2023 Education Guide

Area schools embrace social-emotional learning

BY NICK SULLIVAN nick.sullivan@gazette.com

Social-emotional learning has taken root in classrooms across the country as schools commit to teaching not only standard reading, writing and arithmetic, but also emotional well-being.

Education professionals say student achievement excels when SEL is built into the school day to help students learn how to regulate their emotions and communicate what they’re feeling with staff and each other.

“You can’t learn if you’re not regulated,” Wilson Elementary School counselor Cassidy Bristol said. “That’s just the truth. You can’t.”

As schools expand their instructional focus, however, SEL has earned the ire of some critics, who say the programming is an overstep at best, or indoctrination at worst.

SEL focuses on educational equity by helping students “develop healthy identities, manage emotions, and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others,” among other objectives, according to CASEL .org.

Proponents say SEL is a positive way of developing people skills and managing one’s own feelings, thus decreasing violent behavior, depression and anxiety among young students. At Colorado Springs District 11’s Wilson Elementary, suspensions have decreased and academic success has improved since the school bolstered SEL programming and counseling in recent years, according to Bristol.

Wilson builds SEL into the schedule so Bristol can make classroom visits to teach on a given topic, such as building healthy friendships, or students can meet with her in her office for more personalized counseling. Teachers also use the time for “Random Acts of Kindness” lessons, which helps “schools create a culture of kindness,” according to the curriculum website.

Bristol was named the 2022 elementary school counselor of the year by the Colorado School Counseling Association. District 11, which Bristol said embraces SEL and supports its counselors, swept last year’s awards with middle school and high school recognition as well.

Neighboring School District 49, however, has weathered a more tumultuous relationship with SEL as some community and board members criticize the programming as dangerous and agenda-driven.

The hot topic issue came to a head at a December D-49 board meeting, in which a divided school board approved SEL curricula in a contentious 3-2 vote. The vote solidified a list of 18 programs already in use at district schools.

“We don’t need to teach kids to be victims who look for the ill of society in this great country of ours,” said board member Ivy Liu, who has taken the mantle of opposition in a passionate effort to preserve kids’ innocence and can-do spirits. “I think that’s what some

SEL programs are pushing toward — not I think, I know based on the website description.”

Liu and like-minded individuals say emotional development is best left to parents rather than teachers, who are overburdened as is. If an instructor lacks proper experience or training, she said, the programing could veer into critical race theory teachings on social justice and equality. Liu further described SEL as a behavioral psychology tool to transform children’s core values and attitudes.

Sarah Clapham, another of D-11’s award-winning counselors at West Middle School, said lessons do sometimes tackle topics like race or difference. Discussions are driven by what the students are asking for, she said, not by an agenda.

“If we choose to avoid those conversations because of the controversy, then we really lose out on knowing who our students are and responding to their needs,” Clapham said. “We really dive into those conversations and try

to create an environment where we can have those real, really rich conversations, and people can share their experience and feel safe enough to share those experiences.”

The tenets of SEL are nothing new in concept. Educators for decades have managed the emotions of their students in some form, whether that be a restorative conversation in lieu of punishment or encouraging kindness among peers. This approach only developed into a formal curriculum in the 1990s, when the term SEL was officially coined.

School counselors say SEL programming has only become more important since COVID -19 sent kids home for extended periods of time, depriving them of socialization skills that typically develop at their respective stages in life.

“A lot of them came back with super low compassion,” Bristol said, citing survey data collected from students after returning to inperson instruction.

Students had for more than a year been taught to avoid touching others. Masks further complicated matters by obscuring a person’s face, making it hard to interpret what emotion they might be feeling.

“That was a huge developmental time where they didn’t learn, ‘Oh, you feel sad? I should probably ask how you are feeling or what’s wrong,’” Bristol said. “It’s kind of teaching what you would think are the basics. That’s something kids just don’t know.”

Bristol teaches children how to identify and label their feelings rather than using nonspecific terms like “weird” or “off.” This way, staff can best understand how to help each student based on their emotional needs.

“Kids who don’t know how to calm down are going to grow up to be adults that don’t know how to calm down,” Bristol said.

That, Bristol said, is her motivation to teach SEL now, for a more peaceful future.

Students at West Middle School react to a social-emotional learning lesson on anxiety that involved the game “Beanboozled.” Students chose jelly beans at random, some with sweet flavors and some flavored like dishwater or rotten eggs. Photo by Nick Sullivan, The Gazette.

District leaders explain school choice

BY NICK SULLIVAN nick.sullivan@gazette.com

For nearly three decades, Colorado students have been able to attend any public school in the state for free, regardless of where they live. The application process for school choice, also known as open enrollment, is now underway for the 2023-2024 school year in El Paso County.

Here’s what to know before making your school choice.

How does school choice work?

With the 1994 passage of Colorado’s Public Schools of Choice law, students are no longer bound by school district lines. Families can apply to any public school in the state.

The law resulted in a more competitive education ecosystem, which “ups the ante” as schools vie to retain families and lure newcomers from outside, according to Colorado Springs District 11 spokesperson Devra Ashby.

“In that time we’ve just seen a robust growth of all kinds of different programs and opportunities,” Ashby said. “If your neighborhood school is just not meeting the needs of your child, there are other options out there.”

Different schools cater to different passions and needs. Some boast stronger arts programs whereas others emphasize STEM or trade skills. Choice allows students to find the right fit based on their own interests.

If a parent or guardian wants to enroll their child outside their neighborhood school, they can fill out a choice application on a district’s website. Students can choice enroll into a school within or outside of their zoned district. Classroom capacity is typically the biggest obstacle to an applicant’s acceptance.

