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2009-2010 ■ ANNUAL REPORT

Dear Friends of Denver Academy,

Of Denver Academy

Although being one of the largest schools in our nation for students with learning differences is significant, I am much more proud of the culture of achievement that exists on the Denver Academy campus. In the national conversation about school effectiveness,

In 2009, Denver Academy held a celebration called, “Treasures of Denver Academy.” We celebrated all the treasures of our community – our amazing students, families, alumni and staff.

the priorities usually align around the concept of common standards and the measures necessary to insure adequate performance. At DA, we believe that each student can achieve success if the approach includes appropriate assessment and targeted instruction by teachers who are trusted to use their professional judgment to differentiate instruction. Our legacy includes hundreds of success stories and is the cornerstone to our future. Among the many significant achievements of DA during the 2009 – 2010 school year was the completion of our strategic planning process. Beginning in the fall of 2008, we collected substantial data about

our achievements for the 2009-2010 school year. All of this was made possible by you and others who supported us throughout the year. Thank you for helping make Denver Academy a treasure in the community.

DA and incorporated it within our process to determine goals for the next five years. Rather than identifying a list of tasks, we instead developed a process of ongoing strategic planning driven by a long list of key performance indicators. With our goal of creating a sustained institution demographically, programmatically, and fiscally, we have taken the first step to ensure that DA will exist long in the future to remain not just one of the largest, but among the leading institutions helping students with learning differences. Thank you for your very generous support for Denver Academy during the 2009 – 2010 school year. Your investment in the lives of our students helped them to achieve in and outside of the classroom. You support our excellent faculty and staff who are intent on providing an outstanding experience for our students. You also help many students attend DA who otherwise would not be able to afford our school. We particularly appreciate your continued friendship and support for DA. Thank you for all that you do for DA.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ TREASURES

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Smith Headmaster

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ HEADMASTER

In the following pages, we showcase

Dear Friends,

Denver Academy Board of Trustees

I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to serve as the President of the Board of Trustees of Denver Academy. As a Board we are fully committed to the transformative power of education and dedicated to excellence in education for students

Cindy Brown, President Owner, Blue Moon Works

Karen Hummel Lawton Community Volunteer

Laura Waldron Community Volunteer

Ed Callahan Business Consultant

Craig Knippenberg Licensed Social Worker/ Counselor Craig A. Knippenberg & Assoc.

Missy Warner Business Development Manager Weston Solutions, Inc.

Peter O’Neil, Vice President President and CEO IntelliTerms Automotive

Kevin M. Smith Headmaster, Denver Academy

Ben Duke Rancher, Elbert County Deputy Director Colorado Conservation Trust Scott Epstein Marketing Consultant Cyle Feingold President Results Learning LLC Nicky Gittelman Community Volunteer Charles Gwirtsman Managing Director KRG Capital LLC 09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Wendy Handler Realtor Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty Earl Hoellen Investor/Small Business Owner

Kristin Richardson Community Volunteer Nancy Rhyme, Secretary Director National Conference of State Legislators Mary Ross Freelance Writer R.D. Sewald City Council Liaison Mayor Hickenlooper’s Office Bruce Wagner President and COO Wagner Equipment Company Tina Vessels Managing Partner Tundra Resources

Ex Officio TRUSTEES

school mission is achieved and to strengthen our financial foundation, especially in the new national economic landscape. We have so many treasures at Denver Academy. They can be seen in every classroom and administrative office, on the playground, in athletics and in the gymnasium. Under the dynamic leadership of Kevin Smith and the Senior Administrative Team, the school has achieved numerous accomplishments this past year – the renovation of Building

Deb Ellis DAPA President

6 (now Senior Hall), The Cushman Neal Family Playground, a newly unified high school, and the

Kim Pankratz President, DA Alumni Association

At the June 2010 Board of Trustees meeting, the members approved the Strategic Plan. Over the next

Dan Toomey Faculty Representative

development of a 5-year strategic plan.

five years, Denver Academy will reinforce and build upon its legacy of excellence in the education of students with learning differences. With the vision and strategic goals for DA’s future clearly identified, the needs and challenges are also clear. We must expand the sources of funds available to our school for tuition assistance and thereby reduce the pressure on funding derived from operating revenues. We must

Emeritus Trustees

continue to develop DA’s endowment fund to provide tuition assistance and funding for other school needs.

Jim Dierker Attorney

Our greatest assets are our teachers and we must continue to provide them with appropriate professional

Dr. Nancy Gary Clinical Psychologist Neuro-Developmental Center

technology is at the fingertips of faculty and students.

Steve Mooney Manager of Mooney Enterprises LLC and Mooney Ventures LLC

dedication and hard work. We are committed to that responsibility, and I look forward to your assistance in

development. We must increase opportunities in math and science and ensure that the most useful

Realization of these and other goals identified in the strategic planning process will require creativity, achieving the success that Denver Academy stands for.

