Lander educator and Wyoming Teacher of the Year Morgan Hahn was invited to speak before the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday, where she addressed both the Wyoming Senate and House of Representatives before the day’s sessions began, County 10 reports.
Hahn expressed her deep gratitude for the opportunity, stating:
“It’s an honor to be here today. It’s an honor to teach our kids, and it’s an honor to represent the profession that I’ve been called to all my life.”
Hahn, a product of Wyoming’s educational system, grew up in Douglas. Though she initially pursued college athletics in other states, her experiences allowed her to appreciate the value of Wyoming’s education system, prompting her return to the University of Wyoming to complete her bachelor’s degree in social studies education. Hahn also holds a master’s degree in American history and government with a focus on teaching the Constitution from Ashland University.
Currently, Hahn teaches world history, US history, advanced placement psychology, and advanced placement US history at Lander Valley High School. She expressed pride in being part of a school system that, she believes, is preparing students for success, with many students going on to serve in the military, enter the workforce, or attend colleges ranging from Central Wyoming College to Princeton University.
In 2021, Hahn was named Wyoming’s James Madison Fellow, attending the James Madison Summer Institute at Georgetown University, where she participated in discussions about the state’s education system. Hahn highlighted Wyoming’s strong performance in national education assessments, noting that since 2017, the state has surpassed or matched national performance in every category on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Additionally, she mentioned that Wyoming leads the nation in SAT participation, with Lander Valley High School outperforming the state average on the SAT this year.
She praised Wyoming’s education system as “effective, innovative,” and committed to preparing students for the future. Hahn emphasized the importance of educators who balance innovation with proven strategies, working with a strong Wyoming work ethic to ensure student success.
Concluding her address, Hahn urged state lawmakers to engage with local educators to understand the issues impacting Wyoming’s K-12 education system. She expressed optimism about the future of Wyoming education, saying:
“Wyoming is leading the nation in education, and I’m so optimistic about the future of us collaborating and ultimately rallying around kids to help them achieve even greater heights.”
