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Children’s Book Festival to feature culturally diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators on Nov. 9

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 01:13:07 +0000

Children’s Book Festival to feature culturally diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators on Nov. 9 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/24/2024 - 19:13

If You Go

Who: Open to the public
What: Children's Book Festival
When: Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: �鶹ӰԺ Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.

The �鶹ӰԺ School of Education, in collaboration with the �鶹ӰԺ Book Store, is thrilled to announce the 6th Annual Children’s Book Festival, taking place on Saturday, Nov. 9. For the first time, the event will be hosted off campus, at the �鶹ӰԺ Public Library to make it more accessible to the community.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it welcomes teachers, children, families, librarians and “all who enjoy children’s literature.” Attendees can engage in author talks, a panel discussion for educators, exhibit tables, book sales and signings and various activities for children.

This year’s festival highlights an exciting lineup of authors and illustrators, including:

Brittany Cicchese – Illustrator of No More Señora Mimi / No más señora Mimí (Picturebook)
Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw – Author/Illustrator of Like You, Like Me (Picturebook)
Julie Leung – Author of Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I.M. Pei (Picturebook)
Chris Grabenstein – Author of Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale (Chapter Book)
Amalie Howard – Author of Bumps in the Night (Chapter Book)
Craig Kofi Farmer – Author of Kwame Crashes the Underworld (Chapter Book)

Enhancing accessibility and community engagement

Adam Crawley, associate teaching professor in the School of Education and festival director, said the event’s in-person format this year honors a partnership with the �鶹ӰԺ Public Library.

“Having the event in-person, on Saturday and at the library makes the event—and the culturally diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators themselves—more accessible to the greater public,” he said.

This year, the festival also collaborates with the "I Have a Dream Foundation," which will facilitate book donations and participation from local groups.

“A hallmark of the festival each year is the inclusion of authors, illustrators and books that reflect the cultural diversity of the �鶹ӰԺ community and beyond — providing representations that might be ‘mirrors’ for some audiences and ‘windows’ for others," Crawley added, referring to a concept originally articulated by scholar Rudine Sims Bishop in the 1990s in which “mirrors” allow children to see themselves being reflected in stories and “windows” provide readers insight in worlds they have not experienced.

“Mirrors” in this year’s literature

A local parent reflected on the festival's lineup of literature with excitement about Julie Leung’s book about I.M. Pei, who designed �鶹ӰԺ’s iconic National Center for Atmospheric Research.

“Growing up here in the '80s, I.M. Pei and the NCAR building was a huge touchstone for me as a child,” she said. “My father would always point it out with pride that an Asian American designed it, and it was hugely important for me as a kid to have that role model when there were so few Asian people here in �鶹ӰԺ.

“I'm excited that my own kid will get to learn a bit more about him through Julie Leung's book.”

Educational opportunities

For families, the event aims to foster a love of reading for children through opportunities to meet authors, participate in storytimes and engage in creative activities led by CU �鶹ӰԺ students and library staff.

Teachers and librarians can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by attending the festival, and CU �鶹ӰԺ education students have also developed educational resources linked to the Colorado Academic Standards to support educators.

Attendees can purchase books and participate in signings, and the �鶹ӰԺ Bookstore will contribute 20% of book sales to the 2025 festival, further supporting the community initiative.

Impact on local schools

On the Friday before the public festival, authors and illustrators will visit local schools, engage with students and donate books—compliments of the festival which received support from the CU �鶹ӰԺ Office for Public and Community Engaged Scholarship.

These visits will impact several schools across five districts, including �鶹ӰԺ Valley, St. Vrain Valley, Adams 12, Adams 14 and Strasburg, reaching approximately 525 students, plus their teachers, staff, parents and more.

Each participating school will receive around 80 donated books, extending the festival's mission to promote literacy and enrich educational experiences.

Learn more and register

The 6th Annual Children’s Book Festival promises to be an enriching experience for the community, bringing together diverse voices in children's literature and promoting a love of reading.

To learn more and register, visit the Children’s Book Festival website.

The �鶹ӰԺ School of Education, in collaboration with the �鶹ӰԺ Book Store, is thrilled to announce the 6th Annual Children’s Book Festival, taking place on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the �鶹ӰԺ Public Library. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it welcomes teachers, children, families, librarians and “all who enjoy children’s literature.”

