Staff achievements: Awards, fellowships, personal accomplishments and more!

Published: October 28, 2022

Congratulations to staff who for their outstanding accomplishments!

Personal Accomplishments!

Lexi Cire, Mountain Schools high dosage tutor and site facilitator, recently visited Tanzania and hiked Mount Kilimanjaro with an "amazing" team in six days. "I'm wildly grateful for this once in a lifetime achievement," she said. Mount Kilimanjaro is considered the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world: 5,895 meters above sea level and about 4,900 meters above its plateau base.

Brian Faulkner, Poudre High School teacher, has been selected to go to South Africa as part of the National Education Association Global Learning Fellowship Class of 2023. He is one of 50 exceptional educators, representing 45 states, spanning all grade levels and subjects.

Mary Stalnaker, Wellington Middle/High School teacher, has been selected to go to Poland next summer as one of the 2022 Auschwitz Legacy Fellows. Stalnaker applied for the Auschwitz Legacy Fellowship “to bring authenticity to my teaching of the Holocaust through my journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Warsaw, and Krakow and learning from the memory keepers.” She explains that “firsthand accounts are the most impactful with students, who respond best to stories from the people who witnessed and lived through these moments.” She learned about the fellowship program thanks to the partnership with the Mizel Museum.

Alan Braslau, Poudre Community Academy in-building support, co-authored an article that was published in the scientific journal Symmetry (Sept. 15, 2021). The reference is: Sikorav,J.-L.;Braslau,A.; Goldar, A. Foundations of Biology. Symmetry 2021,13,1701.

Erin Gilbert, MTSS coordinator, Kara Quinlan, Poudre High School teacher, and Kathy Mackay, PHS principal, presented at the Attainment Network's Career-Connected Education--A Colorado Pathways Conference.

Angelo Mondragon, PSD Outdoor Services, received his Master Plumber's license in August.

Mary Shull-Sarti, site technology manager at Fort Collins High School, recently received a certificate in Business Analysis from Villanova University.

Kara Quinlan, Poudre High School teacher, co-wrote a book on space education.

Erin Austin, Poudre High School teacher, was named the 2023 Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers Teacher of the Year. She also presented two sessions at the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina in Durham, North Carolina, on Oct. 15, 2022.

Beattie Elementary School has been 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.

Jasmine Faulkner, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School teacher, is a quarterfinalist for the 2023 Grammy Music Educator Award. Nearly 1500 applicants nationwide applied and 207 music teachers were selected as quarterfinalists; the semifinalists will be announced soon. The winner attends the Grammy Awards and will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for their school. Faulkner is being recognized for her work in modern band, inclusive music instruction, connecting her students with the community, and launching a student-led Youth Stage Trailer business. A special thanks to Music Will (previously knows as Little Kids Rock), Bohemian Foundation, Kayla Foundation, the PSD Foundation, and the local music community for supporting innovations in music education in PSD.

Becky Harrison, Poudre High School teacher, has been nominated for the Life Changer of the Year award.

Ben Johnson, Rocky Mountain High School teacher, has received a NGPF (Nex Gen Personal Finance) Distinguished Educator Award.

Scott Wheeler, Kinard Middle School music teacher, is one of seven finalists for the Colorado Department of Education's 2023 Colorado Teacher of the Year.

Jay Daire, Riffenburgh Elementary custodian, received a "Jedi Master for the District" award because he is "Here for every child, every day" from Melanie Mierzwa, Riffenburgh principal, and Melissa Cripe, Riffenbugh assistant principal. Daire says of the award, "It's in humor..but still I absolutely love it....It brought tears to my eyes when I received it, and I honestly consider it one of my greatest honors to be given this!"