Westview Middle School Band Director Receives Prestigious Award

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Carrie Proctor, band director at Westview Middle School, has received the Outstanding Young Educator Award from the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA). The award honors educators who are in their first five years of teaching, have shown significant proficiency in the classroom and have garnered respect in their school community. The award recognizes notable commitment to the art of teaching as well as a demonstrated ability to achieve excellence.

Proctor, who is in her third year at Westview, inspires students to take part in music and fosters an enthusiastic classroom. “Carrie has the ability to create really strong relationships with students and families,” says Westview Middle School Principal, Mark Spencer. “She has been able to create a band classroom where kids are having fun and love to be there, and she’s creating musical excellence.” 

After student teaching for a semester, Proctor was selected to be Westview’s band director ahead of a long list of qualified candidates. A University of Colorado Boulder graduate, Proctor received her Bachelor of Music Education in 2019 and performed with the Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, CU Athletic Bands, and the Golden Buffalo Marching Band. She is also a member of the National Association of Music Educators, the Colorado Bandmasters Association, and performs as a member of the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project. During a joint performance with Lyons Middle Senior High School’s band at Planet Bluegrass in December, it was announced that Proctor had been selected for the award and she received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Proctor will be recognized at the CMEA opening session on January 27 at 8:15 a.m.

Support for families impacted by wildfires

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Dear St. Vrain Valley Schools Families,

Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by the catastrophic and unprecedented wildfires that tore through Boulder County yesterday. Many are experiencing unimaginable loss and we are here to support you.

Towards this end, we have been in contact with Boulder County to see if there is anything we can do to assist. We have provided school buses for transporting families to shelter locations, and we will continue to communicate with various groups to offer assistance.

If you have been impacted by yesterday’s tragic events, please feel free to reach out to me directly. You may also reach out to Kerri McDermid in our Communications Office to be connected with resources and support ([email protected] or call 303-702-7511).

If you have not been directly impacted but would like to volunteer or donate, please visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website at boulderoem.com/emergency-status.

I know that this is a very difficult time for many and we will work to support you in any way possible. Take care, and my thoughts and best wishes are with all of you.

Sincerely,
Don Haddad,Ed.D.
Superintendent

Public Education, Our Greatest Investment

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Public education is America’s most significant investment and – second only to parenting – is the greatest contributor to the future of our world. The quality of our schools impacts and strengthens our economy, public health and safety, national security, the quality of our service industry, residential and business property values, public health, our democracy, and so much more.

Read the Full Story on the Magazine Website

“Education is Life Itself”

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In March 2020, days before we were required to close our schools to in-person learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Vrain Valley Schools hosted a series of focus groups to engage our families, students, teachers, staff, and other community members in the question, ‘What is the purpose of public education?’ Through these conversations, many clear priorities and values for our system came forward.

Read the Full Story on the Magazine Website

P-TEACH paves the way for a new generation of educators

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Pathways to Teaching, or P-TEACH, is paving the way for a new generation of educators in the St. Vrain Valley School District.

Open to students and paraprofessionals in the district, P-TEACH provides college credit through University of Colorado-Denver, or CU Denver, and Front Range Community College, concurrent with their high school track in SVVSD. The program focuses on early childhood education experience, as well as bilingual teaching, special education and STEM pathways. 

Starting in 2017, P-TEACH Coordinator and Instructor Wendy Howerstein said early recruitment was a struggle as the district coordinated with high school counselors and education staff to bring in interested students. The first semester it was offered, Howerstein said there were nearly 30 students participating.

Read the full story in the Longmont Leader

Skyline High School musicians make a full return to the tomorrow for the Winter Gala

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A two-year, pandemic-related break sets the stage for more than 250 students in Skyline’s performing arts department to showcase their talents. According to Dr. Ingrid Larragoity-Martin, music teacher at Skyline High School’s Visual Performing Arts Academy, the showcase will feature performances from the choirs and orchestras, along with Skyline High School’s mariachi band.

“All of it is a highlight since it’s our first Winter Gala since 2019,” Larragoity-Martin said. “We’re excited to have everyone come and celebrate music and our community.”

Held in the auditorium at Skyline High School, the Winter Gala is free and open to the public tomorrow night. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with snacks and a student jazz combo performance in the school commons before the Gala gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

Read the full story in the Longmont Leader
St. Vrain Valley Schools