Names listed in blue indicate 2013 Spotlight Award Recipients

Elementary Schools

Alpine – Laura Szech, First Grade

Black Rock – Karie Cooper, Fourth Grade

Blue Mountain – Laura Mason, Kindergarten

Burlington – Diane Parenti, Third Grade

Centennial – Jane Wroblewski, Special Education

Central – Robby Orbanosky, Third Grade

Columbine – Debbie Stechman, Kindergarten

Eagle Crest – Chelsea Hammond, Second Grade

Erie – Lisa Shuttleworth, Preschool

Fall River – Julie Butrick, Kindergarten

Frederick – Dana van der Hoeven, Fourth Grade

Hygiene – Karen Smith, Fifth Grade

Indian Peaks – Laura Pereyra, Bilingual Literacy

Legacy – Deborah Luther, Fourth Grade

Loma Linda – Sarah Delaney, Kindergarten thru Fifth Science and Math

Longmont Estates – Chelsea Rickman, First Grade

Lyons – Wendy Parker, Second Grade

Mead – Mary Ellen Bunta, Third Grade

Mountain View – Pilar LaFaye, Fourth Grade

Niwot – Shaun Manzanares, Psychologist

Northridge – Michelle Leips, Physical Education

Prairie Ridge – Lauren Sparks, First Grade

Red Hawk – Jennifer Burke, Second Grade

Rocky Mountain - Alexandra Downing, Fifth Grade

Sanborn – Holly Keenan, Fourth Grade

Spangler – Brad Farbo, Physical Education

Middle / Senior Schools

Lyons Middle / Senior – Karen Gregg, Sixth thru Twelfth Grade Band

Charter Schools 

Aspen Ridge Preparatory – Karyn Hogan, Kindergarten

Carbon Valley – Scott Ramsaur, Physical Education

Flagstaff – Kyle Sumnicht, Art

Imagine – Kristen Baker, Kindergarten

St. Vrain Community Montessori – Kate Goss, Fourth & Fifth Grade

Twin Peaks – Carol Ann Austin, Fourth Grade

Middle Schools   

Altona – Kathleen Jakobsen, Sixth Grade Science

Coal Ridge – Ingrid Fedge, Literacy and Numeracy Lab

Erie – Traci Jensen, Seventh Grade Math

Heritage – Gary Lloyd, Sixth thru Eighth Grade Band

Longs Peak – Courtney Adams, Seventh Grade Science

Mead – Anna Youngs, Eighth Grade Social Studies and English

Sunset – Myron Whisman, Sixth thru Eighth Grade Band

Trail Ridge – Marnie Steele, Eighth Grade Science

Westview – Julie Benjaminson, Eighth Grade Math and Algebra

High Schools

Erie – Kaitlyn Gentert, Ninth - Tenth Grade History and Spanish

Frederick – Diane Starkey, Tenth thru Twelfth Grade English

Longmont – Chuck Zander, Ninth, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Algebra, AP Calculus

Mead – Jessica Lubbers, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade Math

Niwot – Kenneth Benson, Economics and History

Silver Creek – Jason Lathrop, Ninth - Twelfth Grade English and Leadership Academy

Skyline – Kaitlyn Dillon, Ninth, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Language Arts

Alternative High Schools

Adult Education – Nancy Nangle, ESL

Olde Columbine – Belinda Backous, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade Discovery

Other Programs

Career Development Center – Bill Anthony, Welding

Student Services – Sara Burch, Pre-Kindergarten thru Twelfth Grade Special Education - Visually Impaired

Five SVVSD teachers receive 2013 Spotlight awards

Education Foundation also recognizes five with multiple nominations

Times-Call staff

Posted: 05/10/2013 09:38:57 PM MDT

Updated: 05/10/2013 09:41:09 PM MDT

Myron Whisman, band teacher at Sunset Middle School, walks off the stage after being presented with the Spotlight Award at the Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley's Sixth Annual Tribute to Teachers on Friday. ( Greg Lindstrom )

LONGMONT -- The Education Foundation of the St. Vrain Valley honored five of the St. Vrain Valley School District's top teachers with its Spotlight award during its annual Tribute to Teachers dinner on Friday night.

