Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

AUGUST 2025

TeacherCon Energizes Educators for the New School Year WDE is proud to announce the successful launch of TeacherCon, Wyoming’s inaugural educator conference. Held in partnership with the UW College of Education and many other sponsors, the event brought together nearly 300 educators for workshops and professional development opportunities.

Native American Education Conference Supports Educators & Families The Native American Education Conference was held in Riverton to assist teachers of tribal youth in improving their teaching practices. This year's theme was Rooted in Culture – Reaching for the Future. The free event included sessions addressing issues beyond the classroom and was open to educators, students, families, and the community.

ELR is a Leadership Experience to Remember The Wyoming Educator Leadership Rendezvous, an event held in collaboration with the Wyoming National Guard to provide educators with experiences to develop leadership skills and become better informed about career possibilities in the military for their students. Educators who attended participated in various training exercises, including C-130 flights, Black Hawk helicopter flights, rappelling, physical training, and paintball and simulator activities.

Innovative Educators Receive Awards An awards dinner celebration on the opening night of TeacherCon recognized several Wyoming educators for their innovative practices. These included: Wilfred Ferris III of Fremont County #38, Innovative Teaching Award; Stephanie Rhine of Fremont County #1, Rising Star Award; Travis Duncan of Park County #6, Excellence in Civics Education Award; Elizabeth Thoman of Sweetwater County #2, Community Partnership Award; and John Masters of Sheridan County #1, Outstanding Mentor Award.

SkillsUSA State Directors Meet in Wyoming The 2025 SkillsUSA State Directors Conference was hosted right here in Cheyenne. State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder spoke at the event and presented a special Wyoming buckle to SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis to show our state's unwavering commitment to career and technical education.

Students Showcase Knowledge at Wyoming State Civics Bee Wyoming's top middle school students demonstrated their civic knowledge and passion at the Wyoming State Civics Bee. Superintendent Degenfelder was proud to be a part of the competition and support students who are interested in government and public service.

State-Authorized Charter School Opens New Building in Mills Superintendent Megan Degenfelder attended and spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Wyoming Classical Academy, one of Wyoming's state-authorized charter schools.