LOUISVILLE – At a special assembly held this morning (10/28) at Monarch High School in Louisville, CO, Kristin Donley, a science teacher, was surprised with the announcement that she had been chosen by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) as the “2012 Colorado Teacher of the Year.” In front of more than 1,500 students applauding and cheering for her and their school, Ms. Donley stated that this honor was deserved by the entire school after Colorado Commissioner of Education Robert Hammond presented her with the award and invited her to speak.

A teacher in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), Ms. Donley has, according to the CDE website, taught physical science, chemistry and biology at Monarch High School for 10 years. She established and coordinated a district science research seminar to create a peer science mentorship program for elementary and middle school students. As the district curriculum coordinator, Ms. Donley offered free professional development opportunities. She believes that knowledge is gained mostly by empirical means (use of senses to investigate and acquire data) and that the scientific method is one of the best approaches to problem solving. Ms. Donley offers these techniques in her classroom to inspire her students to have a passion for learning.

In receiving this award, Ms. Donley was recognized by U.S. Representative Jared Polis, Commissioner Hammond, the Colorado Legacy Foundation, the Colorado Education Association (CEA), the Masons of Colorado, Smart Technologies, Bluebell Ice Cream, Adams State College, Monarch High Principal Jerry Lee Anderson, Monarch students Rebecca Richmond and Michael Capitelli, and BVSD Superintendent Bruce Messinger.

 Read the Colorado Department of Education's news release about this award.