Once a student is enrolled, parents will not have to fill out another application as long as the student remains at that choice school. For example, Ashby, who choice enrolled her second-grade

son into his current elementary school, will not need to re-apply until middle school, at which point she can either enroll her son at their default neighborhood school or fill out a new choice application.

Application windows vary, and so do expectations

Every district follows a different timeline, so it’s important to know when your school of interest opens its applications and when its priority deadline closes.

Methods for determining applicant priority can also vary between districts, often straying from a strictly first-come, firstserved basis. For example, priority in Academy District 20 is first given to in-district families with siblings already attending the choice school, then in-district families with no siblings attending the choice school, followed by out-of-district employee children, returning out-of-district students, and finally new out-ofdistrict students.

D-11 follows a similar hierarchy, though Ashby said the sooner an application is submitted, the better the odds of acceptance since applications are date stamped.

But in D-11, where demographics have shrunk in recent years, Ashby said capacity is rarely a barrier for choice students.

In contrast, Manitou Springs District 14 is much smaller, with about 50% of its students choice enrolling in, according to Superintendent Elizabeth Domangue.

“There are definitely grades and academic programs across the school district that we consistently have a waiting list for from yearto-year,” Domangue said. “If we are at capacity, we communicate with families if a spot becomes available.”

In D-20, where just over half of all students choice enrolled in, classrooms have hard caps on classroom capacity, according to spokesperson Allison Cortez.

However, they do try to reserve a few spots for neighborhood residents who might move into the area late or get denied from an outside school of choice. In the event there are no available seats at a student’s neighborhood school, the district will work with families to place their child elsewhere until there is an opening. For the most part, every student will be accepted as long as there is room at the given choice school. However, some schools have special stipulations, especially charters, that might result in a rejection. Possible factors include expulsion history, course prerequisites or age restrictions. What’s more, smaller schools might lack the capacity to care for certain special needs.

Do your research

Families commonly purchase houses and choose schools before ever setting foot in the state of Colorado, according to Cortez. This method of decision making can easily backfire without proper research.

A newly developed neighborhood does not necessarily indicate availability at the neighborhood school, according to Ashby, who said families sometimes assume expanding housing equates to expanding classroom capacity. This misguided assumption can leave a student without a seat at their nearest school.

Parents are encouraged to tour a school and speak with the principal about capacity before making a move, Ashby said.

Families should also inquire about transportation. Districts sometimes have satellite pick-ups for students who choose a school outside of their neighborhood, according to Cortez. Transportation is not a guarantee, however, like it is at a neighborhood school.

With so many factors at play, Ashby said there is no one-size-fits-all solution for students. When parents ask her which school is the best, her answer is simple: “The best school is the best school for your child.”

We’ve just seen a robust growth of all kinds of different programs and opportunities. If your neighborhood school is just not meeting the needs of your child, there are other options out there.

— Devra Ashby, Colorado Springs District 11 spokesperson

Thomas MacLaren School's Top 10 List

1) We are a charter public school teaching grades K-12, tuition-free.

2) MacLaren students take music every day; all Upper School students take part in our award-winning string orchestra.

3) Younger students have P.E. and two recesses every day while our older students can try out for our strong sports program in middle and high school.

4) Students learn to read in a phonics-based program that develops a love of reading. As they grow, they read and discuss original texts novels and poetry, history and philosophy, economics and political theory.

5) Students learn to think mathematically and scientifically. They all start with Singapore math and hands-on science and all end with physics, computer programming, and calculus.

6) Our school is a community of learners led by a dynamic faculty, over half of whom hold advanced degrees.

7) Our culture is warm and engaging, characterized by kindness, friendliness, and peace.

8) We offer single-gender classes to middle and high school students in a co-ed environment.

9) The Charter School Institute, the state chartering authority, has designated Thomas MacLaren School a “School of Distinction” annually since 2013.

10) Our students regularly are in the top 10 in the state and the top 5 regionally for highest average SAT and ACT scores.

Getting technical: Students explore career skills across El Paso County

BY NICK SULLIVAN nick.sullivan@gazette.com

Career and technical education opportunities abound in the Colorado Springs area as the industry — also known as trade or vocations — searches for fresh employees to add to its ranks.

Depending on the part of town, those course offerings can differ dramatically.

School districts use local job markets and labor statistics to drive programming decisions, according to Jessica McAllister, the secondary programs coordinator for Lewis-Palmer School District 38.

“You might talk to, I mean heck, a district down south that has an agriculture program. Well, that’s because their economic area depends on agriculture,” McAllister said. “We would be doing our students a disservice (in D-38) to really build their skills in agriculture, because that’s not a part of our local economy.”

D-38 instead offers business, engineering and computer science programs at both Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge high schools. This year, the district also added construction to its lineup.

If a student’s neighborhood school does not offer a specific program of interest, however, odds are another in the area does. CTE directors from across the county regularly get together to bounce ideas off one another and improve trade offerings at their respective schools. The end goal is to create opportunities so every kid has a pathway to exploring their interests.

At Widefield School District 3’s Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab, or the MiLL, students can learn one of three trades handpicked by local professionals who

identified Colorado Springs’ trade employment needs: cabinet manufacturing, construction technology and welding technology. The classes are also open to outside districts that don’t have the resources for these very specific trades.

The MiLL partners with businesses in the community, which supply state-of-the-art equipment for its expensive-to-operate programs.

The facility was initially conceived as a way for students to develop relationships with industry professionals by providing four years of hands-on experience before they graduate. As a result, students often leave the MiLL with opportunities lined up, according to D-3 Career and Technical Education Director Nikki Carter.