Cindy Brown President DA Board of Trustees

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Liane Clasen Community Volunteer

with different learning styles. We serve to reinforce that our

We embarked on the Strategic Planning Process in the fall of 2008 with the vision of reinforcing and building upon Denver Academy’s legacy of excellence in education for students with learning differences. After conducting extensive research that included a demographic study, constituent surveys and focus groups, the Board of Trustees identified the following goal areas to leverage the legacy of the school and ensure a sustained future: 1. Demographic Sustainability 2. Programmatic Sustainability 3. Fiscal Sustainability In the fall of 2009, a full Strategic Planning Committee was formed with 15 constituents who represented all facets of Denver Academy. The committee proposed a revised mission statement and “Core Values,” which were approved by the Board of Trustees in the spring of 2010.

The following Mission Statement and Core Values emerged from our collaborative strategic planning process: Denver Academy leads as a center of excellence for the education of students with learning differences. We help our students develop their intellectual, social, creative, physical and ethical potentials within a nurturing environment so they may acquire the skills and confidence to be successful in life.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ THE MISSION

The Board of Trustees voted upon final approval of the strategic plan in June 2010. At the senior administrative retreat in June 2010, initiatives for the first year of the plan were identified. On an ongoing basis, the Board of Trustees and Senior Administration will track progress using a balanced scorecard approach and collaborate to ensure their achievement through chosen initiatives.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ THE MISSION

At Denver Academy, we value: • Individual Differences • Respect • Responsibility • Community • The Transformative Power of Education

School Science Fair

Senior Hall Dedication and Grand Re-Opening An amazing learning environment was created for Denver Academy seniors with the renovation of the former “Progressive Building.” Once the construction was completed, students had bright, airy classrooms, a common area and a café. The building is also one of the “greenest” on campus.

The “Energy Expo” Science Fair was held on our campus quad in April. The theme of the fair was renewable energy, sponsored by New Town Builders. Over 100 students displayed their projects related to renewable energy. Projects ranged from solar ovens, to generating electricity while working out at the gym. The creativity and understanding on display was truly impressive and the students enjoyed the opportunity to display the results of their hard work. Students who received prizes at the fair also received recognition from New Town Builders in June and were given a tour of an energy efficient home by Gene Meyers, CEO.

The building was dedicated and re-opened in the fall of 2009.

DAFFY 2010

Undefeated Season for Volleyball Team

Top student films from across the city were honored at the tenth annual Denver Academy Film Festival for Youth (DAFFY) in May. Over 175 submissions from 14 area schools were carefully reviewed by judges from the Colorado Film School. New this year, people were able to view the films at Starz Film Center and vote in the first ever People’s Choice Award.

The Denver Academy Mustang Girl’s Volleyball Team made history in 2009 with an undefeated season. The DA “spikers” finished the season with 14 wins and no defeats! The team members were Hillary Bell, Taylor Clark, Hannah Crawford, Whitney Hall, Michaela Kahan, Taylor Levine-Byrd, Rachael McDaniel and Alex Turgeon. The team was coached by Head Coach, Matt Roberts, assisted by Andrea Southcott and Kacey Bennett.

Congratulations to our Denver Academy finalists and award winners: Taylor Levine (winner, PSA category), Zach Schulte (winner, Experimental category) and Ryan Charmatz (finalist, Animation category.)

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ YEAR IN REVIEW

Middle School students showed off their movie making skills at the 2nd Annual “Movies Made in Middle School” (MMIMS) in February. Nine films from the young filmmakers were screened for an enthusiastic crowd.

Denver Academy Faculty Members Presented at Conferences During the 2009-2010 School Year. Gayle Bell

• Colorado Language Arts Society • Courage to Risk • 21st Century Collaborative Classroom Share Fair

Tammy Curran

• 21st Century Collaborative Classroom Share Fair

Philippe Ernewein

• Colorado Language Arts Society • Courage to Risk • PEAK Conference • University of Colorado Graduate School • Parent Transition Conference • Teach for America: Quarterly Seminar

Kris Fritzsche

• Web Wise Conference • 21st Century Collaborative Classroom Share Fair

Travis Macy

• Colorado Language Arts Society • International Reading Association

Mark Twarogowski

• Web Wise Conference 2010 – Imagining the Digital Future

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ YEAR IN REVIEW

Movies Made in Middle School

OF ACHIEVEMENT Elementary: The Cushman Neal Family Playground

Alumni: Kim Pankratz

Music from the Denver Academy drumline kicked off the official dedication of The Cushman Neal Family Playground in May 2010. The idea of a new playground was first conceived by elementary students in 2008. Students held a number of fundraising activities over the years, and the project became a reality thanks to the generosity of the Cushman Neal Family (parents to DA students Zach and Ashley) and many other generous donors.

Kim Pankratz graduated from Denver Academy in 1990, and has given countless hours back to the school as the President of the Alumni Association and ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.

Students broke ground on the project in early May and volunteers and professionals completed the build in a matter of weeks! Thank you to all of the students (past and present), parents, faculty, staff and donors who helped to bring this amazing facility to our campus.

At Denver Academy she found that inner confidence, and she credits her teachers with giving her the academic skills to be successful at Hastings College. After college, she worked as a broadcast journalist and on-air anchor for an NBC affiliate.