The five Spotlight winners, chosen from the ranks of the Encore winners from each school, were Kenneth Benson, who teaches economics and history at Niwot High; Kate Goss, who teaches fourth and fifth grades at St. Vrain Community Montessori; Kathleen Jakobsen, who teaches sixth-grade science at Altona Middle School; Kyle Sumnicht, an elementary art teacher at Flagstaff Academy; and Myron Whisman, band teacher at Sunset Middle School.

In nominating Benson, student Denis Routkevitch wrote that his teacher "always tries to help his students succeed."

"Mr. Benson is an expert teacher who makes sure to help all the students understand the subject as much as possible. In addition, he is friendly with all of the students and makes the classroom a joy to learn in," Routkevitch wrote.

Goss was nominated by Jeanne Berkowitz, the parent of one of her fourth-grade students and a member of St. Vrain Community Montessori's board of directors.

"Kate finds ways to nurture the individual talents and interests of every student while capitalizing on differences in learning style to create an amazing and vibrant communal learning environment," Berkowitz wrote.

Parent Ann Lindahl nominated Jakobsen, writing, "Mrs. Jakobsen couples her years of teaching experience with a passion to continually seek out new and interesting ways for the students to learn in a fun and interesting environment."

Sumnicht was nominated by parent Donna Campiglia, whose son has been one of Sumnicht's students for two years.

"Mr. S's approach to teaching is nothing less than thrilling. He keeps the material relevant and exciting for the students. ... They get to see a work in progress and appreciate the time, effort, and countless hours that Mr. S. puts in after hours and during weekends," Campiglia wrote.

Whisman was nominated by Dina Kenkel, a parent.

"Practice and behavior goals for students of all abilities are established right from the start. ... To further engage students, encourage creativity, and foster relevance, each year the students perform a concert with a special theme. Concurrently, the students delve deeper by completing a project of their choosing that ties real-life experience and music together," Kenkel wrote.

In addition to the Encore and Spotlight awards, the Foundation gave special recognition to five teachers who have been nominated for the Encore Award four or five times, but who have not won the Spotlight Award.

The five winners of the You're the Top Award were Jay Clanin, music and band teacher at Silver Creek High School; Jessica Easley, a third-grade teacher at Niwot Elementary; Bill Kloser, art teacher at Indian Peaks Elementary; Jennifer Mayer, a fifth-grade teacher at Frederick Elementary; and Elizabeth Sims, a seventh-grade science teacher at Trail Ridge Middle School.

Twenty teachers have been nominated for the Encore Award at least twice since it began in 2008, Hall said.

Names listed in blue indicate 2012 Spotlight Award Recipients.

Elementary Schools

Alpine – Jesse Ascunce, Fifth Grade

Black Rock – Timothy Jennings, Third Grade

Blue Mountain – Jolene Lewis, Third Grade

Burlington– Nimia Nelson, Kindergarten-Fifth Grade SES

Centennial – Melissa Fike, First Grade

Central – Cecile Pierce, Fourth Grade

Columbine – Jenna Duff, Fifth Grade

Eagle Crest – Jennifer Ordway, Music

Erie– Linda Mutz, First Grade

Fall River– Kristi Ekern, Fifth Grade

Frederick – Angie Oram, Second Grade

Hygiene – Leah Stoll, Second Grade

Indian Peaks– Bill Kloser, Art

Legacy – Jessica Whitted, First Grade

Loma Linda – Kelly Bernhardt, First Grade

Longmont Estates – Jennifer Gray, Third Grade

Lyons – Jennifer White, First Grade

Mead – Stacey Blick, Kindergarten*; Jennifer Stanich, Kindergarten*

Mountain View– Jennifer Mearing, Second Grade

Niwot – Barb VanWinkle, Second thru Fifth Grade

Northridge – Janette Gonzalez, First Grade

Prairie Ridge – Krislen Morgado, Kindergarten thru Fifth Grade Special Education/Autism