“We do have partnerships with industry folks … who actually help us provide internships so our kids have a place to go when they graduate,” Carter said. “That’s I think

the hard part in K-12 education is the gap and making sure that when kids are ready to graduate we have something to give them or some place to help facilitate the next piece where they can at least get information for a job and help set them up for success in that way.”

But the way in which schools think about skilled trades has evolved over time, according to Kolleen Johnson, the director of student success at Manitou Springs School District 14.

“CTE is not your dad’s vocational programming,” Johnson said.

While Manitou High School students can build a house in the school parking lot — a program that has become popular in districts across El Paso County in recent years — Johnson said students have many more opportunities to dabble in CTE that aren’t traditionally thought of as skilled trades. Nevertheless, the district has expanded its thinking.

Students can explore the technical side of theater by operating sound and lights or constructing sets. Senior art students are interning for a local business owner as they design a patio mural. There’s even a metalsmithing class where students can produce their own jewelry or sculptures to sell or hold shows. Each of these falls under the CTE umbrella.

“So really shifting our mindset to say, it’s not that college isn’t for everybody, or it is for everybody. It’s that post-secondary education and training is for everybody. What that post-secondary piece looks like should be different,” Johnson said. “We also need to change what high school looks like so that some kids can get what they need while they’re still here.”

Schools in D-38 offer Adobe Photoshop and InDesign courses in middle school as a digital media and communications pathway, and in high school students can earn Adobe credentials, in addition to school broadcast and newspaper opportunities. Middle schoolers can also dabble in a biomedical sciences pathway via classes like medical detectives or forensic science, in which students learn about fingerprinting, ballistics and taking and reading blood pressure.

Exposure to a variety of skills early on will help students identify new passions — or even identify what they definitely do not want to do — before pursuing expensive degrees.

“It’s important right now to celebrate their discoveries,” McAllister said, “and to give them lots of different options and opportunities so that we can start honing in closer to what’s going to get them to that place of being a fulfilled contributor of society.”

The MiLL is an offsite programming facility in Widefield School District 3 that provides trade education to high school students. Photo by Nick Sulllivan, The Gazette.

ACADEMY DISTRICT 20

719-234-1200, asd20.org

• Academy Endeavour Elementary

• Academy International Elementary

• Air Academy High School

• Antelope Trails Elementary School

• Aspen Valley Campus (Middle and High School)

• Briargate Preschool

• Challenger Middle School

• Chinook Trail Elementary School

• Chinook Trail Middle School

• Discovery Canyon Campus Elementary School

• Discover Canyon Campus Middle School

• Discovery Canyon Campus High School

• Douglass Valley Elementary School

• Eagleview Middle School

• Edith Wolford Elementary School

• Encompass Heights Elementary School

• Explorer Elementary School

• Foothills Elementary School

• Frontier Elementary School

• High Plains Elementary School

• Home School Academy (K-12)

• Journey K8 (K-8)

• Legacy Peak Elementary School

• Liberty High School

• Mountain Ridge Middle School

• Mountain View Elementary School

• New Opportunity Programs (Grades 9-12)

• New Summit Charter Academy (PreK-8)

• Pine Creek High School

• Pioneer Elementary School

• Prairie Hills Elementary School

• Rampart High School

• Ranch Creek Elementary

• Rockrimmon Elementary School

• School in the Woods Elementary School

• The Classical Academy (Elementary, Middle and High Schools)

• The Da Vinci Academy Elementary School

• Timberview Middle School

• Village High School

• Woodmen-Roberts Elementary School

CALHAN SCHOOL

DISTRICT RJ-1 719-347-2766, calhanschool.org

• Calhan Preschool

• Calhan Elementary School

• Calhan Middle School

• Calhan High School

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 12 719-475-6100, cmsd12.org

• Broadmoor Elementary School

• Cañon Preschool

• Cheyenne Mountain Elementary School

• Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School

• Cheyenne Mountain High School

• Gold Camp Elementary School

• Piñon Valley Elementary School

• Skyway Park Elementary School

COLORADO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND 719-578-2100, csdb.colorado.gov

LOCAL SCHOOL DIRECTORY

COLORADO SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 11 719-520-2000, d11.org

• Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning

• Achieve Online School

• Adams Elementary School

• Adult and Family Education

• Audubon Elementary School

• Bijou School

• Bristol Elementary School

• Buena Vista Elementary School

• Carver Elementary School

• Chipeta Elementary School

• CIVA Charter High School

• Columbia Elementary School

• Community Prep Charter School

• Coronado High School

• Digital High School

• Doherty High School

• Eastlake High School

• Edison Elementary School

• Freedom Elementary School

• Fremont Elementary School

• Galileo School of Math and Science

• Globe Charter School

• Grant Elementary School

• Henry Elementary School

• Holmes Middle School

• Howbert Elementary School

• Jackson Elementary School

• Jenkins Middle School

• Keller Elementary School

• King Elementary School

• Madison Elementary School

• Mann Middle School

• Martinez Elementary School

• McAuliffe Elementary School

• Midland Elementary School

• Mitchell High School

• Monroe Elementary School

• North Middle School

• Odyssey Early College and Career Options

• Palmer High School

• Penrose Elementary School

• Queen Palmer Elementary School

• Rogers Elementary School

• Roosevelt Charter Academy

• Roy J Wasson Academic Campus

• Rudy Elementary School

• Russell Middle School

• Sabin Middle School

• Scott Elementary School

• Spark Online Academy

• Steele Elementary School

• Stratton Elementary School

• Swigert Aerospace Academy

• Taylor Elementary School

• Tesla Educational Opportunity School

• Trailblazer Elementary School

• Twain Elementary School

• West Campus (Elementary and Middle Schools)

