🎉Dr. Mary Colclasure has been named Durham Middle School Teacher of the Year! 

🏆We are proud to recognize our Teacher of the Year, Dr. Mary Colclasure, a dedicated educator whose 24-year career reflects a deep commitment to students, colleagues, and the craft of teaching. She began her journey at Pine Mountain Middle School, where she spent 10 years teaching 7th grade math. She then continued her impact at Simpson Middle School, teaching 8th grade math for 11 years. Now in her third year at Durham, Dr. Colclasure continues to inspire students in 8th grade math classrooms every day. ➗

📕In addition to her mathematics expertise, Dr. Colclasure is also certified in English Language Arts and fondly recalls some of her favorite lessons—novel studies that connected math concepts with literature—highlighting her creativity and passion for interdisciplinary learning.

🏫What she values most about Durham is the strong sense of family. She appreciates the way the school community supports one another and works together to create a positive environment for both students and staff. Dr. Colclasure's love for teaching is rooted in the relationships she builds—taking time to learn about her students’ backgrounds, interests, and passions so she can better support their growth.

Guided by a simple but powerful daily goal—to help others however she can—she consistently goes above and beyond for both her students and her colleagues. Her dedication, compassion, and commitment to excellence make her a truly deserving Teacher of the Year.