Renee Larm

Science Teacher
Skyview Middle School

1. What do you love about teaching? 

I love teaching because I am always learning from my students. I enjoy experiencing “ah-ha” moments with my students and sharing how learning is truly endless. I often quote, “You learn something new every day,” and my students help prove that. Student conversations allow me to see the science content we teach from a different perspective every period and every year. I am always amazed at what listening to peer conversations will teach me.

2. Why do you think D49 is the best choice? 

I have never felt more supported in the concept of work-life balance than I have in this district and specifically Skyview Middle School. My administration focuses on what's best for students while also keeping in mind what is realistic for teachers to accomplish. I love that teachers are recognized and praised for their efforts in and out of the classroom.

3. What motivates you each day with your students? 

My students find a way to make me laugh, every single day. We laugh together and we celebrate our successes. I have an amazing teacher cohort that feels like my family even though I am so far away from home. 

4. What is your “why?”

I enjoy sharing my passion with students and seeing them get excited about the content I teach. My ‘why’ stems back to my teachers from my educational journey. I had so many memorable experiences with great teachers that shaped me into the teacher I am today. My hope is that students head off to high school with an excitement for learning. 

5. Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact? 

The very first time I realized that I was exactly where I was supposed to be was when several students accidentally called me ‘mom’. We laughed but I realized how much of a teacher’s job is so much more than teaching standards. More recently, I have enjoyed students coming to school to tell me something outside the classroom that they did related to our science content. As 8th graders, seeing them make connections to real world situations and get excited about it feels pretty special.

Joshua Wixom

Electives Teacher
Springs Studio for Academic Excellence

I love seeing students grow and helping them overcome a challenge. I like to help them develop into leaders and innovators that our world needs so badly. 

There are so many great opportunities in D49. The variety of clubs and groups that students can join, and the activities that they can take advantage of, even if they don't participate in traditional sports or pathways is so great for students. Whether it is Robotics Competitions like we have at Springs Studio, or career-focused pathways and concurrent enrollment, students have a great chance to get involved and get on the path that is right for them. 

I always encourage students to do the best they can in anything they do and I try to set as best of an example on that as I can. I'm a bit competitive, so I want my program and my classes to be among the best, and I want students to learn to hold themselves to a high standard as well. 

The world is in need of innovators and young leaders to help build a better future and teaching is my way of contributing, but also a way of making a difference in the lives of students. When I run into a former student who took my class 5 years ago, and they tell me it was a great experience, or it helped them prepare for college, or that it changed their life, that's why we do what we do. 

One of the experiences that I coordinate is that I take students to Space Camp every 2-3 years. It's an immersive weeklong STEM camp, and the experiences that students have had are life changing. They've made connections with others all over the world, and changed their career path into engineering or science. Creating those experiences and opportunities for students is how we make positive impacts.

Dimitri Johnson

2nd Grade
Remington Elementary School

1. What do you love about teaching?

What I love most about teaching is the positive sensation I get when a student says "I get it." It's the whole reason I got into teaching in the first place. Knowing you made a change in a student's ability or understanding for the better and having it physically show on their face or in their work is so rewarding. I'm also continuously amazed by the kids who insist on demonstrating their appreciation for you whether it be through hugs, positive comments, or even saying "I love you." It still feels some days that I don't deserve that kind of recognition, as sometimes it's hard to even love yourself, but to know that even one kid in your class looks to you that way makes me want to be better for my students.

2. What motivates you each day with your students? 

I'm motivated each day by a single student or staff member. Not one in specific, but the one that takes the time to pass a little kindness my way. Whether it be a current student who's been struggling demonstrating effort or success, a student from a previous year coming to say hello or give me a hug, or even a fellow teacher telling me that they appreciated something I did for them or others, a single personal and positive interaction contributed to my day can greatly affect my motivation, and that one meaningful positive interaction amazingly, gives me all the motivation I need to deal with all the negative ones.       

