Impact on Education welcomes three new board members

We’re proud to announce the addition of three new members to our Board of Directors: Brook Brockett, a Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) alum and youth advocate; Polly Fields, a philanthropic leader and community organizer; and Natasha Wright, executive director of Chai for Charity. The new members, who began their service in spring 2025, bring a range of experience in nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and community engagement that will support our growth and advance our mission.

Please join us in welcoming our new members and thanking those who are rolling off. Thank you to Ann Cooper, Carly Hare, and Carlos Pacheco for their combined 18 years of service on our board.

Introducing our new board members

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Boulder Valley’s Class of 2025 scholarship winners

For Boulder High graduate Yaretsi Diaz, last month’s graduation ceremony represented more than personal achievement — it marked the beginning of her future as a community advocate. A bilingual Latina passionate about mental health, she has a clear goal in mind: to one day help families like hers get the care they need.

This fall, Yaretsi plans to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, where she’ll study psychology and business. Eventually, she wants to open a mental health practice serving Latino children. 

“Seeing how Latino families hesitate to [take part] in certain things due to their lack of understanding English, being a bilingual person, I want to be the help that they need.”

Thanks to her hard work and support from the Jeff Howenstein Panther Scholarship, Yaretsi is on track to achieve her dream. 

“I not only want to make my dad proud the way he has made me proud, but I want to be an example for other Hispanic children out there, showing them that they can be whatever they put their mind to,” Yaretsi shared.

This year, we invested $89,210 in talented students like Yaretsi — $37,210 in new scholarships for graduating seniors and $52,000 in renewed support for alumni. These renewable awards mean we’ll invest up to $108,000 in the Class of 2025 scholars over the next two to four years. These scholarships support students pursuing four-year college, community college, and technical training programs.

Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!

2025 scholarship recipients

Houston Scholarship

This $10,000 scholarship celebrates exemplary Boulder Valley students who excel in school and help support their loved ones financially. Renewable for up to four years, this scholarship opens doors to higher education for those facing financial hurdles.

Alexandra Jacobo, Boulder High

Alexandra intends to study business at the University of Colorado Boulder

“Receiving this scholarship [will] not only help myself, but it [will] allow me to help others in my community by mentoring them to create their own businesses. I want to inspire others to continue their education despite hardships and financial barriers.”

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Earl & Barbara Bolton Scholarship

This $5,000 scholarship supports a student who plans to pursue a career in engineering, forestry, nursing, or the sciences, and can be renewed for up to four years.

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Dennie & Donna Wise Scholarship

These $1,000 scholarships are awarded to Boulder Valley students pursuing vocational, technical, or community college education. They are renewable for up to two years. 

Erika Valdez, Centaurus High

Erika plans to pursue cosmetologist at Emily Griffith Technical College

“I am eager to create an all inclusive space where I will take every aspect on beauty [into] account. I am genuinely excited to start my journey in cosmetology, with the goal of establishing my own salon and mastering being a cosmetologist.”

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Jeff Howenstein Panther Scholarship

The Jeff Howenstein Panther Scholarship honors former Boulder High AVID teacher Jeff Howenstein. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program and is renewable for up to four years. 

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Gould Scholarship

The $2,500 Gould Scholarship is a one-time scholarship awarded to a student graduating from Boulder High who is studying education.

Jenifer Martinez, Boulder High

Jenifer plans to attend CU Boulder to study elementary education

“My future career is elementary education because I want to work with children and help shape their future through education. I desire to make a difference to positively impact young lives and contribute to the community.”

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Smyth Scholarship

The Smyth Scholarship is a one-time, $5,710 scholarship awarded to a student selected by the Boulder High Counseling team who demonstrates academic excellence and financial need. 

Amitabha Jamyangling-Kawaguchi, Boulder High

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Panther Pride Excellence in Leadership Scholarship

This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a Boulder High School student who demonstrates leadership excellence.

Isla Jones, Boulder High

Our scholarships support bright Boulder Valley students who are committed to bettering themselves and their communities. With support from generous donors like you, we help ensure that financial circumstances don’t limit what these talented students can achieve.

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Centaurus senior Addisu: Future affordable housing engineer

The Earl and Barbara Bolton Scholarship recipient will attend University of Colorado at Boulder next year.

“If you look back at history, you see how homeownership was out of reach for many communities, especially Black families. That affected our ability to build wealth and pass it on,” he said. “I want to help change that, so families don’t just survive but get a real chance to grow and thrive.”

