Stories from the Report to the Community: Brentwood's Own Earns Top State Principal Honor

As Principal Nicole Petersen walks through the halls of Brentwood Middle School, she calls to students by name, asks how they are doing, or how their basketball game went. She might ask about their sibling, or if they are feeling better after an illness. 

Nicole Petersen knows her students. She has created a student-centered culture of learning at Brentwood Middle School. And, that's just one of the reasons she was named the 2026 Colorado Middle Level Principal of the Year.

"We believe our success stems from our commitment to truly knowing our students - not just as data points, but as individuals with talents, dreams, and unique needs," Petersen said. "While we review trend data to inform our instruction, we remain adamant that every data point represents a human being." 

"Mrs. Petersen has done such an incredible job of making both students and parents alike feel like their feelings and concerns matter," said Brentwood parent Amanda Fanjoy. "It feels to me that she constantly has a good pulse on what is happening with all of the students at any given time."

In December 2025, the Colorado Association of Secondary School Principals (CASSP), a department of the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), chose Petersen from a competitive collection of nominees. As the 2026 Colorado Middle-Level Principal of the Year, Petersen will be considered for the National Association of Secondary School Pricnipals (NASSP) Principal of the Year award. She will also participate in several events and conferences, both at the state and national levels.