• Wilson Elementary School

CRIPPLE CREEK-VICTOR SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1 719-684-2685, ccvschools.com

• Cresson Elementary

• Cripple Creek-Victor Junior High School

• Cripple Creek-Victor High School

• Early Childhood Education/Head Start

LOCAL SCHOOL DIRECTORY

SCHOOL DISTRICT 49

719-495-1100, d49.org

• Academy for Literary, Learning & Innovation Excellence

• Banning Lewis Ranch Academy

• Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy

• Bennett Ranch Elementary School

• Evans Elementary School

• Falcon Elementary School of Technology

• Falcon Middle School

• Falcon High School

• Falcon Homeschool Program

• GOAL Academy

• Grand Peak Academy

• Horizon Middle School

• Inspiration View Elementary School

• Liberty Tree Academy

• Meridian Ranch Elementary School

• Mountain View Academy

• Odyssey Elementary School

• Patriot High School

• Pikes Peak Early College

• Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning

• Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy

• Power Technical Early College

• Remington Elementary School

• Ridgeview Elementary School

• Rocky Mountain Classical Academy

• Sand Creek High School

• Skyview Middle School

• Springs Ranch Elementary School

• Springs Studio for Academic Excellence

• Stetson Elementary School

• Vista Ridge High School

• Woodmen Hills Elementary School

EDISON SCHOOL

DISTRICT 54JT 719-478-2125, edison54jt.org

• Eagle Nest Preschool

• Edison Elementary School

• Edison Middle School

• Edison High School

• Edison Prep

ELLICOTT SCHOOL

DISTRICT 22 719-683-2700, ellicottschools.org

• Ellicott Preschool

• Ellicott Elementary School

• Ellicott Middle School

• Ellicott Senior High School

• Home School Program

FOUNTAINFORT CARSON SCHOOL DISTRICT 8 719-382-1300, ffc8.org

• Abrams Elementary School

• Aragon Elementary School

• Carson Middle School

• Conrad Early Learning Center

• Eagleside Elementary School

• Fountain-Fort Carson High School

• Fountain Middle School

• Jordahl Elementary School

• Mesa Elementary School

• Mountainside Elementary School

• Patriot Elementary School

• Weikel Elementary School

• Welte Education Center

HANOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT 28 719-683-2247, hanoverhornets.org

• Hanover Junior-Senior High School

• Hanover 6-12 Online Academy

• Prairie Heights Elementary School

HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 719-579-2000, hsd2.org

• Aspire Online Academy

• Atlas Preparatory Elementary School

• Atlas Preparatory Middle School

• Atlas Preparatory High School

• Bricker Elementary School

• Career Readiness Academy

• Carmel Community School

• Centennial Elementary School

• Fox Meadow Middle School

• Giberson Elementary School

• Harrison High School

• James Irwin Elementary School

• James Irwin Middle School

• James Irwin High School

• Monterey Elementary School

• Mountain Vista Community School

• Oak Creek Elementary School

• Otero Elementary School

• Panorama Middle School

• Sand Creek International School

• Sierra High School

• Soaring Eagles Elementary School

• Stratton Meadows Elementary School

• The Vanguard School (Lower and Upper)

• Thrive Home School Academy

• Turman Elementary School

• Wildflower Elementary School

LEWIS-PALMER SCHOOL DISTRICT 38 719-488-4700, lewispalmer.org

• Bear Creek Elementary School

• Home School Enrichment Academy

• Lewis-Palmer Elementary School

• Lewis-Palmer Middle School

• Lewis-Palmer High School

• Monument Academy

• Online Middle and High School Programs

• Palmer Lake Elementary School

• Palmer Ridge High School

• Prairie Winds Elementary School

• Preschool and Early Childhood Programs

• Ray E. Kilmer Elementary School

• Discovery High School

• French Elementary School

• Grand Mountain School K-8

• James Madison Charter Academy School

• Janitell Junior High School

• King Elementary School

• Mesa Ridge High School

• The MiLL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab) Training Center

• Pinello Elementary School

• Sproul Junior High School

• Sunrise Elementary School

• Talbott STEAM Innovation School

• Venetucci Elementary School

• Watson Junior High School

• Webster Elementary School

• Widefield Elementary School of the Arts

• Widefield High School

• WSD3 Preschool

WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-2 719-6862000, wpsdk12.org

• Columbine Elementary School

• Gateway Elementary School

• Summit Elementary School

• Woodland Park Middle School

• Woodland Park High School

• Merit Academy

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

• Air Force Academy

• CCU Online – Colorado Springs Center

• Colorado College

• Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs

• IntelliTec College Colorado Springs

• Nazarene Bible College, online

• Pikes Peak State College

• Pima Medical Institute

• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

• Webster University

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

• Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Walsingham

• Colorado Springs Christian Schools

• The Colorado Springs School

• Corpus Christi Catholic School

• Divine Redeemer Catholic School

• Evangelical Christian Academy

• Fountain Valley School

• The Giving Tree Montessori Learning Center

• Griffith Centers for Children

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MANITOU SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 14

