August 12, 2016 VO LUM E 1 4 | IS S U E 41 | FREE
LET PEACE RING OUT Area churches sound bells to honor victims of gun violence. PAGE 12
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AN APPETITE FOR FUN
INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT
Mixed reaction follows selection Erin Kane was executive director of charter school American Academy By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Payton Holt, of Parker, gets down and dirty during the pie-eating contest at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo on Aug. 6. Turn to pages 13 and 14 for more photos from the fair. Photo by Shanna Fortier
‘She’s got a great future ahead of her’ Foundation extends annual scholarship for local student whose father died of cancer
By Tom Skelley tskelley@coloradocommunitymedia.com Mallory Pridemore and her father, Darrell, had an agreement to pay for her college tuition. “My dad and I’s deal was 50/50. I would pay for 50 and he would pay for 50,” Pridemore said. “Now that he’s not doing that, I (had) to figure out how I was going to pay for it all by myself.” Darrell Pridemore, a well-known member of the Parker community and co-owner of Pride Auto Care, died July 22 after a seven-year fight with cancer. Pride Auto opened its first store in Parker in 2008 and immediately began supporting local charities. Pridemore didn’t know at the time that one of his beneficiaries, the Debbie Jackson Memorial Scholarship Foundation, would one day return his generosity, and then some. The foundation provides scholarships annually to four Douglas County students who have faced adversity and might otherwise be unable to go to college. Each year it hosts a golf tournament to raise money and present the awards. This year’s event, held at the Black Bear Golf Club on July 26, saw students receive a $4,000 award. But Mallory Pridemore’s award stood out. The foundation board, aware of Mallory’s situation and impressed by her essay detailing the experience of helping care for her father, decided to extend her scholarship for a total of four years and $16,000.
Although the Douglas County School District’s new interim superintendent stated a top priority will be to restore trust among staff and the community, two parent advocacy organizations expressed disappointment about her lack of classroom and educational experience. “I believe we can come together and move forward for students staff and Kane community,” said Erin Kane, an engineer and executive director of American Academy charter K-8 school, which has two locations, in Castle Pines and Parker. “Sometimes, one cannot just sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to solve problems and show leadership.” Kane was selected as the lone finalist from two candidates and approved by a 4-3 vote of the Douglas County school board at a special meeting Aug. 2. The other candidate was James Calhoun, who retired as principal of Castle View High School in Castle Rock at the end of the 2015-16 school year. Board members said they wanted to have an interim leader in place by the start of the school year, which begins Aug. 8. But the search for a permanent replacement could last several more months. Kane steps into the role vacated by Elizabeth Fagen, who left in July to take the superintendent position in Humble, Texas, a district of 39,000 students outside Houston. Douglas County Parents and Voices for Public Education, both parent organizations long critical of the district leadership and policies, said they were disappointed by Kane’s selection. Interim continues on Page 11
Mallory Pridemore and her uncle, Al Pridemore, share family time recently at Pride Auto Care on Dransfeldt Road. The Pridemores delayed the funeral for Darrell Pridemore, Mallory’s father and Al’s brother, so the Debbie Jackson Memorial Scholarship Foundation could hold its annual golf tournament fundraiser. Photo by Tom Skelley “I was so shocked when it happened. I was already pretty emotional because my dad wasn’t there and golfing was always our favorite thing to do,” she said. “I have some other scholarships, but $16,000 is insane.” Scott Jackson took over leadership of the foundation from his parents in 2002. Debbie Jackson, Scott’s sister, had tried many times to attend college, but each time she enrolled her cancer returned and she had to drop out. After her death, the Jackson family wanted to give others the opportunity Debbie never had. “Being able to do that for Mallory
kind of really summed up our foundation,” Jackson said. The organization has given scholarships to students who have faced bullying, abuse and other problems, but “this one hit home,” Jackson said. “It’s always been my goal to eventually give full-ride scholarships to some of these kids,” he said. “Obviously the $4,000 isn’t going to cover all of her expenses, but it’s enough that it guarantees she’ll go to school for four years.” Some people ask how he can be sure Future continues on Page 17
AROUND THE FIELD Turning a double play in softball can also turn a team’s momentum. Check out this story and others as we kick off three weeks of fall sports previews on PAGE 21.