Working with partners to bring in experienced school turnaround professionals is the most important component of successfully reshaping a failing school, a new report says.

The report was authored by two experts at the University of Colorado Denver and made nine recommendations to the State Board of Education on Wednesday.

Representatives from several groups, including the state board, commissioned the study to analyze the challenges and opportunities of turnaround work in Colorado districts and schools.

The report addressed the role the state board can play in helping turnaround schools and districts. The report can be found on Colorado Department of Education website.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, Amanda Westenberg was recognized by the board as 2013 Colorado Teacher of the Year. Westenberg, of Aurora Public Schools, serves as the social studies department chair at Rangeview High School and has been in education for eight years.