“I want to create solutions that give people a better shot at stability and at building generational wealth.”

A scholarship’s impact

Receiving the Earl and Barbara Bolton Scholarship through Impact on Education has brought that future closer. 

“When I saw the email, I thought it was another interview,” Addisu recalled. “Then I saw the word ‘Congratulations,’ and my mind just blew up. I rushed home to tell my mom and said, ‘I got a scholarship!’ Even my dog was jumping up and down. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”

For Addisu, the financial support matters, but so does the vote of confidence.

“Receiving this scholarship means other people believe in me. That’s the biggest part,” he said. “It reassures me that I’m on the right path.”

The Earl and Barbara Bolton Scholarship is one of several awards Impact on Education grants each year to Boulder Valley School District graduates. The Boltons — a Boulder-born couple who shared a love for education, aviation, and service — left a bequest to Impact on Education that now supports students like Addisu. The $5,000 scholarship is renewable for up to four years, for a total of $20,000.

“Receiving this scholarship means other people believe in me. That’s the biggest part… It reassures me that I’m on the right path.”

Ready for a fresh start

Addisu is most excited about starting college life and meeting new people. “When I was younger, it was hard for me socially,” he said. “I didn’t speak the language when I first got here, and there was no one to translate. By the end of 8th grade, I caught up thanks to the support from my parents and teachers. At college, no one will know my background. I’m looking forward to the fresh start.”

That mix of resilience and optimism is part of what makes Addisu’s journey so compelling. Whether he’s researching 3D-printed concrete homes or thinking deeply about the importance of staying close to his family, he brings both heart and purpose to his goals. Being able to attend CU Boulder lets him do both: pursue an innovative career in architectural engineering and remain near the people who raised him.

“I want to stay close to my parents. But I also want to grow and give back,” he said. “This scholarship is helping me do both.”

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

32nd Impact Awards recognize excellent educators across Boulder Valley

Yesterday, nearly 500 educators, administrators, and community members attended our 32nd annual Impact Awards. We honored 58 educators from across the Boulder Valley School District for their exceptional impact on students and their education. In addition, we presented two special awards — the Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award and the Imogene Maxon Early Educator Award.

Check out photos from the event

Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Elizabeth Evans, Music/Theater Director

Nederland Middle-Senior High School

Thank you to the Boulder TEC students who produced this video!

As a former student in the Boulder Valley School District, Elizabeth Evans has deep roots in our local education system, spanning most of her life. She began her impressive teaching career in 1985 at Nederland Middle-Senior High School and has been inspiring students there ever since. A firm believer in the power of the arts, she teaches choir, band, theater, and film literature courses. 

To students, she’s known for building a safe and loving creative community. To parents, she’s recognized as someone who goes above and beyond to give kids exceptional experiences, like a choir performance at Carnegie Hall last year. And to school leadership, she’s regarded as the epitome of dedication and commitment. Elizabeth Evans is a one-of-a-kind educator who inspires her students to take risks, believe in themselves, and find their unique voices through art. 

Please join us in thanking Elizabeth for 40 years of service to students and our public schools.

Imogene Maxon Early Educator Award winner
Shannon Boyle, Special Education Teacher

Alicia Sanchez Elementary

Shannon is a special education teacher at Alicia Sanchez Elementary who has made a memorable impact on the Boulder Valley School District in just two years. With a gift for connection, Shannon creates a classroom environment where every child is seen. Each morning begins with personal greetings, and each day is filled with meaningful conversations that make every child feel valued and understood.

Drawing from her background in enrichment teaching, Shannon infuses creativity into her work to expand the standard curriculum. Her classroom is often twinkling with patches of glitter, showing how she happily embraces the sometimes messy journey of learning. Her students build critical social-emotional skills and a love for learning at a young age, thanks to her dynamic teaching style.

But what makes Shannon truly exceptional is her remarkable ability to meet each of her students exactly where they are. Whether she’s engaging a precocious 5-year-old in deeper conversations about their interests or adapting activities for a neurodiverse learner, her approach is always personalized and compassionate. She’s a fearless champion for her students, advocating tirelessly for their unique needs with a level of dedication that inspires everyone around her.

2025 Impact Award honorees

Educators from schools across the Boulder Valley School District were nominated by their principals and honored at the Impact Awards.

Join us in congratulating and celebrating these everyday education superheroes! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the award ceremony, and to the generous sponsors who made the event possible: Premier Members Credit Union, the Boulder Valley Education Association, Google, Comcast, and the Daily Camera.