Students in the Denver Academy Middle School (and two freshman students) showcased their talents and shared their stories of growing up with learning differences for an HBO documentary, “I Can’t Do This, But I CAN Do That.” Nine students participated in a semester long class that culminated in a play about learning differences that they wrote and starred in. HBO filmed the entire class and production, and Denver Academy was featured in a documentary that aired in October 2010. The students also performed the play at the 2010 Gala. Bravo! 09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ STORIES OF ACHIEVEMENT

High School: Denver Academy High School The 2009-2010 school year marked the final year of the Core, Progressive and Prep Divisions in the High School. Students, parents, faculty and administrators worked throughout the year to unify the high school divisions into one high school. Students participated in a number of team building, mentoring and spirit activities throughout the year. By blending our high school programs into one school, students are able to experience a wider variety of academic opportunities across each grade level.

Kim lives in Littleton, Colorado with her husband Scott and their three children.

Teacher: Travis Macy Wins the International Reading Association’s (IRA) Grand Prize Award for Technology and Reading Walking into Travis Macy’s classroom at Denver Academy may feel like a step into the future. Macy is an expert at using cuttingedge technology to engage his students. He was recognized for his efforts with the International Reading Association’s (IRA) Grand Prize Award for Technology and Reading for his project, “Old Tricks, New Look: Using Technology to Reach the Zone of Proximal Development in the Millennial Literacy Classroom.” Macy received the award at the IRA’s conference in Chicago in April 2010. The IRA Award for Technology and Reading honors educators in grades K-12 who are making an outstanding and innovative contribution to the use of technology in reading education.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ STORIES OF ACHIEVEMENT

Middle School: HBO Documentary on Learning Differences

Before coming to Denver Academy, school was a stressful place for Kim and she tried to hide the fact that she had trouble reading. To overcome her fear of reading in class, she used her sense of humor to deflect attention from academics and to make friends. While appearing confident on the outside, she was insecure about her learning difference.

COMMENCEMENT Branden Anderson Boise State University Renewable Tuition Award Alex Arens Undecided Ty Bair Mesa State College Richie Baker University of Arizona $2,000 Merit Scholarship Beau Behan Regis University Michael Bilker Red Rocks Community College Paul Buscarello University of Colorado, Denver Ryan Charmatz School of Visual Arts Dan Christian Fort Lewis College $400 Merit Scholarship Quinn Cohen Manager, Safeway Store

Alexis Meier NHS University of Colorado, Denver $2,000 Merit Scholarship Mark Norin NHS Colorado State University $2,000 Merit Scholarship Sam Orkin Montana State University Evan Payne Hampshire College Michael Peterson Northland Community and Technical College Zach Price University of Colorado, Boulder Brianna Ricotta University of Colorado, Denver Phil Johnson and Lou Raiders Community Service Scholarship Mike Ring Aims Community College

Graham Dickson NHS University of Denver $15,000 Renewable Merit Scholarship

David Roberts Beacon College

Charley Ebersole University of Arizona Patrick Foxx

NHS Red Rocks Community College

Negley Garrett

NHS San Diego State University

Nick Gay Warren Wilson College $7,500 Renewable Merit Scholarship Terence Goodrich Undecided Tyler Haag 09-10 ANNUAL REPORT â– COMMENCEMENT

Alex Machovec Undecided

Hannah Crawford NHS University of Arizona $4,000 Renewable Merit Scholarship

Liz Donnelly Colorado State University

Valedictorian: Brianna Ricotta Salutatorian: Alexis Meier Alumni Association Outstanding Senior: Mark Norin Phil Johnson & Lou Raders Community Service Award: Brianna Ricotta Messinger Award: Andrew Sowin Progressive Senior of the Year: Patrick Foxx

Jake Lozow NHS University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

NHS Mesa State College

Patrick Ring Aims Community College David Rothberg Western State College $1,000 Renewable Merit Scholarship Connor Schlaff Arapahoe Community College Kyle Schultz Colorado Mountain College Taylor Seghetti Johnson and Wales University $1,000 Merit Scholarship Trevor Steadman Arapahoe Community College Cody Steebner Hobart Institute of Welding Technology

Michael Hayes Metro State College

Alex Stone Western State College

Jack Hetson Northeastern Junior College

Katie Sullivan Knox College $10,000 Renewable Merit Scholarship

Ben Johnson Arapahoe Community College Chris Kent Undecided James Klein United States Army Brendan Kohler Western State College Daniel Kwon Arapahoe Community College Sydney Lange NHS College of Wooster $14,000 Renewable Merit Scholarship Bill Lee Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute $10,000 Renewable Merit Scholarship

Alex Turgeon University of Denver Ben Wallace Undecided Aaron Ytterberg Fort Lewis College David Zimmerman University of Colorado, Boulder

NHS National Honor Society

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT â– COMMENCEMENT

John Allen Arapahoe Community College

Kevin Gregier Teacher of the Year Award

Wings of the Future Award

The Teacher of the Year Award recognizes a year of outstanding success in the classroom through commitment, competence and professionalism, with nominations submitted by peers, supervisors, parents and students.

The Wings of the Future Award acknowledges a faculty member who has achieved a higher level of accomplishment in classroom teaching or curriculum development and manifests an extraordinary dedication to the students of Denver Academy.

