Faculty Awards

List of 8 items.

• Head of School's Award

  The Head of School's Award is given from time to time to staff or administrators who have given exemplary service or made an outstanding contribution to the life of the community that is Colorado Academy.
  
  Head of School's Award Recipients:
  2024     Katy Wood Hills, Director, Visual & Performing Arts
  2023     Jerel Dalrymple, Custodian Supervisor
               Nelly Fernandez, Asst. Custodian Supervisor
  2022    Jenny Armstrong, Director of Early Childhood Education
  2021    Health Team: Mandy Batliner, Jean Lyons, Holly Clapp;
               Julie Fordyce, Human Resources & Payroll Manager
               Renée Rockford, Assistant Head of School & COVID
               Communications Coordinator
  2020    Albert Archuleta, Operations
              Technology Team: Jared Katzman, Rory Butler, Jonathan
              Ender, Kimberly Jans, Jennie Kies, Bill Witt
  

  2019    Jesse Schumacher, Director of Operations
              Admission Office Team: Catherine Laskey, Karen Chavez, 
              Heidi Chesley, Lisa Dean, Caren Salzer, Paige Siemers

              Lower School Interim Principals: Allison Peters Jensen, Kate
              O'Donnell, Mary Singer
  2014    Catherine Laskey, Director of Admission & Financial Aid
  2007    Eddie Sotolongo, Operations Director
  2005    Rory Butler, Network Administrator
  1985    Theater Department

• Yoeman Fisher Award for Teaching Excellence

  Each year, Colorado Academy recognizes the accomplishments of an outstanding teacher with the Yoeman Fisher Award. The award was created when proceeds from the 1979 CA Auction were used to establish an endowment in memory of Yoeman Fisher, the beloved faculty member who taught Fourth Grade at CA for 13 years.
  
  Award Criteria
  

  • The individual is considered by peers, students, and parents to be a creative, inventive, inspiring, and knowledgeable teacher.
  • The individual is a role model and actively exhibits the qualities of invention, curiosity, and intellectual discipline that we seek to inculcate in students.
  • Peers recognize the individual as a source of sound advice and an intelligent critic of teaching strategy.

  Yoeman Fisher Award Recipients:
  2024    Beth Folsom, LS & MS Physical Education & Golf Coach
              Allison Peters Jensen, Director of Libraries & Lower
               School Librarian
  2023    Eric Augustin, MS English & Civics
               Lisa Todd, US Spanish
  2022    Lisa Boes, US Chemistry
              Jay Leeuwenburg, Grade Three
  2021    Stephanie Stone, Grade Three
  2020    Kimberly Jans, US Computer Science; US Technology
              Coordinator; Academic Webmaster
  2019    Elissa Wolf-Tinsman, US History
  2018    Marcia Richards, LS Physical Education; MS Athletics; Coach
  2017    Meg Hill, US Spanish
  2016    Alicia Knox, LS Music
  2015    Jenn Adams, MS Athletic Director; LS/MS Physical
              Education; Coach
  2014    Barry Simmons, US History
  2013    Paula Osborne, Grades One/Two
  2012    Luis Terrazas, US History
  2011    Jeff Goldstein, Grade Two
  2010    Sue Counterman, MS Science
              Dani Meyers, US Science
  2009    Chip Lee, US English
  2008    Connie Adcock, Grade One
  2007    Beverly French-Strohmeier, US Visual Art
  2006    Judy Zinn, US Mathematics
  2005    Jim Blanas, US History
  2004    Stefanie Bakken, US Spanish
              Charles Coleman, US Science
  2003    Milly Nadler, US Mathematics
  2002    Diana Giarusso, Grade One
  2001    Betsey Coleman, US English
  2000    Carole Buschmann, LS Art
  1999    Bob Ulrich, LS/MS Physical Education; Coach
  1998    Eileen Headrick, Kindergarten
              Richard Kelly, US Mathematics
  1997    Jim Milavec, MS Science
  1996    Anne Strobridge, US English
  1995    Peggy Butler, MS English
  1994    Sandy DuBois, Grade Five
              Suzanne Kolsun Jackson, Grade Four
  1993    David Wadsworth, MS Social Studies
  1992    Becky Russell, US Science
  1991    Jan Eckersley, Grade Four
  1990    Warren Saslow, MS English
  1989    Janet Taylor, Grade Five
  1988    Laurie Gibb, Integrated Day
              Gary Boehm, MS Mathematics
  1987    Sean Smith, US English
  1986    Cheryl Scheer, LS Librarian
  1985    Sue York, Grade Two
              Becky Callaway, MS Social Studies
  1984    Sylvia Wesche, US French
  1983    Mike Simms, MS Science
              Cindy Jordan, Vocal Music
  1982    Pat Hogan, US Science
  1981    Paul Krajovic, US English
  1980    Carl Beers, Grade Five

• Frances Newton Outstanding Faculty Award

  The Frances Newton Outstanding Faculty Award recognizes teachers who model teaching excellence, who render exemplary service on behalf of students and colleagues, and provide examples of the multiple talents and values that are mirrored in the school’s mission. Endowed by an anonymous donor, the first Frances Newton award was presented on April 21, 2003.
  
