I have met many teachers in my career and Leon is one of the best! A huge heartfelt congratulations to our 2026 National Teacher of the Year Leon Smith! 🙌🏽🙌🏽

What a joy to spend time with these amazing science teacher leaders this week!

I’m so excited to learn from this 2026 Teacher of the Year Cohort! Congrats to all!

Such a successful night watching our GSMS 6th graders show off their learning during our Solution Symposium!

Love that I get to join students from University of Georgia and CAMLE tonight as they present their final projects. Their passion is very contagious!

Students have the kindest words to share. Look at the sweet email from a sixth grader I received today 😊

Was welcomed to my classroom today with this stunning bouquet of flowers and a Diet Coke from my students for Autumn Rivera Day. They really are the cutest!

The Colorado sky is showing off tonight! I love watching beautiful Science phenomenal & community excitement that comes around events like this. Students and families are sending me photos and are joining in on the celebration and it makes me love science and teaching even more.

What a great time at the Colorado Science Conference! I loved seeing so many people, listening to amazing sessions, and celebrating outstanding educations! Thanks to all who helped plan the conference! My favorite part was winning this beautiful quartz! Hooray! 🎉

Happy Colorado Science Conference Day! I’m excited to see so many outstanding Colorado science educators today. Swing by the CAST table to say hi! @cosciteachers

A friend captured this photo of me this morning. Just another day in my life 👩🏽‍🔬💜

Four years ago I was named the 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year. What an amazing ride it has been. I love all the connection I made and continue to make while sharing my students stories. ☺️

Gotta love the life of a middle school science teacher! Any guesses into what our new units is going to cover?

How lucky I am to teach such passionate and amazing education students at @colomtncollege We just wrapped up our Social Studies Methods course today. Look out world, you’ve got some amazing teachers come your way!

Wearing red today in solidarity with CSEA as they strike to protect the success and well-being of ALL students! @CEAEdVotes #RedForEd #UnionStrong #StrongerTogether

My teacher of the year journey began with my PAEMST application. Being an awardee changed my career. Sadly the PAEMST program and funding has been cut. Read more here www.forbes.com/sites/taliam...

Yesterday my beautiful mother passed away. She is one of the reasons I became a teacher. Her love for individualizing instruction for her students was inspirational. To the very end she always was looking for ways to personalize experiences for other people. ❤️‍🩹

Always a joy spending time with fellow teachers of the year. Educator friends are critical as a teacher. 🧡

Missed Day 1 photo (too hectic of a start) but here is First Full Week photo 🤪 Year 21, lets begin.

Three years ago I had the pleasure of getting to meet @mrdearybury at a NNSTOY conference in KY. Two years ago I found joy in his amazing keynote. Today I celebrate the release of his amazing children’s book The Rainbow Tree! Congrats Jed! #JedCreates

Although I am so honored to receive this package in the mail from @PAEMSTNation, I wish I was able to celebrate with my fellow cohort members in DC. It is heartbreaking that the PAEMST Award is no longer being funded to continue to honor teachers.

Why should we care about cuts to funding for science education? Meaningful science education is crucial for improving all of our lives, from the lives of children and youth to future and current teachers.

“To support all children in experiencing the wonder and joy of understanding the natural world–or to help youth move into high-paying STEM jobs–we need to fight hard to reinstate federal funding for science and science education.”

Why should we care about cuts to funding for science education? Meaningful science education is crucial for improving all of our lives, from the lives of children and youth to future and current teachers.

“To support all children in experiencing the wonder and joy of understanding the natural world–or to help youth move into high-paying STEM jobs–we need to fight hard to reinstate federal funding for science and science education.”

What an amazing opportunity this week to build community with so many amazing people in the science K-12 education ecosystem. I am grateful for the CASTL-K12 Summit in providing time for growth and connections!

Really looking forward to the next two days at @theNASEM CASTL-K12 Annual Summit. Join us virtually here: www.nationalacademies.org/event/45162_...

I am so honored to serve as president alongside so a many talented science educators on the @CoSciTeachers Board. We had an amazing retreat today and I am excited for the strong work we have e planned for this year. 🧫🧬🔭🧪

Truly enjoyed my time at the #NNSTOY25 Conference in Orlando. Any time spent with fellow STOYs is time well spent!

When the world gets too heavy we need to give students a camera and a mic and get out of the way. @9thevermore shows what can happen when students have space to be creative. Watch this: youtu.be/P8Uf40Wv0j8?...

What a great day to head to the NNTOY Conference! I cannot wait to reconnect with so many amazing people and meet new ones. #ignitethemagic