Since Powell Middle School’s WYTOPP scores were excellent and they won back “the belt,” a WWE styled trophy traded between area middle schools, all who were in attendance thought that’s why they were called to the Powell Middle School gymnasium on May 20.

But there was another reason: Special education teacher Jodee Metzler was voted Park County School District 1 Teacher of the Year. It was a two-for-one assembly for Powell Middle School students.

It also set a two year streak of a Powell Middle School teacher being voted District Teacher of the Year after longtime math teacher Dale Estes won the previous year.

Metzler, who has been a special education teacher at Powell Middle School for the past two and a half decades, had multiple nominations for teacher of the year, winning over 13 other nominees.

Powell Superintendent Jay Curtis noted this was the largest number of nominees he had seen in his time at PCSD1.

“Thank you very much. I will say working with great kids [and] great teachers makes all the difference … I believe in all of you. And I will do what it takes to always believe in you whether that’s in the classroom, or that’s at practice or that’s at a meet, I believe in you,” Metzler said.

Prior to her remarks, PCSD1 staff spoke on Metzler’s behalf in front of an audience of her students, peers and family who had come to surprise her. 

“This teacher is described in the nominations as a respectful teammate, an incredible advocate and expert teacher,”  Curtis said, kicking off Metzler’s recognition by reading excerpts from her nominations. “She energizes her students and helps students to advocate for themselves, explore ways to be involved with school activities and experience success no matter what obstacle. She works tirelessly with students … every day to ensure that they have access to quality education in their school.”

He added that Metzler builds relationships with families and has a team approach for supporting students.

“Most notably she built strong relationships with all of her students and many other students in the building,” Curtis said.

Metzler’s name was announced and the crowd applauded while pounding the bleachers, just like they had done when Estes won the year before.

“I was the middle school principal for 14 years … so I got a chance to work with Mrs. Metzler quite a bit, one as a principal but also as a dad … [my kids] had Mrs. Metzler either as a teacher, as a coach, as somebody that was always very supportive of kids,” Assistant Superintendent Jason Sleep said.

He singled out the determination, empathy and compassion Metzler demonstrates in her role at the school. 

Metzler has stayed in special education at Powell Middle in part because she believes in kids, she said, adding that the “most challenging kids need someone that does believe in them.”

The biggest success is when kids feel like they can be learners, Metzler said — she thinks this happens as a result of someone pushing and supporting them so they believe they can succeed.

“Teaching  special ed, you don’t see the gains necessarily, that you may see from kids that don’t struggle in school, and so we have to find those small gains that we celebrate and help those kids feel like small gains can become bigger gains,” Metzler said.

The paraeducators, teammates, schools and parents she works with make all the difference.

“I wouldn’t say this is just a single award,” she said. “This is all of the people I work with. Otherwise we wouldn’t be as successful as we are.”