Colorado Department of Education

It's Family Engagement Friday! This week we’re highlighting the kickoff of the Family, School, and Community Partnerships Learning Cohort for principals, which includes 45 participants from 16 districts across Colorado. The principals met at Aurora Public Schools Welcome Center and discussed mindsets, high impact practices, and problems of practice. During a tour of the facility, the principals were impressed with the supports APS has in place to support newcomer families. Learn more about our work to support strong school and family partnerships: https://lnkd.in/gGgQrFRh

Thanks to funding from our Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grants, students and educators in Peetz School Plateau School District RE-5 have beautiful new learning spaces! The first phase of the PK-12 addition and renovation project is completed and students are thriving in the new addition, and the older portions of the school are being renovated. Learn more about BEST grants at https://lnkd.in/g2niAAPZ.

It's #NationalPrincipalsMonth, and we are highlighting Principal Ashley Johnston who leads the elementary school in SOROCO Schools. Ashley has been a principal for four years and an educator for more than 20 years. She says the best part is helping educators and students on their pathways to success and finding “ways to support balance and well-being for educators while still holding both teachers and students to the highest standards.” She says she loves being a school leader because it makes her "part of something bigger than me. I feel I was put on this earth for servant leadership, and being successful in this warms me to my core.” Ashley also works with CDE’s Reauthorization Committee, which focuses on teacher certification pathways and success. When she’s not at school, she says she does a lot of napping, “but sometimes I enjoy hiking and just being in the outdoors. Any time I can do an activity in the sun is a good day.”

The Colorado Department of Public Safety has a great Halloween event scheduled for Oct. 25 in Golden. Gather the family, get in those costumes, and fill your bags with candy!

Es el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, y estamos destacando a la Dr. Patricia Hurrieta, Directora del Equipo del Éxito Estudiantil Latine (LSS Team) de Denver Public Schools. ¡Patricia ha trabajado y promovido el campo de la educación por más de 30 años y compartió con nosotros parte de su trayectoria!

It's Hispanic Heritage Month, and we’re highlighting Dr. Patricia Hurrieta, director of the Latine Student Success Team from Denver Public Schools. Patricia has been a champion of education for more than 30 years and shared some of her journey with us!

It's What's Up Wednesday and it's Farm to School Month! Education Commissioner Susana Cordova celebrated Colorado Proud School Meal Day last week with students at Fulton Academy of Excellence in Aurora Public Schools! The lunch menu featured food grown or produced in Colorado including beef, refried beans, salsa, corn, pears, honeydew and milk. Across the state, more than 306,000 students participated in the celebration of local food at 764 schools in 35 districts.

Did you know that the Colorado Historic Newspaper collection has 4.8 million digital pages of Colorado history? Learn more from the Colorado State Library: https://lnkd.in/dBKU8U4N

To celebrate Teacher Tuesday and Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting Yessica Cruz from Weld County School District RE-9. Yessica has been an educator for 11 years and teaches kindergarten at Highland Elementary School. Yessica says: “The most rewarding part of teaching has been the connection I have with my students. Seeing their growth in the year I have them but also continuing to see them grow over the years.” She said she is motivated to be a teacher because her elementary teachers didn’t give up on her and she is thankful for her parents' and siblings' faith in her. “My husband and two boys cheer me on every day and push me to be better ... I teach because I love the feeling of helping others, especially kids.” When she’s not teaching, Jessica enjoys reading, running and outdoor activities.

It's #NationalPrincipalsMonth, and we are celebrating Colorado's school leaders! Principal Gelmarie Ortiz-Nieves leads Barnum Elementary School in Denver Public Schools. Gelmarie has been an educator for 26 years, four of which have been as a principal. She says she enjoys being a leader who builds a "culture of unity where everyone feels welcome and safe and that encourages growth, creativity, and a love of learning.” Gelmarie is passionate about providing educational environments that are positive and nurturing for young learners. When not at school, Gelmarie likes to go to sporting events, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, reading, and spending time with friends and family.