JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County School District #1 has announced its picks for the annual Teacher of the Year and Staff of the Year honors.
Jackson Hole High School teacher Michelle Roundy was named Teacher of the Year, and Jackson Elementary School Food Services Manager BriAnna Karn was named Staff of the Year.
“We are honored to have professionals such as Michelle and BriAnna working at TCSD,” TCSD’s announcement states.
Roundy was nominated by her peers and selected by a K-12 committee to represent TCSD’s teaching staff in the Wyoming Teacher of the Year program. Whoever is named Wyoming Teacher of the Year is then nominated for U.S. Teacher of the Year.
“There is something magically compelling about being in a room with 25 students as they learn, holding space for them as they navigate failure and championing them as they achieve success,” Roundy said in a statement. “It’s like being a part of an orchestra, and although I am responsible for guiding them as they learn, it is their individual and collective engagement that ultimately creates this relational harmony, one in which all time stops and the only thing that matters is the relationships in the room. That is who I am and why I teach.”
Karns, who won top honors for TCSD staff this year, shared a similar sentiment about facilitating learning.
“Food is fuel for our brains,” Karns said in a quote shared with Buckrail by TCSD. “I help fuel these kids so that they can have a successful day in the classroom. I also bring a fun environment to their breakfast and lunch breaks, so when it’s time to go back to learning, they can focus.”
