News from Sheridan School District No. 2
Contact: Mark Stevens
[email protected]
303-495-8699 (mobile)
News Release
Nov. 14, 2019
Bernadette Saleh Re-Elected President of the Sheridan
Board of Education
The Sheridan Board of Education this week (Nov. 12)
unanimously re-elected Bernadette Saleh to serve as president.
Board member Sally Daigle was elected to serve as
vice-president; board member Karla Najera was appointed by President Saleh to
serve as secretary; board member Daniel Stange was appointed to serve as
treasurer; and Juanita Camacho was appointed assistant secretary/treasurer.
In addition, the results of the election were certified by
the board. Board members Juanita Camacho (District B) and Karla Najera
(District D) ran unopposed for four-year terms.
Early Childhood Center in the Spotlight
Early Childhood Center director Aimee Chapman and education
coordinator Jennifer Horn highlighted the contributions of two staff
members—teaching assistant Laura Gonzalez and health coordinator Casey Hammes.
Gonzales, said Chapman, continues to take classes in early
childhood education. “She takes initiative, she’s self-driven, she’s creative,
and she has excellent relationships with children and families,” said Chapman.
“In four short years she has become a reliable and exceptional employee that
people trust.”
Hammes, who started at ECC at the beginning of the current
school year, “has jumped into her role full force,” said Chapman. Hammes
handles a wide variety of duties, including weekly classroom walks to make sure
electrical outlets are covered, that no scissors are lingering on a teacher’s
desk, and that no plastic bags are present. Hammes also handles bus duty in
addition to more traditional health coordinator duties such as conducting
screenings for vision and hearing needs. “No matter what the day brings, she’s
going to jump right in,” said Chapman. “She gets the big picture.”
Chapman and Horn also presented the board with details of
the school’s ongoing focus on a “project approach” to learning. A recent
six-week project focused on learning about sand.
The Early Childhood Center emphasizes family involvement and
strengthening the connection between home and school. “We’re all in this
together,” said Horn. The school issues monthly newsletters for families and
holds regular celebrations with families, too.
Student observations are preferred over a heavy reliance on
formal testing, added Horn. “We want to observe and listen because they
(children) show a lot that way,” she said. Teachers meet weekly to plan and
review student needs.
One focus this year, said Chapman, is helping students to
start noticing other students, “to look for wonderful things in other people.”
The school also works to help students learn to manage their emotions and
feelings, to ensure minimal disruptions to the learning process.
Chapman also provided the board with an overview of a wide
range of compliance issues related to its federal Head Start grant as part of
required governance training for the board.
Superintendent Pat Sandos praised the Early Childhood Center
for its culture. “Every adult in that building knows every child’s name—that is
so impressive to me,” said Sandos. The school has “such a caring and safe
environment and the children are thriving.”
Chief Financial Officer Liz Duncan
Superintendent Sandos introduced Liz Duncan, who was
appointed as Chief Financial Officer.
Superintendent Sandos also thanked the board for supporting
a transition time; longtime Chief Financial Officer Kristen Colonell will
continue to work alongside Duncan through the end of the school year.
“It’s hard to replace John Elway,” said Sandos, referring to
Colonell, who is in her 22nd year of service to Sheridan School
District 2 and who is retiring. “But we think we lucked out and found a Peyton
Manning out there.”
Duncan told the board she has worked in Jeffco Schools for
25 years, first at a special education center and later as a school bookkeeper
and trainer of district bookkeepers. She became a budget analyst for a variety
of large district departments, often managing many grants, before moving to the
main budget office at Jeffco Schools five years ago.
“I am super excited to come to Sheridan to see what I can do
to help you,” said Duncan. “I am excited to learn all parts of the CFO position
from beginning to end. I’m very excited to be here and to work with all of
you.”
Sheridan Health Clinic
Superintendent Sandos shared a news clip from Channel 4 that spotlighted the support
Sheridan students receive with health-related needs through the district’s
ongoing relationship with the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical School
and the School of Nursing.
Notes:
- Sheridan
board members are planning to attend the Colorado Association of School
Boards convention in early December.
- Student
count is down, from 1,425 during the 2018-2019 school year to 1,362 during
the current (2019-2020) school year. Superintendent Sandos said the reduction
will prompt immediate budget tightening this year and could lead to staff
reductions next year unless the enrollment grows. Superintendent Sandos
thanked executive secretary Polly Plancarte and data specialist Stephanie
Wright for their hard work on the student count process.
- The
Sheridan Board of Education will not hold a second meeting this month due
to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Consent Agenda
All consent agenda items were approved.
About Sheridan School District 2
Located southwest of Denver, Sheridan School District 2
seeks high-level post-secondary options for all students through continuous
improvement of quality instruction. More: www.ssd2.org