Katie is not only a leader and committed professional, she also possesses the ability to grow and nurture authentic relationships with her students. Kids gravitate toward her classes and enjoy being under her wing. She continually encourages them to strive for excellence and to move beyond their comfort zone. Her magic is seen most prevalently when her students are on stage. She can take the most shy, socially uncomfortable youngsters and put them at ease on stage. They shine under her direction and are always proud of their accomplishments. In the 2009-2010 school year she produced over eight performances, directed a play for HBO, sponsored the Diversity Club, continued to build and grow student interest in theatre, created a special program for the Gala, and taught classes.

Staff Member of the Year Award Sherry Halingstad, Receptionist

The Staff Member of the Year Award recognizes an individual whose hard work, dedication and commitment have made a difference at Denver Academy. Sherry is the first smile you see when you enter Denver Academy and the last pleasant goodbye when leaving. She knows almost everyone by name, and she greets all who enter with a smile and treats them as if she has all the time in the world – even when her phone is ringing off the hook! 09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ AWARDS

Sherry can always be counted on to handle emergency situations or sick students without missing a beat – she is one of the great cornerstones of Denver Academy.

Dan Loan, Director of Communications and Enrollment

Dan has been at Denver Academy since 1978, and is an integral part of the brick and mortar that the Denver Academy community has been built upon. He has served the school in a variety of ways throughout the years. Starting as an intern he has been a teacher, division head, dean of students and now serves as Director of Communications and Enrollment. Everything he does is for the greater good of Denver Academy, and he always strives to find the best way to meet the needs of our students. He also finds unique ways to engage with the larger Denver community, including founding the Denver Academy Film Festival for Youth which is 10 years strong! He serves as a mentor to many at the school, and he has made an incredible impact on the past, present and future of Denver Academy.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Kim Brachet, Mother of Evan Payne The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant difference at Denver Academy through the donation of their time and talents on an ongoing basis. For over seven years Kim has given countless hours of her time to Denver Academy. She is an asset in the library, working 25 hours a week or more! Kim is always willing to help with any task. She oversaw the inventory of DA’s 15,000 library items and has also worked tirelessly to help restructure our library collection to make it more user-friendly. Thanks to her time and dedication, the Denver Academy library is a haven for our students.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ AWARDS

Katie Bradford, Theater Teacher

BOARD COMMITTEES

What is philanthropy? Jeff Skoll, founder of eBay, describes it well. “Philanthropy is

Building and Grounds Committee Earl Hoellen, Chair Brenda Brodt Perry Cadman Nicky Gittelman Liz Lancaster Mark Lampert Tim O’Connor Mary Ross R.D. Sewald Staff: Jim Levinson* Jose Achondo Ramsey Brookhart Kevin Smith Mark Twarogowski Berni Vilkus

all about making a positive difference in the world by devoting your resources and your time to causes you believe in. In my case, I like to support causes where ‘a lot of good comes from a little bit of good,’ or, in other words, where the positive social returns vastly exceed the amount of time and money invested.” At Denver Academy we are the beneficiaries of such philanthropy almost daily. It can be seen in the generosity of donors who invest in our school to ensure the very best education for our students. How do their donations make a difference? New and renovated buildings, well-equipped classrooms, increased tuition assistance and more professional development opportunities for faculty and staff are all examples of charitable donations at work. Philanthropy is also evident in the extraordinary volunteer efforts on behalf of Denver Academy. Volunteers are active in almost every area of the school – athletics, drama, library, classrooms, and the art studio. The Development Office relies on volunteers for the Gala, the Golf Tournament, the Annual Fund Phonathon and the daily operations of the office. The Denver Academy Parent Association focuses on building a welcoming community for both students and parents. The Board of Trustees and its seven board committees are dedicated to ensuring that the school continues to excel in its mission of providing individualized education to students with learning differences. Our students also give of their time to improve our school and the world around them. The 2009-2010 school year has been filled with many enriching experiences made possible by gifts of time and resources from our community. Every gift is important! Every gift impacts the education we can offer our students.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ PHILANTHROPY

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the Development Committee, the faculty and staff, and most importantly our students, thank you for your investment in Denver Academy.

Committee on Trustees Kristin Richardson, Chair Cindy Brown Ben Duke Nancy Rhyme Laura Waldron Staff: Kevin Smith* Becky Leibman*

* Staff Liaison

Development Committee Peter O’Neil, Co-Chair Missy Warner, Co-Chair Jane Anderson Lisa Bailey Liane Clasen Nancy Crawford Deb Ellis Nicky Gittelman Wendy Handler Mark Lampert Keith Lawton Sharon Morgan Spencer Muchnick Cris Norin Tim O’Connor Kim Pankratz Bo Squire Staff: Becky Leibman* Shelley Devitt Karen Lozow Angela May Bridget O’Toole Kevin Smith Berni Vilkus Janet Woolley

Finance Committee Cindy Brown, Chair Ben Duke Steve Gittelman Bryce Johnson Staff: Berni Vilkus* Becky Leibman Kevin Smith

Headmaster Evaluation Committee Cindy Brown, Chair Liane Clasen Cyle Feingold Charlie Gwirtsman Kristin Richardson

