Teacher of the Year Program

The Montrose Education Foundation, Inc., Teacher of the Year program recognizes certificated personnel for the significant contributions they make to their school and to the school district.  The program honors one representative as Montrose County School District RE-1J Teacher of the Year. 

The nominees are individuals who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in the performance of their jobs thereby earning the respect and admiration of students, teachers, administrators, co-workers, parents, and the community.   Nominated teachers are encouraged to become a candidate for Teacher of the Year by completing an application that asks the nominated teacher to respond to four questions about public education. 

A selection committee comprised of community members, retired teachers, and parents, reviews those applications and selects the Teacher of the Year.

May 6, 2008

The Montrose Education Foundation named Olathe High School social studies teacher, William “Bill” Hamm as the 2008 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Hamm was nominated last fall, and according to that nomination, “Mr. Hamm has provided my son with an excellent example of good leadership.  He instills respect, honor, discipline, knowledge and a love of learning to the students and classroom.” read more

 
Teacher of the Year Recipients 
     

2008 Teacher of the Year

William "Bill" Hamm

Social Studies Teacher at Olathe High School

“It is all about relevancy.  My role as a teacher is to draw a circle from where we start today and either move forward or reverse the process to explain the cause and effect relationship that each decision had on how we arrived at the present.  I think often of an inscription on the sculpture, Titan, “From the past, the man of the present acts prudently so as not to imperil the future.”

2007 Teacher of the Year

JOHN KING

1st Grade Teacher

Johnson Elementary

Pictured (l-r):

Ann Braaten, Principal

John King

Dale Davidson, Foundation Board Member

"Individuals enter the teaching profession for a multitude of reasons.  I changed careers in my mid-thirties because I felt that teaching was one of the most creative professiona imaginable.  It was a way to positively shape a young mind, model a true love of learning and to know and value each child as an individual."

2006 Teacher of the Year

JEFFRA WALTERS

5th Grade Teacher

Northside Elementary

Pictured (l-r):

Bonnie Grigg, Principal

Jeffra Walters

Dick Baker, Foundation Board Member

"The message I would like to communicate to teachers and the community would be the pride I feel in being a part of the teaching profession and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by colleagues who perform with such a sense of dedication."

2005 Teacher of the Year

KATHY BOWMAN

3rd Grade Teacher

Pomona Elementary

The rewards of teaching:

"Being able to actually see the "light bulb" go on when a child first learns to read reinforces my passion for teaching.  Former students visit me to share their successes in middle school and high school, and to thank me for being a teacher who believed in them."

2004 Teacher of the Year

KATHY HEAVERS

Senior Seminar & English

Montrose High School

"I believe in hands-on, real world, standards-based learning where students are actively involved and see the relevancy.  As an educator I strive to help students master the skills they need to be successful, and I relate what they are learning to real life."

2003 Teacher of the Year

RUSS SULLIVAN

Mathematics Teacher

Olathe High School

"I see patience as part of my philosophy of teaching as well as a strength.  I truly care about my students and how they are doing in my classes."

2002 Teacher of the Year

BRUCE GRIGSBY

English & Humanities

Montrose High School

"If I have been successful as a teacher, I think it has been in large measure because I value thinking about things more highly than the accumulation of information."