2021 Wyoming Teacher of the Year – Alexis Barney
Alexis Barney is a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Evansville Elementary School in Evansville. Growing up in Saratoga and graduating from the University of Wyoming at Casper with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, Barney has a strong love for her state. She deeply adored all of her teachers, treasured school, and would even, relentlessly, host “summer school” for her younger brother in the summers growing up. It was only natural for her to become an educator herself.
As the 2021 Wyoming Teacher of the Year, Barney’s heart truly belongs to teaching her students. Using their interests, she works to make learning meaningful and engaging while pushing their thinking, and hers, to the next level. Her philosophy is grounded in empowering students to be kind and courageous, and creating life-long learners who are inquisitive and excited about the world around them, finding success no matter their circumstances.
Barney is an active member on her school’s leadership team, serving as a co-leader of the reading and writing goal team and school transformation committee. She has frequently presented reading strategies with her co-chair at teaching conferences around the state as well as in Colorado. She received her Master of Science Degree in Educational Psychology from Capella University and is constantly intrigued and amazed by the capabilities of young minds. Her passion of integrating content areas drives her desire to not only bring the world to her students, but to inspire them to be difference makers in society.