Education Guide 2023

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Q&A WITH THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR

35 AT-HOME STEAM PROJECTS

Plus Our 2023 Private & Charter School Directory

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BEST MAKERSPACES

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CON T EN TS

Education Guide | brought to you by Colorado Parent

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HOME VS SCHOOL: DIVING INTO YOUR CHILD’S BEHAVIOR

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BUILDING UP STEAM: 35 EASY IDEAS TO TRY AT HOME

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TOP 7 KID-FRIENDLY MAKERSPACES IN DENVER

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PRIVATE & CHARTER SCHOOL DIRECTORY

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MEET THE 2023 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, JIMMY DAY

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PUBLISHER Amy Foreman

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Education Guide | 2023

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Home

VS

School:

Diving into Your Child’s Behavior

By Madison Voorhies

The fall season is arguably the busiest time of year for families across the country. Festive events are happening every weekend on top of sports matches and other school functions.

Not to mention, your child has probably just now settled into their everyday school routine. Now, here comes the breaks and holidays just in time to disrupt your (almost) perfect harmony.

These busy, stressful times may have you noticing a behavior difference in your son or daughter. Maybe they’re having a rough time in school, whether it be failing to focus or they can’t stop playing around with their friends. As a result, you may also notice a more positive difference in how they act at home.

On the other hand, your child could absolutely love school. They could love it so much that they don’t even want to return home, causing them to act out once they get there. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. A lot of parents have difficulty coming to terms with this idea and may even think it’s their fault.

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Luckily, Lauren Kerstein, who is a Colorado-based children’s book author, psychotherapist, public speaker, mother, and more, is here to put your minds at ease and offer helpful tips on how to cope with and give reasoning behind your child’s always-evolving and developing mindset.

What’s Going On?

First off, you might be wondering: why?

Why is my child so angelic for their teachers but not for me? Or, my child is an absolute angel for me! Why are they different once their teachers come around?

There are many different triggers for these types of reactions in children. A huge one we see in academic areas is the social component.

“I think often we underestimate the value of a trusting relationship at home,” says Kerstein. “At home, when you really trust your caregiver, you may act out more, because it’s safe.”

Kerstein says at school, children may still trust their caregivers or teachers,

but it’s a whole different level of trust.

Kids are smart; they recognize that the consequences are very different for acting out at home versus at school.

Therefore they recognize the social component at school, and they just want to make their teachers happy. At home, it’s a safer place to let out all the negative feelings and energy.

Breaking It Down

Sensory also plays a huge role in how children learn and behave. To make things simple, Kerstein breaks this idea down by sorting children into two possible categories: hyporeactive and hyperreactive.

For those who are hyporeactive, “if there’s a lot of sensory stimulation at school, they may shut down and look like they’re well-behaved, but in actuality, they’re just shutting down,” says Kerstein.

On the other hand, kids who are hyperreactive will often overly react to sensory stimuli, so we may see them really struggle at school. Whereas at

home, sensory stimulation is more manageable.

This is where the idea of behavioral troubles kicks in, but to Kerstein, “what the kids are really trying to do is reground themselves.”

As for other explanations, things like anxiety, depression, and physical or mental health issues can also play a key role in children’s behavioral tendencies.

Some triggers may even surprise parents: allergies, change of season, time of day, and more.

“As a caregiver, whether you’re the parent or the school caregiver, it’s so important to really peel back the layers, and make sure you’re looking at every aspect,” Kerstein says.

Some of these challenges you may face with your child are to be developmentally expected. And as we know, developmental milestones look different for every child. Kerstein’s first piece of advice to parents: trust your gut.

Yes, it’s important to set boundaries and consequences, but it’s also important to gather information, help your kids feel safe, and help them

understand the appropriate way to get their needs met.

Finding Solutions

You should also give yourself permission to step away. It’s okay to not be okay, and it’s good to step back from a sticky situation and calm yourself down. It’s also okay to seek out help and support. In full transparency, Kertsein shares how as kids age, it doesn’t get easier. But by engaging with a professional for help, you’re laying a foundation that you can build on throughout your entire experience as a parent.

Although Kerstein is a huge advocate for individualized care, she offers three final, general tips for helping your child through difficult times at school and at home: feelings, flexibility, and fun.

“I highly recommend engaging in conversations around feelings,” says Kerstein. “We have a misnomer that kids, just by osmosis, learn what feelings are, and it is wrong.”

Most kids certainly don’t understand contextual clues and intensity, so your strategies need to match your

intensity. Here is where feelings meet intervention, which makes for flexibility.

Be a flexible example for your children, talking them through your thought processes, explaining why you did or didn’t do something, and verbal encouragement.

Lastly, make fun connections.

If you can create moments of positivity for your child in specific locations or situations, the end result can make life more simple and enjoyable for everyone.

Kerstein says, “The value of validation and praise is that we help kids understand what we’re looking for.”

Communication may very well be the most important factor in parenting.

Things may not always turn out perfectly, but having a conversation with your child may open the door to a new level of trust and love between you two.

Not sure where to start? If you feel like your child may need help, be sure to talk to their teachers and other caregivers about how they behave when you’re not around, then consult your pediatrician.

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Building Up STEAM: 35 Easy Ideas to Try at Home

By Janeen Lewis

STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Arts, and Math) has grown in popularity in recent years as a way to educate children for the 21st Century.

STEAM programs have been adopted in many schools, and the future will include STEAM-related jobs. Foster a love of STEAM at home with these fun and easy ideas.