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

7 must-read books: Recommendations from a librarian

When students open a book, Shoshannah Turgel, the teacher-librarian at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, wants them to find more than just a good story.

“A great book can be a mirror that reflects your own identity, a window into someone else’s life, or a door that opens to a new experience,” she said, referencing a concept popularized by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. 

“These books are current and compelling,” she said. “When students see themselves, they get excited to read.”

In honor of National Library Week (April 6-12),  Shoshannah recommended seven books for young adult and adult readers.

“A great book can be a mirror that reflects your own identity, a window into someone else’s life, or a door that opens to a new experience.”

Recommended reads for National Library Week

1. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

True Crime Narrative Nonfiction | Young Adult to Adult

In The 57 Bus, two teenagers are involved in a crime on the 57 Bus in Oakland, CA. Incredibly researched and written, this true crime book is professional journalism at its best. The author is an award-winning journalist, and masterfully represents all sides in complex situations revolving around sensitive topics.

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2. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

Realistic Fiction | Middle Grade to Adult

Maudie is a neurodivergent teenager whose parents are divorced. Her dad loses his home in a CA wildfire, and Maudie spends her summer with him, learning many things, including how to surf and advocate for herself. This book is an amazing coming-of-age narrative. Sally J. Pla is a neurodivergent author, so this is an “own-voice” text.

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3. Go As a River by Shelley Read

Historical Fiction | Adult

Set in 1950s Colorado, Go As a River follows seventeen-year-old Victoria Nash on a journey through love, loss, and self-discovery. Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola, this powerful novel celebrates female resilience and the rugged beauty of our state. Readers will visit Colorado’s rich history, including the damming of the Gunnison River, the role of women in rural communities, and the discrimination faced by Native Americans. This book is a peach!

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4. Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman

Memoir | Young Adult to Adult

Elite runner, coach, and entrepreneur Fleshman shares her personal story and a critical analysis of the world of running, arguing that male-designed best practices often fail women. Fleshman explores the mental health challenges, eating disorders, and injuries that plague many young female runners as their bodies naturally change and they contend with gender-based social pressure. Teens will connect with Fleshman’s evidence-based insights and personal experiences navigating puberty as a young athlete. Adults will appreciate Fleshman’s actionable approach to combating these problems and helping girls succeed. 

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5. Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Historical Fiction | Young Adult to Adult

Junie is an enslaved woman on the Bellereine Plantation in Alabama. Her life changes course when she encounters her sister’s ghost in the woods near her home. Junie is a complex character with a distinct voice and strong values, opinions, and dreams. This story offers a unique narrative and makes a significant contribution to the existing body of literature on the Antebellum South.

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6. Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

Mystery-Thriller | Young Adult

J.B., Ramón, and Trey have two things in common: They’re students at Urban Promise Prep, a prestigious public charter school in Washington D.C., and they’re suspects in the murder of beloved school founder and principal, Mr. Moore. This book is a fast-paced, multiple first-person point-of-view mystery-thriller about racism, corruption, and learning to do the right thing. 

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7. Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta

Realistic Fiction | Young Adult

Life is complicated for high school seniors Belén and Leti. Belén is struggling to graduate high school and make her mom proud. Her father abandons their family, leaving Belén and her mother heartbroken. Leti is an AP scholar, Berkeley-bound, and pregnant. Together, they hold each other up in this coming-of-age story about hardship, resilience, and learning to be your best self. 

Bringing stories to life for students

“When students see an author who shares their culture or story, it is incredibly powerful… And when it is not their own experience, it still expands their worldview.”

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Opening doors to college: Helping students earn credit early

A record number of Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) students are earning college credit while still in high school, often at no cost to their families. Through concurrent enrollment, students can take college courses while still enrolled in high school, allowing them to graduate with college credit and save significantly on tuition. BVSD students have taken 5,500 college course sections this year, an 85% increase from last year.

But for some students, hidden costs can stand in the way of accessing concurrent enrollment.

The cost of “free” college credit

While the state covers most concurrent tuition, students often need to pay fees for colleges to officially recognize their credits. There are also placement exam costs that allow students to skip required college courses. For families going through a financial rough patch, or those who simply didn’t plan for these costs, a few hundred dollars can feel out of reach. That’s where Impact on Education helps.

