2026 Faculty and Staff Awards & Recognition

Colorado Academy’s Faculty and Staff Awards & Recognition reception was held on June 2, 2026, to announce annual award winners and honor departing colleagues.

According to Head of School Dr. Mike Davis, who kicked off the proceedings, “We’ve had a lot to celebrate this year. Our students continue to achieve incredible things. Our programs are thriving. Families continue to seek out and stay at CA. The future of this school is incredibly bright. But when people ask me what makes CA special, I rarely talk about a program or a building or a statistic. I talk about the people.”

Dr. Davis went on, “I talk about the incredible teachers we have. The staff members who quietly and consistently solve problems with no fanfare. The colleague who steps in when someone needs support. The hundreds of small acts of generosity, professionalism, creativity, and kindness that happen here every day.”

This year’s honorees include:

Benson Summer Fellowship Grant

The Benson Summer Fellowship was established in 2022 to support opportunities for  Upper School faculty. Through an annual competitive process of proposals, Upper School faculty members receive a portion of the total $20,000 grant, to cover professional development and engagement related to their subject matter. Faculty are encouraged to  seek out creative and innovative opportunities and will be required to share their  experience with other faculty and/or students through a post-fellowship presentation.

Kimberly Greeley, Upper School Math: Across Europe: Mathematics in Education & Industry Conference, and the study of the History of Mathematics.

Dr. Leo Procise, Upper School Science: Study of Mammalian Evolution in Australia & Hawai’i

Frances Newton Outstanding Faculty Award

Named in the spring of 2003, and endowed by an anonymous donor, the award recognizes those who have modeled teaching excellence, who render exemplary service on behalf of students and colleagues, and who, in their teaching practice, provide examples of the multiple talents and values that are mirrored in the school’s mission.

Mary Leyva: Middle School Librarian & Middle School Arts & Innovations

Travis Reynolds: Lower School Wonder Workshop & Technology

Connie Adcock Award for Inspirational Teaching

The Connie Adcock Award for Inspirational Teaching was created in 2011 to 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!

David Colodny: Upper School Spanish

Yoeman Fisher Teaching Excellence Award

Instituted in 1980 in memory of a beloved retiring Lower School teacher, this award was established to recognize a long, outstanding teaching career at CA. The criteria to receive this award include being recognized as a creative, inventive, inspiring, and knowledgeable teacher; being seen as a role model who displays in their own life the qualities of invention, curiosity, and intellectual discipline which we seek to instill in students; and being seen as a source of sound advice and an intelligent critic of teaching strategy.

Diane Simmons: Lower School Science

Alanna Brown Staff Award

In 2024, we introduced this award in honor of our past CFO and Business Manager, Alanna Brown. The award recognizes those staff members who have provided extraordinary service, often behind the scenes, to the students, faculty, staff, and administration. 

Sara Thielke: Operations Administrative Assistant

Head of School Award for Distinguished Service

This award recognizes extraordinary service to the school.

Liza Skipwith: Director of Counseling Services & Upper School Counselor

Retirements & Transitions

• Cyd Tully (Retiring): College Counseling Office Manager (2014 – 2026; 12 years) 
• Pari Bradley: Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education; Head of Program - Girls Swimming (2016-2026; 10 years) 
• Tom Thorpe: US English; REDI Lab Co-Founder & Director (2012 – 2026; 14 years) 
• Chris Hertig (Retiring): Grade Four (2006 – 2026; 20 years) 
• Connie Char (Retiring): Private Piano Instructor (2004-2026; 22 years)
• Max Delgado: Upper School Principal (2021 – 2026; 5 years) 

View and download photos from the Faculty and Staff Awards & Recognition Reception