“I was shocked,” math teacher Carrie Forrest said. 

Forrest had no idea that when Principal Andrew McMillan called a meeting on March 30, she would be an item on the agenda. 

But she was.

Forrest is the 2023 Teacher of the Year.

“Once the shock wore off, I was filled with a sense of gratitude,” said Forrest. “It is such an honor, but it is also a humbling experience to think about all the time and effort it has taken to get to this point in my career.”

Forrest said that she is thankful for the people at Chapman who have invested in her professional development.

One of the people Forrest works closely with is former Chapman Teacher of the Year and current District Teacher of the Year Alex Colson. 

Colson said that it is a wonderful feeling to be voted on by your peers, and that Forrest’s winning is a direct representation of what an amazing teacher and amazing person she is. 

“This really represents who Mrs. Forrest is as an educator and this just goes to show her character,” Colson said.“I really feel like she just embodies what teacher of the year should be.”

Not only do the teachers believe she deserves this award,but her students know it, too.

Senior Patrick Cooney has taken AP Calculus AB and BC with Forrest.

“She is one of the best teachers at this school in terms of actually teaching,” he said. “She teaches the subjects in ways that are simple to understand.”

Forrest is not only grateful for this award but also for Chapman as a whole.

“I am so grateful to be a part of the staff here (and) grateful for the experiences I’ve had in 10 years of teaching to get me to this point,” Forrest said.