One of Fort Collins' own is in the running as not just Colorado's Teacher of the Year, but could be the Nation's Teacher of the Year.

There are seven educators from across the Centennial State that are finalists to be Colorado's 2023 Teacher of the Year. Find out more about the one from Fort Collins.

Scott-Wheeler
Courtesy: Scott Wheeler
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When you see someone from Fort Collins on a list of only seven nominees for Colorado Teacher of the Year, you take notice. As it turns out, this same teacher was recognized our stations' own Teacher Tuesday at one time.

The Denver Gazette has the news of the seven educators that are finalists, but doesn't really dive into who these educator are. I reached out to the Fort Collins person for some information.

WHO IS THE TEACHER FROM FORT COLLIS THAT'S NOMINATED?

SCOTT WHEELER

Scott Wheeler is the Choir Director at Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School which opened in 2004 on the southeast side of Fort Collins.

Kinard-Choir
Courtesy: Scott Wheeler
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Mr. Wheeler is a 5th generation Colorado native, with Fort Collins kind of putting Scott in the middle of the Colorado regions his parents families come from. One side from northeastern Colorado (Sterling, Fleming, Haxtun, etc.) the other side from southern Colorado (Pueblo, Beulah, Rye, Colorado City, etc.)

MR. WHEELER'S TEACHING HISTORY:

Scott is the only National Board-Certified Music Teacher in Northern Colorado, having taught in the Poudre School District since beginning his career in 1997.

  • 1997: Traut Core Knowledge Elementary School "..back when it was in the old Fort Collins High School building."
  • Started at Kinard as their first Choir/Drama teacher, when the school first began operation in Fossil Ridge High School in 2005.

Under Mr. Wheeler, Kinard's Choir teams have seen many awards and accolades including:

  • National Performance – Choirs of America: Nationals for Top Choirs – Carnegie Hall 2022  --Kinard was the only middle school treble choir to participate amongst 600 singers from around the United States.
  • Winner: NoBully National Singing Competition 2019.
  • Colorado Music Education Association (CMEA) – Broadmoor.  Kinard Choir was chosen as guest performers five times between 2010-2022.

You can see Mr. Wheeler and the choir in action in this video from 2019:

It was in 2013, that Mr. Wheeler was nominated and won our Teacher Tuesday (Teacher of the Month.)

According to the Denver Gazette, if Mr. Wheeler becomes Colorado's Teacher of the Year, he'll become a member of the state's advisory panel and will be an advocate for for the profession throughout the year. and be a finalist to be the National Teacher of the Year.

Good Luck, Scott.

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