719-685-2024, mssd14.org

• Manitou Springs Elementary School

• Manitou Springs Middle School

• Manitou Springs High School

• Ute Pass Elementary School

MIAMI-YODER SCHOOL

DISTRICT JT-60

• 719-478-2186, miamiyoder.com

• Miami-Yoder Elementary School

• Miami-Yoder Middle-High School

PEYTON SCHOOL

DISTRICT 23 JT

• 719-749-2330, peyton.k12.co.us

• Peyton College Academy

• Peyton Elementary School

• Peyton Junior-Senior High School

• Peyton Online Academy

• Peyton’s Career Technical Education Facility

WIDEFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT 3

719-391-3000, wsd3.org

• D3 My Way

• Holy Apostles Preschool

• Holy Cross Lutheran School

• Hope Montessori Academy

• Pikes Peak Academy

• Pikes Peak Christian School

• Rocky Mountain Montessori Academy

• St. Gabriel Classical Academy

• St. Mary’s High School

• St. Paul Catholic School

• St. Peter Catholic School

• Sidewalk’s End Montessori Preschool

• Springs Adventist Academy

• Springs Baptist Academy

• The University School

STATE-AUTHORIZED CHARTER SCHOOLS

• Colorado Early Colleges –Colorado Springs

• Colorado International Language Academy

• Colorado Military Academy

• Colorado Springs Charter Academy

• Coperni 2 Charter School

• Coperni 3 Charter School

• James Irwin Charter Academy

• Mountain Song Community School

• Thomas MacLaren School

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“The Art and Soul of Education”

High school grads found new pathways amid pandemic

BY BROOKE NEVINS brooke.nevins@gazette.com

As the world nears three years since COVID-19 shuttered schools for months, several Colorado Springs school districts are reporting similar, immediate trends in how the pandemic may have shifted their high school students’ post-graduate plans. Financial costs and campus life have emerged as significant indicators in where, or if, a

student pursues post-secondary education, and many others are opting for skilled trades. In almost every circumstance, students are increasingly determined to get the best “bang for their buck,” Harrison School District 2 spokesperson Christine O’Brien said.

“The idea of a four-year degree is changing,” O’Brien said in an email to The Gazette. “Many students are figuring out their career path which might include a two-year

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specialty degree. Not everyone needs a four-year degree or the debt they might incur.”

O’Brien noted two significant trends among D-2 students graduating in 2020 and 2021 versus those who graduated before the pandemic: Less students overall enrolled at post-secondary institutions, and of those who did, more opted for two-year colleges over four-year colleges. From 2012 to 2019, 56% of D-2 graduates pursuing college enrolled at a fouryear institution, according to data provided by the district. From 2020 to 2021, 64% of graduates pursuing college enrolled in two-year programs instead.

Many students, facing a lack of clubs, organizations and socialization that comes with the college experience but with all the hefty tuition costs, chose to take online classes at a community college or delayed matriculation at a college temporarily until pandemic restrictions eased.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

A LANDSCAPE OF LEARNING

Graduates throw their caps in the air during Palmer Ridge High School’s graduation. The Gazette file.

Try Something New!

With nearly 100 new art classes, there is something for everyone! We have options for all ages ranging from beginning drawing, photography, and painting classes to advanced watercolor and ceramics.

“College is a lot more than gaining credit for coursework,” O’Brien said. “There’s something about being able to participate in campus life.”

For many Falcon School District 49 graduates, that temporary delay became permanent.

According to D-49 spokesperson David Nancarrow, the pandemic didn’t altogether close doors for those students, but instead exposed them to new opportunities and pathways for a successful career. Because of “dramatic shifts in economic and employment” spheres as a result of the pandemic, “many of them have options for work study or direct employment after high school that are more compelling than ever before,” Nancarrow said.

Explore and register online.

BEMIS SCHOOL OF ART

In Colorado Springs, the trade, transportation and utilities sector is tied with professional and business services for the second highestemploying job sector, only led by education and health, according to a recent Colorado General Assembly report examining employment trends during the pandemic recovery. The report found that the state’s regions most reliant on professional and business, as well as trade, services “have tended to lead the employment recovery.”

Many trade sectors, including construction, are facing an aging workforce who will soon be retiring faster than replacements can be trained as well as a booming housing market that’s driving

demand. Colorado Springs school districts are hoping to respond in turn, emphasizing skilled trade, not just college, as a valuable postsecondary option. Exposure to a variety of skills early on will help students identify new passions — or even identify what they definitely do not want to do — before pursuing expensive degrees.

“More students see certification programs yielding rapid advancement and earning comparable to four-year degrees,” Nancarrow said. “Our students continue to show strong interest in helping professions through military, ministry, health care and other service occupations.”

Will high schoolers maintain the trend of pursuing a variety of postsecondary options and forgo university? Officials say it’s too soon to know the full extent of the pandemic’s role in enrollment numbers and attitudes toward college. Academy School District 20 schools also saw their graduates pause on two-year and four-year college pursuits, communications officer Allison Cortez said, but as the heavy lockdown and other COVID -19 requirements fall further in the rearview, that could change.

“Now that colleges and businesses no longer have the pandemic-related restrictions they once did,” Cortez said, “we are hearing students are excited to return back to traditional learning.”

SPOTLIGHT ON PANDEMIC PLANS

CONTINUED FROM FROM PAGE 15

ON SUPERINTENDENTS

Local leaders outline what sets districts apart

BY NICK SULLIVAN nick.sullivan@gazette.com

Academy District 20

Thomas Gregory

Superintendent

2016-2023

I often say there is no place I would rather be than in Academy District 20 (ASD20), and after spending 35 years of my career here, I can honestly say this is the best school district in Colorado!

Throughout the last year we experienced many successes. We implemented a strategic plan focused on people, relationships and quality education for all students. Simultaneously we earned the Accredited with Distinction designation from The Colorado Department of Education for the 14th consecutive year. Only four districts in the state have been awarded this honor since its inception, and ASD20 is one of those districts. Additionally, nearly 80% of our third graders scored at or above reading grade level, and 95% of our students graduated.

