At Cole Elementary School in Cheyenne, second-grade teacher Connie Telander's upbeat, can-do attitude is infectious. She initiated the Dolls and Balls program in which a group of senior adults give dolls and basketballs to each primary student every school year. A proponent of using student-centered instruction based on data analysis, Mrs. Telander is willing to challenge current practices to improve student success. As a result, her students demonstrate significant growth on achievement tests. She co-developed Reading Independently Supports Education (RISE), a one-on-one reading intervention program for second graders at the school. She is a mentor for new teachers and a member of numerous professional organizations. Because of her educational expertise, Mrs. Telander is requested by instructors from higher-level educational institutions to model her instructional practices for future educators.
