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Celebrating the 2022-23 School Year

Celebrating the 2022-23 School Year
Posted on 05/25/2023

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May 25, 2023

Dear DCSD Families,

Today marked the last day of the 2022-2023 school year for most of our students. It truly felt like this school year flew by yet so much was accomplished and there is so much to celebrate. Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the amazing accomplishments of our students, staff and schools over the past year. Here is a quick video message recapping our school year and wishing you our students, staff and families a relaxing summer break. And, below are more celebrations, awards and accolades. 


END-OF-YEAR VIDEO

Celebrating the Class of 2023

I, along with Board of Education directors and members of my Cabinet, have had the privilege of celebrating the Class of 2023 at graduation ceremonies over the past couple of weeks (and there is still one more graduation to come in June). It is always a true honor to attend the commencement ceremonies at our high schools and hear the amazing things our students have planned for their future. We have graduates who are going on to college, directly entering the workforce, serving in the military, or taking a gap year to travel and see the world. The DCSD Class of 2023 has earned nearly $118 million in scholarships! See some of our Outstanding Graduate profiles, as well as individual scholarship recipients on our website at www.dcsdk12.org/graduation.  

Awards and Accolades

Below are just some of the amazing awards and accolades that our students, staff and schools made possible during this school year. 

  • 17 of our schools received the 2022 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).
  •  28 of our schools received the 2022 John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award from CDE.
  • Rock Canyon High School received the High School Academic Growth Award from CDE.
  • DCSD received the Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in budget presentation from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO).
  • Cimarron Middle School Counselor Jill Bull received the national LifeChanger of the Year Award. 
  • Highlands Ranch High School principal Dr. Chris Page was named Colorado High School Principal of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Executives.
  • Castle Rock Middle School teacher Rocio Meli was named a finalist for 2023 Colorado Teacher of the Year.
  • DCSD’s Kelli Mueller was named a finalist for the Colorado Association of School Nurses’ 2022 School Nurse of the Year Award.
  • Northeast Elementary was recognized by Solution Tree as a Model Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work®  for its sustained success in raising student achievement. 
  • Sagewood Middle School received the 2022 Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation from the American School Counselor Association.
  • Coach Tim Ottmann from Ponderosa High School and Highlands Ranch High School basketball standout Ann Strother Abromaitis were inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame.
  • Delceter Goosby, Kitchen Manager at Legend High School received the Apple Award for Department Employee of the Year.
  • Stephanie Weber, Educational Assistant IV-Severe Needs and Assistant Principal at ThunderRidge High School received the Apple Award for Classified Employee of the Year.
  • Erin Bidwell, Fifth-Grade Teacher at Platte River Academy received the Apple Award for Elementary Educator of the Year.
  • Erin Gilbert, Professional Learning Specialist, Gifted & Talented Coordinator and IB Coordinator at Mesa Middle School received the Apple Award for Secondary Educator of the Year.
  • Michelle Franci, Principal at Stone Mountain Elementary received the Apple Award for Administrator of the Year.

 

Career Technical Education Programs Expansion

The Douglas County School District continues to grow its career and technical education program - which provides students additional pathways to success after high school. Our school district currently offers 52 career and technical education programs and 22 industry certifications. In the 2023-2024 school year DCSD will offer 14,229 career and technical education seats to students – the highest number to-date. Students can access CTE courses at high schools across our county and at the new DCSD Legacy Campus. Visit our website to see a full course listing. 

New Schools and Programs

Thanks to support from the 2018 bond that was approved by Douglas County residents, next year we will officially open the DCSD Legacy Campus for CTE programming, as well as our newest high school VALE (Venture Academy of Leadership and Entrepreneurship).

Last, but absolutely not least, thank you to the amazing employees who are retiring from DCSD at the end of this school year. We sincerely thank them for their service and for all they have done for the 63,000 students in our school district. 

We hope you are able to unwind and recharge over the summer break and we look forward to having our students and staff back in August. 

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our students. 

Sincerely,

Erin Kane

Superintendent

Douglas County School District


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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).