Bas Wolf Junior Achievement Educator of the Year

Bas Wolf Named Junior Achievement Educator of the Year
Posted on 10/02/2023

Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain (JA) is proud to name Bas Wolf as its 2023 JA Educator of the Year. Bas, who taught English for his first 17 years in the classroom, is entering his ninth year leading the Alternative Cooperation Education (ACE) program at Highlands Ranch High School. 

Back in 2014, Bas was still teaching English. The school year was underway in Highlands Ranch, and all signs pointed to a typical fall semester. Then tragedy struck.

Joe Chandler, the school’s ACE teacher since its inception in 2007, passed away suddenly at the age of 46 in mid-October over fall break. Bas, who was a friend of Joe’s, saw first-hand the impact his death had on students. 

“The kids absolutely adored him,” said Bas. “He was a father figure. I had a couple of his students in my class and saw how much they were hurting.” 

Bas knew he had to do something. So following Thanksgiving, he left the English department and took over the ACE program. Joe had incorporated JA’s curriculum in the classroom, and Bas saw the benefits almost immediately. 

“Junior Achievement was a bridge from the program under Mr. Chandler to the program under me. It provided continuity, and it helped save the program and save the kids” said Bas.

Bas, who was raised in a small town and went to smaller schools growing up, never had hands-on experience with financial literacy or entrepreneurship lessons during his education. 

“There was no real-life stuff when I was in high school – that’s why Junior Achievement is so important to have in my classroom,” said Bas. “It’s a way to give kids access to learning actual skills they will need in the real world. They aren’t getting that in any of their other classes, and JA provides an opportunity to provide programs to build those skills.”

As someone who has been teaching for the last 25-plus years, Bas knows how challenging it can be to find these hands-on programs that teach students about planning their future.

“You can’t get this [JA] anywhere else,” said Bas. “Junior Achievement formalizes their programs into direct instruction, practical application. As an educator, you can take broad concepts and dial them into the curriculum, and build something that is directly applicable to the classroom today.”

Since taking over the ACE program at HRHS, Bas has implemented 53 JA programs into his curriculum. Just this past school year, five of his classes participated in both the JA Stock Market Challenge and JA Take Stock in Your Future. 

One of Bas’s favorite memories came from the JA Stock Market Challenge. One of his student teams came in first place, and because of the experience, one of the team members was motivated to get his real estate license while still in high school. The student is now attending the University of Kansas studying finance, and he has already started his own company.

“The JA Stock Market Challenge enticed him down the road of finance,” said Bas. “Because of that success, he applied that to his career choices and has excelled in the world of finance. I absolutely attribute that to what Junior Achievement gave to him and our program.”

Bas may have never planned to be teaching an ACE program when he chose to become an educator, but they say everything happens for a reason. He has embraced the opportunities JA has given his students and knows how much of an impact the programs have had on them both in and out of the classroom. 

“There are so many offerings within JA that you can find and implement into your curriculum,” shared Bas. “It lets kids build transferable skills for any job they want to have and helps them imagine themselves in different careers. It should be in every classroom.”

https://www.jacolorado.org/2023/08/07/ja-honors-bas-wolf-as-2023-educator-of-the-year/

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.

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 ).