Niwot High School teacher Angela Roberts inspired and inspirational

Niwot High School students thrive with the help of teachers who are dedicated to teaching and ensuring their students succeed.

One of these teachers is Angela Roberts who has been teaching several English classes at Niwot High School for the last 16 years. She was inspired by her English 10 teacher who left a lasting impression on her students.

Her teacher's classroom was more than just a place for academic learning, it was a sanctuary where students felt comfortable and valued. Under her guidance Roberts learned to write essays, working collaboratively, and become a better writer. Roberts was inspired by her teacher's kindness, helpfulness, and insight. So Roberts decided to teach.

Roberts' career had a rough start. During her first year teaching at a high school in a town north of Dallas, Texas, one of her students went to prison for robbery and selling drugs, and one of her students miscarried while walking down the stairs. As a 22-year-old and fresh out of college, she was unprepared for such hardships and often found herself crying in the bathroom. By the end of that difficult year, she vowed never to teach again.

Seeking a change, she moved to northern California and took a job at an art magazine. The role was far from glamorous and office work proved uninspiring, and eventually she realized it wasn't the right fit for her.

After much thought she gave teaching another chance and found a supportive environment upon her return. She moved to Colorado to raise her children and spent seven years teaching at two middle schools. She enjoyed her students' company and often stayed after school to talk to them about their lives.

Her goal in her classroom is to create an environment where students feel both challenged and supported. She encourages them to take risks and express themselves freely. Roberts strives to make her classroom a place of engagement and energy, believing that students play a significant role in shaping the classroom atmosphere. The perfect classroom days for her are when her students are engaged, and learning becomes easier and more enjoyable for them.

Her students look up to her both as a teacher and as a person and enjoy learning in her classroom. This is most likely because Roberts makes great efforts to make classes fun and engaging and makes sure her students learn and pay attention in class. Roberts has helped many students advance in their writing and interpreting skills by pushing them to become better interpreters and therefore, better writers. Her students say she gives good advice and guides them through their mistakes so they can improve academically. Her passion for English and teaching is obvious in her classroom and she inspires many students to have the same love for English and teaching as she does.

Roberts' journey from being inspired by her teacher to being an inspiration herself has been filled with challenges and rewards. It has reinforced her belief in the power of education and the importance of creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. Through it all, her passion for teaching has grown stronger and she is grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in her students lives, just as her teacher did in hers.