Science

Children are naturally inquisitive, and curiosity is the backbone of scientific discovery. Here are some easy ways to inspire kids to dive into science.

Give children a scientific start. Use scientific words and make exploring a part of everyday life.

Welcome questions like “Why is the sky blue?” Questioning is the first step of the Scientific Method.

Encourage household problemsolving. Bread dough that doesn’t rise, an inside door that sticks in winter or an insect infestation in the garden are gateways to hypotheses, experiments, and answers.

Create a kitchen science lab with common ingredients. Make homemade ice cream in a Ziploc bag, make butter out of heavy cream in a mason jar, or grow geodes in eggshells.

Have a blast–literally! Many safe experiments involve things that erupt.

Make a paper Mache baking soda and vinegar volcano. Go outside and drop a pack of Mentos in a 2-liter soda or launch a bottle rocket. Discuss the science behind the blast.

Grow a garden. Start seedlings from kitchen vegetable seeds or trimmings.

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Relate science to hobbies. Learn the physics behind the fastball or discuss how a gymnast balances on a beam.

Technology

Most parents set screen time boundaries, but kids love devices, and future jobs will require skills in technology. Embrace screen benefits that build technology skills.

Make the computer your friend.

Teach your child how to do research, make brochures for school projects, and use spreadsheets for chores and allowance. When you take a family trip, let your child research places to visit.

Start coding early. Check out code. org for fun ways kids can code online or without technology. Other coding sites to try are Codeacademy, Kodable, Lightbot, Scratch, and Tynker.

Introduce Raspberry Pi. Kids can use this card-sized single-board computer for basic programming.

Let them make a stop-motion video.

Apps to try: Lego Movie Maker, Stop Motion Studio, Lapse It, iStopMotion, and Clayframes.

Use digital tools to help with schoolwork. Try Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com, and KhanAcademy. com. Explore study aid apps such as Tinycards, and use apps including myHomework and My GradeBook.

Engineering

Does your child love Lego blocks or Minecraft? Does she want to take apart the toaster or fix the cell phone when it breaks? Here are some

ways to encourage a budding engineer.

Teach kids the Engineering Design Process (Check out a kid-friendly version at teachengineering.com) Let them join a Lego Robotics Club.

Keep building supplies on hand.

Try Legos, Brain Flakes, magnetic tiles, wooden blocks, K’nex, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and Duplo bricks. Also, keep recyclables like cardboard, paper towel tubes, and cereal boxes. There are even edible options like cheese, grapes, and marshmallows. Pair one of these with toothpicks or pretzels for building.

Encourage children to complete tower-building challenges. One fun and easy way to do this is with notecards or old playing cards and no other materials. Kids can only fold the cards, no ripping or cutting.

Create Catapults. Some materials to try: Popsicle sticks, spoons, drink lids, rubber bands, and pom poms.

Build a Rube Goldberg machine out of household materials. This machine is intentionally designed to perform a simple task through a series of complex chain reactions. To learn more, visit rubegoldberg.com.

Join a radio control club. Planes, helicopters, and boats often inspire children. Building their own involves creativity and problem-solving skills.

Build a miniature roller coaster. Give your child materials like pipe insulation, marbles, cups, and duct tape. Watch them take their creativity for a ride

Arts

Children can be artists by painting, drawing, sculpting, singing, playing an

instrument, dancing, or writing. Take note of inclinations in these areas and foster a love of the arts.

Inspire creativity. Immerse your home in different types of art. Listen to music, collect art or art books, or check them out from the library.

Be positive. Even if you don’t think you’re good at art, try some art mediums along with your child. He or she will be more willing to try, too.

Stock up on art supplies. Watercolors, finger paints, crayons, colored pencils, pastels, construction paper, sketchbooks, and origami paper are some examples.

Experiment with evaporation art. Mix salt with water and paint. Have your child predict what will happen to the salt and water.

Borrow a how-to-draw book from the library. Step-by-step directions will give your child more confidence.

Sculpt with air-dry clay. Your child doesn’t need a pottery wheel to create with clay. After the clay dries, it can be painted.

Listen to a variety of music genres. This will open your child’s mind to different artists and styles

of music.

Sign your child up for a creative writing class.

Math

There are many ways to make math relevant and interesting. Research shows that most children can succeed at math.

Teach number sense. Mentally work through problem-solving logic with your child. Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late by Laura Overdeck is a good book for promoting math discussions.

Check out Texas Instruments’ “STEM Behind Cool Careers” (education.ti.com/ en/activities/stem/gen-stem) for videos connecting algebra, geometry, and physics to jobs like fashion design, flying jets, and more.

Cook or bake together. Measuring, equivalent fractions, and conversions are all part of recipe building.

Try grocery store math. Have kids weigh enough produce without going over a dollar amount, compare prices for the best buys, and stay within a weekly budget.

Measure the miles. When going on

family outings, find the distance with your child. Calculate the miles and time it will take to get there and how much gas will cost.

Assign chores and give an allowance.

They’ll be asking for ice cream and movie money anyway, so why not teach practical budgeting skills in the process?

STEAM Supplies

Keep these materials on hand for experiments and STEAM projects.