Marketing/Public Relations Scott Epstein, Chair Ed Callahan Cyle Feingold Kim Pankratz Staff: Dan Loan* Bridget O’Toole Kevin Smith

Strategic Planning Earl Hoellen, Chair Ed Callahan Craig Knippenberg Karen Lawton Tina Vessels Laura Waldron Staff: Kevin Smith* Philippe Ernewein Dan Loan Bridget O’Toole Anthony Slaughter Mark Twarogowski Berni Vilkus

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ BOARD COMMITTEES

at denver Academy

2009 DA Golf Tournament The 2009 Golf Tournament committee worked enthusiastically to set and accomplish challenging goals. The results were rewarding - a new location at Pinehurst Country Club with a demanding golf course, increased sponsorship support and the introduction of two-flights for golfers. The format allowed golfers with handicaps to compete against each other for prizes while less competitive, but equally committed, golfers played against others with similar skills. Everyone had a great morning of golf, a hearty breakfast and lunch and great prizes! Proceeds of over $18,000 benefitted the Tuition Assistance Program, the Scholarship Endowment Fund and the DA golf team. Committee: Lisa Bailey, Co-Chair Bo Squire, Co-Chair Nicky Gittelman Keith Lawton Presenting Sponsors: 1st Bank, Lakewood Branch Keith Lawton Eagle Sponsors: HUB International Chris Weatherman, Weatherman Insurance Agency Par Sponsors: Alliant Medical Solutions Bob and Liane Clasen

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ FUNDRAISERS

Beverage Sponsor: Steve and Nicky Gittelman Hole Sponsors: Jim Deshon, Cottrell Printing Gobbel Hays Partners, Inc. Bev and Kate Hutter Mission Drywall, Inc.

Gala 2010 The 2010 Gala was a feast of student artistic expression - from senior Paul Buscarello performing on keyboard in the lobby, to the display of the Gala Art Contest entries (contest won by senior Michael Hayes.) Students wrote and performed a play about living with learning differences and senior Katie Sullivan gave an eloquent speech. Student talent was evident everywhere – even in the hard work of our student volunteers who were photographers, auction workers and animated ambassadors for Denver Academy. The event was held at a new location, the Infinity Park Events Center in Glendale. Susie Wargin, 9News Morning Sports Anchor was the Master of Ceremonies and Headmaster Kevin Smith joined her for live auction duties. The event included silent and live auctions, a gourmet dinner, and a program. Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper was presented with the DA Reach for the Stars award for his work on behalf of education. New this year was an online auction that allowed us to reach more of the DA community and make some new friends. We are thankful to everyone in our community who helped ensure our success in raising over $160,000 for the Tuition Assistance Fund. The impact for the many students who need financial assistance to receive a DA education is immense.

Gala Committee: Cris Norin, Event Chair Lisa Bailey Fiona Baldwin Denise Bellucci Jody Charmatz Nancy Crawford Joan Ebersole Eve Epstein Leslie Hammer-Palen Pam Hassler Tim Healy Rob Kerven Jenny McCulloch Travis Macy Bridget O’Toole Deb Woodward

Corporate Sponsors: Silver Circle

Lockton Companies Ralph Schomp Automotive

Bronze Circle

Blue Moon Works JK Mullen Foundation Vessels Coal Gas, Inc.

Copper Circle

Larry and Jill DiPasquale Michael’s of Denver Catering, Inc. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Mayor John W. Hickenlooper

Award Received the 2010 Reach for the Stars an individual or The Reach for the Stars award recognizes nthropic endeavor, phila ple, exam gh throu that, organization or advocacy a professional body of work, raises the community’s awareness of the educational needs of children with learning differences. Past recipients include: Henry Winkler, Dr. Nancy Gary and Debbie Phelps. This year at the DA Gala, Mayor John W. Hickenlooper was presented with the award. He is well-known for his work to improve the education of students throughout the community. From his weekly school visits after he was elected Mayor in 2003 to forming nd quality school-based city-wide partnerships to sustain and expa has committed a great per enloo Hick or May , after-school programs s. He is a champion issue al deal of energy and resources on education ages and abilities all of ren child for future generations and ensuring standing ovation a ved recei He ble. possi receive the best education at the Gala.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ FUNDRAISERS

at denver Academy

2009-2010 Annual Fund Supports Excellence in Education at DA The Annual Fund supports everything that makes DA excellent – talented teachers, small class sizes, outstanding curriculum and special programs such as the arts, experiential learning and athletics. The Annual Fund helps bridge the gap not covered by tuition alone. It is thanks to the remarkable generosity of the DA community – parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, friends, faculty and staff – that the 2009-2010 Annual Fund raised a total of $651,000, enabling us to accomplish many goals.

Tuition Assistance Fund We are proud that DA has a strong tuition assistance program, made possible in part because of gifts to the Annual Fund, the DA Gala, the DA Golf Tournament and grants from foundations. Operating funds designated for tuition assistance and revenue from endowment funds rounded out the sources for this fund. A total of 118 students with demonstrated financial need were able to attend DA because of the awards they received from the Tuition Assistance Fund.