ASD20 is a community that values education. We believe education is a partnership between the family and school and students learn best when families and teachers are engaged and support learning.

Although I am retiring at the end of this school year, I am confident this district is poised to meet the needs of upcoming generations of students. The future is bright for ASD20!

Cheyenne Mountain School District 12

David Peak

Since 1872, our beloved district has educated multiple generations of children and helped them to grow into wellrounded young adults, prepared to succeed in an ever-changing world. This tradition of excellence continues 150 years later, as our students excel in academics, the arts, and athletics. In fact, despite the lingering challenges of the

pandemic during the first semester of the 2021-22 school year, we were still able to keep the vast majority of our students and staff at school for in-person learning. This, along with our parents unwavering support, afforded our educators, support staff, and coaches the opportunity to make great strides with our students who, in turn, achieved numerous academic accolades, recognitions in the arts, and athletic championships.

This year, we will continue to focus our efforts on improved teaching and learning, mental health wellness for students and staff, and future learning opportunities for our students, including our technology initiatives, college and career pathways, and other professional career internships as we strive to develop well-prepared graduates. We will also continue to enhance the safety and security of our campuses, open our doors to our cherished parents and volunteers, as well as increase our community engagement through our new website and app.— excerpt shared from an Aug. 5, 2022 message from Peak

Colorado Springs School District 11

Michael Gaal

Superintendent 2022-present

The Colorado Springs School District 11 has provided excellent education to students in the heart of the city for over 150 years. As we look to the future, we are working to make D-11 No. 1 in growth and achievement with initiatives such as expanding free preschool to the Mitchell Promise, where D-11 will provide a 100% tuition match from Pikes Peak State College for qualifying graduates enrolled in a two-year post-graduation college program. D-11 is investing in the future of Colorado Springs!

Cripple Creek-Victor School District RE-1

Miriam Mondragon

Superintendent 2020-present CC-V is surrounded by both beauty and industry. Our low

enrollment allows for small class sizes and strong school-family relationships. But don’t let our small size fool you. CC-V has been on the forefront of many of the leading initiatives in education today from social-emotional learning to the science of reading. We are fortunate to have been awarded multiple grants equaling millions of dollars for our students. While grant money doesn’t last forever, it has allowed us to hire additional instructional staff, support staff, nursing and mental health professionals, and bolster our Career and Technical Education Program. Our Culinary Arts Program, even in its infancy, has catered multiple school and community-level events. Our Building Trades Mini-Factory, to be completed in spring 2023, will house our Building Trades Program in which our students will complete 1-2 affordable homes that will be placed in our community. All our CTE programs offer hands-on experience and industry-recognized licenses and certifications. We embrace a “Cradle to Career” philosophy, which is strengthened by our newly opened Adult Education and Career Center, where adults in our community can come to learn, garner resources and pursue or grow their careers!

School District 49

Peter Hilts

Chief Education

Officer 2013-present

District 49 covers eastern Colorado Springs and unincorporated areas of El Paso County.

As the fastest-growing district in Colorado, our enrollment of nearly 28,000 students is largest in El Paso County and 10thlargest in Colorado. D-49’s 24 schools are organized into four autonomous zones through which we offer individualized choices to meet the needs of all students.

Our vision and mission is to be The Best Choice to Learn, Work, and Lead. That is why we offer a robust portfolio of neighborhood, specialized, and charter schools. With industry leading options like ALLIES, a school serving students with dyslexia and Power Technical Early College, a school that frames all learning in the context of skilled trades, D-49 attracts more choice students than any other district in the Pikes Peak region. D-49 also operates the largest concurrent enrollment program in the region and saves families millions of dollars in tuition every year. As we continue to grow and lead the Pikes Peak region, District 49 will expand and improve educational choices for families all across Colorado Springs.

Edison School District 54JT

Dave Eastin Superintendent

2006-present Edison SD 54JT is a small rural school district located 18 miles south of Yoder. In our middle school, we are teaching STEAM and Science Fair. Our CTE programs are turning school buses into tiny homes, our teacher-tostudent ratio is 4 to 1 throughout the school. We have a climate that is safe and conducive to the best education. This is how we at Edison SD set ourselves apart. Our students are getting real world skills in a classroom setting that gives them amazing access to oneon-one instruction.

Ellicott School District 22

Christopher Smith Superintendent

2018-present Ellicott is a rural school district approximately 17 miles east of Colorado Springs. The district serves approximately 1,000 students in its 220-squaremile boundary. The district has 180 employees. The community has a small-town feel — but with

Christopher Smith

Miriam Mondragon

Dave Eastin

Thomas Gregory

David Peak

Michael Gaal

Peter Hilts

SPOTLIGHT ON SUPERINTENDENTS

city challenges. This will continue to become more of a reality as the district tries to accommodate the growth that is occurring along the Colorado 94 corridor. The district offers education programs for children from preschool through 12th grade on a centralized campus.

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8

Keith Owen Superintendent

2015-present

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 is located just south of Colorado Springs and educates the communities of the town of Fountain and the Fort Carson Army installation. FFC8 has approximately 8,100 students enrolled in our district, from preschool through 12th grades. The district is honored to serve the families of soldiers who serve our country, with approximately 70% of our students being military or

federally connected. The district understands the challenges faced by military families and has academic, social, emotional and extracurricular programs in place to support them throughout their journey with us. FFC8 highly values our staff, investing not only in nearly top pay for all positions, but also in staff professional development and wellbeing. The district is committed to safety, partnering with law enforcement to have at least one school resource officer in every K-12 school and also investing in physical safety measurements for every campus. In FFC8, Today’s Mission is focused on student and staff achievement and growth.

