Colorado Department of Education

2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year Meg Cypress encourages every teacher to apply for Teacher of the Year. Meg was a fifth-grade teacher at Bradley International School in Denver Public Schools when she won the award but now supports students at Place Bridge Academy. Hear Meg's words of wisdom and apply for to be the 2026 Colorado Teacher of the Year today! cdeinfo.org/2026CTOY

Morgan County School District Re-3 is tackling chronic absenteeism with heart and creativity! Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova spoke recently with Fort Morgan Superintendent Rob Sanders and Assistant Superintendent Rena Frasco about how the district is all in on ensuring every student shows up and succeeds. From catchy slogans like “Rise, Shine, Be on Time” at Green Acres Elementary to providing truancy committee hearings as an alternative to court, Fort Morgan is proving that attendance = success.

This week, students across Colorado explored career pathways with insights from professionals in various fields: ?? Students at Gilcrest Elementary in Weld County School District RE-1 celebrated Career Day with farmers, marines, videographers and more; ?? Industry professionals like occupational therapists, police officers and nurses conducted hands-on activities to give students at Carmody Middle School in Jeffco Public Schools - Colorado a look at what their jobs are really like; ?? Rhonda Tahtum from First Bank gave a career talk to students at Berry Creek Middle School in Eagle County School District to talk about jobs in banking and personal finance; and ?? Astronaut Lt. Col. Duane "Digger" Carey, who piloted Space Shuttle Columbia on NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's STS-109 mission in 2002 spoke to students at Heaton Middle School in Pueblo 60 about working for NASA and the importance of careers in STEM.

Harrison D2 is cooking up something special during National Nutrition Month! Thanks to a partnership with Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado and Pikes Peak United Way, D2 is keeping educators healthy with a new cooking class that helps teachers plan and prepare healthy, affordable meals for the work week. Beyond the recipes, the staff say they're gaining life skills, confidence, and a strong sense of community.

It's Family Engagement Friday, and we're highlighting how Malley Drive Elementary in Adams 12 Five Star Schools is turning math into a family affair with Malley Math Madness! Recognizing that math can be tricky for both students and parents, this event brings families together to play board games that teach real math skills in a fun, hands-on way! From preschoolers to 5th graders, games like Battleship help develop everything from spatial reasoning to pattern recognition, to show that math is relevant to every day life. With support from our Transformation Network, Malley Drive is making math learning visible, engaging, and fun!

?? 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year and Delta High School educator, Janet Damon, is a National Teacher of the Year finalist! All of DPS is wishing her luck as we wait for the big announcement on who will take home the national title.?? Fingers crossed! ???? #Denver #TeacherOfTheYear Dr. Alex Marrero Colorado Department of Education

For What's Up Wednesday, we're highlighting the STEAD School in School District 27J where students aren’t just hitting the books—they’re cooking up delicious meals! Each morning, the Food Crew gets to work preparing lunch from scratch, learning everything from knife skills to food safety. When we visited them in January, they served up homemade hamburgers with whole wheat buns and roasted potato wedges. No pre-packaged meals here! These future chefs are also logging temperatures, mixing sanitizer solutions, and ensuring top-notch food safety—skills that align with industry standards. These hands-on experiences are preparing them for real-world restaurant jobs and setting them up for success in college, careers, and life.

Excited to share about the UNC K-12 Educator Employment Days career fair! With 75+ schools and districts involved, discover teaching roles in Colorado and beyond. Information on licensing pathways will be provided by CDE's Educator Career Navigation team. Don't miss this incredible opportunity! #EducationCareerFair #TeachingOpportunities Feel free to share with those interested in pursuing a career in education. Dra. Margarita Tovar Rosales Jennifer O'Brien Colorado Department of Education Colorado League of Charter Schools Derrick Martin Travis Garoutte Sharlene Chiappetti Amy Oliver University of Northern Colorado Robert W. Fulton, PhD Kate Hudnut Teach.org

It could be you! Teachers, it's time to apply to be the next Colorado Teacher of the Year. Applications are due by April 23. Click here to start yours today: cdeinfo.org/2026CTOY

We're Hiring an Educator Content Competency Consultant! Are you passionate about shaping the future of education in Colorado? Join our Educator Preparation team as an Educator Content Competency Consultant and play a key role in ensuring our licensed educators meet the highest standards of content competency. In this role, you’ll: ? Review content competency submissions for aspiring educators ? Collaborate with educator preparation programs to provide guidance and resources ? Support candidates through meetings, calls, and emails ? Develop a data collection and reporting system to track candidate success Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gBi_DwPS