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It takes a village: School of Education and community celebrate new campus home

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 22:05:52 +0000

It takes a village: School of Education and community celebrate new campus home Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/21/2024 - 16:05

Jessica Winter , CU �鶹ӰԺ Advancement Marketing and Communications

After more than five years of fundraising efforts, CU �鶹ӰԺ’s School of Education celebrated moving into its new campus home: the Ofelia Miramontes and Leonard Baca Education Building. The milestone, made possible by collective philanthropy, was marked with a festive building dedication and community open house on Oct. 4 to showcase the school’s collaborative new spaces, highlight its influential research, celebrate educators and honor the passionate community that made this project possible.

Launched in the spring of 2019, the initiative to move the School of Education to its newly renovated home (previously known as the Fleming Building) was a multi-phase renovation project. The school’s dean emerita, Kathy Schultz, spearheaded the move with donor and campus leadership support.

A united effort

An extraordinary 97 families donated to the renovations — resulting in 23 named spaces in the building, from classrooms to meeting spaces and private study rooms, demonstrating the strength of the school’s community support.

“It took a whole village … The building was much-needed, to be competitive with other universities and to provide a state-of-the-art location for students, faculty, staff and our community,” said Barb Quinlan (Edu’65, MA’86), donor and member of the school’s Development Advisory Board. Quinlan is also a member of Women Investing in the School of Education (WISE), which supports faculty research, initiatives, and a student scholarship. In addition to contributing to the project, she led a group effort to inspire other passionate WISE members to name one of the school’s classrooms.

The building’s name honors two former CU �鶹ӰԺ School of Education faculty members, Ofelia Miramontes and Leonard Baca, and their lasting legacies of exceptional mentorship and groundbreaking leadership — particularly in the field of bilingual education, which continues to uplift educators and support historically marginalized students today.

Miramontes, who passed away in 2005, was represented by her sister and niece at the dedication, and Baca was present with his wife and grandson. The heartwarming ceremony featured stories of gratitude from their former students, and many family members, mentees and former colleagues were in attendance to honor Miramontes’ and Baca’s impact.

Together at last

Moving to the Miramontes Baca Education Building marks the first time in recent history that the entire School of Education will be together under one roof. Previously, the school’s centers and programs were housed in a variety of buildings. In addition to providing more space, the new location is equipped with the technology and facilities to support modern teaching methods and community-building opportunities.

A hallmark of our School of Education is a commitment to collaborative and interactive communities, both in our classrooms and in the entirety of our work as scholars and educators. Our space reflects this commitment — I am excited to see where we go in the future.." — Melissa Braaten, associate professor in the School of Education

View event photo album

"This renovation has allowed the School of Education to create spaces that suit the programming and classes that it offers,” said Suzanne Hoover, development board member and longtime supporter of the school. “It has allowed the school to have up-to-date technology that is so important to education in the 21st century." Suzanne and Dave Hoover helped kick off the fundraising effort for the school in 2019. In recognition of their generosity and dedication to education, the school named its new central collaborative space the Hoover Atrium.

"For us, our educations have been paramount to our ability to dream of a future and to reach those dreams,” said Suzanne Hoover. “Education broadens horizons and opens doors for those who pursue it."

Additional features of the Miramontes Baca Education Building include modernized classrooms and conference rooms, private study rooms, a food pantry and community kitchens, and learning labs for specialized disciplines such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.

Associate Professor Melissa Braaten, program chair for STEM education in the School of Education, remarked that the new spaces are being used exactly as they’d hoped — with students from all over campus connecting and collaborating in ways they weren’t easily able to before.

Heartwarming support

Braaten noted that teaching in classrooms named after the dedicated and generous families that support the school offers a sense of “legacy and community.” She said future philanthropy for the school can continue to ensure adequate classroom space and enhance learning for tomorrow’s educators.

“The fundraising effort has taken many years and many contributions, large and small, to generate the resources that we need to renovate our building,” said Braaten. “I have had the opportunity to meet the donors and families responsible for supporting the classrooms where I teach — it’s so special to hear their stories of the compassionate, dedicated teachers in their families and see their commitment to education.”