Cardboard Paper towel and toilet paper tubes Straws Aluminum foil Empty water bottles Plastic lids Beakers or jars with lids Funnels Tongs Epsom salt Rock salt Baking soda Vinegar Food coloring Marbles Potting soil

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Top 7 Kid-Friendly Makerspaces in Denver

By Lauren Taeko Chase

Not every family can afford the space, equipment, and materials to unleash imagination, letting creativity run wild. Thankfully, makerspaces are all across the metro area where you and the family can utilize their studios to create what you want without worrying about cleanup and storage in your home. Below is a list of kid-friendly makerspaces offering after-school classes to teach your children any skill of their choice: painting, sewing, pottery, robotics, glass-blowing, baking, 3D printing, and more! Many makerspaces include opportunities to rent a whole studio for the day, whether you are hosting a pinch-pot birthday party or want to get back into an old hobby.

the ultimate destination for families also seeking after-school tutoring for reading, math, ACT/SAT prep, or specialized tutoring for students with dyslexia or dysgraphia. From 3D printing to arts and crafts, science, coding, and game design, their diverse programs foster skill development in a fun and engaging way. Families looking for flexible options can drop in between 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. any day at an affordable rate of $70, which even includes the convenience of bus pickup with 24-hour notice. With extended hours from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays), Mindcraft Makerspace is here to ignite young minds and empower creativity at every turn. mindcraftmakerspace.com

1. MINDCRAFT Makerspace

2. Furnace Glass Works

Discover a world of creativity and innovation at Mindcraft Makerspace, 12

Education Guide | 2023

Join the creative excitement at Furnace Glass Works, where families can come together and unleash their

artistic flair. Their studio offers family classes suitable for ages 10 and older, allowing everyone to craft unique glass pieces and experiences. From creating stunning glass mosaics for windows to diving into a comprehensive beginners’ class covering all the fundamentals, there’s something for every aspiring artist. As the holiday season approaches, participate in a delightful ornament-making class, adding a personal touch to your festive celebrations. furnaceglassworks.com

3. Craftsman & Apprentice

Embark on a journey of imagination at Craftsman & Apprentice, where family bonding meets artistic adventures.

Drop into open workshops on Saturdays and Sundays for a spontaneous crafting experience suitable for ages four and up. Mark your calendars for Kids Night Out on the second Saturday of each

month, featuring a delightful crafts and pizza party from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Engage in quality family time during special Family Workshops every third Saturday, held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Creators ages four to seven, let loose in the Mini-Makers workshops tailored to nurture their budding creativity. craftsmanandapprentice.com

4. ideaLAB

Unlock your family’s creativity at ideaLAB in your local Denver Public Library, a haven for makers of all ages. Enjoy the freedom to craft and innovate in this communal space, open to everyone, whether or not you have a library card. With a wide schedule, they can accommodate your busy lives, welcoming you from Sunday to Saturday.

Immerse yourselves in cutting-edge technology at theDenver location, where 3D printing, laser cutting, engraving, and recording studio equipment await your imaginative touch. Equipment ranges from location to location. denverlibrary.org

5. Ceramics in the City

Experience the joy of ceramics at Ceramics in the City, your creative haven open six days a week. From Monday to Saturday, immerse yourself in the world of clay from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., sculpting your artistic vision between your fingers. Walk-ins are warmly welcomed, providing the perfect opportunity to create spontaneously. Book a table to craft your unique pieces using hand clay-making techniques, or learn the art of shaping pottery on a spinning wheel.

Once your masterpiece takes form, bring it to life with a burst of color as you glaze and personalize your creations. ceramicsinthecity.com

6. Children’s Museum of Denver

The Children’s Museum boasts an innovative makerspace, a dynamic hub where young minds can explore, create, and innovate. This space is designed to inspire children’s creativity through hands-on activities and interactive experiences. Children can collaborate on projects, tinker with different concepts,

and turn their imaginative ideas into tangible creations, all under the guidance of skilled facilitators, both inperson and online. Available for the next generation of thinkers as young as Pre-K. mychildsmuseum.org

7. Clyfford Still Museum The InStill Program offered by the Clyfford Still Museum is an educational initiative aimed at engaging educators, students, and families. Programs will have participants explore Still’s artworks, gain a deeper understanding of abstract expressionism, enhance their critical thinking skills, and develop social selfawareness and perseverance. The InStill Program offers artistic resources and tools for students to understand art and tap into their own creativity among peers. The museum offers programs for learners grades K-12, as well as resources and tools for educators to bring the experience into the classroom. clyffordstillmuseum.org

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PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

ARVADA FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY gofaitheagles.com (303) 424-7310 K-8 Christian FORGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY forgechs.com (720) 895-9010 9-12 Christian SHRINE OF ST. ANNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stannescatholic.com (303) 422-1800 K-8 Catholic ST. JOAN OF ARC EARLY LEARNING CENTER stjoanelc.org (303) 422-4949 PreK-K Catholic THE ACADEMY ARVADA EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION theacademyece.com (303) 424-0246 Toddler-K

AURORA CEDARWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY cedarwoodchristian.org (303) 361-6456 K-12 Christian KEY:

Phone Number

CHRIST OUR REDEEMER cor.school (303) 337-3108 PreK-8 Christian CRESCENT VIEW ACADEMY crescentview.org (303) 745-2245 PreK-12 Islam HOLY LOVE PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN holylovelutheran.org (303) 693-8519 PS-K Lutheran MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER mtolc.org (303) 750-9856 PreK-JK Lutheran

(303) 364-6515 Catholic

PreK-8

growingmindsco.com ST. THERESE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stthereseschool.com (303) 364-7494 K-8 Catholic

