PSD Staff Achieves Success! 

Colorado History Teacher of the Year:   Scott DeVries, history teacher, Preston Jr. High School, was named the Colorado History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America. DeVries was chosen for his experience in teaching American history; deep career commitment to teaching American history; evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom; and close attention to documents, artifacts, historic sites, and other primary materials of history. DeVries will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will be in the running for the National History Teacher of the Year award to be selected this fall. Preston Jr. High School’s library will receive a core archive of history books and materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 

Outstanding Math Teacher of the Year Award:  Martha Cranor, math teacher, Preston Jr. High School, was named the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics (CCTM) 2006 Outstanding Math Teacher of the Year for Region IV for displaying excellence in teaching math. Cranor will be honored at the CCTM conference September 28–29 at the Colorado Convention Center. 

Administrator of the Year Award:  Jim Gjerde, human relations liaison, Rocky Mountain High School, recently received the Colorado Association of School Resource Officer’s Administrator of the Year award for his many years of dedication to the students and staff of Rocky Mountain High School and Poudre School District.

Colorado Spanish Teacher of 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award:  Norma Arroyo, Spanish teacher, Fossil Ridge High School, recently received the Colorado Spanish Teacher of 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award for her excellence in teaching Spanish. Arroyo was honored at an awards luncheon at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.

 Life Enhancement Award:  Nancy Gorman, music teacher, O’Dea Core Knowledge Elementary School, received the 1^st Annual MacKenzie Place Life Enhancement award. The award was sponsored by Clear Channel Communications. 

Boettcher Influential Teacher Award:  Joel Peterson, counselor, Webber Jr. High School, was recently honored by Boettcher scholar Colin West at the Colorado Boettcher Scholars dinner as being the most influential teacher in West’s K–12 career in PSD. 

International Baccalaureate Program Coordinator:  Beth Cavanaugh, 6^th-grade teacher and Middle Years Program (MYP) coordinator, McGraw IB World Elementary School, was chosen by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to participate in a program continuum meeting in Cardiff, Wales, in November. Cavanaugh will represent McGraw and North America as the meeting participants discuss ways that schools can better link the three IB programs and provide a smooth transition for students between programs. 

Arts Alive!  Kathleen Willard, language arts teacher, Preston Jr. High School, and Lori Acott-Fowler, art teacher, Poudre High School, were winners of the 2006 Arts Alive Fellowship awards. Willard and Fowler each received $500 and will be honored at a reception at the new Poudre River Arts Center in September. 

Human Resources Professionals  Jaime Engel, analyst, Human Resources, and Tracy LeValley, technician, Human Resources, recently passed the Professional in Human Resources exam. Cathy Smith, executive director, Human Resources, passed the Senior Professional in Human Resources exam. Both exams are given by the Human Resources Certification Institute, the leading internationally recognized certifying body for the HR profession. 

Election to National Association of Elementary School Principals:  Mary Kay Sommers, principal, Shepardson Elementary School, was elected to serve as president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) during the 2006–07 school year. Dr. Sommers, active in NAESP circles in recent years, is the first Colorado educator to fill this role since 1966.