We@PSD are proud of our students and staff for their many accomplishments.
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Staff and School Awards and Accomplishments
School Recognitions
- Seven PSD schools named U.S.D.E. National Blue Ribbon schools since 2003 for their high achievement among students.
- Three PSD schools designated U.S.D.E. National Green Ribbon schools for their commitment to health and sustainability.
- Four PSD schools named a "Trailblazer School to Watch" by the Colorado Association of Middle Level Education for academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity and organizational structure and processes. Lesher Middle School received, for the third time, the latest designation in 2020.
- PSD has been named a Gold Leader for district sustainability accomplishments.
- In 2023, Bethke Elementary School was recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community at Work School through Solution Tree for their commitment to ongoing staff collaboration and focus on improving student results.
- In 2022, Beattie Elementary School was named one of America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and earned distinction in six categories (the most in Colorado): Nutrition & Food Access, Local Wellness Policy, Health Education, Social-Emotional Health, Tobacco-Free Schools, and School Health Services (2022).
Colorado Department of Education Academic Excellence Awards
The CDE recently presented 11 PSD schools with the John Irwin Schools of Excellence award and three PSD schools with the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement award for their achievements. Two schools also received the High School Academic Growth award.
CDE Award Recipients in PSD
2023 Recipients
John Irwin Schools of Excellence Awards, given to schools for excellent academic achievement.
• Bethke Elementary School
• Cache La Poudre Middle School
• Compass Community Collaborative School
• Dunn Elementary School
• Fort Collins Montessori School
• Fossil Ridge High School
• Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School
• Liberty Common Charter School
• McGraw Elementary School
• Riffenburgh Elementary School
• Shepardson Elementary School
• Traut Core Elementary School
• Werner Elementary School
• Zach Elementary School
Colorado Governor’s Distinguished Improvement award, given to schools that demonstrate exceptional student growth.
• McGraw Elementary School
• Traut Core Elementary School
• Zach Elementary School
High School Academic Growth Award, given to schools that demonstrate the highest levels of students’ academic growth in reading writing and math, within each classification used by the statewide association for high school activities for the sport of football.
• Compass Community Collaborative School
• Liberty Common Charter School
2022 Recipients
Colorado Governor’s Distinguished Improvement award
- Cache La Poudre Elementary School
- Johnson Elementary School
- Lopez Elementary School
- McGraw Elementary School
- O’Dea Elementary School
- Zach Elementary School
John Irwin Schools of Excellence Awards
- Bethke Elementary School
- Fort Collins Montessori School
- Fossil Ridge High School
- Kinard Middle School
- Liberty Common Charter School
- PSD Mountain Schools
- Traut Elementary School
- Werner Elementary School
- Zach Elementary School
Staff Awards and Recognitions
Visit the Board Recognitions web page to see video clips of recognitions at board meetings.
- 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). Fall 2024
- 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. Fall 2024
- 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. Fall 2024
- 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. Fall 2024
- Barrett Golyer, 5A Coach of the Year selected by the Colorado High School Coaches Association, spring 2024
- Sue Davidson, Lincoln Middle School teacher, selected for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District Service Award, Educator of the Year, winter 2023-24
- Aspen Flores, Communications Department, was presented with three awards from the Colorado School Public Relations Association (COSPRA) for writing and photography in the 2023-24 school year.
- Tracy Hernandez, PSD bus operator, for outstanding and professional work keeping students calm during a medical emergency on her bus, winter 2023-24.
- Michelle Bowles, Fort Collins High School science teacher, was recognized with the 2023-24 AVS Teaching Award for Excellence in Secondary Science Education.
- Nicholas Chambers, Futures Lab lead aviation teacher, was selected as Educator of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
- Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber, Rocky Mountain High School science teacher, has been selected for the National Science Teacher Association-NSTA’s Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award for District XIV (Arizona, Colorado, and Utah).This press release was distributed by NSTA through the Business Wire’s National Newsline.
She is also selected as a 2023 PAEMST State Secondary Science Award.