BOULDER BIXBY SCHOOL bixbyschool.org (303) 494-7508

JARROW MONTESSORI SCHOOL jarrow.org Toddler-Age 12

mackboulder.com PreK-5

(720) 689-1766

K-8

BOULDER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL bouldercountryday.org (303) 527-4931 PreK-8

MAPLETON MONTESSORI SCHOOL

BOULDER JOURNEY SCHOOL boulderjourneyschool.com (303) 443-8909 Infant-PreK

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS MONTESSORI SCHOOL

REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL regisjesuit.com (303) 269-8000

BOULDER WALDORF KINDERGARTEN boulderwaldorf.com (303) 541-0671 Toddler-K

Ages/Grades

Infant-Age 8

MACKINTOSH ACADEMY

BOULDER MONTESSORI SCHOOL bouldermontessori.org (303) 494-5814 PreK-K

ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL stpiusxschool.net

(720) 659-5169

(303) 443-0511

PEACE WITH CHRIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL pwccs.org (303) 766-7116 K-8 Christian

9-12

GROWING MINDS LEARNING ACADEMY

FRIENDS SCHOOL friendsschoolboulder.org (303) 499-1999 PreK-8

mapletonmontessori.org (303) 449-4499

Ages 2½-6

mountainshadows.org (303) 530-5353

PreK-6

MT. ZION LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL mtzionboulder.org (303) 443-8477

Toddler-PreK

Lutheran SACRED HEART OF JESUS SCHOOL school.shjboulder.org (303) 447-2362

PS-8

Catholic

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SEPTEMBER HIGH SCHOOL septemberschool.org (303) 443-9933 7-12 Catholic

BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR LUTHERAN SCHOOL & ELC beautifulsaviorbroomfield.org (303) 469-2049 Infant-6th Grade Lutheran

SHINING MOUNTAIN WALDORF SCHOOL shiningmountainwaldorf.org (303) 444-7697 PreK-12

HOLY FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL holyfamilyhs.com (303) 410-1411 Catholic

TARA PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL tarahighschool.org (303) 440-4510 9-12 TEMPLE GRANDIN SCHOOL templegrandinschool.org (303) 554-7363 6-12 THE JOSHUA SCHOOL joshuaschool.org (303) 974-7732 Ages 3-21 WATERSHED SCHOOL watershedschool.org (303) 440-7520 6-12 ZIJI EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL zijiearlyelementary.org (303) 530-0844 K-2

BRIGHTON BRIGHTON ADVENTIST ACADEMY baaconnect.org (303) 6591223 K-10 Christian ELMWOOD BAPTIST ACADEMY ebabrighton.org (303) 659-3818 K-12 Baptist ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL brightonzls.org (303) 659-3443 PS-8 Lutheran

BROOMFIELD APPLE TREE CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN broomfieldumc.org (303) 466-8365 PreK-K Christian BAL SWAN CHILDREN’S CENTER balswan.org (303) 466-6308 Toddler-PreK

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Education Guide | 2023

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HOPE MONTESSORI ACADEMY montessorichild.com (303) 457-4400 6 Weeks-K NATIVITY OF OUR LORD CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.nool.us (303) 469-5171 PS-8 Catholic

CASTLE ROCK FAITH LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL faithcrco.org/preschool (303) 688-3532 PS Lutheran MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CASTLE ROCK montessoricastlerock.com (303) 663-6942 Toddler-PreK Christian

CENTENNIAL AMBLESIDE SCHOOL amblesidecolorado.com (720) 712-0464 K-10 Christian CENTENNIAL MONTESSORI thecentennialmontessori.com (720) 200-9220 Birth-Age 6 JOSHUA EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER joshuaearlychildhoodcenter.org (720) 583-6849 Ages 2½-6 SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EARLY LEARNING CENTER shepherdhills-school.org (303) 798-0711 18 Month-Age 6 Christian ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stmcatholic.org (303) 770-0441 PS-8 Catholic WILLOWS CHILD LEARNING CENTER

willowschildlearn.com (303) 771-4202 PS-K WILLOWS OLDE MILL willowschildlearn.com (303) 721-7771 PS-K

COMMERCE CITY ROCKY MOUNTAIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL rmlhs.org (303) 346-1947 9-12 Lutheran VICTORY PREPARATORY ACADEMY communityleaderrshipacademy.org (303) 288-6111 6-8

CONIFER

Catholic CHILDREN’S GARDEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL cgmontessori.com (303) 322-0972

Toddler-K

CHRIST LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER renee@christlutherandenver.org Toddler-PreK Lutheran CHRIST THE KING ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL ckrcs.org (303) 321-2123

PS-8

Catholic COLORADO ACADEMY

ASPEN PARK IMONTESSORI aspenparkmontessori.org (303) 668-1532 PreK-3

coloradoacademy.org

DENVER

denveracademy.org

ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL annunciationk8.org (303) 295-2515 PreK-8 Catholic

PreK-12

DENVER ACADEMY (303) 777-5161

ACCELERATED SCHOOLS acceleratedschools.org (303) 758-2003 6-12

ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL arrupejesuit.com (303) 455-7449 Catholic

(303) 986-1501

2-12

DENVER ACADEMY OF TORAH datcampus.org (720) 859-6806

K-12

Jewish DENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL denverjds.org (303) 369-0663

9-12

ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL assumptiondenver.org (303) 288-2159 PreK-8 Catholic BETH JACOB HIGH SCHOOL OF DENVER bjhs.org (303) 893-1333 9-12 Jewish BISHOP MACHEBEUF HIGH SCHOOL machebeuf.org (303) 344-0082 9-12 BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC SCHOOL bscs-denver.net (303) 377-8835 PS-8