3. Why do you think D49 is the best choice?

I believe D49, more specifically Remington Elementary, is the best choice because I feel so supported by the staff here, and their continuous efforts to support my decisions and make me feel welcome. Even though this is my 3rd year here at Remington, I still feel new in many ways but I feel comforted by the fact that I can rely on my staff for support and they won't hesitate to give it to me. I couldn't do what I do without having a strong system of supports, and reliable personalities that I feel are always here for me every day at Remington.

Andy Mello

Director of Theatre
Vista Ridge High School

What do you love about teaching? 
Best part of teaching for me is relationship building. I get a chance to really get to know the students through theatre- and seeing how they grow and develop over each year.

Why do you think D49 is the best choice? 
I've been in the district for my whole career,  16 years. The staff I work with is second to none- gifted professionals who love what they do makes it a great choice for students.

What motivates you each day with your students? 
I get to come to work and play! It's a great feeling to see them work through the creative process. Adapting, improvising is a great motivator.

What is your “why?”
The power of theatre - I know on a personal level how much the arts, and theatre in particular, can change the course of a students life- Seeing them feel success is my why.

Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact? 
I remember years ago I had a freshman student who was terrified to go on stage in front of people. I tried all sorts of ideas and techniques to help her overcome that fear. As a senior she auditioned and performed in a musical,  that was awesome.

Shannon Van Law

3rd Grade
Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning

What do you love about teaching?
I love learning alongside my students each year. They’re figuring out new skills and how to apply them, as well as how to approach situations with multiple perspectives. I’m doing the same. Each year is slightly different as I learn how to engage with each group and individual student and I only improve because of that!

Why do you think D49 is the best choice?
I appreciate the way D49 is so community and family focused. I always feel supported to implement best practices in my classroom, and I feel connected with many other teachers and families that are a part of D49. I also value the effort this district puts in to ensure that students are continually getting what they need to grow and succeed as members of our community.

What motivates you each day with your students?
The most motivating factor is being able to see the “aha” moments. Watching eyes grow large, hearing gasps of sudden understanding, and noticing increased self confidence is what makes me excited every day and stay determined to do my best for my students’ sake.

What is your “why?”
There were several teachers I had growing up that would slow down and spend time with me when I didn’t grasp a concept. The latter happened quite often and I still remember the selfless effort those teachers put in. Now as a teacher myself, there are times when a previous student or a parent will come talk to me and share the little moments when something clicked for them in my classroom. That’s so special, seeing a child grow at their pace and celebrate their own effort not just their results. It reminds me that on the difficult, tiring days I’m really not doing this for anyone else but for my students. Their growth is so impactful.

Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact?
I recently taught two siblings over a few years. Both students needed more time to adjust to the new school year than what is typical. It was amazing to see both of them slowly warm up throughout the school year. As we worked together, I was able to see them become more comfortable working with other students. I saw many more smiles throughout each week. I knew I connected when I saw both siblings gain confidence and experience successes. At the end of the year conference with the younger student, there were many happy tears from the parents and me as we reflected on the time I had with these students and the growth we had all experienced together. I learned patience and a deeper level of compassion, and I saw the self-confidence and respect for the world around them grow. 

Michelle Fothergill

Kindergarten 
Woodmen Hills Elementary School

I am motivated each day by getting to see the joy that learning brings to my students. They are so excited to discover what new things each day brings. They love not only making connections with the learning they are doing, but also with each other, our classroom, school and community. Having been teaching for many years, I love seeing former students as they grow up and hearing all of the great things they are doing.

The thing I love most about teaching is seeing a child’s hard work and willingness to try (which may require failing a time or two) turn into success for them. When a student “gets it” after having struggled, the happiness and confidence it brings to them is something that never gets old!

My “why” continues to be getting the opportunity to teach our youngest kids to learn to read. Watching the excitement and confidence building as kids pick up books and are able to read for the first time is the absolute best thing ever! Hopefully I am helping instill a love of reading and learning that will continue to grow as they do!