An innovative component to the school’s new classrooms is their ability to be reconfigured — the seating has been designed to be movable, offering a more interactive approach to teaching and classroom collaboration. The building dedication and open house on Oct. 4 allowed attendees to tour the newly renovated spaces and see these features firsthand. Guests also engaged in a research showcase and family-friendly activities and enjoyed live mariachi music, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks honoring the community’s commitment to education.

“As one of the most important things we can provide for children, education is top of the list — it’s a gift of a lifetime,” said Marty Coffin Evans (A&S’64), donor and board chair for the school. “I believe strongly in the power of education. It has the ability to change, enrich, inform and mold lives.”

A bright future

Evans remarked that the school’s new home reinforces its value and formally acknowledges “the powerful education found within its walls.” She hopes gratitude and a passion for education can drive future philanthropy efforts.

“If you've had a special teacher, counselor or coach in your life, this is a wonderful way to say: ‘Thank you for believing in me, thank you for teaching me,’” said Evans.

In addition to enhancing innovative education and bringing the whole school together, the renovated facilities will help attract and retain top faculty, as well as support the school’s mission of preparing the teachers and leaders of tomorrow.

“A hallmark of our School of Education is a commitment to collaborative and interactive communities, both in our classrooms and in the entirety of our work as scholars and educators,” said Braaten. “Our space reflects this commitment — I am excited to see where we go in the future.”

View event photo album

Photo captions:
Above: The ribbon-cutting ceremony included Angela Snyder and Marcela Martinez-Jones (Ofelia Miramontes' sister and niece), Dean Emerita Kathy Schultz, Interim Dean Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, Chancellor Justin Schwartz, Chancellor Emeritus Phil DiStefano, Leonard Baca, his wife and grandson, Eleanor Baca and Jaylen Baca
Center: Melissa Braaten teaching elementary education students in the new Learning Sphere Classroom, a space named by Trish Shapiro in the Miramontes Baca Education Building.
Below: Leonard Baca and family, and Ofelia Miramontes' family and close friends.

After more than five years of fundraising efforts, CU �鶹ӰԺ’s School of Education celebrated moving into its new campus home: the Ofelia Miramontes and Leonard Baca Education Building. The milestone was marked with a festive building dedication and community open house to showcase the school’s collaborative new spaces, highlight its influential research, celebrate educators and honor the passionate community that made the project possible.

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What is Colorado’s ‘school choice’ Amendment 80 all about? Education policy expert weighs in

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 20:41:31 +0000

What is Colorado’s ‘school choice’ Amendment 80 all about? Education policy expert weighs in Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 10/18/2024 - 14:41

This election season, voters across Colorado will decide on Amendment 80, which would add language establishing, among other things, a “right to school choice” into Colorado’s constitution. Education Professor Kevin Welner, a legal scholar and director of the National Education Policy Center, weighs in.

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Meet our newest faculty member, Assistant Professor AJ Schiera

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 18:06:57 +0000

Meet our newest faculty member, Assistant Professor AJ Schiera Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/16/2024 - 12:06

At the CU �鶹ӰԺ School of Education, we are excited to welcome and announce new faculty members who bring a variety of experiences and enhance our community of educators and learners. Please join us in welcoming them to our school and community: Lizz Tetu is assistant teaching professor for elementary education, Derek LeFebre is assistant teaching professor in EFPP, Kate Baca is postdoctoral associate for the National Education Policy Center and AJ Schiera as assistant professor of literacy studies. We sat down with Scheira, who is new to our community, to learn more about what attracted him to CU �鶹ӰԺ.

Schiera's research focuses on integrating justice-oriented and practice-based teacher education approaches, democratizing teacher education by including youth and local practitioners and exploring how novice social studies teachers learn to facilitate discussions. Schiera began his career in education as a high school history, government, and psychology teacher in Philadelphia public schools before (and after) earning his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. He was most recently an assistant teaching professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Why did you choose CU �鶹ӰԺ and the School of Education?

I am coming to CU �鶹ӰԺ for the opportunity to be part of a rich, vibrant, multifaceted, welcoming community of thinkers and doers. As I begin this new journey into the academy, the scholars here at the School of Education are ones whose work have inspired me, shown me how principled commitments and methodological approaches can go hand in hand to learn about learning and do good work in the world. When I interviewed here, I discovered how eager the School of Education community was to converse, collaborate, and explore together. All of this is to say: I am grateful CU �鶹ӰԺ chose me, too!

