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.
2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year
Margaret "Meg" Cypress is a fifth-grade teacher at Bradley International School in Denver Public Schools and was named the 2019 Teacher of the Year in October 2018. In this video, Meg shares about her teaching style, in which she uses a project-based learning style. Meg also explains how the process of applying for the Teacher of the Year award provided her insight into why she loves to teach.
Nominations
Do you know an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled K-12 teacher? Nominate them to apply for the 2020 Colorado Teacher of the Year award!
Now Accepting 2020 Colorado Teacher of the Year Applications
Applications for this honor will be due no later than 11:59 pm, on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.
For information on program background, guidelines and duties of the Colorado Teacher of the Year, please view the document below.
- 2020 Colorado Teacher of the Year Program Information and Application Requirements (DOC)
- Blank 2020 Colorado Teacher of the Year Application (DOC)
2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year
Meg Cypress, a fifth-grade teacher from Bradley International School in Denver Public Schools (DPS), was named the 2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year during a surprise assembly at her school on October 30, 2018. Ms. Cypress was selected for the honor based on her energy and for her exceptional ability to inspire and excite students, parents, other teachers, administrators.
At Bradley since 2003, Ms. Cypress started as a reading specialist as the school faced the possibility of closure. Cypress worked with the staff to bring the International Baccalaureate Program’s Primary Years Programme to Bradley to keep it open for the surrounding neighborhood. Since then the school has become a high-performing school with a waitlist.
Ms. Cypress has built connections with the community, organizing family events such as Math Night, the Cardboard Challenge and the Annual Bradley Science Fair. In addition, she started a summer camp at Bradley with more than 150 students and was assistant volleyball coach for Thomas Jefferson High School. She is a Colorado native who received her bachelor of arts from the University of Northern Colorado. She has previously received the 9News Teachers Who Care Award and was nominated for the Denver Public Schools’ LAMP Leadership award by her colleagues at Bradley.
As the 2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year, Ms. Cypress is participating in many professional development opportunities through the National Teacher of the Year program and will attend a ceremony at the White House. Over the summer, she will attend the Honeywell Educators at Space Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in January 2020.
2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year Award Partners
Teacher of the Year Archives
Recent Teachers of the Year
- Christina Randle, 2018 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Sean Wybrant, 2017 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Leticia Ingram, 2016 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Kathy Thirkell, 2015 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Elizabeth Miner, 2014 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Amanda Westenberg, 2013 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Kristin Donley, 2012 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Michele Pearson, 2011 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Justin Darnell, 2010 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Susan Elliott, 2009 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Seth Berg, 2008 Colorado Teacher of the Year
- Susan Ryder, 2007 Colorado Teacher of the Year
Veteran Teachers of the Year
Colorado Council of the Network of State Teachers of the Year
The Colorado Council of the Network of State Teachers of the Year (NSTOY) is an organization committed to the preservation and enhancement of the Colorado Teacher of the Year Program. The Council works with the Colorado State Department of Education and other corporate and organizational partners to celebrate teaching excellence through the recognition of educators who have inspired a love for learning in their students, and who have distinguished themselves in the profession. All Colorado State Teachers of the Year, as well as each year’s finalists, are invited to participate. For more information for upcoming meetings, as well as how to join, please visit the Colorado Council's website.
Contact Us
For more information on this program, please contact:
Kim Burnham
Competitive Grants and Awards
(303) 866-6916
Burnham_K@cde.state.co.us
