For the most part, state legislators and the Department of Education have maintained high standards for students in Colorado by requiring students to meet a variety of graduation requirements and benchmarks that prove they’re ready for success in college and career. But, are we challenging students who want to go into the armed forces with the same rigor as those…
Category: Teachers & Leaders
Colorado’s Children Deserve Better Social Emotional Support
“Sam, what is wrong?” I ask as my six-year-old student hangs his head during writing, tears streaming down his face. It’s the morning after the midterms. Sam’s got his hands covering his face and he’s barely nodding to communicate. Sam has a history of emotional trauma. His biological mother abandoned him and he has ADHD. He goes from manic moments…
How My Class Would Benefit From Amendment 73
As a teacher, one of my most difficult tasks is to differentiate for the varying abilities of students in my classes. This year, one of my non-English-speaking students is Asian and deaf. Kanda just moved to the U.S. from Thailand, where she was taught the Asian Sign Language. This is different from the American Sign Language; just ask my interpreter,…
Tom Boasberg: A final farewell from a grateful leader
On Tom Boasberg’s final day as superintendent of Denver Public Schools, we wanted to share his final farewell to the Denver community. Dear DPS Community, “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice,” observed abolitionist Theodore Parker in the mid-19th century and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a century later — both…
Meet Colorado’s 2019 Teacher of the Year Finalists
We hope these six teachers are rolling into the week feeling extra special, having just been named as finalists for Colorado’s 2019 Teacher of the Year competition. Kelly Cvanciger (Bear Creek High School, Jefferson County) Margaret Cypress (Bradley International School, Denver Public Schools) Katie Goldsberry (Longmont Estates Elementary, St. Vrain Valley School District) Amy Jones (Sunset Elementary, Moffat County RE-1)…