What are you excited about this upcoming year?

The inseparability of teaching novice teachers and researching how novice teachers learn is what makes me tick. I am excited to get connected to secondary social studies licensure candidates in particular, see their growth from fieldwork to coursework and build on the work others have done to create rich learning experiences for them in social studies methods.

What do you like to do on a day off?

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped my relationship with walking, and walking reshaped my relationship with my neighborhood. Living in Philadelphia at the time, I got a newfound appreciation for all of the things that made Kensington and Fishtown special and told stories of continuity and change-- all while forcing me to slow down my body and mind and be more present. I am eager to see how this habit deepens as an aspiring but *very novice* hiker, taking in the beauty of the Front Range.

What’s a fun fact about you?

For whatever reason, I acquired a fascination for sports officiating as a kid. That has persisted to today in that watching NBA, NFL, or MLB games involves as much attention on the officials as on the teams. Over time, I'm hoping to find my way back on courts and fields as an amateur official of youth sports.

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Are school boards becoming politicized? Expert weighs in

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:27:19 +0000

Are school boards becoming politicized? Expert weighs in Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/14/2024 - 10:27

Daniel Strain

As children across the U.S. head back to class, their educations will be shaped by the decisions of nearly 13,000 school boards. Anna Deese, a PhD student in Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice and former school board member from Montana, breaks down some of the biggest misconceptions.

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Welcome Back, Chancellor Emeritus Phil DiStefano

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 21:25:45 +0000

Welcome Back, Chancellor Emeritus Phil DiStefano Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/08/2024 - 15:25

Phil DiStefano reflects on returning to the School of Education after 15 years as Chancellor.

In 1974, a young man from Ohio joined the CU �鶹ӰԺ School of Education as assistant professor. This July, Phil DiStefano returned to the faculty of the School of Education after 50 years at the university and a storied journey through leadership across campus.

DiStefano stepped down after a remarkable 15 years as chancellor for CU �鶹ӰԺ. Before that, he was the campus’s first provost and executive vice chancellor following—dare we say it aloud—his “favorite” position as dean of the School of Education from 1986-96.

For the former high school teacher and first-generation college graduate, DiStefano rejoining the education faculty is like a special homecoming — this one doesn’t involve marching bands or Ralphie or alumni reunions, but it is exciting moment in his next chapter at CU �鶹ӰԺ.

We asked five questions for the newly minted Chancellor Emeritus to see what he is most excited about in “coming home.”

You have mentioned that your time in the School of Education includes some of your fondest memories at CU �鶹ӰԺ. What are you most excited about upon returning to the faculty?

When I became Interim Dean in 1986, the school was at a crossroad. At the time, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education was looking at consolidating programs at different universities and colleges and one proposal was to move the School of Education at CU �鶹ӰԺ to the University of Northern Colorado or the University of Colorado Denver. Along with faculty led by Professors Lorrie Shepard and Ernie House, we hired a consultant, David Berliner, from the University of Arizona and later Arizona State University to assist us. We had to make difficult decisions, such as supporting teacher education while requiring undergraduates to pair teacher certification with Arts and Sciences majors and focusing on four graduate programs of excellence—Instruction & Curriculum; Research, Evaluation and Methodology; Bilingual/Special Education; and Policy Studies—and eliminating or moving other programs.

The commission accepted our recommendations, and the chancellor allowed us to recruit on all vacant positions. When I left the deanship in 1996, the School of Education was in the top 25 nationally.

I am eager to see the various programs that now exist in the School of Education and how programs have evolved over the years. Of all the positions I have had at CU �鶹ӰԺ, being dean of the School of Education was the best, because I had the opportunity to build the school with the faculty to one of the top schools in the country.

Is there anything new about the School of Education since the time of your appointment as Chancellor that you are particularly interested in learning about?

The quality of any university, school or college is measured by the quality of the faculty. I don’t know many of the faculty who have been hired in the last ten to fifteen years but am eager to meet them to get to know their research and teaching agendas and how their agendas fit the vision and goals of the School of Education.