We committed $100,000 this year to help BVSD students pay for things like transcript processing, placement tests, and material fees, helping them earn college credits or industry certifications. Seeing a clear need, we quadrupled our investment over the previous year. In only one semester this year, 298 students have benefitted, exceeding last year’s total.

One of those students is Michelle Arciniega, a Boulder High School graduate and first-generation college student who is now studying at Front Range Community College (FRCC). While still in high school, Michelle took a personal finance course at FRCC, earning college credit. That course also gave her valuable experience with the rigors of higher education-level coursework.

“My college work was online and asynchronous,” said Michelle. “I learned how to manage my time and get my assignments done without a lot of guidance. Once I actually enrolled in college, I felt better prepared than a lot of my peers.”

Besides concurrent enrollment, Michelle also participated in Impact on Education’s Career Readiness Academy, where she built her first resume, practiced interviewing, and explored future careers. 

“I wouldn’t have had access to these opportunities without support,” Michelle said. “It really helped me understand how college works and what I want to do with my life.”

A smart investment in students and the state

Colorado has the highest number of residents with some college education. However, the state struggles to increase college enrollment, especially among students of color. Colorado trailed the national average in college enrollment by more than 10 percentage points in 2021.

Concurrent enrollment is one way to close that gap. By helping families cover the extra costs, Impact on Education is making sure more students can participate in these life-changing opportunities.

“I want to be a support teacher someday,” Michelle said. “I got so much help growing up, and now I want to do the same for others. That’s what college means to me. It’s a way to thank my parents and those who have supported me throughout my education journey and create a different life.”

Michelle’s journey shows what’s possible when students have access to early college experiences. Through BVSD’s Grad Plus framework, launched in 2022, students are graduating with more than a diploma. Students build college readiness, job skills and the confidence to navigate life after high school. 83% of the Class of 2024 left high school with work-based learning experience, a seal of biliteracy, industry certification, or college credit.

“I got so much help growing up, and now I want to do the same for others. That’s what college means to me. It’s a way to thank my parents and those who have supported me throughout my education journey and create a different life.”

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Speak up for the future of education

Last week, our team joined thousands of educators, students, and community members at the Capitol for a statewide rally — calling for no more funding cuts to education. 

Colorado legislators are trying to address a more than $1 billion state budget shortfall by taking money from public education yet again. This time by changing how the state funds schools with declining enrollment. They want to use a one-year student headcount instead of our current multi-year averaging method. Student counts determine how much state money flows to our schools. 

The Boulder Valley School District stands to lose nearly $5 million next year under the state budget proposal Governor Polis announced in January. We need your help to take action now.

As any savvy business leader knows, using a one-week snapshot to fund an entire year of expenses is an incredibly challenging way to manage your budget. Averaging over multiple years allows for changes over time when facing difficult fiscal decisions. In an industry like education, where enrollment is constantly changing, accounting for variability is critical. 

Colorado’s public education system is facing a $150 million cut. 

Politicians’ self-serving messaging suggesting that the state is funding “phantom students” masks the harsh realities that our students and teachers would face if funding formulas change. Schools and districts will lose predictability, funds, and time to make good decisions. They’ll be forced to decide things like which teachers to let go or what to trim from student support. 

After years of underfunding (including $340 million withheld from BVSD due to the Budget Stabilization Factor over 15 years), there are no “nice to haves” to trim back; our district will be forced to cut necessary resources and staff to accommodate a $5 million loss.

Getting to a balanced budget is fiscally responsible and legally required, but putting teachers’ jobs and students’ futures on the chopping block isn’t the right way to get there.

Speak up for Boulder Valley educators and students. Tell your state legislators — no more cuts to education. It’s time to fully fund our schools.

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

The magic of words: How a journaling project creates lasting bonds

For a child, there’s something powerful about realizing that someone — outside of their family or teachers — cares about them. Someone who doesn’t have to but does anyway.

That’s what the WISE Journaling Project provides: an unexpected connection built through the simple act of writing.

The program pairs third graders at Whittier Elementary with adult volunteers who exchange letters in a journal throughout the school year. The result? Students develop stronger writing skills and experience the profound impact of forming a relationship through words.

“The children realize that someone, a person they’ve never met before, that just sort of comes out of the ether, cares about them,” said Bobby Brown, a longtime volunteer with the program. “And that relationship isn’t based on grades or expectations; it’s built entirely on goodwill.” 

Over the course of the year, students share about themselves and what they’re learning in school and ask their journaling partner questions. “Typically, the child is very open about their lives,” said Brown. “They like to ask us about our pets and families. It’s a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate love and caring and positively affect the life of a child.”