Harrison School District 2

Wendy Birhanzel Superintendent 2018-present Harrison School

District 2 is a community school district serving

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southeast Colorado Springs. Within our 19 square miles, we educate 13,000 students and have over 55 languages spoken. We pride ourselves in our diversity and see it as a strength. We believe in a wide range of school choices with neighborhood and K-8 schools, charter systems, a home school, an online school and International Baccalaureate schools. Our diverse student groups outperform their like peers in other school districts. Our community passed a $180 million bond leading to 20 building renovations, two major expansions and one new school. We are proud to offer free breakfast and lunch, free before and afterschool care, free school supplies, free tutoring, free college courses and free sports and music. We plan to continue work on our strategic plan focusing on classroom, culture and community to ensure highquality learning experiences for all students. We have plans for upgraded technology labs, a new stadium at Sierra High School,

new CTE programming and classrooms for media and health care, and additional elementaryschool sports.

Lewis-Palmer School District 38

K.C. Somers

Superintendent 2019-present Lewis-Palmer School District

38 is guided by its comprehensive strategic plan, grounded in our mission of serving every student, every day. We are committed to partnering with our families, community members and educators that aspire to prepare our students to be successful learners, productive citizens and caring contributors to society. We seek to develop each student’s talent in a safe, nurturing environment and to inspire a lifelong love of learning through our six strategic priorities of Safe and Welcoming Schools, Academic Excellence, Valuing

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Keith Owen

Wendy Birhanzel

Our People, Fiscal Stewardship, Operations and Facility Planning, and Building Relationships through Communication. Through this work, District 38 remains a district of distinction and is one of just four districts throughout Colorado to earn Accreditation With Distinction designations every year since 2009. We strive for academic excellence, growth and ultimately, support for each and every student as they grow as individuals on a number of paths, including pursuing college, a trade, military service and much more. At the end of the day, D-38 elevates each and every student!

Manitou Springs

School District 14

Elizabeth Domangue

Superintendent

2019-present

We offer a “smalltown” educational environment, and we are driven by our core values of Relationships, Deep Learning,

and Opportunity as we serve our children and our communities. The District Performance Framework for the 2021-22 school year is higher than the pre-pandemic year (2019), with all schools accredited with performance status, with a 96% graduation rate. Ute Pass Elementary School moving from improvement (49%) to performance (69%) status. Students have unique experiences that are provided by our exceptional educators (e.g., new math resource K-8, experiential field trips, environmental education, Advanced Placement and Concurrent Enrollment courses, arts education, athletics, activities, Connect14, and so much more). We started the school year with all licensed positions filled with high quality educators when many districts across the county, state, and nation have numerous vacancies. Our high school students started to build a home through the Careers in Construction Colorado program. Take a drive through the high school to see the progress the students are making. The

SPOTLIGHT ON SUPERINTENDENTS

development of a comprehensive master facility plan, and we received a BEST grant for safety and security enhancements and roof replacements at MSES and UPES. This work will be completed during summer 2023.

Widefield School District 3

Kevin Duren

Superintendent

2021-present Innovation is at the heart of Widefield School District 3 (WSD3).

We strive to prepare our students today for the world of tomorrow giving them the skills and competencies they need for success in an ever-changing global environment. We offer cuttingedge and engaging curricula in the areas of biotechnology, engineering and computer science, in addition to the more traditional academic courses. Our district is also deeply committed to the performing arts. Music, theater and art are major

components of our educational program, and our students and professionals perform to the delight of the audience. We’re particularly proud of our military community. We provide specialized programs to supplement the education of our military students and their families. Our graduates are renowned for achieving industrylevel certifications. Students are not only capable of putting their newly acquired knowledge and skills to work, but also of acquiring certification in a variety of industries. This sets them apart from their peers as employers recognize that WSD3 students are well trained and ready for the workforce. As we continue to grow as a school district, so does our innovation. In partnership with our community, we will continue to pursue what’s next and best for our students.

Editor’s note: Several superintendents did not respond by deadline to The Gazette’s request for information.

Kevin Duren

Elizabeth Domangue

BVSD is committed to hiring diverse candidates who bring unique perspectives, backgrounds and skill sets that will strengthen our mission of delivering high-quality education to all students. We are committed to culturally responsive practices that challenge inequity and bias. School leadership and sta will be on hand to interview candidates in person at the event and virtually, and we will be making tentative employment o ers for the Fall 2023 school year. #WeAreBVSD

Universal preschool set to launch in fall

BY O’DELL ISAAC odell.isaac@gazette.com

Thousands of Colorado families with pre-kindergarten age children with have access to early education free starting in the fall.

The Universal Preschool program, which Gov. Jared Polis signed into law in April 2022, is set to launch in the fall. Registration opened Jan. 17. Children will be matched with providers in mid-February.

More than 850 providers across the state have enrolled in the program so far, and more than 29,000 seats are currently available, with more on the way, according to the governor’s office.

“We are bringing high-quality preschool to Colorado kids, saving families thousands of dollars, and making sure Colorado students get a strong start in school,” Gov. Jared Polis.

Funds from voter-approved nicotine taxes will help pay for the

program, which aims to give each 4-year-old access to at least 10 hours a week of tuition-free preschool in child care centers, schools or statelicensed homes in the year before they enter kindergarten.

The program could save Colorado families an average of $6,000 a year.