K-12

Jewish L’ECOLE DE DENVER ecoledenver.com (720) 749-4639

PreK & 5th-8th

ESCUELA DE GUADALUPE escuelaguadalupe.org (303) 964-8456

PreK-8

Catholic GARFIELD MONTESSORI SCHOOL garfieldmontessori.org (303) 388-8828

PreK-K

GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL goodshepherddenver.org (303) 321-6231 Catholic

PS-8

GRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL graland.org (303) 399-0390 PS-8

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER isdenver.org (303) 340-3647 PreK-8

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL guardianangelschurchdenver.org (303) 480-9005 PS-8 Catholic

JCC EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL jccdenver.org (303) 316-6377 Toddler-PS Jewish

HILLEL ACADEMY OF DENVER hillelacademyofdenver.com (303) 333-1511 PreK-8 Jewish THE HOPE CENTER hopecenterinc.org 303-388-4801 Toddler-K Catholic ILIFF PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN iliffpreschool.com (303) 757-3551 Toddler-K INNER CITY SCHOOL innercityschool.org (303) 316-4533 PreK-6 Christian

MONARCH MONTESSORI OF DENVER monarchm.com (303) 712-2001 Infant-PreK

montessoridenver.org (720) 606-4321 Toddler-8 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WILD PINES mswp.org (303) 722-7708 Age 15 Months-6 Years MONTVIEW COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN montviewpreschool.org (303) 322-7296 PS-K

MONARCH MONTESSORI OF DENVER ELEMENTARY monarch.com (303) 712-2001 K-5

MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.mpbdenver.org (303) 757-1279 JK-8 Catholic

MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO montessoriacademyofcolorado.org (303) 623-2609 Infant-8th Grade

MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL mullenhigh.com (303) 761-1764 9-12 Catholic

MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE OF DENVER mchdenver.org (303) 322-8324 PreK-9

NOTRE DAME PARISH SCHOOL notredamedenver.org (303) 935-3549 PS-8 Catholic

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF DENVER

OUR LADY OF LOURDES

CATHOLIC SCHOOL lourdesclassical.org (303) 722-7525 PreK-8 Catholic PADDINGTON STATION PRESCHOOL paddingtonstation.org (303) 333-9154 PreK-K RABBI STEVEN FOSTER EARLY LEARNING CENTER elc.emanueldenver.org (303) 321-7258 PreK-K Jewish RICKS CENTER FOR GIFTED CHILDREN AT DU morgridge.du.edu/ricks (303) 871-3715 PS-8 ROCK SOLID CHRISTIAN ACADEMY rocksolidchristian.com (303) 797-1005 K-8 Christian ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL st-annes.org (303) 756-9481 PS-8 ST. ELIZABETH’S SCHOOL

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stelizabethsdenver.org (303) 322-4209 K-8 Christian

allsoulscatholic.org/school (303) 789-2155 PreK-8 Catholic

ST. JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL stjamesdenver.org (303) 333-8275 PS-8 Catholic

HUMANEX ACADEMY humanexacademy.com (303) 783-0137 6-12

ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL EARLY LEARNING CENTER sjdenver.org/elc 303-733-3777 PreK-8 Christian ST. ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY strosedenver.org (303) 733-5806 PreK-8 Catholic ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL svdpk8.com (303) 777-3812 PreK-8 Catholic STANLEY BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL stanleybps.org (303) 360-0803 K-8 TEMPLE SINAI PRESCHOOL sinaidenver.org (303) 759-0755 15 Month-PreK Jewish THE DENVER WALDORF SCHOOL denverwaldorf.org (303) 777-0531 PreK-12 THE LOGAN SCHOOL theloganschool.org (303) 340-2444 K-8 THREE BEARS LEARNING CENTER threebearslc.com (303) 369-6464 Toddler-K YESHIVA TORAS CHAIM OF DENVER ytcdenver.org (303) 629-8200 9-12 Jewish

EASTLAKE EASTLAKE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL eastlakemontessori.com (303) 452-3835 Ages 3-7

ENGLEWOOD ALL SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

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Education Guide | 2023

KENT DENVER SCHOOL kentdenver.org (303) 770-7660 6-12 ST. MARY’S ACADEMY stmarys.academy (303) 762-8300 PreK-12 Catholic THE JOSHUA SCHOOL joshuaschool.org (303) 758-7171 Ages 3-18

EVERGREEN EVERGREEN ACADEMY evergreenacademy.org (303) 670-1721 Infant-PS Christian EVERGREEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL evergreencountryday.org (303) 674-3400 PreK-8 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF EVERGREEN montessori-evergreen.org (303) 674-0093 Toddler-8

FOXFIELD OUR LADY OF LORETO CATHOLIC SCHOOL ololcatholicschool.org (303) 951-8330 PreK-8 Catholic

GOLDEN CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOL cornerstonemontessori.net (303) 277-0245 Toddler-K

thegardnerschool.com (720) 672-9980 Infant-K THE VILLAGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER thevillagelc.com (303) 290-9005 Toddler-K

