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 the 2026 Colorado Teacher of the Year award. The announcement was made during a surprise event attended by several education officials, including Sherri Wright from the Colorado State Board of Education, Tiffany Anderson from the Boettcher Foundation, Emma Garrett-Nelson from the Colorado Department of Education, Andrea Haitz from the Mesa County Valley School Board, Brian Hill, superintendent of District 51, and Stacey Cohen, principal of Mesa View Elementary.
The selection process saw eight finalists chosen from a pool of 22 semifinalists announced in June 2025. This year’s competition attracted 419 applicants representing 109 districts across Colorado. According to organizers, this marks a significant increase—a 375% rise compared to last year’s applicant numbers.
This announcement marks the seventh finalist revealed so far; an eighth finalist is expected to be named next week. The overall winner for the 2026 Colorado Teacher of the Year will be announced in October.
Each finalist receives $1,500 provided jointly by the Colorado Department of Education and the Boettcher Foundation. Additionally, each finalist’s school is 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.”
Fitzgerald joins other educators being recognized for their contributions to teaching and education within Colorado.
