Starting with five nominees and after weeks of deliberation, AP Literature and Humanities teacher Beth Evans was announced as the Teacher of the Year on Tuesday for the 2024-25 school year.

“I was just kind of struck the first time I found out that I was even nominated by the great teachers we have,” Evans said. “[I was struck just] sitting with the other teachers that were nominated and the respect I have for them. Then Ms. Whaling called my name as the winner and I just feel really proud. I have devoted my whole life to teaching.” 

Colleague and co-teacher Sarah Wiseman has rooting for her since the nominations began. 

“I’ve been working with Ms.Evans now for seven years and she is just the greatest teacher I’ve ever worked with,” Wiseman said. “She is just so creative and interesting and loves the kids. I was really rooting for her and, in fact, last year we were both nominated and I was like ‘everybody should vote for Beth instead of me’, so this year I was really thrilled when she won.”

In the eyes of freshman Amough Yeragi, Evans helps students strive to learn.

“I feel engaged when learning, I feel she makes me want to strive to learn more,” Yeragi said. 

For Evan’s, her way of teaching allows her to understand and help all of the different ways students learn.

“My values as a teacher, I would say, are number one,” Evans said. “I just work really hard at it. I’m always open and trying new ideas. I’m really honest with my classes. I let them know if we are trying something new that they should take a risk, and maybe it will work or maybe it wont.”