2012 Colorado Teacher of the Year Finalists
Mary Billings
Teacher, United States History, Grade
8
Franklin Middle School
Weld County School District 6
Billings has taught US History at Franklin Middle School for 2 years. Previously, she taught Literacy and writing at Franklin, and has worked as a Teacher On Special Assignment and as an Assistant Principal. Billings is very involved in the Greeley community and works to provide professional development through collaboration with other teachers, as well as student teachers. Billings uses many group activities to engage students in critical thinking by making class activities relevant to their daily lives.

Kristin Donley
Teacher, Science, grades 9-12
Monarch High School
Boulder Valley School District
Donley has taught physical science, chemistry and biology at Monarch High School for 10 years. She established and coordinated a district science research seminar to create a peer science mentorship program for elementary and middle school students. As the district curriculum coordinator, Donley offered free professional development opportunities. She believes that knowledge is gained mostly by empirical means (use of senses to investigate and acquire data) and that the scientific method is one of the best approaches to problem solving. Donley offers these techniques in her classroom to inspire her students to have a passion for learning.
Andrew
“Drew” Giles
Teacher, Kindergarten
Monaco Elementary School
Adams County School District 14
Giles has taught Kindergarten at Monaco Elementary School for 3 years. Previously, he was an ELA-S Kindergarten teacher at Goldrick Elementary school, and an ESL preschool teacher in South Korea. Giles has collaborated to provide professional development at both a building and district level. He believes in using individualized teaching strategies to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students by teaching students excellence and independence. Giles also believes in forming strong ties with parents and the community will help to ensure student success throughout their education.
Recent Teachers of the Year
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Michele Pearson, 2011 Colorado Teacher of the Year
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Justin Darnell, 2010 Colorado Teacher of the Year
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Susan Elliott, 2009 Colorado Teacher of the Year
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Seth Berg, 2008 Colorado Teacher of the Year
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Susan Ryder, 2007 Colorado Teacher of the Year
Veteran Teachers of the Year
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To view a list of Colorado’s Teachers of the Year from 1963 to present, click here.
Contact
Lynn Bamberry
Colorado Teacher of the Year Program
Colorado Department of Education
1560 Broadway, Suite 1450
Denver, CO 80202-5149
Phone: (303) 866-6813
