Niwot Elementary School says goodbye to two long-time employees

Barb Van Winkle, Teacher

Barb Van Winkle has worked for St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) for 31 years. She started at Niwot Elementary 24 years ago, where she taught fifth grade for a few years and then taught gifted and talented students for another 21 years. She said the students and parents in Niwot are wonderful.

NES Principal Nancy Pitz said, “Barb has impacted thousands of lives throughout her teaching career. I will always remember her love for all students, her passion for the GT program, the relationships she formed with students and families, and her ability to bring out every single one of her students’ hidden talents and passions.”

“I will miss being a part of the excitement of learning with lots of creative children,” Van Winkle said. “I enjoyed coming to work knowing that it would never be dull or boring. Every day we all learned something new and had fun being creative! Working with children keeps you young and guarantees a good laugh every day.”

Retirement doesn’t mean slowing down for Van Winkle. She has plans to write a couple of books, ride her horse, hike, camp, boat, ski, SCUBA dive, garden, and travel. She’s also looking forward to learning the mandolin, polishing up her Spanish skills and trying her hand at painting landscapes.

JoAnn Borys, Secretary

For the past 25 years. JoAnn Borys has worked in a SVVSD school. With her two children in the district, her work schedule matched their hours. Her son has gone on to earn his Ph.D. in physics and her daughter is now a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine.

Her jobs within SVVSD included being a paraprofessional, working as kitchen staff, and being a substitute librarian. For 17 years she performed clerical work in the special education and Child Find department. In 2011 Borys joined Niwot Elementary School as the school secretary.

“It’s been here at Niwot Elementary where I have felt most fulfilled,” Borys said. “The community is truly a family, all dedicated to the care, the education of the children. The people - staff, co-workers, parents, kids - that's what I will miss the most.”

“When I ask her a favor or give her a task, I truly cross it off my list and never worry about it again as I know it will get done and it will get done correctly,” Pitz said. “It’s rare to find that quality and something I have appreciated so much about her.”

Traveling, time with family and friends, a new dog and not setting an early morning alarm are all part of her retirement plans, along with a variety of outdoor recreation and reading.