Red Hawk – Shannon Savona, Second Grade

Rocky Mountain – Margaret Huizingh, Third Grade

Sanborn – Amber Tank, Fourth Grade

Spangler – Brian Kenyon, First Grade

Middle/ Senior Schools

Lyons Middle – Senior – Matthew Romig, Sixth thru Twelfth Grade Music/Drama 

Charter Schools

Aspen Ridge Preparatory – Josie Ann Hamlin, First Grade

Carbon Valley – Danette Morgan, Preschool

Flagstaff – Tracy Applehans, Kindergarten

Imagine – Jason Ingram, Second Grade

St. Vrain Community Montessori – Christy Curton*, Jessica Davidson*, Charlotte Fountain*, Kate Goss*, Jennifer Saless*

Twin Peaks – Teal Maxwell, First and Second Grade

Middle Schools

Altona – Lauren Rider, Seventh and Eighth Grade Math

Coal Ridge – Rana Pickering, Sixth Grade Language Arts

Erie – Nicholas Roseth, Sixth thru Eighth Grade Band, Orchestra, Guitar

Heritage – Kaarina Demers, Sixth thru Eighth Grade Language Arts, Health

Mead – Christina Delzenero, Sixth thru Eighth Grade Special Education

Sunset – Christina Ireland, Sixth thru Eighth Grade Spanish, Language Arts

Trail Ridge – Elizabeth Sims, Eighth Grade Science, Language Arts

Westview – Gene Kath, Seventh Grade Math

Senior High Schools

Erie – Carrie Mitchell, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade English

Frederick – Shelly Mares, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade Math

Longmont– Diane Ruby, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade Physical Education

Mead – Philip Hodgkinson, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade Social Studies

Niwot – Kelly Yazzie, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grade English, Psychology

Silver Creek – Jeremy Skelton, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade Choir, Music Director

Skyline – Travis O’Hair, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade AP Biology, STEM

Alternative High Schools

Olde Columbine – Tracy Saunders, Ninth thru Twelfth Grade English

Adult Education – Katharine Bennett, ESL

Other Programs

Student Services – Kylea Winka, Kindergarten thru Fifth Grade, Special Education

*Denotes Team Teachers

Names listed in blue indicate 2011 Spotlight Award Recipients.

