2012 Rotary Teacher of the Year Dawn DuPriest with Superintendent Dr. Nancy Wright

 Three outstanding Poudre School District teachers were honored for their commitment to students and education during the annual Fort Collins Rotary Clubs’ Teacher of the Year awards. PSD teachers honored as finalists for Rotary Teacher of Year.

PSD teachers Kelly Motichka, Dawn DuPriest and Martha Petty, finalists for the PSD 2012 Rotary Teacher of the Year, were recognized by more than 250 Rotary members at a special luncheon Sept. 26, at the Hilton in Fort Collins. Preston Middle School teacher Dawn DuPriest was named the 2012 Teacher of the Year.

The three finalists were selected from 27 teachers recognized by the three Rotary Clubs last year as teachers of the month. Nominees were selected because they embody the Rotary International principles of service, integrity, recognition of individual worthiness, advancement of international understanding, and personal responsibility to society.

Dawn DuPriest, a math teacher at Preston Middle School since 2008, was a software engineer before she became a teacher.

“I loved the problem-solving part of being an engineer, but felt I was more energized by the people factor, the human factor,” she said, adding that she knew she would love teaching because of the positive experiences she had volunteering as a tutor and outdoor education instructor.

As a teacher, DuPriest enjoys watching her students develop into confident problem-solvers as the year progresses. “I think the biggest challenge is to recognize that each student is an individual learner and still help all of them grow,” she said. “The biggest joy is when you get to the end of the year and see the kids end at a better place than where they started. Some even say they love math, when they didn’t before, and that’s a tremendous accomplishment.”

In addition to teaching, DuPriest incorporates her engineering experience as a volunteer coach of two girls’ Lego robotics teams at Preston, guiding them as they solve problems using engineering, technology, research and global awareness skills. She has also taught computer programming enrichment classes for several years at Preston’s summer Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Institute.

Kelly Motichka is in her 10th year of teaching math at Poudre High School. She became a teacher to help kids reach their full potential. PHS teacher Kelly Motichka

“My favorite part is building relationships with the kids and helping them reach that “Aha” moment and seeing them become more self-confident,” she says. “I like making math fun and something that they are good at and proud of.”

Motichka is very involved in the PHS community and has volunteered for several roles including Class Council sponsor, Phoenix Garage volunteer, track and field volunteer and Geometry Support teacher. She is currently co-sponsor of the PHS Student Council, which involves helping more than 60 students coordinate several service projects like the Feed Our Families Food Drive held near the holidays.

She enjoys supporting students both in and out of the classroom. “I enjoy helping students get involved and find their place, the club that fits them. I love working with students and helping them plan awesome and meaningful events. It promotes school spirit and brings the school together as a whole,” she said.

Dawn DuPriest, a math teacher at Preston Middle School since 2008, was a software engineer before she became a teacher.

“I loved the problem-solving part of being an engineer, but felt I was more energized by the people factor, the human factor,” she said, adding that she knew she would love teaching because of the positive experiences she had volunteering as a tutor and outdoor education instructor.

As a teacher, DuPriest enjoys watching her students develop into confident problem-solvers as the year progresses. “I think the biggest challenge is to recognize that each student is an individual learner and still help all of them grow,” she said. “The biggest joy is when you get to the end of the year and see the kids end at a better place than where they started. Some even say they love math, when they didn’t before, and that’s a tremendous accomplishment.”

In addition to teaching, DuPriest incorporates her engineering experience as a volunteer coach of two girls’ Lego robotics teams at Preston, guiding them as they solve problems using engineering, technology, research and global awareness skills. She has also taught computer programming enrichment classes for several years at Preston’s summer Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Institute.

Martha Petty, media specialist and instructional coach at Harris Bilingual Elementary, knew she wanted to be a teacher from an early age. As a child, she set up her own library in the basement of her home. Harris teacher Martha Petty

“I had check-out sheets and the neighbors would come over and check out books,” she said. “I always wanted to be a teacher. I love kids and I love watching them learn.”

Petty, who has taught at Harris for the past 10 years, is bilingual and teaches research, reasoning and technology skills in two languages. She also serves as an instructional coach at the school, providing support to her colleagues regarding new standards and other professional issues.

“For me, the perfect world is working with both students and staff. I want to be a conduit for change, and assist others as we continue to move forward in the best interests of the kids,” she said.

Petty is also known for organizing service projects at Harris that help other people, like teachers and students from other countries. “I want to create bridges of understanding among people and cultures,” she said. “We want to honor all people where they are now. I feel this school does that.”