Faculty Enrichment

for giving “A big Thank You have u yo extra money that like me ds ki donated to DA for amazing is th to be able to attend you will to ck school. My gift ba hard, dy stu to be that I continue get a d an ge lle graduate, go to co can give back good job so that I borrowed, so to DA what I have e me will be that another kid lik r Academy ve able to attend Den just like me.” ~DA Sophomore

Throughout the year DA’s faculty was afforded numerous opportunities to increase knowledge, learn about best practices and work collaboratively so they can better teach our students.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ CAMPAIGNS

• Every faculty member attended the largest special needs conference in the region, Courage to Risk. Over the course of the year, 20 conferences were attended by various faculty. • Elementary/Middle School drama teacher, Katie Bradford, received the 2010 Teacher of the Year Award and a grant for professional development; and Dan Loan, Director of Enrollment and Marketing was the recipient of the Wings of the Future award, underwritten by a grant from the Mooney Family.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ CAMPAIGNS

• A unique conference was hosted on campus for our faculty. Called TEDXEducators, the focus was on “activating passion.”

ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTS

Technology State-of-the-art technology continues to be a top priority at DA. We know how critical it is to give our students technologyenabled learning environments and to prepare them for success in an interconnected workforce and society. We made a number of improvements: • Our third grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation helped us to further equip classrooms with interactive Smart Board Technology. • The Elementary School computer lab received a state-of-theart upgrade with newly redesigned Mac Mini computers – the world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer. • Investment in a Cisco core switch provides DA with secure, flexible and nonstop voice and data communications. And, internet bandwidth was increased from three 7 Mb DSLs to a 50 Mb broadband connection, along with a bonded T1 connection to improve reliability. • After a rigorous examination of education administration software solutions, DA chose Blackbaud, Inc. for a school-wide database. Rolling out this solid infrastructure will allow faculty, administrators and departments to share data, and gives us a hosted solution for our website.

The Arts • Four HD cameras with microphones were added for Arts and Technology. • The Film Lab was upgraded with two new Intel computers. • The Theatre was enhanced with new seating. • Music’s Drumline now has new marching equipment. • We also received a generous donation of a kiln and shelving for the Art Studio.

Classroom Improvements • The atrium in Richardson Hall was enhanced with six new folding café tables, and the science labs were outfitted with new tables and stools. • Construction improvements to the gymnasium resulted in an expanded weight room and a muchneeded storage area.

Denver Academy Parent Association (DAPA) Elementary/Middle School • We installed a brand new playground after several years of dedication by students, families, faculty, staff and friends to make this a reality.

DAPA members made a big impact for students through their many hours of volunteer time and fundraising activities. During the school year, DAPA provided gifts totaling almost $26,000. We are grateful for their support which fulfilled needs in many areas, such as the library, student senate and other clubs, summer training for teachers and a generous gift of $10,000 for the Tuition Assistance Fund.

• Reading Plus, which uses innovative technology to provide individualized silent reading practice, was implemented. It helps us to develop and improve reading proficiency for our students. Licenses were generously donated by Reading Plus/Taylor Associates.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ CAMPAIGNS

• With the addition of a class set of ten Fusion Writers, we now have a total of 20 for Elementary and Sixth Grade, giving students access to full-featured portable word processors.

The Denver Academy Tuition Assistance Fund For twelve consecutive years the Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation has been a friend to the students of Denver Academy by providing grants for students who require financial aid to attend our school. A grant of $15,000 in 2009 provided partial awards to four students. A grant of $10,000 was received from The Virginia Hill Foundation. They have supported this critical program for ten years. In 2009-2010, their grant assisted four students with partial awards.

21st Century Classroom and Assistive Technology As a result of its “Third Round” grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation, DA started the 2010 school year with 100 percent of its classrooms equipped with SMART Boards and audio systems. These products transform learning by helping teachers bring more collaboration and interactivity into the classroom. The Morgridge Family Foundation’s grant of $52,606 also allowed DA to acquire a number of document cameras, wireless slates and SMART response clickers. A grant of $2,689 from the Advocates for Learning and Literacy Fund is helping DA to further expand its Assistive Technology Program. Through hardware and software adaptive technology, we can better help students who can benefit from solutions such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, a speech recognition software.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ GRANTS

Creating Bright Futures Campaign The J. K. Mullen Foundation provided a grant of $30,000 toward its generous pledge of $150,000 for scholarship endowment. We are grateful to our friends at the J.K. Mullen Foundation for their unwavering support over many years – from the Gala to the Stepping Stones to the Future and the Creating Bright Futures campaigns. Since 1999, the Glendorn Foundation has been supporting the Denver Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund. With their generous pledges totaling $75,000 for the Creating Bright Futures campaign for scholarship endowment, and their final pledge payment of $25,000 in 2009, the Glendorn Scholarship Endowment Fund has grown to more than $161,000. The Gates Family Foundation provided a challenge grant of $36,000 after DA raised over $600,000 from a generous DA community for the renovation of the former Progressive High School classroom building (aka “Building 6”) which has become the home of the Denver Academy Senior Class beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. This grant was instrumental in making this project a reality.

General Operating Support

Google Adwords

A generous grant of $30,000 was received from the Anschutz Foundation for general operating support. This was DA’s first grant from the Anschutz Foundation and we are grateful to the trustees of the Foundation for this vote of confidence in the importance of our educational program for children with learning differences.

