SVVSD Teacher of the Year finalists stepped up in new ways

It's always a great honor to be named a finalist for Teacher of the Year, but this year's group earned recognition in a pandemic year that brought unforeseen challenges to them, students and schools. Their principals praised them for finding new and creative ways to engage and support students, while adapting to teaching virtually or in socially distanced and masked classrooms.

Each St. Vrain Valley School District has three finalists and will eventually have a winner chosen from their school during a virtual Tribute to Teachers event on April 23, run by the St. Vrain Valley School District Education Foundation. From those winners, one will be chosen as the district's Teacher of the Year.

Below is information about finalists from Niwot High, Sunset Middle School and Niwot Elementary and comments from their principals, starting with Niwot High principal Eric Rauschkolb.

"David [Ross], Kelly [Yazzie] and Laura [Walters] are all passionate educators who show up every day willing to give students their very best. The time that they dedicate to their students outside of regular school time is immense and Niwot High School is a better place because they call this home," Rauschkolb said.

Laura Walters - Niwot High School, Choir/Musical Theater

Laura Walters taught herself to edit video and audio so she could give students rehearsal tracks and, ultimately, blend individual performances into a choir during virtual learning. It was a difficult process that required "endless hours and lots of behind-the-scenes work" for five different choirs. But she thinks it helped her students grow in new ways.

"I think they're going to remember the fact that they recorded and learned music and sang it on their own, which is completely scary and way more of a risk than a typical choir year," Walters said. "When you sing individually, it's just one voice, but once you put all those harmonies together you can see the whole picture. They became part of something bigger."

The fall concert can be seen onlineon YouTube and includes music videos made by the students.

Kelly Yazzie - Niwot High School, English/Social Studies

Kelly Yazzie was a lawyer before having a feeling that she missed her calling. She started as a substitute teacher on her days off before going into teaching full time on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona.

"When I switched to teaching, I remember feeling that it was so fulfilling and interesting that I could (and did) spend countless enjoyable hours preparing," Yazzie said. "I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the lessons I have learned from my students. I never stop thinking about them!

"This year, the lessons have been in flexibility and connection. I have become much more individualized in my approach to students. Each one has a different set of needs and unique challenges."

David Ross - Niwot High School, English/Language Arts

"This year in particular, I feel that showing consistency was critically important," Ross said. "Students' lives were disrupted to varying degrees, and working to be a reliable, structured, empathetic, and stable presence hopefully helped students feel a sense of normality in their academic lives during the midst of a tumultuous year.".

Ross saaid his favorite part about teaching is forming relationships with students and "trying to do my small part to help them grow their academic, social, and emotional skills in ways that will hopefully better empower them to have more choice and control over what future opportunities are available to them."

Sunset Middle School

Richard Johnston - Sunset Middle School, English/Theater/Film Studies

Richard Johnston was an actor in Los Angeles when he and his wife wanted out of the rat race. His parents were performers and teachers, influencing his choice for a new career. Sunset principal Anthony Barela says he's "an extremely creative teacher."

This year may have been made for a teacher like Johnston who did all he could to make the virtual classroom fun. "I would wear wigs and costumes, mustaches," he said. "It had to be so performative this year. They're watching you like they watch TV and they change channels easily. I think it keeps them engaged enough so maybe they could start getting what I needed them to get," Johnston said.

Priscilla Arasaki - Sunset Middle School, Orchestra, Mariachi, Music Explorations

This is Priscilla Arasaki's first year at Sunset, and she earned high praise from Principal Anthony Barela. "She has done exceptional work this year in having students experience these classes as close to normal as possible this year," Barela said.

"I felt that getting to know the students was a lot harder, especially when we were communicating through a computer screen," Arasake said. "However, I just kept researching and trying new things to see what would work. I tried to give them multiple ways to complete assignments and participate in class.

"I try to get to know the students and build relationships with them, so that I'm able to adapt my teaching to best fit their needs and motivate them to learn."

Stephanie Texera - Sunset Middle School, Band

"Stephanie has experienced the most change of any teacher in the building this year," according to her principal, Anthony Barela. "The constraints to which she has had to adjust to while having students experience music in her band classes have been a herculean effort.

"I taught sixth-graders online who had never played an instrument before," Texera said. "That was definitely challenging, but so rewarding in the end to see them come back in-person and be able to play an instrument with their peers. I've been so inspired by my colleagues' drive and creativity and believe that every teacher deserves teacher of the year this year.

"When studying music, you are working together to reach a common goal and learning how to build community. You are also learning life skills so music educators have the opportunity to make a huge impact on someone's life and that is immensely rewarding."

Niwot Elementary School

Niwot Elementary principal Nancy Pitz complemented the finalists from her school who "persevered, built strong relationships, pivoted when needed, remained positive, had engaging lessons throughout, and had high expectations for all students throughout online learning, hybrid learning, and in-person learning," Pitz said. "I'm very proud of these three outstanding teachers and all of our teachers at Niwot Elementary, especially this school year."

Madeline Cangilla - Niwot Elementary School, Fifth Grade

"I love building relationships with students and families and this is what I focus on to be the best teacher possible," Cangilla said. "I want to know each student and where they are academically to best help them take their next steps.

"I had to be creative with relationship building in an online environment. I started off the year more fun than I normally would with games and activities surrounded around getting to know the students and having them get to know each other. This created a base for us to be more successful in the online environment. I also created and followed a lot of structure with schedules and classroom expectations to make all students feel comfortable."

Regan Burke - Niwot Elementary School, Second Grade

"I try to look at lessons, assignments, classwork through the eyes of a seven or eight-year-old," Burke said. "How would they want to gain this new knowledge? Every student learns in a unique way. By connecting to the students personally they are willing to place their trust in me. With that trust they are able to risk their learning. To witness that learning and foster that learning is what I love about being in education.

"This year in particular students needed to feel safe and watched after. While our world on the outside of the school building was very different within the halls of Niwot, life wasn't different. Sure we had to social distance and navigate through our school day differently, but deep down kids needed to know school wasn't different. I hope they get the sense of normalcy when they are in school. I truly love seeing the kids every day."

Jessica Easely - Niwot Elementary School, Multiple Grades

Jessica Easely still has a passion for teaching after a long career at several local schools. She's taught various grade levels, remedial math and tutors in the summers."I have taught for 26 years and absolutely love what I do," Easely said.

"I think my favorite part of teaching is that 'A-HA' moment when a kiddo has been given think-time and has been able to solve a problem. I love empowering students to think for themselves and be proud of their work. I also love to watch students learn how to interact with one another, being kind, forgiving, and supportive. It's not just about academics. It's about being a fantastic citizen at all times, as well.

"I am very grateful to spend every day with such fantastic little people. They are my life-long friends. Everyone should be so lucky," she said.