More than just writing

The WISE Journaling Project was originally started decades ago by Whittier teacher Craig Yager. It was revived in 2014 by third-grade teacher Lisa O’Brien and her colleagues with a grant from the City of Boulder and support from the Rotary Club. Since then, it has continued annually, with various funding sources, including recent support from Impact on Education’s Academic Opportunity Fund Grants, which provided journals for the next three years.

“One of the reasons we started the program was that research has shown that when people write for an authentic audience, their writing quality and quantity improve,” O’Brien said. “Writing is one of the most challenging skills for young students. It requires not only technical ability but also the confidence to share thoughts and ideas.”

That confidence grows with every letter exchanged. Students begin thinking creatively about how to ask meaningful questions,  tell a story, and describe their world to someone new.

A lasting connection

“The program creates a personal relationship between two people who do not know each other and have no context,” Brown said. “The students have to be creative and think about how to use writing to get to know someone.”

Though it improves writing skills, the value of the program goes beyond academics. These letters forge connections that might not otherwise exist. Over time, students and their WISE partners build trust, anticipation, and a sense of belonging. Then, they meet in person for the first time in May at a celebratory tea party. “The excitement on their faces when they finally meet their partners is incredible,” O’Brien said. “It’s a connection they never forget.”

For many students, these journals become treasured keepsakes. Meanwhile, journal partners receive copies of all their letters, a tangible reminder of the relationships they’ve built.

“Many partners continue writing to their students even after the program ends,” O’Brien shared. “It’s a testament to how meaningful this exchange is for both sides.”

Thanks to the support of Impact on Education, this program will continue fostering literacy, connection, and confidence for years to come.

“This grant ensures that our students will continue to benefit from this program for the next three years,” O’Brien said. “The impact goes beyond the classroom. These relationships and the confidence students gain as writers will stay with them long after third grade.”

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

5 ways to protect kids’ mental health and combat racism in the age of social media

For most of us, social media is central to our lives. It’s how we stay connected to friends and family, consume and distribute information, and bond over a shared sense of humor. 

But what happens when memes become a vehicle for hate speech? How do you hold perpetrators accountable and support victims of racially motivated bullying? What are the social and emotional implications for kids who see and share this kind of content? 

These are the themes New York Times bestselling author Dashka Slater explores in “Accountable.” The book spotlights how racism and cyberbullying harm everyone — adults, kids, victims, and offenders alike — with an unflinching look at the true story of how one racist social media account affected a group of teenagers in Albany, California.

Bring a national conversation to a local stage

Students, parents, educators, and community members recently gathered for an in-depth conversation with Slater at Fairview High School. FHS students led an insightful discussion with Slater and a panel of local educators, equity experts, and students. Boulder Valley School District librarians Regina Hoskins, Kim Butler, and Rebecca Kaplan brought this important book and author talk to students with financial support from our mental health grants and the Fairview Parent Organization. 

What you can do to support kids in our community 

Based on what we learned at the event, here are some ways adults can help protect the young people in our lives from the harmful effects of racism and social media.

1. Practice digital mindfulness

Break up hours of doom scrolling or compulsive double-tapping to “heart” whatever posts pop up in your feed to pause and ask yourself, “why am I engaging, or not engaging, with certain content?” If you’re a parent or caregiver, consider creating a family social media plan. Commit to limits and frequent check-ins that the entire family participates in to talk about appropriate online behavior. If you’re an educator, consider incorporating reflection time for your students to write or talk about what they see online and how it makes them feel.

2. Speak up and call a thing, a thing

Social media algorithms prioritize controversial content. One hateful post can garner thousands of views and engagement quickly. While reporting harmful content may not be possible on every platform, or lack the rigorous review parents and youth advocates have called for, naming a behavior and language for what it is, is still important. If we don’t speak up, violent language becomes normalized. History shows us that when there is violent language and disinformation, violent actions follow. Set an example for young people in your life by labeling harmful language as such and calling people in to explain the impact of their words. 

3. Get curious about difference

If we are inquisitive about our differences, instead of fearful, we open the door to deeper connections and richer social and emotional lives. Talk to people who are different from you, explore new places and situations, and read and learn about cultures and communities that are different from the ones you belong to. Encouraging a curious spirit in the kids in your life will help them build community and make friends wherever they go. Studies show that when college students are exposed to diversity, they improve their ability to think critically. With a changing media landscape and the rise of mis and disinformation, critical thinking is a vital skill we all need to navigate the world.  

