News Release - Colorado Department of Education announces 21 semifinalists for 2027 Colorado Teacher of the Year

June 3, 2026

DENVER – Today, the Colorado Department of Education announced its semifinalists for 2027 Colorado Teacher of the Year. The department’s 21 semifinalists represent 21 schools from 18 Colorado school districts and one charter school. This group of semifinalists has at least one candidate from every region in Colorado.

The 21 semifinalists were selected from a pool of 297 Teacher of the Year applicants from 76 school districts. The semifinalist selection process included a review committee of more than 40 people, including previous Colorado Teacher of the Year winners, Colorado Department of Education staff, and representatives from the Boettcher Foundation, the lead sponsor of the Colorado Teacher of the Year program. 

“We are fortunate to have such talented and dedicated educators serving students across Colorado,” said Education Commissioner Susana Córdova. “These semifinalists reflect the passion, creativity and commitment that define our profession, and we are excited to celebrate the impact they are making in schools and communities throughout the state.”

The semifinalists are:

• Alexander Adkisson from Green Mountain High School in Jefferson County Public Schools
• Christina Merci Ames from Strasburg High School in Strasburg 31J
• Ilka Andino from Wilson Elementary School in Colorado Springs School District 11
• Shandra Botello from Merrill Middle School in Denver Public Schools
• Jason Cochrane from Mountain Vista High School in Douglas County School District
• Melissa Corwin from Summit High School in Summit School District
• Nicole Cox from Ann K. Heiman Elementary School in Greeley-Evans School District 6
• Emma DeHerrera from Monte Vista High School in Monte Vista School District C-8
• Devin DuPree from Eagle Valley High School in Eagle County School District Re-50J
• McLayne Hager from Briggsdale School in Briggsdale School District RE-10
• Robin Leonard from Fletcher Miller School in Jefferson County Public Schools
• Lissa Lycan from Montezuma-Cortez Middle School in Montezuma-Cortez School District
• Viviana Martinez from Vista Peak Preparatory High School in Aurora Public Schools
• Sarah Murtaugh from Gunnison Elementary School in Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J
• Kedibona Ochs from Northfield High School in Denver Public Schools
• Samantha Radtke from Summit Elementary School in Woodland Park School District RE-2
• Jessie Russett from Trinidad Middle School in Trinidad School District 1
• Arjun Sahdev from Minnequa Elementary School in Pueblo School District 60
• Brian Sleevi from Bayfield High School in Bayfield School District
• Zebulen Vargas from Carmel Community School in Harrison School District 2
• Melanie Walker from North Routt Community Charter School

Learn more about the semifinalists.

The semifinalists will move on to the second part of the application process, which includes additional essay questions. The Colorado Department of Education will announce its finalists for 2027 Teacher of the Year in September and name a winner in October. 

“These semifinalists represent the creativity, commitment, and heart that educators bring to their students and school communities every day,” said Boettcher Foundation Vice President of Grants and Programs Tiffany Anderson. “We’re proud to support a program that recognizes outstanding teachers across Colorado and celebrates the lasting impact they make in classrooms throughout the state.”

Colorado’s 2027 Teacher of the Year represents the state’s 55,000+ educators at the state and national levels and will become Colorado’s nominee for the Council of Chief State School Officers’ National Teacher of the Year Program, be honored at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., and receive $10,000 courtesy of the Boettcher Foundation and the Colorado Department of Education. The Colorado Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Boettcher Foundation and supported by partnerships with the Colorado Education Association, Adams State University, and Blue Bell Ice Cream.

3 de junio de 2025

Comunicado de prensa: El Departamento de Educación de Colorado anuncia a los 21 semifinalistas para Maestro/a del Año de Colorado 2027

DENVER – Hoy, el Departamento de Educación de Colorado anunció a los semifinalistas para Maestro/a del Año de Colorado 2027. Los 21 semifinalistas del departamento representan a 21 escuelas de 18 distritos escolares de Colorado y una escuela chárter. Este grupo de semifinalistas incluye al menos un candidato de cada región de Colorado.

