Colorado Department of Education

Celebrate National School Lunch Hero Day with us as we introduce you to school lunch heroes across Colorado! 🍎Administrative Assistant Chastity Kinoshita says that Yolanda and Gina from Revere School District sure the students at our school are not only fed but happy! Their joyful and caring personalities stand out. Whether it is every day food service or packing lunches to go they are always willing and get the job done." 🍎Our Nutrition Senior Consultant Sirui Mi says that nutrition services team at CHEYENNE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. RE-5 go above and beyond to keep students healthy and well-fed. "With care and dedication, they create delicious, scratch-made breakfasts and lunches that fuel kids for a day of learning and growth." She says team member Gloria Donnelly's commitment goes beyond the kitchen: "On her way home each day, she recycles cans and boxes, doing her part to care for the environment—just one more way she puts heart into everything she does."

Today is National School Lunch Hero Day and we're celebrating by highlighting some of the school lunch heroes across Colorado. 🍎Nutrition services professional Jenny Moreno supports students at Glenwood Springs Elementary School in Roaring Fork School District. Food Service Operations Manager Sandra Ponce says "Jenny serves up more than just meals. She dishes out kindness, warmth, and a sense of comfort that makes a cafeteria feel like home. With every tray she passes across the counter, she feeds bodies and hearts. She knows all the kids by names and makes it a great experience for them." 🍎St Vrain Valley School District, Area Supervisor for the Production Kitchen & Summer Foodservice Program Sally Johnson says" "The kitchen staff at Thunder Valley decorated their cafeteria for Valentine's Day by hand-writing all 873 students' names on colored hearts and hanging them up individually!"

This week, students across Colorado learned the value of volunteering and giving back to their community. 🎒 Jordahl Elementary School's Student Council donated 24 backpacks for the Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 backpack drive; 🎲 Students from Aurora West College Preparatory Academy in Aurora Public Schools visited a local senior living home to play games with the residents; 💰 Students in the Poudre GiveNext program at Poudre High School in Poudre School District awarded four non-profits of their choosing money to help youth facing mental health challenges: Rocky Mountain Equality, The Jacob Center, Hearts & Horses, Inc., and the Teen Activity Center; and 🌳Staff from Grand Junction Parks and Recreation taught students at Chipeta Elementary School in Mesa County Valley School District 51 about the importance of trees and helped them plant 10 new ones in Washington Park.

For What's Up Wednesday, we're highlighting Community Schools across Colorado. More and more schools are embracing the community school model, and they say it’s a game changer! Just ask @@colorado-springs-harrison-district-2-schools, Adams County School District 14, and Mapleton Public Schools! Instead of "going it alone," these schools become neighborhood hubs, teaming up with families, students, and local partners to support every aspect of a child’s life. It’s all about meeting students where they are — and making sure every child has what they need to thrive, both in school and at home. Each community school is shaped by the people it serves, with a full-time coordinator ensuring services reflect real community needs. The community school approach is guided by data, built on collaboration, and centered on belonging. Read more and view some photos from community schools in Colorado: https://lnkd.in/grWJSDw8

It's time to celebrate another team member for our (early) Public Service Recognition Week. Strategy and Operations Manager, Lisa Steffen is committed to making a meaningful impact on the wellbeing of school staff and the academic success of students. She says her biggest inspiration is the people on her team. She relies on the passion of her colleagues who share her desire to improve the system, creatively problem-solve, and make a true difference. She says her colleagues push her to do her best work so the schools, the state, and the local community can all succeed together.

For Teacher Tuesday, we're introducing you to School District 49 teacher Kerrie Merritt who works with fourth graders at Inspiration View Elementary School. This is Kerrie's third year of teaching, and she loves being a cheerleader for her students. Her favorite moment is when a lightbulb goes off when a struggling student finally grasps a concept. Outside of the classroom, Kerrie loves cooking, relaxing at the beach, and cheering on her own kiddos at their sporting events!

Education Commissioner Susana Cordova spoke with Rangely School District RE-4 Superintendent Matt Scoggins and Principal Carlene Cantrell about how they partner with parents and community organizations to support student attendance. Their approach is a positive one with using purposeful language to students and beginning their messaging to parents right at the start of the school year with newsletters and postcards. Watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/gyxiRgpC

Sign up today and make a positive impact in your rural community! Teachers really do change lives! Jennifer O'Brien, Dra. Margarita Tovar Rosales, Derrick Martin, Kate Hudnut, Heather Grantham, Robert W. Fulton, PhD, Colorado Department of Education

We're continuing our early celebration of Public Service Recognition Week with our Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Director Morgan Cox. Morgan’s career started in the classroom, teaching adults English as a second language, supporting students in bilingual elementary classrooms, and serving as an ELD teacher. Along the way, a supportive principal and mentor encouraged her to take on leadership roles, and that guidance changed everything! Megan knows how powerful it is to connect policy to real classroom practice and this inspired her to make a change in her career. Today, she loves working with districts across the state, sharing ideas, learning from their successes, and building capacity to support multilingual learners everywhere. Morgan is proud to help support educators to help Colorado's multilingual learners succeed!

We have another school library to celebrate during Love Your School Library month! Students Nhi, Sage, and Tobi call the school library at Highlands Ranch High School in Douglas County School District "a safe space" with "a lot of trusted adults." They also love how the library is "so comfy and cozy."