Colorado names 2024 Trainer of the Yr

Rising up, Jessica Might noticed her mom nurture many foster kids over time — 189 to be precise. 

“I bought to see her be a mom and a voice for individuals who didn’t have a voice,” she stated. 

Might sought to proceed that legacy by elevating her personal voice on behalf of youngsters as a instructor on the entrance of the classroom. 

“That is my means of doing it,” she stated on Friday afternoon after being named Colorado’s 2024 Trainer of the Yr in a ceremony at Turner Center Faculty in Berthoud. 

After speeches within the gymnasium by state and district officers and the promise of an ice cream celebration for the college, a beaming Might headed towards the bleachers the place she was deluged by college students providing congratulatory hugs. 

The household and client science instructor was one among seven finalists for the award, which is given yearly by the Colorado Division of Schooling and different sponsors. She’ll spend the subsequent yr serving as an envoy of types for the state’s lecturers and can be a part of the training commissioner’s Trainer Cupboard, a state advisory panel of educators. She’ll additionally signify Colorado within the Nationwide Trainer of the Yr competitors, go to the White Home, and take part in NASA house camp. 

Might, who final yr taught at Conrad Ball Center Faculty in Loveland, is in her twenty first yr instructing middle-schoolers within the Thompson college district. It’s an age group she appreciates. They nonetheless like hugs, need stickers, and luxuriate in taking part in Tornado, however they’re additionally discovering their method to the subsequent stage of life, she stated.

“Center college is exclusive as a result of they’re caught between being elementary little children and younger adults in highschool,” she stated. “And I’m attempting to assist them discover their voice.”

Might, who has 4 kids of her personal, additionally helps college students with life expertise that run the gamut from cooking and couponing to private finance and relationships. 

“All the things that I do, if I can’t hook it to actual world relevance, I don’t train it,” she stated. 

Take her rice child task, for instance. College students find out about youngster improvement (and the challenges of parenting) by utilizing panty hose, 5 kilos of rice, and a styrofoam head to manufacture a “child” that can go all over the place with them for 2 weeks. 

Along with imparting real-life classes on college students, a number of audio system at Friday’s awards ceremony famous Might’s enthusiasm and her capacity to attach with children. 

“You’re emblematic of excellence right here in our faculty district,” Thompson Superintendent Marc Shaffer instructed Might. “I couldn’t be extra happy with you.” 

Throughout a brief speech, Might, who grew up within the northern Colorado district, described herself as “feisty” and pledged to battle for lecturers’ wants in her position as instructor of the yr. She additionally instructed college students she liked them. 

“You give us the best job on the planet,” she stated. “Life will not be about cash. It’s about going to your ardour and realizing it in each a part of your physique.”

Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat, masking early childhood points and early literacy. Contact Ann at aschimke@chalkbeat.org.