4. When you mess up, acknowledge, own, repair, and don’t repeat

Demonstrate what accountability looks like as the adult in a room when you speak or act in a way that hurts someone else. First, acknowledge the harm that you caused. Second, own your part as the party responsible for inflicting harm. Third, figure out how to repair the damage. Start by asking the person you hurt what they need and acting based on that information instead of assuming. And last but not least, don’t make the same mistake twice. Changed behavior speaks louder than words. 

5. Prioritize responsibility and repair, don’t play the shame game

Slater encouraged adults who see or hear about racist or cyberbullying incidents, to prioritize the care and emotions of the children who were harmed and speak up right away. Slater explained that while our desire for retribution is understandable, especially when you’re the injured party, an “incarceration mentality” where punishment is the main focus is unlikely to result in long-term change. Public shaming can prompt mental health challenges and put kids at risk of self-harm. To change, children need to believe they aren’t inherently bad because they engage in bad behavior. Encouraging accountability and repair, as opposed to shame, can help kids to accept responsibility for hurtful actions and understand consequences, while also imagining that a kinder version of themselves is possible. 

Help us continue to have these important conversations and rich learning opportunities for both adults and children in our community by making a gift today. This event was made possible thanks to generous gifts from donors like you. 

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Dr. Bianca Gallegos: Elevating bilingualism and championing scholars

“It’s beautiful to be bilingual.”

For Dr. Bianca Gallegos, these words are more than a statement—they’re a call to action. As an Impact on Education board member and as Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships for Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), Gallegos works to ensure that bilingual students are seen, valued and celebrated as scholars.

In a cozy apartment on Chisholm Street in Boulder, Gallegos grew up speaking Spanish with her mother, a native of Xalapa, México. She learned her second language, English, when she began kindergarten in BVSD at Columbine Elementary School.

While many English learners across the country face pressure at school to abandon their heritage language in favor of rapid assimilation, Gallegos’ experience was different thanks to BVSD’s approach to uplifting bilingualism among students. “I feel so lucky to have attended schools that embraced bilingualism,” said Gallegos. “My mom was also such a formative influence in my life. She instilled unwavering confidence in me and always told me, ‘You have the right to an education.’”

Gallegos’ pride in her heritage language ultimately shaped her career path. Although she initially planned to become an immigration lawyer, she discovered a passion for education while volunteering in an afterschool program. She went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Regis University, and a doctoral degree in executive leadership in education from the University of Colorado Denver.

Returning to her roots, Gallegos served as vice principal and later principal at her alma mater, Columbine Elementary, before joining BVSD leadership as Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships. In this role, she leads initiatives that not only celebrate bilingualism but also prepare students for success beyond graduation. Gallegos oversees the implementation of the district’s Grad+ framework, which prepares students for future success by offering valuable credentials, including college credits, industry certifications, work-based learning, and the Seal of Biliteracy—awarded to students who demonstrate high proficiency in English and another language.

The case for preserving heritage languages

According to recent data, 5.3 million students in the United States are English learners, and that number is growing. Historically, schools have focused on rapid English acquisition, often at the expense of students’ heritage languages. Educators are realizing the shortcomings of this approach and changing the model. Losing a heritage language not only impacts identity but also affects learning; fluency in a first language provides a foundation for mastering additional languages. Without it, students may struggle to achieve fluency in any language.

Preserving or reclaiming heritage languages fosters academic success and strengthens students’ sense of self. Knowing this, BVSD and Gallegos view bilingualism as a superpower for Boulder Valley students. Bilingual high school students can also earn college credits via high test scores on Advanced Placement or CLEP exams which are governed by the College Board. Impact on Education, a vital partner in these efforts, ensures these opportunities are accessible by underwriting test fees, helping students take full advantage of this valuable skill. “Their families or someone who loves them has been nurturing their language for 16, 17, 18 years,” she said. “After all that time, they have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery, showing their brilliance as bilingual scholars. These opportunities ensure that students see themselves as scholars and as college students—not just in the future but right now,” said Gallegos. “I’m so proud of our district and Impact on Education for seeing bilingualism as a strength to be kept, nourished and upheld.”

Bilingual scholars, future leaders

Through her leadership, Gallegos is helping students find their voices in more than one language. Her work not only empowers students as bilingual scholars but also positions them as leaders who can thrive in a global, multicultural world.

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.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

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