How Kinder Bridge prepares young students for school

As Kindergarten begins this week, many children are embarking on an exciting new adventure, transitioning from home to the structured environment of a classroom. For some, particularly those from low-income or marginalized families, this journey can be especially meaningful if they haven’t had prior exposure to a formal learning environment.

That’s why we proudly fund Kinder Bridge, a program designed to empower young learners in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) with targeted summer support, helping them start their school experience with confidence.

In 2024, Kinder Bridge served over 270 incoming kindergarten students across four BVSD summer learning sites: Emerald Elementary, Creekside Elementary, Crest View Elementary, and Ryan Elementary. 

Over the course of four weeks, students engaged in full-day programming designed to prepare them for kindergarten. The program’s curriculum mirrored the first month of school, focusing on essential academic skills and social-emotional learning, including instruction in music, art, P.E., and STEM. In addition, students learn school readiness skills like classroom routines, following instructions, riding a bus, and attending school meals.

Results at-a-glance

• 4 out of 10 incoming Kinder Bridge students were not reaching the benchmark standards for kindergarten students when they started the program. By the final week of the program, 8 out of 10 students were reaching or exceeding standards.
• There was a 25% increase in the number of students who knew how to write their names.
• Per readiness standards, 62% of students were ready for kindergarten when they started Kinder Bridge and 83% were ready by the end of the program.

“Early intervention is crucial for setting young learners on a path to success,” says Cameo Rainaldo-DeDominces, BVSD Coordinator of Extended Learning & Network Support. “By partnering with community organizations, we were able to recruit and reach students who didn’t have any formal preschool experience and help prepare them for life as a kindergarten student.” Impact on Education funding provides these students with four weeks of crucial summer learning and targeted support, helping them build confidence and a strong foundation for learning.

Impact on Education funding provides these students with four weeks of crucial summer learning and targeted support, helping them build confidence and a strong foundation for learning.

Building academic skills

Kinder Bridge introduces students to many of the academic skills they will need in kindergarten. The program emphasizes letter recognition, counting, letter-sound formation, and name-writing.

Educators observed significant progress in students’ academic abilities over the course of the program. “Some kids didn’t know how to hold a pencil, and the expectation for kindergarten is to write their name,” one teacher shared. “We had kids who didn’t know how to use a glue stick, so we had to start at the beginning of everything.”

Fostering social-emotional development

In addition to academic skills, Kinder Bridge places a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning. The program provides students with opportunities to engage with their peers and develop essential social skills.

One teacher described how students were prompted to ask each other questions and share their ideas, helping them build the confidence to interact with new friends in kindergarten. “When they go to kindergarten, they are going to meet new friends, so having had the opportunity to meet others and have another teacher is important,” the teacher explained.

When she started, she couldn’t write or spell her name, but by the end of the program, she was confidently writing and spelling it. She even made a bracelet with letter beads to help her practice, proudly showing it to her teacher each day.

Instilling confidence and a love for learning

Kinder Bridge also builds students’ confidence and fosters a love for learning. The program helps find and nurture each child’s unique strengths, building their confidence and their belief in their ability to succeed.

One teacher shared the story of a young girl who had never attended school before Kinder Bridge. When she started, she couldn’t write or spell her name, but by the end of the program, she was confidently writing and spelling it. She even made a bracelet with letter beads to help her practice, proudly showing it to her teacher each day. “She loved being in school, and seeing her progress was a huge success for the summer,” the teacher shared

Preparing for a successful kindergarten transition

Ultimately, the goal of Kinder Bridge is to prepare students for a smooth and successful transition into kindergarten. By providing a structured environment where students can learn and practice essential skills, Kinder Bridge helps ease the anxiety that children may feel as they approach this important milestone.

Educators reported that students showed noticeable improvements in the students’ ability to follow classroom routines, interact with peers, and engage in learning activities. “It’s really getting them ready to learn, learning how to learn and understanding classroom expectations,” one teacher shared.

We know that early intervention and targeted support can have a profound impact on young learners. For students who may not have had the opportunity to engage in preschool or other early learning experiences, Kinder Bridge provides a vital foundation that sets them up for success in kindergarten and beyond.

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?

Some highlights from the 2023-24 school year

As we welcome students back to schools this week, we’re taking a look back at the incredible impact we made together last year. With your support we helped thousands of students across the Boulder Valley School District, and we’ll continue to provide them resources and opportunities for success during this new academic year.

