For the second year in a row, a UNC Alumna has been selected as the Colorado Teacher of the Year.
Margaret 鈥淢eg鈥 Cypress, BS 鈥02, a fifth-grade teacher from Bradley International School in Denver has been awarded the top honor.
鈥淚t is my honor to give this prestigious award to such an exemplary teacher who inspires not only her students but adults in her school community,鈥 says Colorado Commissioner Katy Anthes. 鈥淢eg Cypress鈥 love for teaching and helping children grow makes her the perfect ambassador for Colorado teachers. As Colorado continues to look for ways to recruit and retain more teachers, Meg is exactly the type of spark we need to inspire and motivate bright people to enter the profession.鈥
As Teacher of the Year, Cypress will represent the entire profession in Colorado. She will be entered as Colorado鈥檚 nominee for the National Teacher of the Year Program competition and have the chance to participate in many unique professional development opportunities.
The President of the United States will honor Cypress along with the country鈥檚 other teachers of the year at a special ceremony at the White House. Over the summer, Cypress will get the opportunity to go to NASA鈥檚 Space Camp for a week. She will also become a member of the Colorado Department of Education鈥檚 Commissioner鈥檚 Teacher Cabinet.
鈥淲e are thrilled that Meg Cypress has received this well-deserved honor. Meg鈥檚 accomplishments are
deeply impressive, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of students, both during
and beyond the school day,鈥 DPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Ron Cabrera says. 鈥淢eg
is a tireless, transformational leader and an inspiration to her students and our
community, and we celebrate her extraordinary contributions. Our students鈥 successes
occur because of teachers like Meg. She is a wonderful example of the outstanding,
dedicated educators in DPS.鈥
Among six finalists for the award, Cypress was selected for her influence, energy
and knack for making connections with children at all academic levels. Cypress has
an exceptional ability to inspire and excite students, parents, other teachers, administrators
and 鈥渁nyone who comes into her orbit,鈥 her principal Stephen Wera says.
At Bradley since 2003, Cypress started as a reading specialist as the school faced
the possibility of being closed. Cypress worked with the staff to bring the International
Baccalaureate Program鈥檚 Primary Years Programme to Bradley to keep it open for the
surrounding neighborhood. Since then the school has become a high-performing school
with a waitlist.
For her part, Cypress has built connections with the community, organizing family
events such as Math Night, the Cardboard Challenge and the Annual Bradley Science
Fair. In addition, she started a summer camp at Bradley with more than 150 students
and was assistant volleyball coach for Thomas Jefferson High School. Cypress has previously
received the 9News Teachers Who Care Award and was a Mile High Teacher for Denver
Public Schools in 2007.
UNC Alumna Christina Randle, BA 鈥03, a first-grade teacher at Soaring Eagles Elementary School in Harrison School District No. 2, was named the 2018 Colorado Teacher of the year at her school on Oct. 27, 2017. Selected for the honor based on her passion for teaching and dedication to the craft, Ms. Randle also values collaboration with her peers and is committed to engaging parents in their students鈥 learning.
Read More about Randle and other UNC Alumni who have also received the Colorado Teacher of the Year Award.