Impact on Education announced this year’s Impact Award recipients today. Since 1992, the Impact Awards have recognized individuals in the district who make an extraordinary impact on student learning by valuing education, service to students, and leadership by example. Community members and volunteers identify and nominate the most inspiring of many such dedicated educators in the District.

All award recipients and finalists will be celebrated at the 18th Annual Impact Awards Dinner on February 11, 2010 in the Glenn Miller Ballroom in the University Memorial Center at the University of Colorado. At that time, award recipients will be awarded $500.00 personally, $1,500.00 for their school, and a fitting tribute.

The 2010 Impact Award recipients are:


Corby Connolly
ESL Specialist - Alicia Sanchez Elementary School
Corby continually creates an engaging, inclusive atmosphere that has fostered confidence and high achievement in each of the second language learners that she meets. She draws on her personal experiences as a second language learner growing up in Mexico for the empathy and compassion needed to help her students acquire language fluency. As a TESOL (Teacher of English Speakers of Other Languages) member, she is generous with her cultural proficiencies and sensitivities as they provide the much needed support and aid that many students, parents, and peers in the Sanchez community have come to rely on not just for top-notch instruction, but for the on-the-spot translations, advocacy and cultural awareness that transform a school into a community. To engage her students in the challenge of school in a new language, Corby created an integrated yearlong program that incorporates district standards of science and geography into an ongoing adventure story with puppets, songs, leveled-readers and other hands-on activities. An Emmy award winning puppeteer and storyteller, Corby’s students relate to her puppets in a genuine, and often vital, manner. Corby believes in each student and is unwavering in her commitment to provide them the best educational experience possible.

Kristen Elder-Rubino
Kindergarten Teacher, Columbine Elementary School
Kristen gives students wings to fly and the courage to try. As a kindergarten teacher, she knows that a family’s first school experience will shape their attitude about school, so she works that much harder to ensure that, in addition to academic achievements, social connections amongst Columbine families are established as early as possible. She promotes cross-cultural interactions within Columbine’s wonderfully diverse community. As a 14-year veteran of kindergarten teaching, Kristen is a master of integrated curriculum. Every school day is thoughtfully and carefully planned and or differentiated to maximize opportunities for her young students. Kristen is a key member of the Columbine team that has worked to bring full day kindergarten to the school. “What is best for the kids,” seems to be at the core of all that she does and has become the tone that she has set as the leader of Columbine’s kindergarten team, whether advocating successfully for full-day kindergarten or watching a first-grader after school to accommodate a single-parent’s work schedule. Her open and engaging personality contributes to Kristen’s reputation as the “Ambassador” of Columbine.

Larry Leatherman
Principal, Emerald Elementary School
From his first teaching job in Oklahoma over four decades ago to his present job as principal in Colorado, Larry has improved the futures of thousands of students and their families. Rarely in his office, Larry can be found visiting classrooms, meeting with parents, and ensuring that his staff has everything they need to bring excellence to Emerald. His trademark cowboy boots bring giggles and curiosity out of his students; but as those around him can attest, these boots have also come to represent his integrity, strength of spirit, and moral character as depicted by the cowboys that he admires. Indeed, having provided his cell phone number to the Emerald community, Larry has been known to drive to the home of reluctant students, round them up and bring them to school in the pajamas. Further testament to his leadership style can be evidenced by Emerald’s low staff turnover; the trust of his teachers has provided a stable environment that is optimal for student learning. There is no chance of any Emerald child, family, or staff falling through any cracks on Larry’s watch.

Kristie Letter
High School English Teacher, Peak to Peak Charter School
Passionate, innovative, collaborative, and creative. These are the words that lead off Kristie’s nomination for the Impact Award. From lower achieving students struggling to pass her demanding curriculum to AP students aiming for the top universities, she finds a way to motivate each student to aspire to new heights in their study of English. As a National Board Certified teacher in Adolescent English, her passion for teaching spills over into her work as a mentor for new teachers and peers; many of those that she mentors are inspired to become master teachers. Kristie’s body of work includes a number of years teaching at the university level, yet nothing has filled her as completely as teaching at Peak to Peak. She created a senior project to connect graduating students with their own passions and mentors in the community, and take action, and still finds time to run the vocabulary building Scrabble club. With all of her success as a teacher, Kristie is able to exhibit tremendous humility and grace, even under the most stressful of situations. Students, teachers, and parents find themselves drawing inspiration and strength by following Kristie’s lead.

Jonathan Warshaw
Media Specialist, Foothills Elementary School
As Media Specialist, Jonathan has the privilege of getting to know each and every Foothills Elementary student. Learning the names of 500 students each year is trivial compared to his capacity to actually respond to the individual needs of each of those students with grade level precision. “Tuned in” is an appropriate description of his state of being at Foothills. Whether introducing new technologies like “clickers: to the school, or acting the part of a French chef making peanut butter sandwiches for 2nd graders , Jonathan makes the school library an exciting and compelling place to visit. His knowledge of books and authors has proven an invaluable aid to getting students to read, and read more, on topics and stories of interest, creating a culture of reading and curiosity that will serve students throughout their lives. Jonathan has made the most of his National Board Certification in Library Science by sharing his knowledge and skills with his community.

Founded in 1983, Impact on Education focuses on increasing excellence, innovation and equity in BVSD by creating opportunities for students from low-income families; increasing student interest and achievement in science, technology and math and encouraging and rewarding teacher excellence. For more information, visit www.ImpactOnEducation.org.

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