HIGHLANDS RANCH ARMA DEI ACADEMY armadeiacademy.com (303) 346-4523 PS-12 Christian CHERRY HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL cherryhillschristian.org (303) 791-5500 PS-8 Christian ESPREE CHILD LEARNING CENTER espreeclc.com (303) 471-1110 PS-K ST. LUKE’S LITTLE SCHOOL stlukeslittleschool.org (303) 791-1982 Ages 2½-5 Christian HIGHLANDS RANCH LEARNING CENTER highlandsranchlc.com (303) 346-7144 Infant-K MILE HIGH ACADEMY milehighacademy.org (303) 744-1069 PS-12 Christian VALOR CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL govalor.com (303) 471-3000 9-12 Christian

LAFAYETTE ADVENTURE MONTESSORI adventuremontessori.com (303) 665-6789 Infant-Age 12

THRIVE PRESCHOOL thrivepreschool.com (303) 278-7772 Infant-PS

DAWSON SCHOOL dawsonschool.org (303) 665-6679 K-12

GREENWOOD VILLAGE

LAKEWOOD

ASPEN ACADEMY aspenacademy.org (303) 346-3500 PreK-8

ADVANTAGE LEARNING CENTER advantagelc.net (303) 914-5482 Infant-PreK

THE GARDNER SCHOOL OF DTC

AUGUSTINE CLASSICAL ACADEMY

augustineclassical.org (720) 446-6286 PS-12 Christian BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL bethlehemdenver.com/school (303) 233-0401 PS-8 Lutheran CLEVER KIDS LEARNING CENTER child-care-preschool.bright horizons.com (720) 258-4210 Infant-PreK CONCORDIA PRESCHOOL clcgrace.org (303) 989-5260 PS-K Christian DENVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL denverchristian.org (303) 733-2421 PS-12 Christian DENVER STREET SCHOOL (WEST CAMPUS) denverstreetschool.org (303) 847-7582 9-12 Christian LAKEWOOD UNITED METHODIST PRESCHOOL lumpreschool.org (303) 238-9082 PS Christian OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL olfcs.com (303) 233-2500 PS-8 Catholic WELLSPRING CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF ST. BERNADETTE gowellspring.org (303) 237-0401 PS-8 Catholic

LITTLETON ABIDING HOPE PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN abidinghopepreschool.org (303) 932-9160 PS-K FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN fcpk.org (303) 972-3162 Toddler-K Christian FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL frcs.org (720) 922-3269 PS-12

Christian HAVERN SCHOOL havernschool.org (303) 986-4587 K-8 MACKINTOSH ACADEMY mackintoshacademy.com (303) 794-6222 PreK-8

AT LONE TREE montessoriatlonetree.com (303) 799-8540 Age 2½-K

LONGMONT DESIDERATA SCHOOL desiderataschool.com (303) 678-9335 5-12 Christian

ST. MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL littletoncatholicschool.com (303) 798-2375 PS-8 Catholic

GATEWAY MONTESSORI SCHOOL gmslongmont.com (303) 772-3864 PreK-K

STEPPING STONES LEARNING CENTER OF LITTLETON sslcoflittleton.com (303) 904-1121 Infant-Age 12

LONGMONT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL longmontchristian.org (303) 776-3254 PS-12 Christian

WILLOWS ARAPAHO HILLS willowschildlearn.com (303) 794-3871 PS-K

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.johnthebaptist.org (303) 776-8760 PS-8 Catholic

LONE TREE CRÈME DE LA CRÈME cremedelacreme.com (303) 662-9150 Infant-K MONTESSORI SCHOOL

LOUISVILLE FAIRVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL fairviewmontessori.com (303) 661-0343 Toddler-K

ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.stlp.org (303) 666-6220 PS-8 Catholic THE PATCHWORK SCHOOL thepatchworkschool.com (720) 271-6729 Ages 1-7

MORRISON RED ROCKS CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL redrockschristianpreschool.org (303) 922-8305 Ages 3 & 4-K Christian

NIWOT BOULDER VALLEY WALDORF SCHOOL bvwaldorf.org (303) 652-0130 PS-8 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY rmcaonline.org (303) 652-9162 PreK-8 Christian

NORTHGLENN

GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN SCHOOL church.glutheranschool.com (303) 451-6908 PS-8 Lutheran STEP BY STEP CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER stepbystepchildcare.net (303) 451-1740 Infant-Age 12

PARKER AVE MARIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.avemariacatholicparish.org (720) 842-5400 PS-8 Catholic LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL lhsparker.org (303) 841-5551 9-12 Lutheran PARKER MONTESSORI parkermontessori.com (303) 841-4325 Infant-Age 6 RENAISSANCE MONTESSORI ACADEMY rmaschool.org (303) 840-6119 Toddler-5th Grade

2023 | ColoradoParent.com

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SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL sechristianschool.org (303) 841-5988 PS-8 Christian

THORNTON A CHILD’S TOUCH achildstouch.com (303) 286-8460 Infant-K Christian LITTLE VILLAGE CHRISTIAN CHILD CARE CENTER villagecalvary.org (303) 452-2944 PS-PreK Christian

WESTMINSTER BELLEVIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL belleviewchristian.com (303) 427-5459 Toddler-12 Christian BLESSED MIGUEL PRO CATHOLIC ACADEMY

miguelpro.org (303) 427-5632 Catholic

PS-8

FLATIRONS ACADEMY flatironsacademy.org (303) 451-1421 K-12 Christian LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY lifechristianacad.org (303) 438-1260 PreK-12 Christian NOAH’S ARK PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE noahsarklc.com (303) 466-6887 Infant-PreK Christian SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN SCHOOL svlchurch.com (303) 424-1306 PS-8 Lutheran THE ACADEMY WESTMINSTER