We understand you are continuing to focus on leadership studies. What have you learned from after your chancellorship that you hope to share with School of Education faculty and students and CU �鶹ӰԺ at large?

This past spring, I spent a week in Dharmshala, India with the Dalai Lama and the Dalai Lama fellows on a conference focusing on leadership. The theme of the conference was “Leadership through Compassion and Courage.” While there, I added two other values—integrity and humility in my presentation on leadership. Although values of compassion, courage and humility might seem to be at odds with each other, they are needed with integrity to be the leaders that we need for our democracy to survive.

In addition to your many roles on campus past and present, you and your wife Yvonne are cherished donors for the school from student scholarship support to participation on donor committees and more. Why do you and your family choose to give to the School of Education?

Yvonne and I are both first-generation college students in our families. We understand firsthand the value of education in today’s world. We meet with first-generation students throughout the year to share our experiences on the value of higher education and what can be accomplished with an undergraduate and a graduate education.

Now that you have passed the torch as chancellor and will hopefully have more free time, what are you looking forward to most?

For me, I am interested in taking some classes as a senior auditor. There are amazing faculty on our campus, and I would like to spend some time in their classes and continue the learning process. Together, Yvonne and I want to spend more time with our grandchildren in Arizona. One is in high school, and the other is in middle school. We would love to be part of their middle school and high school experience.

Phil DiStefano reflects on returning to the School of Education after 15 years as Chancellor. For the former high school teacher and first-generation college graduate, DiStefano is excited about “coming home" to education faculty after 50 years at CU �鶹ӰԺ. See what the newly minted Chancellor Emeritus has to say about this special homecoming.

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High school student curiosity drives new open-source science curricula

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 21:48:42 +0000

High school student curiosity drives new open-source science curricula Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/24/2024 - 15:48

A coalition of educators from 10 states and led by CU �鶹ӰԺ has released a new series of free science curricula for high school students—touching on issues critical to the lives of young people, from wildfires to rising sea levels and cancer biology. The new curricula, called OpenSciEd High School, is a three-year high school science program designed by a consortium of developers led by the inquiryHub, a research-practice partnership.

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Women of color disproportionately targeted by book bans, study finds

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:57:54 +0000

Women of color disproportionately targeted by book bans, study finds Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/02/2024 - 15:57

In 2023, the American Library Association documented attempts to remove more than 4,000 books from schools and libraries across the U.S. In one of the first comprehensive analyses of book bans in the U.S., Katie Spoon, a PhD candidate in computer science and a master’s student in the School of Education, and collaborators revealed that these bans disproportionally target women authors of color and books that feature characters of color.

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Meeting the needs of Colorado’s ‘newcomer’ K-12 students

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:37:44 +0000

Meeting the needs of Colorado’s ‘newcomer’ K-12 students Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/20/2024 - 11:37

This year, schools across Colorado experienced an influx of students, many of them migrants from Latin and South America. A small but dedicated group of scholars at the CU �鶹ӰԺ School of Education are helping teachers meet the needs of these new arrivals.

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Words of gratitude for our 2024 mentor teachers

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:23:36 +0000

Words of gratitude for our 2024 mentor teachers Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/17/2024 - 15:23

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PosIqmr2Ag]

Each year, over 200 mentor teachers from over 30 partner schools give their time, energy and expertise to supporting our CU �鶹ӰԺ School of Education student teachers. Watch our video or read the quotes below to see how mentor teachers impact our student teachers.

We asked our students, how has your mentor teacher impacted your student teaching experience?

Having a mentor teacher to really reflect with and connect with about even the little moments that are happening every single day in a classroom has been absolutely amazing. To have that backbone of support though the process of learning how to teach and having a person to give me feedback has been an amazing experience.”—Caitlin Johnston, BA in Elementary Education

In so many ways. Without seeing a mentor teacher or having those relationships, I don't know if I could have done it. It's just been incredible to be able to co-teach and co-plan and see someone else in a real context outside of our education classes and see someone do the real work and be able to get feedback and questions and pose any sort of problems and seeing how they do it. It's just invaluable.”—Marcus Willimas, MA+ Teacher Licensure in Secondary Humanities

