Zephyr Cove teacher named district's teacher of the year

Amy Hope, a sixth-grade teacher at Zephyr Cove Elementary School, has been named Douglas County's teacher of the year.

"I love teaching in Douglas County," the 39-year-old said at David Walley's Resort on Wednesday. "It's a wonderful feeling every day. I feel very honored."

Hope, who has a doctorate in educational leadership mathematics, has taught at Zephyr Cove for only eight months, but has taught in the district for 11 years. She said her husband teaches at Whittell High School up the street, and that three of their children attend Zephyr Cove Elementary.

"My passion is math," she said. "I'm also a part-time adjunct professor at Nevada State College."

Hope said the hardest thing about teaching is seeing a student whose thirst for knowledge has been extinguished.

"I always want to send them off to middle school excited about learning," she said.

She said the most rewarding part of her job is seeing her students grow up.

"Students come back to visit me years later, and they talk about moments they still remember," she said.

Nancy Cauley, principal at Zephyr Cove Elementary, said Hope has a real l love for life.

"Her desire is to improve children's lives," she said. "She believes students are most successful when they can talk about what they're learning, and she believes students are learning the best when they're allowed to creatively explore the concepts they're being taught."

Superintendent Carol Lark, who announced the winner at the luncheon, told Hope and other nominees that she still remembers her own fourth-grade teacher.

"My fourth-grade teacher truly changed my life," she said. "My belief is that everyone of you do the same for your students."

Upon accepting the title, Hope said it was like winning the lottery.

"I'm unprepared for this," she said in a flush of emotion. "But I love what I do every single day. I love the kids."

The annual teacher of the year competition is put on by the Douglas County Education Foundation. Other nominees included Enid Webb from Meneley Elementary, Catherine Scully from Carson Valley Middle School, Cade Baligad from Douglas High School, Lauren O'Neill from Gardnerville Elementary, Tracie Moultrup from Jacks Valley Elementary, Claudia Bertolone-Smith from Minden Elementary, Heather Hoyle from Pinon Hills Elementary, Lorna Doerr from Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, Susan Neuffer from Scarselli Elementary and Lindsay Wines from Whittell High School.