Colorado middle school teacher Ivy Dalley was named one of seven finalists for her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Ivy Dalley

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. Today I shine the spotlight on Ivy Dalley, a middle school teacher from Mancos, Colorado. She was named one of seven finalists for her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Ivy teaches English and Social Studies to sixth graders at Mancos Middle School in the Mancos School District. The District serves a rural area in southwestern Colorado. She says sixth grade is the perfect age group for her. “We all know how awkward it can be at that time in our lives,” she explains. “I think I just really connect to middle schoolers and I connect to the way they think and learn,” she continues. “I want to show up every day and make sure they feel like someone cares about them and somebody’s on their team to help them realize the potential they all have inside of them,” she concludes.

This exceptional educator works hard to create positive educational change in her school. She has worked with students, staff, parents, and community members to develop and implement numerous district and community-wide programs, including the Buddies program, PBL carts, Positive Behavior Intervention Systems rewards, and a board member of Mancos United, an organization that arranges sixth-grade transition retreats. For these efforts, Ivy was named as one of seven finalists for Colorado’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

As a youngster, Ivy grew up in a small dairy town in Wisconsin. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College in Durango. She earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. She has worked in the Mancos School District for nine years.