Niwot High School alum Hannah McDonald named St.Vrain Educator of the Year

Hannah McDonald, a 2018 Niwot High School graduate and now the Entrepreneurship Program Manager at St. Vrain Valley Schools' Innovation Center, has been named the district's 2025 Educator of the Year. Celebrated for her boundless energy and deep commitment to student success, McDonald was recognized for creating transformative learning experiences that empower students through mentorship and real-world skill-building.

"My ultimate why for teaching is helping students envision, build, and develop the skills to obtain the future they want for themselves", McDonald said in a video released by the district. "I'm just honored to be a resource for them, a support person for them, and [to help] them find those things and... do the things that they want to do."

McDonald's vision extends far beyond the classroom. Through her entrepreneurship program at the Innovation Center, McDonald equips students with practical tools such as networking assistance, business development, and durable skills that students can carry with them into college, the workforce, and beyond.

Students from across the St. Vrain Valley School District have the opportunity to take classes at the Innovation Center, where McDonald leads the entrepreneurship program. The center partners with Aims Community College to offer qualifying students the chance to earn tuition-free college credit through concurrent enrollment courses.

"I've been able to see first hand how much Hannah really, truly cares about each individual student," said Ginger Sheehy Tatic in the video released by the district. Tatic works in Video Arts at the Innovation Center. "She has really taken the time to create an amazing program."

"She's been a great mentor for me, and that's honestly what makes me come back," Diane Kenar-Castro, a Niwot High School senior participating in McDonald's entrepreneurship program, shared in the video. "I love working with her and just learning all the things about entrepreneurship and business. It's honestly really helpful and can take me to many places in the future."

"She always cares so much about everything she does," said Diego Kheng, a Skyline High School junior in the program, in the video. Describing McDonald as the driving force behind the program's collaborative spirit, Kheng added, "I can tell in the project teams here, she is such a leader for that, and all those kids just revolve around her. She's like the sun. She gives energy to everyone, and it's positive all the time."

McDonald's impact on students and the Innovation Center community is a key reason she was honored as the district's 2025 Educator of the Year. Reflecting on the recognition, McDonald expressed gratitude for the supportive environment that makes her work possible.

"I just feel so grateful for the space that our building has created for students and that our district has created for students," McDonald said. "The way that our administration has empowered us as teachers to continue learning ourselves, to bring that back to students, and the autonomy that we have to serve our students, is a really unique place to be, and I feel so fortunate to be a small part in all of these students' journeys."