St. Vrain Valley Schools will host the 2026 Colorado Education Recruitment Fair (CERF) on Saturday, March 7 from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Frederick High School.
Organized by the Colorado Association of School Personnel Administrators and the Colorado Association of School Executives, CERF is the only statewide consortium recruitment fair in Colorado that connects licensed educator candidates directly with school district hiring officials.
The event provides aspiring and experienced educators with face-to-face opportunities to speak with hiring teams from across the state. More than 57 Colorado school districts are expected to participate.
CERF is open to:
Licensed educator candidates
Special service providers
School leaders and administrators
Educators seeking opportunities in Colorado school districts
St. Vrain Valley Schools high school students and families are invited to attend the Opportunity CLIMB and Boulder Chamber Technology Industry Family Night, an engaging evening designed to connect students with professionals and explore the rapidly evolving world of technology careers.
Hosted in partnership with the Boulder Chamber, this event provides a unique opportunity to learn directly from industry experts about the current climate in technology fields and the expertise and professional skills essential for success in today’s evolving workforce.
Students and families will hear insights on topics including artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, as well as the skills and competencies employers are seeking in today’s tech-driven economy. The event also offers valuable time for networking and personalized conversations – families are encouraged to come with questions and curiosity.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Time: 6:00-8:30 p.m. Location: Kyndryl, 6300 Diagonal Highway, Boulder, CO 80301 Registration: Space is limited. Families can register here.
What to Expect
The evening will feature:
6:00-6:20 p.m. – Networking and opening session
6:20-7:00 p.m. – Panel discussion with technology industry experts
7:00-8:00 p.m. – One-on-one mentor chats with tech professionals
St. Vrain Valley Schools is pleased to host the SMART (Students Modeling A Research Topic) Team Colorado Symposium. This event will bring together high school students, teachers, scientists, and community members from across the nation to celebrate a unique hands-on learning experience.
Through SMART Teams, a program developed by 3D Molecular Designs, students work in small research teams to dive into scientific literature. They read authentic research papers, explore protein structure data, and translate complex molecular information into simplified, accurate 3D-printed models. “Presenting at a symposium allows students to truly shine as scholars and to engage with other young scientists in an authentic research setting,” said Chris Chou, science teacher at Longmont High School. “Many of our former SMART Team students who are now in college share their reflections on how transformative this experience was in shaping their confidence, scientific thinking, and communication skills,” she shares.
The symposium serves as the capstone to their journey. St. Vrain students and teams from other states will present their projects, sharing not only their models but the scientific reasoning and collaboration behind them. Attendees can expect to see students confidently explaining complex biomedical concepts, engaging in thoughtful conversations with scientists, and demonstrating communication skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Innovation Center, 33 Quail Rd, Longmont, CO 80501
Earlier this month, students at Centennial Elementary took part in Unified Basketball, an opportunity designed to bring athletes with special needs and their peers together through sport.
A group of students warm up for their Unified Basketball game.
The Unified Sports program at Centennial began during the 2022-23 school year under the leadership of Special Education teacher Amanda Krell, and with the support of a dedicated team of paraprofessionals and student families. The program continues to expand, committed to the school’s focus on inclusive, student-centered opportunities. Throughout the year, local partners such as the Firestone Police Department regularly participate in games with students.
A Centennial Elementary student shoots the ball during Unified Basketball.
“Unified Sports gives our students a space where everyone belongs, and where differences are not just accepted, but celebrated,” said Sarah Coniglio, the Dean of Students at Centennial Elementary. The Unified Basketball teams include student-athletes with a wide range of needs, paired with third- through fifth-grade partners who apply to participate by writing essays about their interest in the program. Teams are formed to balance skills, personalities, and support needs, allowing students to learn cooperation, communication, and sportsmanship in real time. “When students are learning something like a bounce pass, they’re also learning how to take turns, follow sequences, and interact with peers in ways that carry over to the classroom,” said Coniglio.
Students at Centennial Elementary participate in a Unified Basketball game.