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER theacademyece.com (720) 739-4507 Toddler-K Christian

STS. PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL sppscatholic.com (303) 424-0402 PS-8 Catholic

VICTORY MONTESSORI & CHILDCARE victorydenver.com/childcare (720) 210-1177 Infant-K Christian

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

WOODEN SHOE PRESCHOOL & PREKINDERGARTEN woodenshoe-childcare.com (303) 422-6195 Toddler-PreK

WHEAT RIDGE

BRIGHT HORIZONS EARLY EDUCATION & PRESCHOOL brighthorizons.com 877-624-4532 Infant-PreK EVERBROOK ACADEMY everbrookacademy.com (855) 546-2412 Infant-School Age

ALPINE VALLEY SCHOOL alpinevalleyschool.com (303) 271-0525 K-12

LITTLE PEOPLE’S LANDING littlepeopleslanding.com (303) 972-0787 Infant-School Age

BETH EDEN BAPTIST SCHOOL bethedenschool.org (303) 232-2313 K-12 Christian

THE COTTAGE SCHOOL cottageschoolsco.com (303) 546-6814 Infant-K Christian

CHARTER SCHOOL DIRECTORY AURORA ACADEMY OF ADVANCED LEARNING aalk8.org (720) 500-5252

K-8

AURORA SCIENCE & TECH MIDDLE SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6397

(303) 338-4110

BROOMFIELD PROSPECT RIDGE ACADEMY prospectridgeacademy.org (720) 399-0300

COLORADO SPRINGS ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED AND CREATIVE LEARNING academyacl.org

K-8

(719) 434-6566

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PREP FLETCHER rockymountainprep.org

EASTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL eastlakehs.net

(720) 863-8922

22

6-12

9-12

GLOBAL VILLAGE ACADEMY AURORA aurora.gvaschools.org (720) 571-2303

K-12

CASTLE ROCK RENAISSANCE SECONDARY renaissancesecondary.org (720) 689-6120

PreK-5

Education Guide | 2023

(719) 300-8947

GRAND PEAK ACADEMY grandpeakacademy.org (719) 495-7360

K-8

NEW SUMMIT CHARTER ACADEMY newsummitcharter.org (719) 749-4010

PreK-8

COMMERCE CITY THE STEAD SCHOOL thesteadschool.org (720) 835-2995

(303) 574-1360

9-11

DENVER 5280 HIGH SCHOOL 5280highschool.org

ACADEMY 360

ECE 3-5

ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL arrupejesuit.com (303) 455-7449

9-12

DSST: CEDAR MIDDLE SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6350

6-8

DSST: CEDAR HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6350

9-12

DSST: COLE MIDDLE SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6354

(720) 919-1056 9-12

K-8

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLASSICAL ACADEMY rmcacs.org (719) 622-8000

academy-360.org

PreK-8

K-12

6-8

AURORA SCIENCE & TECH HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6397

VANGUARD CLASSICAL SCHOOL EAST vanguardclassical.org

6-8

DSST: COLE HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6354

9-12

9-12 DSST: COLLEGE VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6320 6-8 DSST: COLLEGE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6320

DSST: ELEVATE NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org

(303) 262-6437

6-12

DSST: GREEN VALLEY RANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6300

6-8

DSST: GREEN VALLEY RANCH HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6300 9-12 HIGHLINE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL SOUTHWEST CAMPUS highlineacademy.org (303) 759-7808

K-8

6-8

DSST: ELEVATE NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6305

GIRLS ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP SCHOOL galsdenver.org

6-8

DSST: CONSERVATORY GREEN HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 802-4127 9-12

(303) 524-6305

K-5

9-12

DSST: CONSERVATORY GREEN MIDDLE SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 802-4120

(720) 966-1380

HIGHLINE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL NORTHEAST CAMPUS highlineacademy.org (720) 485-5172

ECE-5

9-11

FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DENVER fasdenver.org

DSST: MONTVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 524-6380

DSST: MONTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL dsstpublicschools.org (303) 320-5570

(303) 712-2001

K-5

9-12

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PREP BERKELEY rockymountainprep.org (720) 464-3550

PreK-5

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PREP CREEKSIDE rockymountainprep.org (720) 863-8920

PreK-5

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PREP SOUTHWEST rockymountainprep.org (720) 863-8920

6-8

STRIVE PREP - NOEL striveprep.org (303) 999-3825

6-8

STRIVE PREP - RISE striveprep.org (720) 485-6393

9-12

STRIVE PREP - RUBY HILL striveprep.org (720) 460-2800

K-5

STRIVE PREP - SMART striveprep.org (303) 962-9880

9-12

STRIVE PREP - SUNNYSIDE striveprep.org (720) 723-2000

6-8

PreK3-5

STRIVE PREP - FEDERAL striveprep.org (720) 460-2800

MONARCH MONTESSORI OF DENVER monarchm.com

6-8

(303) 999-2893

STRIVE PREP - WESTWOOD striveprep.org (303) 962-9880

6-8

6-8

STRIVE PREP - GREEN VALLEY RANCH striveprep.org

VANGUARD CLASSICAL SCHOOL WEST vanguardclassical.org (303) 691-2384

K-8

2023 | ColoradoParent.com

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WYATT ACADEMY wyattacademy.org (303) 292-5515 K-5

HIGHLANDS RANCH stemk12.org (303) 683-7836

K-12

ST. VRAIN COMMUNITY MONTESSORI SCHOOL svcmontessori.org (303) 682-4339

LAFAYETTE

PARKER PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL parkerperformingarts.org