Mari Holt

CLDE Teacher
Skyview Middle School

What do you love about teaching?

l LOVE teaching my students! Watching them learn and acquire an additional language is truly AMAZING and INSPIRING! Learning about who they are and celebrating their cultures is such a gift.

What motivates you each day with your students? 

My students and their families motivate me to come to work every day. I give it my all to ensure they have access to everything they need in order to find success.

What is your “why?”

My "why"...the answer is simple. The hope is that my students look back one day and can say that I made a difference in their lives. They know that the "CLDE Family" is forever.

Holly Fitzpatrick

2nd Grade
Falcon Elementary School of Technology

1) The very best part of teaching for me is getting to connect with my students every day. I love not just teaching them new things, but learning who they are as people and working together with them to help them achieve their personal goals. Some of my students want to create video games one day, some want to write books, and some have no idea what they want to do; but, they have things that they want to explore. In my opinion, my job as a teacher is to come alongside them and give them the tools they need to help them make these dreams come true.

2) When I was getting my teaching license and MAT at Colorado College 19 years ago, the program director placed me at Falcon Elementary School to complete my practicum hours and student teaching (I literally was in the classroom from the first day of school to the last day) because I was one of the few students that had a car. 19 years later I still drive 30 minutes each way (from downtown) to teach at FES. D49 is more than a place that I teach. It is my work family. In my building, we love and support each other. There is no "that's not my job" because we are all here for the children. I love the level of commitment that all of my co-workers (building managers, secretaries, paras, lunch ladies included) bring to FES each day. There is truly nowhere else that I would want to teach. Furthermore, I appreciate that I am given the opportunity to participate in committees like the VOW committee, where my voice is heard and valued. I love that the folks at central office do rounding in the buildings. I don't feel like I'm just a position being filled in D49, I feel like I am seen as a person with thoughts, ideas, and values to contribute. That is really important to me.

3) My motivation for coming to work every day is the children. I love to laugh and boy do they bring it! Every morning I stand in the doorway to my classroom to greet my students as they walk in the door. My students frequently greet me with hugs, a funny story, and sometimes even tears. It is the best part of the day for me because I get to connect with each one, individually. Sometimes they need a word of encouragement and sometimes they need a smile. For me, it is just an awesome way to start a day of learning by showing that child that they are welcome in my room and worthy of a one-on-one moment with me. The energy we get from those few moments sets the tone for our day of learning together.

4) When I first started teaching I would say that my "why" was that I am impacting the future of many lives. Now that I am almost 20 years in, I would say that my "why" has shifted. I have learned that it is my students that are impacting me. I have learned so much from them. They have taught me patience, kindness, and endurance during tough times. They have taught me that something horrible can be going on in your life (cerebral palsy, death of a parent, homelessness, hunger) and you can still love and help others. My students teach me something new every day and I'm grateful that I get the privilege to work with and learn from them.

5) Teaching is kind of funny in that you don't get to see your impact until a lot further down the road. I have a former student, from my first year of teaching, who is herself now a teacher. She frequently messages me on FB for advice. Honestly, I was a hot mess my first year of teaching. The fact that she saw anything redeemable in my teaching that year and now reaches out to me as an adult means a lot to me. As I said before, the relationships I form, and have formed over the years, are the reason why I keep doing what I'm doing. 

Madeline Morgan

1st Grade
Evans Elementary School 

1. What I love about teaching is the opportunity to get to know the families in this community. This community is special to me for a multitude of reasons, but one of my favorite things is getting to know the children, along with their caregivers and the many adults who love and support them. I feel very honored to have a small role in these children's lives during the school day; the reward of that alone is priceless. 

2. I think D49 is the best choice because we hold all students to high academic expectations, no matter their background, life experience, socio-economic status, etc. We really believe all students are capable of achieving great things, and we see that happening in real time all across our district. 

3. Something that motivates me each day with my students is the love I feel from them. I love seeing their smiling faces coming in during the morning, their witty humor, and hearing their laughter when it has been a tough day. Teaching is a rigorous career, it is not for the faint of heart. Knowing that each day I get to see my students' bright faces really makes it exciting for me to come to work each day. 

