Koelbel Enterprising Teacher of the Year Award

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Winners
2022 Winner - Jeff Arnold, Estes Park Middle School
2022 Winner - Jeff Arnold, Estes Park Middle School

Jeff Arnold has been named the 2022 Koelbel Enterprising Teacher of the Year. This 35th annual recognition, awarded during National Financial Literacy Month, recognizes exemplary teaching of economic or personal financial education, which provides students with essential skills to use in their personal, professional and civic lives. Jeff Arnold currently teaches U.S. history to eighth-graders and has been a fixture in the Estes Park community and local school district for more than 30 years. Arnold believes no great teacher is ever finished learning and is an advocate for professional development opportunities for the district’s staff. His commitment to furthering his economic education has allowed him to evolve and create lesson plans on wide-ranging and relevant topics like cryptocurrency, foreign trade and tariffs, inflation and government spending. “I'm honored to be named the Koelbel Enterprising Teacher of the Year. A good foundation of economics concepts and a knowledge of Personal Financial Literacy has never been more important than it is now in the United States,” said Jeff Arnold.

2023 Winner - John Loutzenhiser, Elizabeth High School
2023 Winner - John Loutzenhiser, Elizabeth High School

The 2023 winner is John Loutzenhiser from Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, Colorado. John is the 36th recipient in a long list of distinguished recipients. John is a business teacher at Elizabeth High School, but has always been passionate about teaching financial literacy, having worked in finance at Merrill Lynch before becoming a teacher. At Elizabeth HS, Mr. Loutzenhiser taught Accounting, Business Foundations, Business Law and Ethics, Finance and Investments, and Business Management and Leadership. He also served as sponsor for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program and contributed to the adoption of financial literacy as a high school graduation requirement in his district. He also had his students participate in the Stock Market Experience every year to be sure they knew how to invest for their futures. His excitement for the subject was felt by his students, who flocked to his classes to learn all they could about financial literacy and often come back after graduation to tell him how his teaching influenced their financial choices.

Past Enterprising Teacher of the Year Winners:

  • 2023 Winner - John Loutzenheiser, Elizabeth High School, Elizabeth School District

  • 2022 Winner - Jeff Arnold, Estes Park Middle School, Estes Park School District

  • 2021 Winner - Amy Paa-Rogers, Fairview High School, Boulder Valley School District

  • 2020 Winner - Charles Kastens, Mission Viejo Elementary, Cherry Creek School District

  • 2019 Winner - Jeff Kenefsky, Cheyenne Mountain High School, Cheyenne Mountain School District

  • 2018 Winner - Della Hoffman, Place Bridge Academy, Denver Public Schools

  • 2017 Winner - Ken Benson, Niwot High School, Saint Vrain Valley School District

  • 2016 Winner - Don Spano, Challenger Middle School, Colorado Springs School District 11

  • 2015 Winner - Rudy Sumpter, Monarch High School, Boulder Valley School District

  • 2014 Winner - Mark Ewig, Palmer Ridge High School, Lewis-Palmer School District

  • 2013 Winner - Debbie Cohen, Liberty Middle School, Cherry Creek School District

  • 2012 Winner - Sherry Weber, Chatfield High School, Jefferson County School District

  • 2011 Winner - Michael Paige, Cheyenne Mountain High School, Cheyenne Mountain School District

  • 2010 Winner - Terence Miller, Cherokee Trail High School, Cherry Creek School District

  • 2009 Winner - Sara Shackett, Lakewood High School, Jefferson Country School District

  • 2008 Winner - Richard Trinkner, Boulder High School, Boulder Valley School District

  • 2007 Winner - Donna Ecks, Doherty High School, Colorado Springs #11 School District

  • 2006 Winner - Gerard (Jerry) Rouse, Thunder Ridge High School, Douglas County District

  • 2005 Winner - Tracey Boychuk, Pomona High School, Jefferson County School District

  • 2004 Winner - Suzanne deLemos, Northglenn High School, Adams 12 Five Star Schools

  • 2003 Winner - Lisa Vogt, Thunder Ridge High School, Douglas County District

  • 2002 Winner - Curt Smith, Liberty High School, Air Academy School District

  • 2001 Winner - Kendra Cheese, Lakewood High School, Jefferson County School District

  • 2000 Winner - Marc Johnson, Smoky Hill High School, Cherry Creek School District

  • 1999 Winner - Rex Duncan, Grand Junction High School, Mesa County School District

  • 1998 Winner - Jim Astle, Evergreen High School, Jefferson County School District

  • 1997 Winner - Francisco Garcia, Standley Lake High School, Jefferson County School District

  • 1996 Winner - Donald Benavidez, Pueblo School of Arts and Sciences, Pueblo School District

  • 1995 Winner - Elizabeth Stansberry, Denver Public Schools

  • 1994 Winner - Dorsee Johnson-Tucker, Lakewood High School, Jefferson County School District

  • 1993 Winner - Bill Achbach, George Washington High School, Denver Public Schools

  • 1992 Winner - Sue Badgett, Air Academy High School, Air Academy School District

  • 1991 Winner - Kathy Ratte', Jefferson County School District

  • 1990 Winner - Jay Grenawalt, George Washington High School, Denver Public Schools

  • 1989 Winner - Candace Allen, formerly of the Pueblo School District

  • 1988 Winner - Phyllis Bye, Heatherwood Elementary School, Boulder Valley School District

Economic Literacy Colorado is accepting nominations for exemplary teachers of these academic disciplines (as well as those who integrate these disciplines into other subjects) for its 37th annual Enterprising Teacher of the Year Award. Accompanying the recognition is a $2,000 award.

The judging questions appear below. You can submit your responses online from this site or send them electronically (as an attachment) to EconLitCo at info@econlitco.org. Student testimonials are optional.  You can find sample applications from previous winners at this website.

Award funded by the:
Buz and Sherri Koelbel Endowment

Judging Questions:

  • How has the applicant exhibited a personal passion for the academic disciplines of economics and/or financial literacy?

  • How has the applicant demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the best pedagogical practices in economic education and/or promoting financial literacy?

  • How has the applicant utilized the resources of Economic Literacy Colorado?

  • How successful has the applicant been in inspiring an appreciation for and interest in economics and/or financial literacy with his/her students?

  • How has the applicant promoted economic education and/or financial literacy beyond her/his classroom? (school, district, community)

Two to three paragraphs per question is sufficient.

Sample Applications:

Eligibility:

  • Active Colorado K-12 teacher or administrator/coordinator

  • Previous non-winning nominees

Questions:
Please contact Economic Literacy Colorado at 303-752-2323 with any questions.

2024 Entry Form

The deadline is February 12, 2024