There were big smiles, some tears and a lot of cheering kids at Mesa View Elementary School Tuesday afternoon when it was announced that first grade teacher Liz Fitzgerald was one of eight finalists for Colorado Teacher of the Year.

Representatives from the Colorado Department of Education, the District 51 administration and the Board of Education, as well as Fitzgerald’s husband, were on hand to surprise Fitzgerald with the news. It was perfect timing as the class had just finished a teddy bear picnic.

Each finalist received $1,500 from the Colorado Department of Education and the Boettcher Foundation, and each finalist’s school received $500 from the Boettcher Foundation. Fitzgerald said being a finalist for Teacher of the Year was “a dream come true.” The students were very excited as

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