Carson City teacher Adrienne Wiggins honored as finalist for 2023 Nevada Teacher of the Year
The Carson City School District is pleased to announce Empire Elementary School’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Teacher Adrienne Wiggins was honored Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, as one of the five statewide finalists for the Nevada Teacher of the Year, recognized by the Nevada Department of Education.
Ms. Wiggins was surprised during the school’s morning faculty meeting where KellyLynn Charles, education programs professional in the office of Educator Development Licensure and Family Engagement with the Nevada Department of Education, made the announcement via Zoom.
Ms. Wiggins was among five other finalists for the award including Connie Hall of the Lloyd Diedrichsen Elementary School in the Washoe County School District, Michaela Marich of McGill Elementary School in the White Pine County School District, Laura Jeanne Penrod of Southwest Career and Technical Academy in the Clark County School District and Jaime Tadrzynski of Canyon Springs High School also in the Clark County School District. Ultimately, Connie Hall was named the 2023 Nevada Teacher of the Year.
The mission of the Nevada Teacher of the Year program is to celebrate excellence and strengthen the teaching force by honoring and recognizing exceptional teachers on a school, district, state and national level. The Nevada Teacher of the Year is chosen from nominated individuals who are then invited to apply. After a rigorous application and interview process, the five finalists were sent to Jhone Ebert, superintendent of public instruction, to make the final selection.
Out of the 17 school districts in the state of Nevada, the Carson City School District has had teachers represented as a top five finalist for the last five years running, including the following:
2023 – Adrienne Wiggins
2022 – Rachel Croft
2021 – Christina Bourne
2020 – Nick Jacques
2019 – Joanna Kaiser
Additionally, the Carson City School District has had four teachers win the prestigious Nevada Teacher of the Year award. Those include the following:
2013 – Adam Whatley
2012 – Deanna LeBlanc
2011 – Cheryl Macy
2008 – LeAnn Morris
The program is facilitated nationally by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Along with its sponsors, CCSSO brings together State Teachers of the Year from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Washington, DC, and the Department of Defense Education Activity.