Without my mentor teacher, I would be pretty lost the whole way through. She supported me every step of the way, and as I grew my confidence in being an educator, she was there to meet me with challenges and encourage me to expand my horizons. She was a supportive mentor who helped push my abilities as an educator.”—Hunter Mayhew, MA+ Teacher Licensure in STEM Education

See more student testimonials

“It's been able to make me feel more confident in my teaching and be more reflective on the practices I'm using and to adapt what I'm doing.”—Grace Haas, BA in Elementary Education

“I think it's really helped my confidence for just being in the classroom and knowing what it takes to be a teacher day in and day out. When I first showed up to the school, I felt like I had no idea what it really meant to be a teacher but leaving this year gave me a way better idea of what to expect.”—Derek Wasiecko, BA in Elementary Education

“I think having a mentor teacher has created my entire experience. I wouldn't be where I am without her. Just from practicum last year and then coming into the classroom and having her to guide me kinda along the way. Always giving me positive feedback and helpful hints but after the fact, actually letting me build on that with my next lessons. She's taught me how to build positive relationships with my students and other teams in the classroom. Everything I learned she just pushed me out of my comfort zone to the point where I am ready to teach at my own classroom and am really excited. Everything I learned was from her.”—Tatum Rohdes, BA in Elementary Education

“Having a mentor teacher has impacted my student teaching experience in so many ways. It’s given me a template for how to act, how to be, and how to plan as a teacher. It’s given me so many wonderful experiences of seeing how they work and collaborate with their fellow peers and has given me a template with how I am going to work with mine in the future. It's also inspired me to become a mentor teacher when I finally get that chance.”—Ridge Isley, BA in Elementary Education

“Having a mentor teacher has been really nice for my experience because I was able to learn everyday with the same person and keep it consistent and knowing exactly what that routine would look like.”—Kathryn Stone, BA in Elementary Education

“It's great to have someone to really look up to. My mentor teacher, she's really awesome and amazing, even though sometimes she’s like ‘don't follow my instructions’. She's absolutely the best mentor I can ask for. She knows how to co-teach because she co-teaches with the other fifth grade teacher, and she's just so open and welcoming.”—Jennifer Jinnohn Douglas, BA in Elementary Education

“It's been amazing to work with a teacher who has been teaching for over thirty years and just learn from someone who has been in it for so long. It has influenced me in how I go about teaching in my everyday life.”—Abigail Bonanotte, BA in Elementary Education

“[My mentor teacher] has just taught me so much throughout this year. I've learned a lot especially in regard to like literacy instruction and group management and just like all things education. I feel really appreciative that I got a mentor this year and I wouldn't have it any other way. I really appreciate it.”—Analise Schultz, BA in Elementary Education

“Truly, I don't think that my student teaching experience would have been anywhere nearly as powerful or as life changing without [my mentor teacher].”—Madeleine Leman, MA+ Teacher Licensure in Secondary Humanities

“Truly immensely in almost every way. [My mentor teacher] is always been there to teach me what I might have missed from school. Or just correct me when I just start going off and it's nice to have someone to lean on like that. That is constantly there because you can't bring the whole School of Education into the classroom.”—Roxanne Garland, MA+ Teacher Licensure in Secondary Humanities

“This semester working with my mentor teacher has definitely helped me learn a lot of new strategies that I wanna use in the classroom. It's also a really great opportunity to get to know a new group of students and work with them closely. And work with my mentor teacher to meet their needs in the classroom.”—Aspen Krist, teacher licensure in secondary science

“It's made me a lot more confident. The advice that grant has offered me is invaluable as well as the opportunities that he allows me to take part in in his classroom. Along with planning my own classes and supporting students and building relationships. It's really been an amazing experience.”—Jo Robbins, MA+ Teacher Licensure in STEM Education

“Having a mentor teacher has greatly impacted my student teaching experience because the advice, the investment, and the encouragement that my mentor teacher has given me is incomparable. Words can't describe the amount of support that I received and it definitely wouldn't have been the same without that support and encouragement.”—Samantha Milison, MA+ Teacher Licensure in STEM Education

Do you have any messages or words of gratitude you would like to share with your mentor teacher, School of Education supporters, or about your field experiences?