PEAK TO PEAK CHARTER SCHOOL peaktopeak.org

K-8

K-12

ASPEN RIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL aspenridgeprepschool.org (720) 242-6225

PreK-8

FORT COLLINS FORT COLLINS MONTESSORI SCHOOL focomontessori.org (970) 631-8612

PreK-6

HIGHLANDS RANCH BEN FRANKLIN ACADEMY bfacademy.org (720) 383-4519

PreK-8

STEM SCHOOL

Education Guide | 2023

(303) 446-7100

FIRESTONE FIRESTONE CHARTER ACADEMY firestone-charter-academy.org (303) 772-3711

PreK-8

ADDENBROOKE CLASSICAL ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL addenbrooke.org (303) 989-1336

9-12

LIVELY ARTS HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM mpcshomeschool.org (720) 808-5181

PreK-8

COLLEGIATE ACADEMY OF COLORADO collegiateacademy.net

LONGMONT

AMERICAN ACADEMY aak8.org (720) 292-5300

K-8

GLOBAL VILLAGE ACADEMY DOUGLAS COUNTY douglascounty.gvaschools.org (720) 476-8044

K-5

PARKER CORE KNOWLEDGE ckcs.net

LITTLETON

(303) 972-7433

PARKER

PK-12

(303) 840-7070

stargateschool.org K-12

WESTGATE COMMUNITY SCHOOL westgateschool.org (303) 452-0967

K-12

WESTMINSTER WOODROW WILSON ACADEMY’S HOME SCHOOL CONNECTION wwahomeschool.org (720) 289-9230

5-12

K-8

WHEAT RIDGE

PEYTON LIBERTY TREE ACADEMY ltaeagles.org (719) 559-8733

K-8

STARGATE CHARTER SCHOOL (303) 450-3936

LAKEWOOD

ERIE

24

(303) 453-4600

GLOBAL VILLAGE ACADEMY NORTH northglenn.gvaschools.org

ENGLEWOOD

(720) 709-7400

K-8

THORNTON

K-12

MOUNTAIN PHOENIX COMMUNITY SCHOOL mountainphoenix.org (303) 728-9100

PreK-8

Meet the 2023 Teacher of the Year, Jimmy Day

By Austria Cohn Jimmy Day is a father of two boys, a husband, the Band Director and Instrumental Music Teacher at East Middle School, and has been recognized as the Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Day is musically influenced by many famous artists like Earth, Wind and Fire; Demondrae Thurmond; and Steven Mead, but he’s been the most influenced by his previous band teachers and directors. From middle school to college, his band directors have had a powerful influence on him.

“They showed me not only how to be a great musician but how to be an overall good citizen,” Mr. Day says.

“That’s what I try to instill in my students.”

What made you want to become an instrumental music teacher/band director?

Jimmy Day: This phenomenon happened one day during my fourth year of college. I just changed my major (for the third time) to music. I wasn’t planning on going into education; I just wanted to major in music. I took a music education class that had us going to various schools to observe other music teachers.

While I was doing one of the many observations we had to do, I had the pleasure of working with a middle school trombone player. His teacher was perplexed as to why this student was not catching on like the rest of the students. The teacher tried different ways of aiding the student, but nothing was working. With that being said, he asked me to pull him out and work oneon-one with him since he knew that my background was in low brass instruments.

I pulled the student into a practice room and assessed the situation. While assessing him, I quickly noticed what was messing him up. He was labeling some of his notes incorrectly.

Once I brought it to his attention and had him make adjustments, he instantly became happy and very invested in being a trombone player. Doing that for that young man lit a spark under me, and I found what my purpose in life was.

At that moment, I knew music education was the path I wanted to take.

What is your teaching style, and why is it effective?

JD: My teaching style is building relationships with my students and setting up structures for them to be successful.

I believe the way to hook students is humanizing yourself. If you show them that you’re human like them, it’s easy to make connections with them. I put structures in place to give mystudents a safe haven where they can grow musically through self-discovery. The only problem I want them concerned with is how they are going to be better than they were the previous day.

If students don’t have that space to grow because of behavior issues, and other unnecessary distractions, everyone’s time is being wasted.

I was that teacher who struggled with discipline and structure my first couple of years of teaching. I NEVER want to go back to that. As a result, I work hard to be very intentional to make sure my students have that space for learning. With no discipline, there is no learning.

How can music impact students?

JD: Learning/playing music can impact a student very positively. The brain is impacted because learning music causes you to use not only your left brain but also causes you to use your right brain as well. That gives students the edge over their classmates who are not in any music classes.

Learning music can also help students sharpen their life skills. It teaches them the value of teamwork.

It teaches them how to be leaders. It teaches them how to collaborate and cooperate. It shows the importance of work ethic and how to take constructive criticism and feedback. It teaches them how to be teachers because they are responsible for each other learning and performing new concepts that were taught. Before my students play a note, they are already learning these life skills.

Playing music is the cherry on top.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

JD: What I love about teaching is the impact that I make in my students’ lives, and seeing how they appreciate my style of teaching. Yes, I run a tight ship with my students, but it’s all in the best interest of them, and they know it.

I like teaching them a skill that can possibly allow them to have experiences in music that they would never have thought about. Lastly, I like to see their joy when they experience success, whether it’s in class or at a performance. The pride my students beam with is unmatched. It makes all of my rough days worth it.

2023 | ColoradoParent.com 25

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Education Guide | 2023