Colorado gets a new teacher of the year

Elizabeth Miner, a physical education teacher at Fitzsimmons Middle School in Bailey, has been named 2014 Colorado Teacher of the Year.

Miner has taught at the school for seven years. She was surprised with the announcement during a school assembly Monday afternoon.

The program honors one teacher each year to represent the teaching profession in the state. The honoree becomes the Colorado nominee for national teacher of the year and is a “teaching ambassador” to communities and organizations around the state.

Finalists for teacher of the year are selected based on written applications, letters of recommendation, classroom video clips, endorsements from the districts and personal interviews. This year’s other finalists were Melisa Maes-Johnson of Heaton Middle School in Pueblo and Susan Tipton of Bricker Elementary School in the Harrison district.

Get more information in this Department of Education news release.