The impact of Unified Basketball extends beyond the teams themselves, shaping the culture of the entire school. Teachers and staff rally behind the athletes by wearing Unified gear and building excitement leading up to game days, while classmates and families fill the stands to cheer athletes on. “You see compassion, empathy, and genuine joy from students who are proud to support each other,” Coniglio says.
For Niwot High School senior Dinh Pham, a childhood friendship in Vietnam became the inspiration for innovation. Working at the Innovation Center, he designed and 3D-printed educational tools inspired by his childhood and a close friend who gradually lost his vision to cataracts, which limited their time playing games together.
“I still wanted to play with him, so I tried to make a tactile version of the board game we used to play,” Pham said.
Using skills developed through the Innovation Center, Pham created tactile board games, custom maps of Vietnam, braille training cells and anatomy models. The tools were distributed to 11 schools for the blind in Vietnam through a nonprofit organization that supports more than 750 students.
That early experience eventually evolved into a more advanced design project supported by the Innovation Center. Pham used the equipment and workspace at the Innovation Center to design, test and refine each model.
Many of the tools were created to improve accessibility and reduce the physical effort required by traditional braille learning methods.
Pham also designed accessible versions of traditional Vietnamese board games to encourage collaboration and social interaction. Game pieces feature engraved animal silhouettes and braille labels, allowing students to identify pieces through touch.
Throughout the design process, Pham refined the models based on feedback from the nonprofit organization. Representatives visited the Innovation Center to test the tools and provide recommendations, leading to additional improvements.
Axel Reitzig, Executive Director of Innovation at the Innovation Center, said the project reflects St. Vrain’s approach to student learning.
“We want students to develop skills, gain access to resources and then tap into a passion that’s in service to others,” Reitzig said. “This project is a powerful example of what happens when students are given agency and support.”
He said the Innovation Center is designed to give students both independence and guidance as they pursue real-world projects.
“We want students to have full agency and to be the captains of their ship,” Reitzig said.
Pham credited the Innovation Center’s equipment, workspace and support as essential to completing the project and turning an idea into a finished product.
Through projects like this, St. Vrain continues to support student innovation, creativity and service, empowering learners to apply their skills beyond the classroom and make a meaningful difference in their communities and the world.
Dr. Jackie Kapushion officially became St. Vrain Valley Schools’ new superintendent on July 1, 2025 after serving as Deputy Superintendent for the past eight years. We sat down with Dr. Kapushion to learn more about her journey, her passion for education, and her vision for our district’s future.
One of the most frequent questions children get asked is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Their faces light up with wonder as they imagine a future without limitations. After a moment’s thought, they excitedly share answers ranging from impactful careers like a teacher, first responder, or doctor, to more imaginative ones like a superhero or fairy. These aspirations take shape through the community and experiences that surround them. At home, they see skills in action like an older brother repairing cars or a parent leading a meeting, and start to picture where their own path might lead. At school, an inspirational art teacher encourages them to explore their creativity, or a field trip to the Innovation Center sparks an interest in computer science. Regardless of the destination, many programs can guide a student towards their future career or passion.
As the grand finale of St. Vrain’s districtwide Band Night begins, hundreds of high school musicians take to the stadium field after two hours of individual performances. Thousands of spectators cheer as the percussion, brass, and woodwind musicians from more than ten schools unite in a single soaring sound – a powerful showcase of the scale, creativity, and community engagement that have earned St. Vrain Valley Schools national recognition in music education.
When thinking back to grade school, the idea of “firsts” often brings to mind a familiar scene from the first day of a new year: a carefully chosen outfit, a backpack stuffed with supplies, and a rush of excitement whilst finding your seat, eagerly waiting for the day to begin. These memories evoke a special kind of nostalgia, blending anticipation and possibility that signal the start of something new. But the “firsts” that truly stay with us echo far longer than the first bell of a new school year.
It’s a Monday evening at Frederick High School’s library, and as families filter in to find seats, a group of students gather beneath the projector screen. The title slide clicks into place: “What We Want Everyone to Know About Dyslexia.” Over the course of the evening, these students dispel myths and misconceptions about dyslexia, share their own journeys, and empower families in the community with practical tools and resources.
