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| 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 |
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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.” |
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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." |
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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." |
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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." |
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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." |
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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." |
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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." |