May 21, 2015
CONGRATULATIONS Class of
VO LUM E 28 | IS S U E 26 | FREE
2015
SPECIAL TRIBUTE INSIDE HighlandsRanchHerald.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
WHAT’S COOKIN’?
Spicy Thai curry chicken and white rice were on the menu for culinary students at Mountain Vista High School. Mountain Vista High School invited Stephen Kleinman, the American Culinary Federation’s Colorado Chefs Association apprenticeship program director, to lead catering students through a culinary demo and Q&A on May 15. The executive chef lectured 175 students during seven classes and even cooked up some spicy Thai curry chicken with white rice for everyone to taste. Kleinman has served as executive and regional corporate chef for numerous hotels around Colorado. He was the owner of The Gold Pan restaurant in Breckenridge and Gasthaus Echlier Hotel in Winter Park.
Chef Stephen Kleinman talks to Mountain Vista High School students about his experience in restaurants during life-management teacher Maria Cox’s culinary class on May 15.
Mountain Vista High School senior Isiah Romero chows down on his curry dish.
PHOTOS BY TARYN WALKER
Teacher survey nets mixed responses Evaluations spur concern; individual schools are seen as supportive, safe By Jane Reuter
jreuter@colorado communitymedia.com
Results of a recently released state survey show Douglas County’s teachers feel safe and supported by their individual school communities, but have concerns about the district’s evaluation system. Concerns about evaluations are reflected by teachers statewide, but in higher numbers in the Douglas County School District. The Teaching, Empowering, Leading & Learning, or TELL, survey is given every two years by the New Teacher Center. The state Legislature uses it as a way to evaluate teachers’ working conditions. About 87 percent of DCSD teachers agreed their school is a good place to work and learn, slightly higher than the state average of 85 percent. Questions about teacher evaluations showed about 70 percent of Douglas County teachers who responded don’t think the process accurately identifies their effectiveness, significantly higher than the state average. The greatest difference between district and state teachers’ responses emerged in questions posed only to school principals. Almost half of Douglas County’s principals don’t feel the district has an “effective decision-making and problem-solving process,” and 57 percent disagree that the district has “an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.” In both cases, that’s almost twice the average of principals statewide. School Board President Kevin Larsen said he’s encouraged overall by the results, and won’t ignore potential trouble spots. “It’s not all roses in every single category,
Kleinman pours coconut milk into a blender for his Thai curry chicken and rice dish.
Survey continues on Page 9
STEM lab opens new world to students By Jane Reuter
jreuter@colorado communitymedia.com Eighteen months ago, the space that is now Mountain Vista High School’s STEM fabrication lab was a preschool. With a new and growing Technology Student Association chapter fueling interest in science, technology, engineering and math exploration, technology teacher Kent Allison and others proposed converting the room into a STEM lab. In use since October 2014, the facility celebrated its official grand opening May 11. The lab contains a Computer Numerical Control cutting machine, 3D printers and other machines that allow students to both design and build with a variety of materials, opening what Allison described as a world of possibilities. During the grand opening event, students demonstrated projects created in the lab. Many of those projects earned them top placement at the state TSA competition and a spot at this summer’s national event.
FUNDING SOURCES FOR MOUNTAIN VISTA’S STEM LAB PHASE 1 (ALREADY OPEN): • DCSD World Class Education Innovation Grant — $7,500 • School Accountability Committee and MVHS Support for Infrastructure — $100,000-plus from site-based school budget and MVHS SAC budget • Career Technical Education funds from DCSD — $10,000-plus Mountain Vista High School student Elizabeth Chengrian demonstrates a device designed to help a disabled student shoot a basketball and shake hands during the May 11 grand opening of the school’s STEM lab. Photos by Jane Reuter
PHASE 2: • A $90,000 grant from Morgridge Family Foundation • $60,000 of the grant will be used for tools, equipment, robotics kits, 3D printers and other items in the engineering/ tech rooms. • The other $30,000 will be used toward a biotech lab opening in fall 2015. • Mountain Vista will seek added funds for the lab in fall 2015.