I really wouldn't be where I am as a teacher without you. Thank you so much for all the effort and the help you put in. Inside of school, outside of school. All the support you're giving me through every idea I have, like helping me add to every idea. Even when I'm teaching my lessons you're on the side there adding in and helping me, supporting me along the way. So thank you.”—Tatum Rohdes, BA in Elementary Education

I would not be where I am without Ian Evans, he truly has just been like a light in the darkness. He's helped me see things from different ways. He's helped me realize that even when it's hard I still wanna be a teacher and he's everything is strive to be as a teacher.”—Roxanne Garland, MA+ Teacher Licensure in Secondary Humanities

Honestly, no words can describe how thankful I am. I think that this has been one of the best experiences that I've had on my educational and teaching journey. I think Becky Bullman is a great mentor teacher and I'm just super lucky and super fortunate and I wouldn't change a thing. So, words can't really describe my gratitude. I'm really grateful.”—Samantha Milison, MA+ Teacher Licensure in STEM Education

See more student testimonials

“I would just tell her thank you for everything and thank you for being a shoulder of support. And being there for me when I need you.” — Grace Haas, BA in Elementary Education

“I want my mentor teacher to know that I love her very much and she taught me so much more than she will ever know and I will continue to take all that I learned and apply it now that I'm going into a classroom of my own.” — Caitlin Johnston, BA in Elementary Education

“I just wanna say thanks for everything. I know it's been super busy for him and everything in life. Thanks for giving me the time and helping set everything up for the future.”—Derek Wasiecko, BA in Elementary Education

“Tyler was very qualified to be my mentor teacher. He was the best mentor teacher I could have asked for at a certain time when I didn't think I was going to be able to have a mentor teacher. I really appreciate everything he has taught me. I've appreciated every step of the way that we've taken and I'm looking forward to working with him next year so much. And also a quick shout out to my first mentor teacher, Sara. Unfortunately I didn't get to finish the year with her but I appreciate her as always and I know that I am making her proud as well. So, thank you so much.”—Ridge Isley, BA in Elementary Education

“I just want to say thank you for vocalizing everything for me. I feel like I've grown so much by the small things that you've taught me on a daily basis. I just really appreciate the constant support that I felt like in your classroom and at the school overall by our students. Everything was wonderful. So, thank you.”—Kathryn Stone, BA in Elementary Education

“Robin, thank you so so much for taking care of me this entire year. I really don't have enough words and gratitude to express that but know that you have been awesome and amazing. And you have really helped shape the teacher I am today. So, thank you so much for that.”—Jennifer Jinnohn Douglas, BA in Elementary Education

“I would like to thank Rebecca in so many ways and endless throughout all of time. I will never forget our time together. It's been so impactful to me. She's been like a big sister. And our sixth period class will live on in infamy.”—Marcus Willimas, MA+ Teacher Licensure in Secondary Humanities

“I mean it from the bottom of my heart that you are the teacher I would love to be one day, and I see so many phenomenal qualities and the things that I hear from students is so inspiring. You had students visit this year from a couple of years ago that are still begging to be in your class. You are just really unbelievable and you taught me so much both about the active teaching and what it means to be a human that teaches”—Madeleine Leman, MA+ Teacher Licensure in Secondary Humanities

“Thank you so much for all the support throughout the past two years. It's been amazing. I love working with you and at the school in general so thank you. I appreciate it so much.”—Abigail Bonanotte, BA in Elementary Education

“Burns, I appreciate you for everything you do. I've learned so much from you and I'm really going to miss being in the first grade with you. Thanks for an awesome year.” —Analise Schultz, BA in Elementary Education

“I am immensely grateful, and I will miss our Starburst snack time after lunch. But it’s a tradition I will continue in my own teaching career going forward.”—Hunter Mayhew, MA+ Teacher Licensure in STEM Education

“Thank you for having me here this semester. It was really wonderful being in your classroom and I hope next year is not too difficult for you.” —Aspen Krist, teacher licensure in secondary science

“Just really grateful for the whole experience and for all his help and all the stuff that I've experienced at Niwot. I really do feel more confident and maybe my next year is not going to be exactly feeling like second year of teaching but it definitely should be better than an actual first year of teaching.”—Jo Robbins, MA+ Teacher Licensure in STEM Education

Thank you to our mentor teachers for all of your dedication and support!

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