Trinidad Middle School teacher named semifinalist for Colorado Teacher of Year

A Trinidad Middle School teacher’s classroom work earned statewide recognition as the Colorado Department of Education named 21 semifinalists for the 2027 Colorado Teacher of the Year award, giving Trinidad School District #1 a rare place in one of the state’s top education honors.

The semifinalist group was chosen from 297 applicants across 76 school districts. CDE said the 21 semifinalists represent 21 schools in 18 school districts and one charter school, and that at least one candidate came from every region in Colorado. The selection was made by a review committee of more than 40 people, including previous Colorado Teacher of the Year winners, CDE staff and representatives from the Boettcher Foundation.

For Las Animas County, where the 2020 Census counted 14,555 residents, the recognition carries extra weight. Trinidad School District #1 is small, with Fisher’s Peak Elementary, Trinidad Middle School and Trinidad High School serving the community, so a statewide honor for one of its teachers stands out far beyond the school walls. In a rural district where recruiting and keeping strong educators can be a challenge, a semifinalist nod can help put effective teaching on the map for parents, staff and future job candidates.

The 2027 winner will receive $10,000 from the Boettcher Foundation and the Colorado Department of Education. Finalists are scheduled to be named in early September, and the winner is expected later in the fall.

The honor also comes with a reminder of how selective the program has become. For the 2026 cycle, CDE said it received 419 applications from 109 districts and named 22 semifinalists. Stephen Paulson of Greeley Central High School in Greeley-Evans School District 6 was named Colorado’s 2026 Teacher of the Year on Oct. 3, 2024. Paulson teaches social studies and AVID, and his selection underscores the range of classroom work the state has been willing to recognize.

For Trinidad, the semifinalist listing is more than a line on a state roster. It places Trinidad Middle School in a broader conversation about teaching quality, rural schools and whether small districts can continue to attract educators whose work rises to the top in a crowded statewide field.