TMS Science Instructor Named Finalist for NV Teacher of the Year

The Meadows School Upper School Science Teacher, Brianna Cotter, has been named as a Finalist for Nevada State Teacher of the Year 2024. The value of education and experience she brings to our students is always engaging and inspiring. We are so proud of her for this accomplishment!

About Teacher of the Year

The mission of the Nevada Teacher of the Year program is to celebrate excellence and strengthen the teaching force by honoring and recognizing exceptional teachers on a school, district, state, and national level. The Nevada Teacher of the Year is chosen from nominated individuals who are then invited to apply. After a rigorous application and interview process, three finalists were chosen and all identifying information was removed from their applications before being sent to Superintendent Ebert for final selection. 

The two finalists for the 2024 Nevada State Teacher of the Year are:

• Brianna Cotter, High School Science Teacher and Instructional Strategist at The Meadows School in Las Vegas.
• Lieutenant Commander Daniel Meyers, Retired, Senior Naval Science Instructor at Carson High School in Carson City.

The winner for the 2024 Nevada State Teacher of the Year is:

• Laura Jeanne Penrod, High School English Teacher at Southwest Career and Technical Academy, a magnet high school in Las Vegas.

As Nevada's 2024 State Teacher of the Year, Ms. Penrod will represent the Silver State in the National Teacher of the Year competition. The National Teacher of the Year program is facilitated by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Along with its sponsors, CCSSO brings together State Teachers of the Year from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Washington, DC, and the Department of Defense Education Activity.  

In 2021, Nevada's Teacher of the Year, Ms. Juliana Urtubey, was recognized as the National Teacher of the Year by CCSSO. Visit the Nevada Department of Education's Teacher of the Year "Hall of Fame" to view previous recipients.

About the Nevada Department of Education

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) leads and collaborates with Nevada's 17 school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority to advance educational equity Statewide. With offices in Carson City and Las Vegas, NDE oversees all pre-K-12 education in the State, working to achieve its mission to improve student achievement and educator effectiveness by ensuring opportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence. Under the leadership of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, NDE impacts the achievement of nearly half a million children and 30,000 educators. Learn more at https://doe.nv.gov/