Elementary science teacher Autumn Rivera has been named Colorado’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: CPR News

I always enjoy spreading the good news about exceptional educators who have won accolades for their work in the profession. One of these is Autumn Rivera, an elementary school teacher who has been named Colorado’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year.

Autumn teaches sixth grade science at Glenwood Springs Middle School in Glenwood Springs. She is also an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College. Her career as an educator spans 17 years.

It makes sense that Autumn should win this award. Her expertise in the classroom is well-known among her colleagues. “The amount of stuff she does really well is what the really crazy part is,” asserts Joel Hathaway, Principal of Glenwood Springs Middle School. “The fact that she can, day after day, class after class, build relationships with kids, get kids excited about science, be so enthusiastic, have super effective lessons and engagement and do all the millions of things that she does for this school, this community, the district and the state is amazing,” Hathaway continues.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Autumn fulfills the role of Science Lead, and she is the track coach at her school. She serves on the Colorado Science Conference planning committee and the Colorado Science Education Network Steering Committee. She is the Region 3 Elementary Board representative for the Colorado Association of Science Teachers, and she has conducted professional development courses at the Roaring Fork EdTech Summit and the Colorado Science Conference. She also volunteers with the American Association of Chemistry Teachers.

Autumn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and her Master’s degree in Teaching Secondary Science, both from Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She earned an additional Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Congratulations, Autumn!