Though we are not together this spring, we still have incredible employees to celebrate! We continue to ELEVATE student success, in school or at home, by recognizing the great work all our employees do each day for our students. Adams 12 Five Star Schools, in partnership with the District Twelve Educators Association (DTEA) and the Classified School Employees' Association (CSEA), announce the employees of the year for the Five Star District! We are proud of every employee in our community and excited to announce those who colleagues have designated as going above and beyond for student success - in the classroom or from a distance.

From teachers to custodians, principals to counselors, the many different roles and responsibilities of Five Star employees ELEVATE student success in every classroom, every day

Nominations

All district employees were invited to nominate colleagues at will. Nominations involved answering questions regarding how the nominee fulfills our mission and vision, and goes above and beyond to ELEVATE student success. To determine winners, each award category had a separate committee made up of staff from various roles to decide on the finalists and winners. Winners receive recognition online and a future in-person date (depending on COVID-19 restrictions).  

• Classified: Operational staff such as office staff, custodians, nutritional services, etc.
• Certified: Staff who are licensed in their field such as teachers and counselors, etc. 
• Administration: School and district leadership such as principals and district staff, etc. 
• Substitutes: Classified and Certified substitutes (guest teachers) across the district
• Diversity and Equity Award: A staff members who provides exceptional leadership and outstanding commitment to the advancement of excellence through diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Read more here.
• Strengths in Action Award: Employees, family or community members who exemplify one of our ELEVATE strengths in an extraordinary way: care, collaboration, empower, engage or focus on students. 
• Volunteers of the Year: A volunteer at the school or district level.

Strengths in Action Award

Week of May 18

The “Strengths in Action” award recognizes a Five Star employee, family or community member who exemplifies one of our ELEVATE strengths in an extraordinary way: care, collaboration, empower, engage or focus on students.

 

Read why each awardee won!

Nominees: Kathy Blackmon, Bollman Karla Bustamante, North Star Elementary Susi Davis, Bollman Brandon Duskey, Shadow Ridge Alice Efendic, Transportation Christopher Fee, Stargate School Julia Franklin, McElwain Traci Haake, Federal Heights Tiffany Hansen, Mountain Range Independence Academy Staff Allie Jorgenson, Prairie Hills K-3 & Special Education Teams, Coronado Hills Chad Kessler, Information Technology Learning Services Troy Lohmeyer, Mountain Range Dana Lott, Digital Literacy

Ashley Martin, Mountain Range Marie McKenzie, Meridian Lori Meadows, Northglenn High Shawn Montoya, Malley Drive Darren Oliver, Silver Creek Shannon Oliver, Energy & Sustainability Manager Donalee Ortega, Coronado Hills Elementary Bill Ryszkowski, Stellar Mark Sass, Legacy High School Ian Simpson, Mountain Range Megan Small, Guest Teacher Michael Stelling, Northglenn High STEM Lab Kitchen Staff Transportation Services Jane Wagner, Prairie Hills Cathy Zensen, Stellar