Liz Fitzgerald, a first-grade teacher at Mesa View Elementary in Mesa County Valley School District 51, has been named one of eight finalists for Colorado’s 2026 Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made during a surprise event attended by Sherri Wright, Colorado State Board of Education member; Tiffany Anderson, Vice President of Grants & Programs at the Boettcher Foundation; Emma Garrett-Nelson, Chief Communications Officer for the Colorado Department of Education; Andrea Haitz, Mesa County Valley School Board President; Brian Hill, Superintendent of Mesa County Valley School District 51; and Stacey Cohen, Principal of Mesa View Elementary.
Eight finalists were chosen from a pool of 22 semifinalists announced in June 2025. This year saw 419 applicants representing 109 districts across the state, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s applicant numbers.
Each finalist received $1,500 from both the Colorado Department of Education and the Boettcher Foundation. Additionally, each finalist’s school was awarded $500 from the Boettcher Foundation.
“The Teacher of the Year finalists showcase the very best of Colorado’s teaching profession,” said Anderson of the Boettcher Foundation. “We are grateful to help elevate their voices and shine a light on the remarkable role educators play in our communities.”
The winner for Colorado Teacher of the Year will be announced in October.