  Frances Newton Award Recipients:
  2024    Dr. Camille James, Grade 9 Dean & US Culturally
              Responsive Instructional Coach
              Kathleen Kirkman, MS Science
              Cheryl Amador, Grades K-2 Literacy Support Coordinator
              Deb Fenton, Grades 3-5 Literacy Support Coordinator
  2023    Peggy Butler, MS Core & English
  2022    Ross Holland, US English
  2021    Matt Olmstead, MS Core & English
              Emily Pérez, US English
  2020    Lindsey Owens, LS Instructor
  2019    Brenda Bartel, LS Music
              Julie Wei, US Chinese
              Kathy Zolla, MS Mathematics
  2018    Nora Golden, LS Music
              Jason Koza, MS Mathematics
              Lisa Boes, US Chemistry
  2017    Phil Jones, Woodwind, Instrumental Music & Band;   
              Recording Studio Manager
  2016    Stephanie Stone, Grade Three
              Sara Monterroso, MS Spanish   
              Elissa Wolf-Tinsman, US Social Studies
  2015    Tom Thorpe, US English
              Allison Peters Jensen, LS Librarian
  2014    Kate O'Donnell, LS Counselor
              Lisa Ruddy, MS Mathematics
              Lisa Todd, US Spanish
  2013    Eric Augustin, MS Core & LS Mathematics
              Jeff Goldstein, LS Science
              Jesse Myers, MS & US Digital Photography
  2012    Becky Burchfield, Instrumental Music Director
              John Threlkeld, US Mathematics
  2011    Meg Hill, US Spanish
  2010    Paul Kim, US History
              Alicia Knox, LS Music
  2009    Lori Noricks, Grade Three
              Erica Shumsky, MS Core & Spanish
              Betsey Coleman, US English
  2008    Donna Farrell, MS Spanish 
              Kimberly Jans, US Computer Science & US Technology
              Coordinator
              Jay Leeuwenburg, Grade Three
  2007    Suzanne Kolsun Jackson, Grade Four
              Sue Counterman, MS Science
              Chip Lee, US English
  2006    Liston Hills, MS Core & English
              Lori Noricks, Grade Three
              Lisa O’Donnell, MS Librarian
  2005    Kass Patterson, Kindergarten
              Lisa Ruddy, MS Core & Mathematics
              Darnell Slaughter, Admission & US Advisor
              Luis Terrazas, US History
  2004    Theresa Ducayet Clowes, MS Art
              Steven Hammer, US Mathematics
              Paula Osborne, Grades One/Two
              Nancy Landolfi, MS English & Civics
  2003    Connie Adcock, Grade One
              Cate Borden Cohen, MS Spanish
              Stephen Scherer, MS & US Theater
              Scott Schneider, US History

• Connie Adcock Award for Inspirational Teaching

  The Connie Adcock Award for Inspirational Teaching recognizes a teacher who ignites in students a lifelong love of learning and creative expression through the use of innovative teaching methods, who ensures a nurturing classroom environment that encourages risk taking and appreciates individual style, and who plants within children that seed of confidence that hard work and perseverance will take them far in life and that their successes are worthy of celebration. Endowed by an anonymous family that was fortunate enough to “dance on the tables” with her for one magical year, the Connie Adcock Award for Inspirational Teaching was created in 2011 to honor this one-of-a-kind faculty member upon her retirement from Colorado Academy, after teaching First Grade and Kindergarten for 21 years.
  
  Connie Adcock Award Recipients:
  2024    Jessica Ohly, Grade Five
               Stashia Taylor, US Studio & Visual Art
               Julie Wei, US Chinese
  2023    Megan Ollett, Grade One
               Liz Sarles, US Social Studies
  2022    Jeff Brown, Grade Four
  2021    Sean Stedeford, Director of P.E. & Head Coach, Varsity
               Girls Soccer
  2020    Stephen Scherer, MS & US Theater and Theater Tech
  2019    Dani Meyers, US Science
  2018    Jessica McCoy, Grade Two
  2017    Peggy Butler, MS Core & English
  2016    Holley McBroom, US Mathematics & Science
  2015    Dani Goldstein, MS English & Social Studies
  2014    Cindy Jordan, Director of Vocal Music
  2013    Erin Galvin, MS Science
  2012    Katy Hills, US Visual Arts
  2011    Diana Giarusso, Grade One

• Alanna Brown Staff Award

  Created in 2024 to honor past CFO and Business Manager Alanna Brown, this award recognizes staff members who have provided extraordinary service to students, faculty, staff, and administration.
  
  Alanna Brown Staff Award Recipients:
  2024    Christina Garza, US Administrative Assistant
               Devon Sisneros, MS Administrative Assistant
               Elena Yoder, LS Administrative Assistant

• Ruth & Ernest Benson Professional Development Fund/Benson Fellowships

  Established in 1995 by Bob and Cynthia Benson to honor Bob's parents who, together, contributed 65 years of service to secondary education, mostly in independent schools. The fund supports opportunities that broaden and deepen the professional learning of Colorado Academy faculty members. The intent is to facilitate the pursuit of excellence in teaching and to thereby benefit students and the school. An additional gift in 2021 funded the Benson Fellowships, an opportunity for Upper School faculty to take a deep dive during the summer months into an area of exploration which both excites them and enhances their pedagogy.
  
  Benson Fellowship Recipients:
  2024     Laura Farmer, Educational Technology
               Suzie Jekel, US Science
               Madison Slater, US Spanish
  2023    Ali Kittle, US English
               Julie Wei, US Chinese
  2022    Randall Martínez, US History
              Emily Pérez, US English

• McHugh Enrichment Grant

  The McHugh Enrichment Grant was first instituted in 1980 through the generosity of Jerry and Anabel McHugh with the intention of supporting the professional development of the CA faculty. Awarded each year, the grant makes it possible for teachers to pursue an activity during the summer that enhances professional growth, supports advances in curriculum and pedagogy, or stimulates teacher creativity and colleague interaction.

• Considine Family Endowment Grants

  The Considine Family Foundation Endowment Fund was established in 2006 through the generosity of Terry and Betsy Considine, parents of CA graduates, Tay '01 and Tizzie '03.  Their intent was to help CA attract and retain the very best teachers.  The gift has provided funding to increase Upper School teachers' stipends and for awards to Upper School teachers for research and professional development opportunities.