4. My "why" is choosing to show up for my students each day because they deserve the best education I can give them. Education is a key to experiencing success in life; it helps us become productive members of society, it helps us socialize with peers, and it helps us work together as a community for the greater good. I think all these life skills are taught in and through our school structure, especially here at Evans Elementary School. What a privilege it is to be able to work with these students and families to create a meaningful and excellent educational experience. 

5. There are many moments that have been impactful in my career so far, and I think back to my first year of teaching as a special time in regards to impact. Every day I came to work beaming with joy, so excited to work with my students. It was a special time of connecting with a class that had a chaotic start to the school year, with many different substitutes coming in and out during the first semester. I accepted the job and showed up every day for them. The relationships we formed were so impactful because they saw that I was there to stay, and I knew they gave me their best efforts to catch up and even excel past their goals. 

Tara Wold

Innovation Lab Teacher
Academy for Literacy, Learning & Innovation Excellence

I have been a teacher in District 49 for over twenty years. I am starting my third year at ALLIES as the Innovation Lab Professor. I teach science, social studies, and technology to second through fifth graders and absolutely LOVE it!

All of the students have dyslexia or dyslexic tendencies. While reading and writing are areas they struggle with, dyslexia also comes with gifts like creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. I see these talents every day with my students. They thrive with hands-on learning and showing their knowledge in a variety of ways. We also teach them to believe in the Power of Yet! They may not be able to do it yet but with perseverance and hard work, they will get there.

ALLIES is a small school with a huge heart! I love working with the students, parents, and staff as we work together as a team to help every student grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We see kids come in defeated by their struggles. But in a very short time, they begin to have confidence and start thriving. The amount of growth our students show each year is amazing! That is due to all of us working together as a true team led by our administrator, Mrs. Rebecca Thompson. There is no other place I would rather work. ALLIES is my home!

Kelli Kapfer

4th Grade
Inspiration View Elementary School

What do you love about teaching?
I love that I can make an impact with students every single day. I believe that every child deserves a cheerleader. I have the honor of being that cheerleader and being a part of their journey.

Why do you think D49 is the best choice?
D49 helps me to grow as an educator. My students help me to grow as a human.

What motivates you each day with your students?
I am motivated every day by helping students realize their own growth. It is exciting to see what students can do now that they could not do before. My job is really to help each student become a stronger version of themselves. I'm simply there to support!

What is your “why?”
My "why" is because each person matters. I teach for the student who struggles, for the one who feels invisible, for the one who wants to achieve big dreams. Every person deserves to be seen.

Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact?
One previous student had some challenges controlling emotional outbursts. I worked with this child and my team for the entire school year. At the end of the year, my student wrote that they grew by "not yelling as much anymore." I was honestly so proud of this student because I had watched their growth all year long. For the student to see their own growth was incredibly moving to me.

Cathy Davis

Math
Falcon High School

What do you love about teaching? 

I love interacting with young people! They are fun and always keep you learning and growing as a professional.

Why do you think D49 is the best choice? 

I love my colleagues. They are passionate professionals and we work together well. It makes coming to work so much better when you have the support of the people around you. 

What motivates you each day with your students? 

When I see a student who came to me with low confidence in math grow in their math abilities and gain confidence, it motivates me to continue growing and learning as a professional.

What is your “why?”

I had many teachers in my life that made such a positive impact on me as an individual. I want to bring that positivity and confidence to other young people so that they can make the world a better place and be their best selves.

Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact? 

A student wrote me a letter during her second year at Brown University. She told me how much my teaching her in middle school had instilled confidence in her math abilities and it was allowing her to achieve great things. That was amazing to hear from her so many years later and that she attributed a major change in her life to being in my class. It is so affirming when students make contact with us teachers after graduating. We always wonder what they end up doing with their lives.

J. Braden Smart

Choir Director
Falcon Middle School

What do you love about teaching? 

