Many of the students at Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum simply like hanging out with Miss Wright. "She's the one everyone goes to, whether it be about boys or college or a fight with your parents," says student Mary Cochrane. Jennifer says that through building relationships with her students, she builds respect from them.

"I love teaching because I love building relationships with kids. Getting to know them and who they are and what makes them tick, and where they want to go in life," Jennifer says. "I like to say that I teach students and not that I teach English to students. When they enjoy it, or I can hear them have great discussion about something, and I didn't actually stimulate that discussion, that's pretty cool to sit back and watch them get into the curriculum I'm teaching."

"She's very passionate about what she does, and it makes coming to school a lot easier knowing the teacher cares about what you do," Cochrane says.

What Miss Wright does is much more than teaching her students writing skills and classic literature. Every summer–and sometimes spring break, as well–Jennifer takes a group of students abroad. "I've taken students to France, Greece, England, Ireland, and Scotland and Italy," Jennifer says. With a reminiscing smile she adds, "Sitting down having a 'cap' in Italy with my kids is one of the greatest experiences ever."

Jennifer also coaches cheerleading, and last year, she organized the school's first every after-prom party. "It was Miss Wright's idea, so we could all be together after prom without doing all the regular after prom things that people do," says student, Sarah Hoza. "It was really fun because everyone just stayed overnight in the gym or the wrestling room and we all played cards."

"What do Miss Wright's students think of her dedication to the students in and out of the classroom? "It's not like she's doing it because she feels she has to," says student Sage Smith, "She's doing it because she wants to, and that sincerity, it makes you feel good to know you have a teacher who cares that much."

Jennifer says she feels the same about her "kiddos."

"The intrinsic rewards that I get from teaching are what make me get up every morning and say, man I have the greatest job in the world and I get to teach the greatest kids in the world."

Please join 9NEWS, CollegeInvest and Metropolitian State College in congratulating Jennifer Wright, the May 2007 9Teacher Who Cares.