Educator Amy Okimoto was selected one of seven finalists for Colorado’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Amy Okimoto

There are many excellent educators in Colorado public schools. One of them is Amy Okimoto. She was named one of seven finalists for her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Amy currently serves as the Culturally Responsive Education Specialist in Summit Elementary School in the Cherry Creek School District in Aurora. She works with students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Previously she taught third grade at Ponderosa Elementary School in Aurora; fourth grade in Denver Public Schools; and Gifted Education Courses in Sierra Vista Pubic Schools in Sierra Vista, Arizona. She has also taught in Nepal. And she has worked as an Affiliate Instructor at Metropolitan State University in Denver. Altogether, her career as an educator spans nearly 30 years.

As part of her work at Summit Elementary, Amy facilitates several student groups, including the Changemakers, the STAR Club, and the STEAM Club. At the district level, she is the co-facilitator for the Asian American Pacific Islander Affinity Group for AAPI teachers.

Amy is obviously highly respected in her district. “Amy is an incredible educator whose dedication to social-emotional learning and restorative practices has made a big impact at Summit Elementary,” declares Christopher Smith, Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools. “Her leadership in student groups and her commitment to fostering a supportive community exemplify the values we hold dear,” he continued.

Amy earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs with a minor in Asian Studies from Northern Arizona University in 1996. She earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2009. She earned a second Master’s degree in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity from Adams State University Alamosa, Colorado, in 2014.

As a 2025 Teacher of the Year finalist, Amy will receive $1,500 from the Colorado State Department of Education and the Boettcher Foundation, and her school will receive a $500 donation from Boettcher.

Elementary school teacher Emily Litz has garnered a prestigious 2024-2025 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

There are many exceptional teachers working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Emily Litz, an elementary school teacher from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. She has garnered a prestigious 2024-2025 Milken Educator Award.

Emily teaches fifth grade at Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School. In her classroom, she tailors lessons and teaching techniques that apply to her students’ diverse academic needs. She incorporates hands-on, inquiry-based, conceptual learning over memorization.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Emily mentors fellow educators, contributes to developing curriculum and pacing guidelines, and implements new programs. She also served on a committee that developed a fifth grade standards-based report card.

Emily is well-known for the creativity and spirit of play she brings to her lessons. She sprinkles her students with glitter for good luck before tests. She transforms her classroom into a wilderness, complete with a “campfire,” where students share their writing pieces. She has also developed a classroom job application where students must explain their qualifications in writing to be “hired” for positions ranging from attendance aide to supply manager.

Emily earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from The State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland in 2010 and her Master’s degree in Education with a Specialization in Reading and Literacy from Capella University in 2020. 

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. To learn more about the program, click on their website at Milken Educator Awards.