The Bank of Colorado announced its Teacher of the Year earlier this week — Heather Klein from Yuma Middle School.
The bank has been honoring a Yuma teacher for several years, based on nominations from school principals. The honored teacher receives a plaque and a cash reward.
Following is Klein’s nomination letter written by YMS Principal Brenda Kloberdanz.
“Dear Bank of Colorado Teacher of the Year Committee, It is with great pride that I write this letter in honor of Mrs. Heather Klein in support of her exceptional work at Yuma Middle School and for Yuma School District.
Mrs. Klein serves as our ESL teacher for grades 5-8. She also wears the title of problem solver, innovator, historian, and dynamic leader of various building and district committees throughout her 25 years in the district. She would be an exceptional candidate for the Bank of Colorado teacher of the year.
Mrs. Klein is a Yuma native and loves giving back to her community. She currently serves on our building courtesy committee along with the district sick bank committee. She has also been active on our Yuma Community that Cares program through the health department, which
analyzes community data to isolate problem areas and then find solutions to those problems. If there is an opportunity to make Yuma a better place for students, Mrs. Klein is 100 percent invested. 
Mrs. Klein has mastered the art of being firm, but fair with her students maintaining school rules but yet forming important relationships with her students. While remaining current with the latest instructional strategies and technologies, she is able to differentiate her curriculum for multiple abilities in her classroom. Her classroom is always evolving as the year progresses, and she takes every new student where they are at. It is heartwarming to see the students immediately become part of Mrs. Klein’s family.
She takes full responsibility for state testing of ESL students in our district to meet expectations. Moreover, she takes pride in moving her students forward in becoming fluent in speaking English and becoming successful in school and more importantly life in the Yuma community. Mrs. Klein will tackle whatever needs done without complaining. She is our continued volunteer to cover other teacher’s classes or give up her planning period or lunch for various reasons. She doesn’t fall short on sense of humor and charisma. There is always a good story and several laughs in Mrs. Klein’s room. She is a team player and is always around to support students and colleagues. Thank you for the opportunity to brag about Yuma Middle School’s lifelong Yuma Indian!”
