A Summit High School dual-language teacher with Boettcher accolades is in the running for Colorado Teacher of the Year.
Melissa Corwin is one of only 21 semifinalists for the award. More than 300 teachers applied statewide. She has been teaching at Summit School District for 11 years.
Now comes the hard part. Finalists are announced at the start of the upcoming school year after another round of interviews and in-class observation with the state department of education.
But already the congratulations are flowing on the district Facebook page. Writes one parent, Meghan:
“Congratulations! This is not surprising at all and is well deserved! Your students love you. I can’t even tell you how many times M has quoted things you have taught her in the last few months! You leave a lasting impact and are so good at relating to them. They are so fortunate to have had you!”
Writes another parent, Viktoria, “Congratulations Ms. Corwin! You have always been one of our favorite teachers!”
Corwin is no stranger to distinguished nominations. In 2023 she won the local Teacher of the Year award. She holds a Masters degree in “culturally and linguistically diverse education from Adams State University,” says the district. While at Adams State she was part of the Boettcher Teacher Residency Program, an exclusive teacher-training program now run by the Public Education and Business Coalition in Denver.
In 2024 Summit Middle School’s Ashley Smith was a finalist for teacher of the year. Just seven teachers make it to the final round.