Yuma High School vocational agriculture teacher Lee Vetter is the recipient of the 2021 Bank of Colorado Teacher of the Year Award.
Vetter has been an ag teacher at YHS for 15 years.
Principal Brady Nighswonger wrote the nomination letter. It read in part:
“There is no doubt that this has been the most challenging year for any educator due to COVID but our vocational ag department under Lee Vetter’s leadership continued to strive and provide opportunities for students in a year of uncertainties. This year specifically for Lee, presented even more difficulties as he endured the loss of his father alongside teaching in a pandemic. 
“In his years at Yuma High School, Lee Vetter has seen his students’ progress through his hands-on curriculum and been able to watch skills learned in class land jobs and continuing education opportunities. Walking through his shop and observing his direct instruction methods you will often find Lee working side by side with a student on a project that will benefit our district. He instills pride and respect into his students by having them generate a project that they will take pride in and will proudly showcase on our campus. Their most recent project was the ticket booth at the Yuma High School football field. The new booth required students to frame, run electrical, drywall, tape and mud, hang siding, and install a roof. This hands-on experience is just one example of how applicable and beneficial Mr. Vetter’s educational environment is to not only our students but to our community as well.
“COVID took away so many opportunities from our educators and students but FFA was able to navigate their way through the trying times with Mr. Vetter’s guidance to ensure normalcy in traditional events. Students were still able to do most annual FFA events including the Labor Auction which generates funds to provide scholarships for graduating seniors. In a year where there was an overwhelming amount of financial burden on everyone, Mr. Vetter excitingly disclosed that through fundraising efforts and support from the community, they were able to grant over $25,000 in scholarships to graduating 2021 YHS seniors.
“The 2020 school year was abruptly sent to remote instruction when the pandemic hit last year. For classes like Lee’s and a student population that learns by working with their hands, this was a lose-lose situation that Yuma School District won through the exceptional instruction by teacher’s like Lee Vetter.”