Los 21 semifinalistas fueron seleccionados entre 297 candidatos al reconocimiento Maestro/a del Año de 76 distritos escolares. El proceso de selección incluyó la revisión de un comité compuesto por más de 40 personas, entre ellas ganadores anteriores de Maestro/a del Año de Colorado, personal del Departamento de Educación de Colorado y representantes de la Boettcher Foundation, patrocinador principal del programa Maestro/a del Año de Colorado.

“Tenemos la fortuna de contar con educadores tan talentosos y dedicados al servicio de estudiantes en todo Colorado”, dijo la comisionada de Educación de Colorado, Susana Córdova. “Estos semifinalistas reflejan la pasión, la creatividad y el compromiso que definen nuestra profesión, y nos entusiasma reconocer el impacto que están generando en escuelas y comunidades de todo el estado”.

Los semifinalistas son:

• Alexander Adkisson de Green Mountain High School en Jefferson County Public Schools
• Christina Merci Ames de Strasburg High School en Strasburg 31J
• Ilka Andino de Wilson Elementary School en Colorado Springs School District 11
• Shandra Botello de Merrill Middle School en Denver Public Schools
• Jason Cochrane de Mountain Vista High School en Douglas County School District
• Melissa Corwin de Summit High School en Summit School District
• Nicole Cox de Ann K. Heiman Elementary School en Greeley-Evans School District 6
• Emma DeHerrera de Monte Vista High School en Monte Vista School District C-8
• Devin DuPree de Eagle Valley High School en Eagle County School District Re-50J
• McLayne Hager de Briggsdale School en Briggsdale School District RE-10
• Robin Leonard de Fletcher Miller School en Jefferson County Public Schools
• Lissa Lycan de Montezuma-Cortez Middle School en Montezuma-Cortez School District
• Viviana Martinez de Vista Peak Preparatory High School en Aurora Public Schools
• Sarah Murtaugh de Gunnison Elementary School en Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J
• Kedibona Ochs de Northfield High School en Denver Public Schools
• Samantha Radtke de Summit Elementary School en Woodland Park School District RE-2
• Jessie Russett de Trinidad Middle School en Trinidad School District 1
• Arjun Sahdev de Minnequa Elementary School en Pueblo School District 60
• Brian Sleevi de Bayfield High School en Bayfield School District
• Zebulen Vargas de Carmel Community School en Harrison School District 2
• Melanie Walker de North Routt Community Charter School

Obtenga más información sobre los semifinalistas en la página web del departamento.

Los semifinalistas avanzarán a la segunda parte del proceso de solicitud, que incluye preguntas adicionales de ensayo. El Departamento de Educación de Colorado anunciará a los finalistas para Maestro/a del Año 2027 en septiembre y nombrará al ganador en octubre. 

“Estos semifinalistas representan la creatividad, el compromiso y la dedicación que los educadores aportan cada día a sus estudiantes y comunidades escolares”, dijo Tiffany Anderson, vicepresidenta de Subvenciones y Programas de la Boettcher Foundation. “Nos enorgullece apoyar un programa que reconoce a docentes destacados de todo Colorado y celebra el impacto duradero que generan en las aulas de todo el estado”.

El Maestro/a del Año de Colorado 2027 representará a los más de 55,000 educadores del estado a nivel estatal y nacional, y será el nominado de Colorado para el programa National Teacher of the Year del Council of Chief State School Officers, será reconocido en una ceremonia especial en Washington, D.C., y recibirá $10,000 cortesía de la Boettcher Foundation y el Departamento de Educación de Colorado. El programa Maestro/a del Año de Colorado es patrocinado por la Boettcher Foundation y cuenta con el apoyo de asociaciones con la Colorado Education Association, Adams State University y Blue Bell Ice Cream.