“It’s incredible to see hundreds of school districts and preschools registering to be a part of Colorado’s effort to prepare our kids for the future,” said Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, in early January. “The enthusiasm is palpable with over 29,000 openings already available for kids in Universal Preschool Colorado. We expect the number to continue to grow ...”

Families can enroll their children online by visiting UPK.Colorado. gov. There’s no deadline to sign up, but families are advised to sign up as early as possible, officials said.

Parents will need to provide proof of income to submit an

application. Proof of residency and age will be required later in the registration process, according to the governor’s office.

Providers will be required to list what special accommodation they will be able to support, including dietary restrictions, routine medication and specialized physical needs, and families will be able to choose a provider based on those support structures.

Efforts will be made to allow siblings to use the same provider when possible, officials said.

Licensed providers looking to sign up for the program can visit provider.upk.colorado.gov to begin the process. The local coordinating organization in El Paso County serves school districts including Lewis-Palmer 38, Academy 20, District 49, Peyton 23-JT, Calhan RJ-1, Manitou Springs 14, Colorado Springs 11, Cheyenne Mountain 12, Fountain-Fort Carson 8, Harrison 2, Widefield 3, Ellicott 22, Hanover 28, Miami/Yoder 60-JT and Edison 54-JT.

Gov. Jared Polis visits with preschoolers at the Englewood Early Childhood Education Program at Maddox. Chalkbeat Colorado file.

LGBTQ references reinstated to social studies standards

BY O’DELL ISAAC odell.isaac@gazette.com

In a 4-3 vote along party lines, the Colorado State Board of Education in November elected to fully incorporate LGBTQ+ individuals at all grade levels of social studies instruction.

Board members Lisa Escárcega, Rebecca McClellan, Karla Esser and Angelika Schroeder — all Democrats — voted in favor of reinstating references to LGBTQ issues in Colorado’s revised social studies standards, seven months after they were removed in response to public backlash. Republican members Steve Durham, Joyce Rankin and Debora Scheffel voted “no.”

The vote Nov. 10 served as the board’s final word in the longrunning debate on how social studies should be taught in Colorado schools.

“This has been a long road,” said state education commissioner Katy Anthes. “We’ve been working on this for 12 months.”

For more than a year, state education leaders debated how Colorado schools should apply the mandate set forth in House Bill 19-1192, “Inclusion of American Minorities in Teaching Civil Government.” Passed by the Colorado General Assembly in 2019, the legislation states, in part, that social studies and civics classes will include “the history,

Aiming Students to Brighter Futures

culture and social contributions of American Indians, Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals within these minority groups.”

In accordance with the bill, the Social Studies Standards Review and Revision Committee presented its first draft of revision recommendations to the State Board of Education in November 2021.

But when the revisions were made available for public feedback, numerous concerns were raised about the appropriateness of referencing LGBTQ people in lower grades.

In an April 2022 interview with The Gazette, State Board of Education

member Steve Durham expressed agreement with respondents who argued that lower-elementary discussion of LGBTQ issues would spark conversations about sex at too young an age — and in an inappropriate venue.

“What we’re trying to do is direct those discussions to the home where they belong and put parents in charge of their children’s education, particularly at these young ages,” said Durham, a Republican representing Colorado’s 5th Congressional District. “From my own perspective, I just could really not imagine what a conversation among children that age would look like, and I think most parents would agree with that.”

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But LGBTQ advocate Alissa Smith of Inside Out Youth Services in Colorado Springs said such discussions are appropriate on all grade levels because they center on history and civics, not sex.

“What we’re seeing here is the thinking that LGBTQ identities are inherently sexual, which they are not,” Smith said.

In April, the committee submitted a new revision that eliminated any references to queer people in social studies coursework for third grade and below.

Since then, LGBTQ students, advocates and allies have come out in droves to ask the board to reinstate the November 2021 revisions.

“Students that are not represented in (social studies) text have a higher dropout rate,” said District 11 elementary school teacher Angelica Givler. “It seems to me that making sure we include all students in our textbooks and libraries would help with engagement, comprehension and increased graduation rates. This

needs to be true at all ages and grade levels.”

“As educators, we are committed, first and foremost, to creating educational spaces that are inclusive and offer students an environment without fear or intimidation, where they can learn and grow,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, president of the Colorado Education Association, the state’s largest teacher’s union.

Durham reiterated his concerns before the vote, saying teaching “sexual issues” to lower-grade students is inappropriate and potentially harmful.

“To deny that these sorts of things happen, are happening, and that parents should be concerned about them, is a mistake,” he said. “To claim that this doesn’t open the door to abuse, I think, is also a mistake.”

“This is not about sexual education,” Escárcega countered. “It’s never been about that.”

Smith, whose organization rounded up nearly 1,000 signatures for an open letter to the board, was exultant upon hearing about the vote.

“This was a monumental effort across the state to make sure that these standards would be inclusive for the next six years,” Smith said. “It’s just really affirming that they heard our message, and they voted accordingly.”

The Colorado Education Association applauded the board’s decision in a news release.

“This will be welcome news to CEA’s members and Colorado parents generally, who, research has shown, are more concerned with the real issues facing students and public schools — like a lack of funding and safety — than they are about distracting culture wars orchestrated by outside political interest groups.” Editor’s note: This story originally published in The Gazette in November 2022.

Members of the Colorado State Board of Education with state education commissioner Katy Anthes. Top row, left to right: Rebecca McClellan, Lisa Escárcega, Steve Durham, Joyce Rankin. Bottom row: Angelika Schroeder, Karla Esser, Anthes, Debora Scheffel. Courtesy photo.