Certified Employee Winner

2021-22 Certified Employee of the Year: 

Nicole Diaz, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Arapahoe Ridge Elementary

Nicole is an early childhood special education teacher at Arapahoe Ridge in a program for students with significant autism. She works tirelessly each and every day to create a space for students who have some of the most significant learning challenges to successfully engage, participate, and learn. For example, when Nicole sees that a child in her classroom has trouble learning to engage with another student she will create visuals for the student, train peers on how to initiate and respond with the student, and also train general education staff on how to encourage play and participation with the student. 

Nicole is the embodiment of our district strength, empower. She has empowered many throughout her career in the Five Star district, including staff members. NIcole has worked with countless paraprofessionals who have gone on to become classroom teachers because of what they learned from her. She has set up documents and videos to train her paraprofessionals and takes time out of her planning time to train the staff she works with. Nicole wants to ensure that each and every staff member knows the best ways to support the students in her classroom and will teach the staff in her room, regardless of the time it may take. 

Nicole has shown great patience, kindness, and love for all children she has worked with - including those who are not in her classroom. She makes friendships with all the kids and educates them in understanding that children with special needs are still learning to play and be social. Nicole creates a trusting relationship with all students even outside of her own class.