The 2012 BRAVO AWARDS were presented to Western Disposal and the St. Vrain Valley Credit Union on May 4th at the Tribute to Teachers for their exceptional contributions to the St. Vrain Valley School District.

At the April 24th Board of Directors meeting, the Education Foundation awarded $7,000 in scholarships to nine exceptional District students. 

Encore Award nominations are currently being accepted.

Mick Huiet, Eagle Crest Elementary, is a teacher who instills a love and enthusiasm for learning in his students, continually guiding them to recognize their own strengths and needs as learners. He regularly presents ideas and tools to the students that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

Mick willingly takes on roles of the famous and the not so famous to engage the students. Recently, he donned a blue wig and transformed into “Grandma Huiet” for a fundraising event. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Kathy Hall, who presented Mick his award said that she remembers Mick when her son had him as a teacher, way back in 1995, when he transformed into Benjamin Franklin for the “Night of the Notables!”

Mick routinely helps with the Eco-Cycle Green Star program; helped establish the school’s MESA program; has led a Community School class on jump rope; and has assisted with the production of Shakespeare performances by fourth and fifth graders! As an example of how much his student’s care for him, the students created a 2010 calendar which included quotes on what Mr. Huiet means to them. For example, the calendar included these two student’s quotes:

“Mr. Huiet is an awesome teacher because he makes my heart and brain learn.”
and
“The most important thing he has taught me so far is how to be a S. P. L. L. L. ~
Self Perfected Life Long Learner.”

What could be better than that!

Congratulations to Eagle Crest Elementary’s Fourth Grade Teacher, Mick Huiet!

Kevin Lyons, Silver Creek High School, shares his love of the Spanish language with his students. Students in his class know to expect total immersion into the Spanish language and culture if they sign up for this teacher’s class. From Day 1 in Spanish 1, he only speaks Spanish to the students (unless there is a dire need to communicate in English to help a struggling student.) Kevin is a teacher who goes to great lengths to help his students understand the language. It is not uncommon for this teacher to stay until 5:30 p.m. daily helping students.

Scott Hardy, Silver Creek senior presented the Spotlight Award to Kevin with the following comments, “…to fully understand and appreciate his passion for the language, one needs to watch him teach; to see the fire in his eyes, his wild gestures, his loud voice, and his energetic nature as he dances nimbly around the classroom. Sometimes he’s wearing twelve layers of the most ridiculous clothing, shouting “?Que` es este?” as he points to a fluorescent green vest, bulging as it sits on top of una camiseta, una camisa,y una chamarra, but still under una corbata y una bufunda. The respect he has for his students is apparent and strong. He will go to any length to get any student to understand a concept as long as they have a sincere interest in the subject.”
So it only seems fitting,

Felicitaciones a Maestro de Espanol de Silver Creek, Lyon Kevin: Un Enfoque de destinatarios Premio 2010!
And in English:

Congratulations to Silver Creek’s Spanish Teacher, Kevin Lyons: A 2010 Spotlight Award Recipient!

Kathy Pennell, Black Rock Elementary really loves Kindergarten! She has had a tremendous impact on her students, setting the foundation for all of their future learning. As her nominator shared, “It is really refreshing as a parent to know that she LOVES her job and it shows. I often feel that my child is her only student, but realize that she’s just that good at taking time to understand each child and their individual needs. As a parent of teenage boys, I know that sometimes patience is the best tactic to take. Now imagine a classroom of twenty five inquisitive little minds. For me, that is scary!!”

And then imagine still hearing this comment from one of this teacher’s other six nominations, “I simply do not know how she consistently maintains the calm learning atmosphere she does while also keeping the kids passionate about learning. She takes patience to a whole other level!!” Amazing!

Kathy consistently tries new, creative approaches with the students. For instance, when teaching “sight words” to the students, she has the kids cut out the words printed on paper in the shape of a piece of popcorn and then has them toss the words into a real popcorn bag ~ because the words “pop” out at you!! Then of course, those “popcorn words” can be buttered up with a highlighter. The students LOVE to butter up their popcorn words! Kathy also brings technology into the kindergarten classroom. Recently, the students were able to view the real-time birth of a baby bald eagle utilizing an Eagle Cam website over the internet.

Congratulations to Kathy Pennell, Kindergarten Teacher from Black Rock Elementary!

Jen Tatham, Alpine Elementary, has the philosophy that children should be taught the basic skills of sports and movement ~ and she expands this concept to include whole families!! She has set up family physical education nights to involve parents and kids together! Jen likes to keep activities current in her PE class. Recently, during the Winter Olympics, she set up various events in the gym to match what was going on at the Olympics! She also has such a desire that her students stay active that she has allowed students who can’t afford their own sports equipment to check out equipment and Wii games from her own, personal collection. Jen has also instituted a new fitness and rewards program called “Walk and Roll Fridays” for the school’s students. If a student walks to school or rides their bike or is part of a carpool on a “Walk and Roll Friday” they receive a sticker and are eligible for other prizes which the teacher has arranged through local businesses. As the parent nominator shared, “ As a grown-up who lived through the 1970’s and dreaded PE with what I saw as humiliation, it is a wonderful joy for me to see how excited my own children are about PE –even if they are not the physical superstars – they LOVE PE!”

Congratulations go to Jen Tatham, Alpine Elementary’s K – 5 Physical Education Teacher!

Dale Peterson, Niwot Elementary, is a teacher who, as a parent of a student in his class shares, “Shows great passion and energy for teaching every single day – that is passed on to the children. He is brilliant in innovative teaching methods, utilizing all of a child’s senses to learn in fun ways that hold a child’s attention.” By presenting lessons in verbal, auditory, visual, and kinesthetic ways he is able to differentiate his teaching for each child. With this approach, Dale has allowed students to reach levels of excellence not reached before.

Dale’s passion for educating youth extends beyond our own community and school. He has established a sister school relationship with a school in Uganda. He has also started the Mwebaza Foundation which provides funding for needed improvements for that same school in that Uganda village. The interaction of children between these two schools provides a rare exposure to a world view and a cultural awareness not often found in a first grade classroom. He gladly teaches his students about the continent of Africa and its basic facts. But he reaches beyond those basics. There is richness in the connection Dale has established between his classroom and the classroom in Uganda. Dale is raising the global conscience of not only his classroom, but the entire elementary school, the Niwot community, and others throughout the whole district.

Congratulations to Niwot Elementary’s First Grade Teacher, Dale Peterson!