A grant from the Google Grants Program, for up to $10,000 a month in free Adwords advertising, is now in its 2nd year. With an expanded online advertising strategy, DA has been able to “cast a wider net” and reach a larger audience by leveraging the power of this program. In 2009-2010, DA realized usage of more than $47,000 in free Adwords advertising through this grant.

The Weckbaugh Foundation, which has supported DA over many years with grants for capital needs, scholarship endowment and tuition assistance, provided a grant of $1,500 to be used where it is most needed.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ GRANTS

Denver Academy is grateful to those foundations and corporations that generously supported the School through their grants. In 2009-2010, DA was privileged to receive grants for an array of important projects and programs.

Denver Academy strives to maintain a comprehensive financial plan to support the DA mission through sound fiscal management and effective development initiatives.

Expenses Educational Student Activities Operations/Maintenance Depreciation/Amortization General Administrative/Operations Development/Alumni/Publications Interest Expense Total

$ 4,922,377 $ 161,015 $ 764,462 $ 552,076 $ 1,449,475 $ 317,082 $ 438,051 $ 8,604,538

Change in Net Assets from Operations

$ 410,989

Revenues from Other Activities

Change in Net Assets

$ 508,846

Percent 88.7% 8.9%

2.4%

57.2% 1.9% 8.9% 6.4% 16.8% 3.7% 5.1%

Annual Giving Club Information

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ FINANCIALS

■ Tuition Assistance. . . 38.6% ■ Unrestricted. . . . . . . 26.1% ■ In-Kind Donations. . . 11.2% ■ Technology . . . . . . . . 8.5% ■ Playground Campaign. 4.3% ■ DAPA Directed. . . . . . 4.3% ■ Endowment . . . . . . . . 2.5% ■ Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5%

Annual Fund Contributions by Classification

97,857

Donor Category Level Wings of the Future $20,000 and above Excellence Council $10,000 - $19,999 Leadership Council $5,000 - $9,999 Headmaster’s Council $2,500 - $4,999 DA Scholar Council $1,000 - $2,499 Benefactor’s Circle $500 - $999 Century Circle $100 - $499 DA Friends Up to $99 Total Donors

Annual Fund Contributions by Uses

Number of Donors 5 3 12 14 32 28 192 164 450

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Events. . . . . . . . . Foundations. . . . . Trustees. . . . . . . . Current Parents. . . Grandparents. . . . Alumni Parents. . . Faculty and Staff. . DAPA. . . . . . . . . . Other. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

25.0% 17.8% 14.3% 11.8% . 5.4% . 4.8% . 4.6% . 4.3% 12.0%

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ FINANCIALS

Revenues Amount Tuition and Fees $ 7,995,249 Contributions Unrestricted $ 255,004 Temporarily Restricted $ 479,793 Permanently Restricted $ 66,135 Interest/Investment/Other Income $ 219,346 Total $ 9,015,527

“Leadership requires the courage to make decisions that will benefit the next generation.”

Endowment is the most effective way possible to ensure that Denver Academy continues to provide excellence in education well into the 21st century. Denver Academy’s endowment is a permanent fund managed for longterm growth, a percentage of which is directed to support special initiatives and school operations. It is also critical to guarantee tuition assistance for future generations of students with learning differences.

This attitude is reflected in the members of the Denver Academy Legacy Society. They desire to create a legacy that will impact future DA students they may never know. Each has acted with foresight and generosity by including our school in their wills or estate plans, and helping to perpetuate excellence in education for future generations of students with learning differences.

We are grateful to the individuals and foundations who have invested in our students and the future of our school.

— Quote by Alan Autry

Denver Academy Legacy Society Members Include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Jane C. Anderson Eddie and Judy Black Lyle and Connie Blessman Darwin and Debbie Campbell Bob and Liane Clasen Robert M. Cole Trust* Jim and Lynn Dierker Steve and Nicky Gittelman Michael and Wendy Handler Jerry and Ginny Hutcheson Don and Sharon Jacobs Phil Johnson and Lou Raders Tom and Leigh Kahn Mark and Ruth Lampert

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Craig and Lisa Knippenberg David and Barbara Knize Jim Loan Anne Marie Messinger Paul and Theresa Messinger Tim and Sallie O’Connor Peter O’Neil David and Louise Santomarco Nedree Simpson Kevin Smith and Maria Pace Smith Katie Smolka* Dale and Marty Wagner Neil and Laura Waldron John and Missy Warner

* Deceased 09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ LEGACY SOCIETY

If you are among those who have named Denver Academy in your estate plans and your name is not listed here, please notify the Denver Academy Development Office.