2023-24 Highlights

💵 Over 140 educator grants provided more than $150,000 for school projects, activities, and materials through our Academic Opportunity Fund

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🏫 274 incoming Kindergarten students, half of whom had never attended preschool, received four weeks of full-day summer learning through Kinder Bridge

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💙 1,875 high school students made more than 13,500 visits to Wellness Centers, safe spaces dedicated to mental health 

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🤝 75 high school students learned professional skills and how to identify and communicate their strengths in our Career Readiness Academy

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📝 271 students accessed career and college readiness opportunities, including AP/IB and language tests, course materials and post-secondary credits

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🎒 5,000 students received school supplies, backpacks and headphones to start the school year strong

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🎨 17,000 elementary and middle schools students were able to reflect themselves and others in their art with multicultural art supplies

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🏆 61 BVSD educators were honored at the Impact Awards for their dedication to student learning

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💬 Students were supported by 10 mental health professionals, and had access to racial trauma counselors and bilingual services

Why we do this important work

We believe that providing equitable educational opportunities is more than a mission—it’s a necessity; our role extends beyond mere advocacy.

Impact on Education actively bridges the gap between available resources and student needs. This work ensures marginalized students and those from low-income families have access to quality learning opportunities so all students can reach their potential.

Our community plays a crucial role in providing students across BVSD access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. Thank you for being part of this important work!

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?

Turning the page: Grant helps rebuild school library after unprecedented challenges

The library at Monarch High School suffered a pair of misfortunes: the Marshall Fire and the COVID-19 pandemic, which left it in poor condition. Thanks to a $3,000 Academic Opportunity Fund grant and a lot of love and attention from Teacher Librarian Katherine Croasdale, the library and the students who rely on it are thriving.

“Kids were ignoring the books, many of which had not been cracked open in years. I wanted to create a space that made them excited about reading, especially the reluctant readers.”

Katherine Croasdale, Teacher Librarian at Monarch High School

During the pandemic, the Monarch High School library sat unused. Books sat dusty and uncatalogued and, perhaps more importantly, went out of date. Things got worse when the Marshall Fire struck—the Monarch community was disproportionally affected, and many books that students checked out were lost in the fire. In total, 800 books were missing.

As schools resumed in-person learning, Croasdale set to work fixing the library, where she found books haphazardly shelved and out of date. While Croasdale worked to weed out old and unused materials, she developed a vision of creating a library that was a valuable resource for teachers and an inspiring space for students. 

Photo: Before (left) and after (right) of the graphic novels section of the library.

“The books were just crammed onto shelves, which doesn’t work for the eyes,” said Croasdale. “Kids were ignoring the books, many of which had not been cracked open in years. I wanted to create a space that made them excited about reading, especially the reluctant readers.”

Croasdale’s vision required funding, so in 2022 she applied for and received an Academic Opportunity Fund grant from Impact on Education. The grant program provides educators and schools with the resources to bridge opportunity gaps and create a level playing field for all students. Impact on Education prioritizes grant requests that expand access to resources, opportunities, and support for students from marginalized and underserved communities.

A comeback story

With the funds, Croasdale first set out to replace the missing books, focusing on award-winning books and books that represented the diversity of the students at Monarch High School. “We contacted many student groups, such as the Asian-American Club, the Indian American Club, the Black Student Union, and HERstory, to find out what materials represent their culture in a positive light,” shared Croasdale.

“We ordered their recommended materials and displayed them in the front of the library to show these students they are welcome in our space.”  Some of the books Monarch added included, Frizzy by Claribel Ortega, A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Wild Fox of Yemen by Threa Almontaser.

Croasdale is building a cultural and social hub at Monarch High School, where students can escape into a book and experience peace found only at a library.

Photo: Books recommended by student groups at Monarch High School.

Croasdale also redesigned the library shelving to be more exciting and inviting by creating dynamic shelving displays. Each shelf has a fabric background and ribbons to add color, call-outs on popular books, negative space, front-facing books, and groupings by author, similar to what you might see in a bookstore.

The improvements are working—students are browsing more in the library, and the book check-out rate has increased by 200%. Croasdale has also noticed a shift in reading patterns, with students showing more interest in a broader range of books and genres.

Perhaps the best update of all, students can now request books, and thanks to the grant, Croasdale can usually purchase them immediately, something she says helps encourage reading. “Students will come to me and say, ‘I really would like this book,’ and I can tell them, ‘You’ll have it in a few days,'” Croasdale said. “They’re usually so surprised and happy and often come in for more books. I see a difference in reading patterns when kids can read whatever they want.”

