Teacher of the Year Program competition and will receive many professional development opportunities. Wimmer along with the country's other teachers of the year will be honored at a special ceremony at the White House. Over the summer, Wimmer will get the opportunity to go to NASA's Space Camp for a week. She will also become a member of the Colorado Education Commissioner's Teacher Cabinet.

Wimmer began teaching business in 2004 and was part of the inaugural staff at Mountain Range High School in Westminster in 2006. She leads the largest DECA program in Colorado, and in 2016 she was recognized as the Colorado DECA Advisor of the Year. Wimmer serves as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department chair and business program coordinator for Mountain Range High School and as the CTE content coordinator for the district.