- Winter 2024 - PSD music directors and CMEA performing ensembles
- Phuong Nguyen-Boltz Jazz Band
- Mike Perez-Kinard Symphonic Band
- Aaron Herman-FRHS Wind Symphony
- David Lonowski-PHS Impalaphonics Choir
- Bri McCormick and John Garner-FRHS Tenth Bass
- Elizabeth Hohweiler-RMHS Syrens
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2023 Co-Cabe Federico Pena Community Service Award: Dr. Norma Huerta-Kelley, Harris Elementary School principal
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2023 Paraeducator of the Year by the Colorado Association of Bilingual Education Co-CABE: Michelle Baum, Harris Elementary School paraprofessional
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2023 Yale Educator Award winner: Kate Sherrill, Fort Collins High School counselor (nominated by a FCHS graduate attending Yale)
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2023 SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators) awards:
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Jacob Benson, Kinard Middle School teacher, was selected Middle School P.E. Teacher of the Year by SHAPE.
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Riley Hubbard, Timnath Elementary School teacher, was selected for the Young Professional Award by SHAPE.
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Jeanne Morgan, Poudre High School teacher, was selected for the Distinguished Service Award for SHAPE.
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2023 Colorado Assistant Elementary School Principal of the Year: Amanda Pawelski (Laurel Elementary School)
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2023 Colorado Music Educators Association Performance Ensemble Selections
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Melissa Clayes - Boltz Chamber Orchestra
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Leanne Griffey - Kinard Symphony Orchestra
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Jasmine Faulkner - Polaris Singer/Songwriters
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2023 Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers Teacher of the Year: Erin Austin, Poudre High School teacher
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2022 National Outstanding Assistant Principals of the Year by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (May 2022) and the 2022 Colorado Assistant Elementary School Principal of the Year (January 2022): Cale Whicker
Past Staff Awards and Recognitions
2021 Colorado SHAPE Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year: Lesher Middle School teacher Matt Moeller
Colorado Association of Science Teachers 2021 AVS Teaching Award for Excellence in Secondary Science Education: Rocky Mountain High School teacher Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber
Colorado Hands and Voices 2021 Families First Award: McGraw Elementary teacher of the deaf Cathy Bowles
Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics excellence in teaching and leadership awards (fall 2021):
Teaching award - Kruse Elementary School teacher Emily Vangermeersh
Teaching award - Preston Middle School teacher Kathy Sampson
Leadership award – Poudre High School teacher Elissa Pitts
Teaching award – Olander School for Project Based Learning teacher Eryn Burge2021 Colorado Teacher of the Year Finalist: Tricia Kearns, Webber Middle School Fall 2020
2020 Colorado School Psychologist of the Year (Colorado Society of School Psychologists): Danielle Duncan, Kinard Middle School and Werner Elementary School Fall 2020
- Recognized American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model program (RAMP): Rocky Mountain High School Counseling Department. Spring 2020
- 2019 Colorado High School Theater Educator of the Year: John Garner, Fossil Ridge High School teacher Fall 2019
- Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2019 Outstanding Mathematics Teacher: Cathy Martin, Lopez Elementary teacher Fall 2019
2019 Colorado High School Counselor of the Year: Kelley Madden, Rocky Mountain High School counselor Fall 2019
Governor's Award for Worksite Wellness (fall 2019): Amanda Brantley, district wellness manager,
Emmy Award (August 2019): Matt Gohl and Phillip Primo with PSD TV
2019 Dale Yost Teacher and Coach of the Year (Colorado High School Coaches Association): Conrad Crist, FCHS teacher and coach
2019 Colorado 5A Cross Country Ski Coach of the Year - Coach Kyle Steitz
2019 Outstanding New Family and Consumer Sciences Professional - Ashley Acuff, FCHS teacher
- 2018 5A Boys Golf CHSSA Coaches of the Year: Andy Stevens and Jamie Menefee, Fossil Ridge HS coaches
- 2018 Reba Ferguson Memorial Administrator Rookie of the Year award (Colorado Association of School Executives):Alissa Poduska, Shepardson Elementary principal.
- 2018 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership (national award) - Aisha Thomas, Zach Elementary principal
- 2018 SHAPE Administrator of the Year (Society of Health and Physical Educators): Tom Dodd, Lesher Middle School principal.