PSD staff awards, accomplishments and successes!

Congratulations to staff for their accomplishments and successes!

Awards

• Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber was selected as the National Association of Biology Teachers- Colorado Outstanding Biology Teacher (OBTA) Awardee for Region VIII (CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY). 
  •  Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber was also awarded the Jennifer Pfannerstill Travel Award and will be attending the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Conference in November. 

• Andie Kirkwood, Shepardson Elementary School third-grade teacher, was selected as a Rotary Teacher of the Month for her exceptional work teaching students, in particular those with trauma, over the past several years. She creates a caring, inclusive learning environment that makes every child feel exceptional.

• Abby Ney-Hawley, Lesher Middle School physical education teacher, was awarded 2024 Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE Colorado (the Society of Health and Physical Educators) for her dedication to students and innovative teaching methods.  

• Dr. Jennifer Roth, Fort Collins High School principal, was selected to receive the Honored Administrator Award from the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) based on her exceptional support as an administrator who values music education as an integral part of the total school curriculum, as one who includes music in their educational philosophy and support it through evidenced commitments and actions.  Dr. Roth, who was nominated for the award by an FCHS music teacher, will be honored at the 2025 CMEA Conference in Colorado Springs in January. 

Certifications, Grants and Successes

• Cathy Bowles, McGraw Elementary School teacher for the deaf/hard of hearing, became a certified administrator for the American Sign Language Expressive Skills Test given to students with significant hearing differences who use ASL as their primary expressive language. This assessment was developed by Northern Signs Research., which is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

• Aja Mattise-Lorenzen and Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber, Rocky Mountain High School, collaborated on a grant submission that has been selected for funding by the LYRA organization to facilitate the implementation of the Seal of Climate Literacy degree endorsement at Rocky Mountain High School.

• Makenzie Stevenson, Olander Elementary School physical education teacher, made sure a student had an adaptive climbing harness that would allow her to experience climbing during her school’s ECO Week outdoor adventure. 

Presentations 

• Dr. Sonja Gedde, Fossil Ridge High School teacher, was selected to speak at the 2024 Innovative Schools Summit in Chicago in November. She presented at the Innovative Leadership Forum portion of the conference regarding her research and writing about the importance of collectivist leadership structures.  

• Lindsey Mozer, Irish Elementary School principal, presented at the 3rd annual Co-CABE Colorado Dual language Conference in September. Her presentation was on the Science of Reading for MLs, an interactive lesson in using structured literacy protocols in dual language classrooms.

• Jen Trinkaus-Randall (teacher), Shari Lemesany (teacher) and Wayne Thornes (principal), Shepardson Elementary School, presented two breakout sessions - Running Inclusive Bicycle Field Trips and Promoting School-wide Bicycle Culture - at the National Safe Routes to School Conference in October. These sessions focused on how to collaborate with SRTS and school support teams to plan grade-wide field trips for fourth and fifth graders that provide every student with the opportunity to travel by bike. 

Published!

• Laura Azuaje, Harris Bilingual Immersion School music teacher, had her article titled “Shifting Perspectives: Music Education and Disability” published in the The Ensemble, a music education magazine. 

• Deborah Contino, Irish Elementary Escuela Bilingue integrated services teacher, published and launched her book titled “Raising Capable Kids - The 12 Habits Every Parent Needs Regardless of Their Child's Label or Challenge” in September. 

Staff and Student Successes

• The following PSD ensembles were selected to perform at the 2025 Colorado Music Educators Association conference in January: 
  • RMHS Jazz I Jazz Band (Logan Doddridge)
  • RMHS Low Beaux Choir (John Friskney)
  • FCHS Symphony Orchestra (John Hermanson)
  • TMHS Symphonic Orchestra (Drew Mendizabal)

In addition, FCHS teacher John Hermanson was selected to present at the conference. 

• The Kinard Symphony Orchestra directed by Leanne Griffey was selected to perform at the upcoming 2025 National Orchestra Festival (American String Teachers Organization)

• The Fossil Ridge High School Marching Band, with FRHS Director Aaron Herman and Assistant Director Hannah Peterson, competed in the Bands of America New Mexico Regional Championships in Las Cruces, New Mexico, earlier this fall. The FRHS Marching Band won their division (AAA) and were the Overall Regional Champions, and overall winner for Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance, and Outstanding General Effect. 
  • The FRHS Marching Band also recently won the Class 5A Colorado state championship title.