I love working with the students, seeing them improve their musical abilities and leadership skills. I love seeing how far the students can go from when they first get their music to when they perform for audiences. I love exploring new music with them and working through new challenges.

What motivates you each day with your students? 

The students and the music motivate me. Many of our students are great leaders and I really enjoy working with them to push their peers to be the best versions of themselves. We also pick really good music that challenges us and is fun to learn.

Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact? 

The first groups that come to mind are the 8th grade band and 8th grade choir of last school year (22-23). These were the first groups I had for three years. Both of those groups set the bar exceptionally high, both musically and in work ethic. They showed me what a middle school ensemble is really capable of when they work hard, work together, and embrace and use the different skills each other have. I miss working with them daily, but I'm so glad I get to work with them occasionally at Falcon High. They are exceptional students.

Tony Marino

Physical Education
Skyview Middle School

What do you love about teaching?
What I love most about teaching is the relationships I build with my students. Connecting with my students on a personal level is the most important piece of my teaching framework.

Why do you think D49 is the best choice?
D49 is the best choice, because of the community itself. The community is the fabric that makes it the best place to learn, work and lead in all of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.

What motivates you each day with your students? The desire to make a positive impact on the lives of my students. Making a positive impact on the lives of my students shows that I can be supportive and trustworthy in whatever path they choose going forward.

What is your “why?”
To empower students to make healthy lifestyle choices. If a student only learned one thing in my class, and uses that knowledge outside of school to support a healthy lifestyle, I have done my job as a teacher.

Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact?
I know I have made a positive impact on a student when I get a high school or college graduation announcement, a personal visit to my office after a first semester of college or even something simple as a student saying hello at a grocery store.

Rafaelita Almazan

Band Director
Skyview Middle School

What do you love about teaching?

I love watching the students light up when they "get it". That brings so much joy to my life.  I also love that I can provide a safe environment for all of my students to be themselves.  It is amazing to watch them thrive and grow in my classroom! I love how my class is an outlet and my students may be struggling with something else but then they have a great rehearsal and forget all their troubles for a moment. 

What motivates you each day with your students?

My students really care about one another and they care about me.  I love being able to be my silly self around them.  My students are my motivation and they teach me how to be just a little bit better every single day! My passion transfers over to my students and I love what I do!

What is your "why"?

I teach because I can plant the seed in a student's mind that they are capable and can do anything they want to achieve.  I love building relationships with my students because they are truly amazing humans!  Of course I care about them learning music in my class, but if they can learn how to treat one another just a little bit better or show appreciation in some way, then I feel like I have done my job. The rewards in my job stretch far beyond the classroom for me!

Caitlin Steel

Social Studies
Vista Ridge High School

1. What do you love about teaching? 

Choosing to teach as a career was the best choice I think I could have made. Obviously, Vista has some amazing students that I’ve had the privilege of teaching. I also love the creativity piece of education that allows me to have fun teaching lessons and collaborate with my peers!

2. Why do you think D49 is the best choice?

Working in D49 has been such a wonderful experience. Being at Vista Ridge, I have always felt supported when trying different types of lessons and activities. D49 provides opportunities for teachers to think outside the box.

3. What motivates you each day with your students? 

Making learning fun and engaging has always been my goal. I want my students to enjoy coming to class and learning something new. Being in class and making connections with students outside of just social studies makes me excited to see them each day and learn something new about them. 

4. What is your “why?”

Every year, we get new classes filled with fresh faces. It’s always nerve-racking on the first day to see how classes will go. Creating relationships with our students while teaching content I really enjoy has been a great experience. I love to see former students stop by and share about their new experiences outside of Vista. 

5. Can you tell us about a time when you know you connected with a student or class that had a positive impact?

Being able to connect with students in class and on the softball field as a coach has been very rewarding. In class, I can see them making connections with content, then heading out to the field to learn and refine their skills. I love knowing that I will see these athletes after high school pursuing not only athletics but new careers using the skills they learned at Vista.