A Legacy of Love and Learning: Honoring Carol L’Orange

Years after Carol L’Orange retired from teaching first grade at Superior Elementary, a former student spotted her in the aisles of King Soopers. Now a teenager, he approached hesitantly. “Ms. L’Orange, do you remember me?” he asked. Carol smiled and assured him she did. Their conversation was heartfelt and full of gratitude—a small moment that encapsulated the profound, lifelong impact she had on her students.

Even in retirement, Carol continued to encounter students and parents who credited her with transforming their lives. Her husband, Hans L’Orange, recalls one encounter in particular: A mother and her son approached her and shared how much her belief in him had meant. “Everyone else in preschool and kindergarten said he was a throwaway,” the mother said. “But you believed in him and worked with him. I wanted you to know that he finished high school, and now he’s attending Front Range Community College. We weren’t sure that would happen until he ended up in your class.”

Stories like these are why Hans has chosen to honor Carol’s memory through an annual donation to Impact on Education, the foundation supporting Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). Since her passing in 2017, Hans, now living in his homeland of Hawaii, has made it his mission to continue Carol’s work by funding opportunities for teachers and students in BVSD.

“Part of who Carol was can still live on,” Hans said. “She believed in every child, and she worked tirelessly to give them the confidence and skills they needed to succeed.”

Carol’s passion for teaching was evident in everything she did. From ensuring every student was reading at grade level by year’s end to creating unique lessons like baking cookies to teach fractions and teamwork, she infused joy and innovation into her classroom. “Some parents would complain about the cookies,” Hans said with a laugh. “But Carol would explain, ‘They’re learning math, science and how to work together—and they’re getting a reward.’”

Carol’s classroom was also a space of mutual respect. During the first two weeks of every school year, she focused on building an environment where her students—always addressed as “Miss” and “Mister”—learned to collaborate and thrive together. “A frequent start of the year joke would have other teachers saying, ‘Carol always gets the easy class,’” Hans said. “But she didn’t. She created a classroom that was easy because she spent time building respect and trust.”

Hans’s dedication to education also stems from his own career in public higher-education policy, where he focused on creating equitable opportunities for students across the country.

By donating to Impact on Education, Hans is ensuring that BVSD students and teachers can continue to benefit from the kind of meaningful learning experiences Carol championed. “Carol didn’t love being the center of attention,” Hans said. “She would want the focus to be on the kids and the opportunities they’ve been given.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

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