FUND

BALANCE 6/30/2010

Scholarship Endowment 25th Anniversary Fund Abel Martinez Jr. Memorial Fund Anonymous Fund Baldwin Family Fund Bob Simmons Memorial Fund Carson Foundation Fund Casey Kahn Memorial Fund Cosby Fund Daniels Foundation Fund Epstein Family Fund Gary Family Fund General Fund Glendorn Fund DA Golf Tournament Fund Horwich Charitable Trust Fund J. K. Mullen Foundation Fund Jim Dierker Fund Justin Stecker Memorial Fund Karpas Family Fund Kevin Gregier Memorial Fund Messinger Fund Phil Johnson Fund Richardson Family Fund Swan Foundation Fund Taddonio Family Fund

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

9,945 44,391 423,982 53,849 17,446 325,519 70,004 80,419 149,087 10,903 437,908 60,306 166,836 15,775 13,740 129,477 24,380 49,412 9,015 37,111 28,695 14,967 57,972 23,756 32,056

FUND

BALANCE 6/30/2010

Senior Class Legacy Funds Class of 2007 Gittelman Family Fund Gwirtsman Family Fund General Fund Class of 2008 - General Fund Class of 2009 - General Fund Class of 2010 - General Fund

$ $ $ $ $ $

4,715 39,268 27,059 24,523 11,635 2,429

Faculty Enrichment Endowment

25,289

General Endowment Alumni Brick Campaign Fund Gates Family Foundation General Fund J. K. Mullen Foundation General Fund

$ 2,315 $ 199,210 $ 48,857 $ 45,293

TOTAL

$ 2,717,544

Quasi Endowment Fund

GRAND TOTAL

$ 2,732,932

15,388

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ ENDOWMENT

denver Academy legacy society

Denver Academy Parent Association

Alumni Association

Our dedicated parent association (DAPA) spent the year focusing on its mission of building spirit in the divisions, raising funds and distributing those funds back into the classroom to enrich our children’s educational experience, and hosting numerous events.

A year in review….

Raising the funds that it takes to host these events and assist the faculty in enriching the classroom has always been a key function of DAPA. We have made great strides this year to simplify this component of what we do. All families are part of DAPA - a small portion of tuition dollars comes to us for each student enrolled. We were able to raise these dues from $25 to $50 which now enables us to maintain our budget without the continual need to find ways to raise funds. Our goal now is to raise funds in ways that provide you a service that you use already, i.e. school supplies, the grocery card program and Jamba Juice for lunches once a week. During the course of the year, we put nearly $24,000 back into the classroom, funding library resources of software and books, adding microscopes in the science classrooms, hosting an author’s visit to the elementary classes, and sending students off campus to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Shakespeare Festival. We provided funds for camera equipment to the art department, microphones for film classes, an Apple PC for administration, and rock band sound equipment for the music classes. DAPA also helped with funding for the Homecoming Dance music, summer training for teachers, Tuition Assistance Program and counseling department.

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ ASSOCIATIONS

Our teachers are welcomed back to school each year with a light breakfast provided and hosted by DAPA members. DAPA hosts the New Parent Reception just before the school year starts welcoming new families to our community. What a great display of student talent our grandparents get to witness just before the Thanksgiving break at Grandparent’s Day. In addition, the faculty returns from spring break to a nice brunch as a way to show our appreciation for all they do for our kids. There are countless hours and enjoyment that go on behind the scenes making all of the above a reality. We invite you to join us!

This was a great year for connections. We launched our first Alumni Facebook page. What an impact that had! We were able to connect with so many lost alumni – as far back as 30 years. If you have not joined our group page, please look for us. We held a class reunion for the classes of 1987-1992 in July. It was a great event with alumni gathering and sharing memories of their time at DA. We hope other classes would like to hold reunions. If so, please contact the DA Development Office so they can assist you in planning. Throughout the school year we had several Mustang Madness get-togethers, an Alumni vs. Faculty basketball game, a Homecoming BBQ and a pizza lunch for the DA Class of 2009. There are many opportunities to continue to be part of the DA family. As the years pass, we attend college, find careers, get married and have children and it seems difficult to give our time to DA. However, you are still needed. We would like to build our alumni base so that some day we can have a mentoring program for students as well as other exciting programs for alumni. If you would like to volunteer, please call Karen Lozow, the Director of Alumni Relations at 303-777-5870. Also, please call or email her with your updated contact information so we can stay in touch. As always, we look forward to another great year!

Kim Pankratz President, DA Alumni Association

09-10 ANNUAL REPORT ■ ASSOCIATIONS

“Mustang Connection” was created and implemented with the help of DAPA and numerous parent volunteers to promote school spirit in our High School. The teachers and students appreciated all the events-from Homecoming week, to making fun “senior” t-shirts for all juniors at year end. This program will be instrumental in the integration of the High School divisions and making the transition more fun. The Middle School followed suit with the “Herd”. The upcoming school year will bring the same idea to our Elementary Division – how about the “Ponies?”

This year at Senior Breakfast, at the press of a button, Mark Wood moved every senior to their feet, embracing in the corner, swaying side to side and singing, “Don’t stop believing, hold on to that feeling, streetlight people”. Every year I look forward to Senior Breakfast for moments like these, realizing what an impact DA has on students and families every year. I am amazed at the talent of our graduates and their accomplishments. This year, 91 percent of our graduates headed off to college or vocational school. Way to go, Grads!

4400 East Iliff Avenue • Denver, CO 80222 • (303) 777-5870 • denveracademy.org This Annual Report is a publication of Denver Academy. © 2010 Denver Academy Designed by Ridgeline Graphic Solutions | Denver, Colorado Map drawing on cover created by Bev Ball – DA High School Teacher