Every year Arch Coal recognizes 10 outstanding teachers throughout the state of Wyoming, and this year Newcastle Middle School English teacher Jessica Troftgruben was one of those teachers. The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award is the longest running privately sponsored teacher award in the state.
“I was shocked when I received the Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. I only submitted the application to honor the students and parents who had nominated me. I felt that if they had taken the time to nominate me, I owed it to them to complete the application process,” Troftgruben admitted. As part of the award, she received a trophy and $3,500 cash prize in front of the entire Newcastle Middle School.