As we all know, working in education has been extremely hard throughout the pandemic, but none know it better than our local educators. But despite the hardships, many teachers still find inspiration and joy with their students, often going above and beyond to help Northern Colorado's students feel comfortable, safe, and encouraged. Kathleen McDonnell of Meeker Elementary is one such teacher.

Nominated by the Hutchinson family, McDonnell is is a beloved fourth-grade teacher whose favorite part of her job is the relationships she gets to create with her kids. A Colorado native, McDonnell received over 5,000 votes during the contest, making her January's Teacher Tuesday winner. When it came to her nominator, the Hutchinsons described McDonnell as:

...one of those rare teachers who makes every student feel as if they add value to the world. She doesn't view any child as "good" or "bad" and makes sure that, even on their hardest days, each student in her class knows that they are accepted and wanted. Despite the chaos and pressures of the last year she continues to be a warm light that provides comfort and joy to the children she comes into contact with. We are lucky to have her!

You can see our full interview with Kathleen McDonnell right here:

McDonnell took home a ton of outstanding prizes for all of her efforts this school year, and those prizes include:

  • $100 food delivery voucher from Nosh NoCo
  • 1 free $50 gift card to Breeze Thru Car Wash
  • $500 to her school

Congratulations to Ms. McDonnell!

Do you think a teacher in your school deserves some recognition? If so, then you can nominate them on any of our sites.

Colorado's Safest Cities

Everyone wants to live in Colorado, and aside from our rising rent prices (tell me about it,) there's a lot of upsides to being here. For one, we're one of the most beautiful states in the country. For another, there's always something to do. And finally, according to a recent list by SafeWise, we've also got a long list of vibrant, safe cities to reside in. Check out the list below to see the top ten safest cities in Colorado in 2020.

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