Elementary Schools

Alpine – Megan Penfold, Third grade

Black Rock – Brian McGuirk, Fourth grade

Blue Mountain – Temple Hayles, Second grade

Burlington– Beth Sherrill, First grade

Centennial – Lisa Halpren, Second grade

Central – Kelly Sanseverino, First grade

Columbine – Jamie Schroder, First and Second grade

Eagle Crest – Debby Precht, Kindergarten-Fifth grade Literacy

Erie– Denise Parker, Second grade

Fall River– Eve Weglarz, Second grade

Frederick – Jennifer Garcia, Kindergarten

Hygiene – Jenny Heidel, Third – Fifth grade, Reading

Indian Peaks– Trudy O’Cleary, Third grade

Legacy – Therese Possel, Third grade

Loma Linda – Jill Vaughn, Special Education

LongmontEstates – Alice Marshall, Third grade

Lyons – Aleta Magaldi, Kindergarten

Mead – Pam Heimstra, Preschool

Mountain View– Mary Tafel, grade

Niwot – Shelley Humble, Second grade

Northridge – Bel Castro, Kindergarten

Prairie Ridge – Amy Hamblin, Third grade

Rocky Mountain – Natalie Knapp,  Fourth Grade

Sanborn – Kaye DeFoor, First grade

Spangler – Judy Millikan, K – 5 Music

Middle/ Senior Schools

Lyons Middle – Senior – Brian McDivitt, Sixth through 12^th grade Technology

Charter Schools

Carbon Valley–Adrienne Clay, Kindergarten

Flagstaff– Jennifer Battistoni,  Third grade

Imagine – Kristen Baker, Kindergarten

Twin Peaks – Michelle Paris-Kempkes, Second grade

Middle Schools

Altona – Jenay Hammond, Eighth grade Language Arts

Coal Ridge – Adam Wellington, Seventh grade Social Studies

Erie– Chris Duhon, Sixth grade Math

Heritage – Samantha Olsen, Sixth grade Math

Longs Peak– Joan Hollins, Seventh grade Social Studies

Mead – Michaela Campbell, Eighth grade Language Arts

Sunset – Colby Jones, Sixth grade Social Studies

Trail Ridge – Laurie Roybal, Eighth grade Language Arts

Westview – Ellie Decker, Seventh grade Math

Senior High Schools

Erie– Stephanie Esquibel, Ninth through 12^th grade Math

Frederick – Helen Mitchell, Tenth through 12^th grade Chemistry, and Physics

Longmont– James Moulton, Ninth through 12^th grade Physics and Animal Behavior

Mead – Amy Renaldi, Ninth through 11^th grade English

Niwot – Jason Watkins, Ninth through 12^th grade Theatre and Arts

Silver Creek – Kenneth Allen, Ninth through 12^th grade Math

Skyline – Casey Luker, Ninth through 12^th grade English

Alternative High Schools

Career Development Center-Kaitlyn Gaines, Ninth through 12^th Agriculture-Science

Olde Columbine – Rashmi Oberai, Ninth through 12^th grade Math and Chemistry

Adult Education – Judith Hull, High School 2 Science

Other Programs-Traci Haley, K-12 Professional Development

Names listed in blue indicate 2010 Spotlight Award Recipients

Elementary Schools

Alpine – Jen Tatham, Kindergarten through fifth grade physical education

Black Rock – Kathy Pennell, Kindergarten

Blue Mountain – JoLene Lewis, Third grade

Burlington – LaReina Romero, Fourth grade

Centennial – Barbara Colton, Second grade

Central – Shelley Saxton, Kindergarten through fifth grade art

Columbine – Susan Tatum, Third grade

Eagle Crest – Mick Huiet, Fourth grade

Erie – Ami Larson, First grade Fall River – Missy Wills, Second grade

Frederick – Mary Cousineau, First and Second grade

Hygiene - Kathy Parmley, First grade

Indian Peaks – Pam Tennant, Kindergarten

Legacy – Marsha Diemert, Fourth grade

Loma Linda – Jana Hansen, Kindergarten

Longmont Estates – Nancy Harris, Second grade

Lyons – Amy Stahl, Fifth grade

Mead – Teresa Stamp, Fifth grade

Mountain View – Josh Law, Kindergarten through fifth grade physical education

Niwot – Dale Peterson, First grade

Northridge – Jeff Cannon, Third grade

Prairie Ridge – Erin Smith, Kindergarten through fifth grade special education

Rocky Mountain – Christina Wilson, Pre-Kindergarten

Sanborn – Holly Keenan, Fourth grade

Spangler – Nina Amabile, Title 1 Kindergarten through 5th literacy

Middle/ Senior Schools

Lyons Middle – Senior – Anna Marie Strzyz, Ninth through 12th grade English and yearbook

Charter Schools

Carbon Valley – Cathy Stein, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten

Flagstaff – Jason Zook, Third grade

Imagine – Rachel Zelaya, First through eighth grade Latin

St. Vrain Comm. Montessori- Christy Curton, First through Third Grade

Twin Peaks – Cindy Schultz, Fourth Grade

Middle Schools

Altona – Victor Thibault, Seventh Grade language arts

Coal Ridge – Jeff Conway, Sixth through eighth grade physical education

Erie – Beau Townsend, Sixth through eighth grade art

Heritage – Kaarina Demers, Seventh grade language arts

Longs Peak – Ari Gold, Seventh grade language arts

Mead – Kara Davis, Seventh grade language arts

Sunset – Cece Balman, Sixth through eighth grade media

Trail Ridge – Milo Fortes, Sixth grade social studies

Westview – Ellie Decker, Seventh grade math

Senior High Schools

Erie – Kimberly Kepler, Ninth through 12th grade math

Frederick – Dorothy LePore, Eleventh and 12th grade AP language

Longmont – Scott Bergamo, Tenth through 12th grade counseling

Mead – Shannon Martenson, Ninth through 12th grade language arts

Niwot – Scott Sanchez, Ninth through 12th grade math

Silver Creek – Kevin Lyons, Ninth through 12th grade Spanish

Skyline - Jane Moody, Ninth through 12th grade, ELL

Alternative High Schools

Career Development Center and Olde Columbine - Kevin Bartish, Ninth through 12th grade math

Adult Education – Kristin Denton, Seventh through 12th grade language arts

To see more details about the 2010 Spotlight Award Recipients, please click here.