A teacher who instructs every local elementary student was named the Park County School District No. 1 Teacher of the Year.

Marsha Neubert has taught for 25 years. She spent most of her career in the gymnasium as a P.E. instructor. Seven years ago, she made the transition to become the full-time health teacher for Powell’s elementary schools.

Much of the health-related information and warnings kids and adults hear about in the news is focused on diet and exercise, Neubert said.

“When I started this health-teaching journey, most of my students identified health class as focusing on just those two topics — food and exercise,” she said. “I have been diligent in expanding their realization that wellness is a balance of physical, mental and social health.”

Neubert said she enjoys teaching the variety of topics within the curriculum and also appreciates the interest shown by students.

It’s always rewarding for Neubert to hear a child ask excitedly if they have health class with her that day.

“And in addition, I am encouraged when parents comment to me about the information that their students bring home from health class,” she said.

For Neubert, health and education are a natural fit.

When she first contemplated a career after high school, she was interested in nursing and teaching.

“I decided in favor of education in part because of the many teachers at all grade levels and coaches who encouraged me, believed in me and pushed me to be my best,” she said. “I decided that teaching was an important job in our society and that it would be my profession.”

Neubert also had the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom with her two sons. She and her husband, Clay, an artist, have lived in Powell since 1981.

“When our youngest entered kindergarten, I dusted off my resume and acquired a job at Children’s Resource Center,” she said.

Two years later, Neubert joined the Powell school district as an elementary physical education teacher.

“I have morphed from a young woman into a grandmother in my years at Powell schools,” Neubert said. She has a 2-year-old granddaughter and will soon welcome a new grandson.

“I have watched my students grow from kindergarteners to becoming adults in the Powell community,” she said. When Neubert sees former students, they often ask, “Are you still teaching?”

“So much has happened in their lives since public school,” she said.

Each year, more of Neubert’s new kindergarteners are the children of her former students.

Neubert, 59, said it’s rewarding to see students grow and learn over their elementary school years.

Over the years, Neubert has watched as education has changed in some ways and yet remained the same.

“The infusion of technology is one major change, as well as decisions being primarily data-driven, yet best practices in teaching have always existed,” Neubert said. “Many new trends in education are previous best practices that are renamed and repackaged.”

“We want our students to become lifelong learners, because we realize how important it is and we as teachers are constantly learning,” Neubert said.

Neubert said she appreciates the honor of being named the local Teacher of the Year.

“Teaching is both autonomous and somewhat solitary, so it is quite an honor to be recognized by one’s peers for this Teacher of the Year award,” she said. “I thank you.”