2013 Colorado Teacher of the Year
Amanda Westenberg was named the 2013 Colorado Teacher of the Year by the commissioner of education at an assembly held at Westenberg's school on Oct. 26, 2012. Westenberg is a social studies teacher at Rangeview High School in Aurora Public Schools.
Westenberg was selected for the honor based on her expertise, the
student achievement results she receives from her classroom
instruction, and her ability to inspire students. She says she made
the decision to enter into the field of education hoping to create a
community in which students could feel safe, cared for and
cherished.
Westenberg has been in education for eight years and serves as the
social studies department chair at Rangeview High School. She’s
developed interactive Advanced Placement curriculum and feels her
mission is to enable students to become literate thinkers with the
skills to succeed in th
eir
post-secondary pursuits. Westenberg believes education must be
rigorous, relevant and engaging. She has developed a supportive
classroom community grounded in positive teacher-student
relationships. She feels it is teachers’ obligation to students,
parents, and society to provide the highest quality education.
As
the Colorado Teacher of the Year, Westenberg will have the chance to
participate in many professional development opportunities through
the National Teacher of the Year program and will even get to attend
a ceremony at the White House and go to Space Camp for a week. The
Colorado Legacy Foundation, the program’s chief sponsor, provided
funding for release time to allow Westenberg time to be gone from her school to
attend these events and other speaking engagements. Other program
contributors include: Adams State College, SMART Technologies,
Colorado Free Masons and Blue Bell Ice Cream.
Colorado Commissioner of Education Robert Hammond, along with Rangeview High School students and staff, congratulates Amanda Westenberg for being named Teacher of the Year.
Amanda Westenberg can be reached at:
Rangeview High School
Aurora School District
17599 East Iliff Avenue
Aurora, CO 80013
303-326-4814
Recent Teachers of the Year
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Kristin Donley, 2012 Colorado Teacher of they 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.
Colorado Teacher of the Year Application
Each year, the Colorado Teacher of the Year Program honors an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled teacher to represent the entire profession in Colorado. The Colorado Teacher of the Year will automatically become Colorado's nominee for the National Teacher of the Year competition sponsored by the ING Foundation, Target and the Council of Chief State School Officers.
To access the application and additional program
information for the 2014 Colorado Teacher of the Year, click
here.
For more information on this program, please 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