When so many schools and parents struggle with getting students’ attention and limiting smartphone use, Croasdale is building a cultural and social hub at Monarch High School, where students can escape into a book and experience peace found only at a library. “Receiving this grant was like having Christmas every day,” she said. “I get to make kids so happy and put books into their hands. I am so grateful.”

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?

Cultivating compassion: How a former BVSD student is shaping the future of healthcare

Colorado is struggling to overcome a nursing shortage that worsened during the pandemic. As the state’s population ages, Colorado will need 10,000 more nurses in the next decade, according to projections.

Thanks to a scholarship from Impact on Education, the state will need one fewer nurse. Boulder High School graduate Adriana Aguirre, a recipient of the Earl & Barbara Bolton scholarship and an alumna of our Career Readiness Academy, represents the future of nursing with her big dreams of diversifying the industry and providing culturally competent care to her patients.

Overcoming financial and educational barriers

Aguirre, a University of Colorado in Denver student, recently finished her first year of college. She spent the year living in a dorm with other students, something she never envisioned for herself growing up. “As a child, my parents faced a lot of financial insecurities,” shared Aguirre. “As I got older and started thinking about college, I didn’t think it would be an option for me.”

Known in high school to be a quiet leader and role model for those around her, Aguirre was determined to find a way to continue her education, applying for and receiving the Impact on Education scholarship. Aguirre was awarded $20,000 towards college expenses, through the $5,000 scholarship that she is able to renew for up to four years.

“I have always had a passion for helping others, I love to serve and give back to my community.”

Adriana Aguirre

Building a support system

Once she overcame the challenge of funding her education, Aguirre encountered new obstacles as a first-generation college student. “The level of independence and responsibility I needed was more than I expected,” said Aguirre. “My parents don’t know what college is like, so I wasn’t able to ask them, ‘How does this work?’” Always persistent, Aguirre leaned into the support systems offered by the university and credits her successful first year to utilizing professor office hours and the campus tutoring center.

She also formed relationships with her TRIO mentor and her dorm roommate, who Aguirre will live with again next school year. “It helped to relate and bond with other students who have similar backgrounds or are first generation,” she said. “My roommate became my best friend.”

Aspirations for a diverse and inclusive healthcare future

Though challenging, the academic rigor of college was easier to overcome for Aguirre. Her favorite classes were the three science labs needed for her major—she loved hands-on learning. Continuing in nursing next year, Aguirre is excited to become a bilingual nurse who will bridge the communication gap and create connection and trust with her patients, especially those who speak Spanish.

“I have always had a passion for helping others, I love to serve and give back to my community,” said Aguirre. She also hopes to inspire future students of color to consider a nursing career, underscoring the need for increased diversity in healthcare. 

Aguirre says she would describe her future as “hopeful” and is grateful for her scholarship. “This scholarship for students like me isn’t just about paying for college,” said Aguirre. “It opens doors to better jobs and careers that will have a lifelong impact and possibly help future generations.”

We’re so excited to see what Aguirre accomplishes in her sophomore year!

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?

Higher property taxes don’t provide extra funding for public education

As homeowners in our community see their property values and tax bills increase, many may assume the additional funds are flowing into our public schools. They’re not wrong – but increases in local property taxes don’t equate to increases in funding for the Boulder Valley School District. The reality of how school funding works is more complex.

What is the School Finance Act?

While Colorado recently passed a new school funding formula, for the past 30 years the Public School Finance Act of 1994 determined the total amount of funding each school district received. 

This calculation considered several factors – including per pupil amounts, funded pupil count, district and student characteristics, and a budget stabilization – to determine the “total program” funding for the school district. For the 2023-24 school year the district received $292,817,683 in “total program” funding.

BVSD received $10,489 for each full-time student – $3,858 less than the national average – in the 2023-24 school year. 

– U.S. Census Bureau

In this article BVSD shares details about how declining enrollment and changes at the state level will affect schools, students and educators across the District.

How school funding is calculated today

School funding is a blend of local sources – property taxes and vehicle registrations – and state sources (state equalization). Local sources are considered “first in,” meaning they are used first to fund the “Total Program” amount set by the School Finance Act. State equalization funds then make up the remainder.

Although the state determines individual school district funding levels, the amount contributed from the three different sources varies according to local assessed property valuation.

As property taxes increase, due to a fixed mill levy (27.0 mills for BVSD) and rising assessed property values, the amount provided by the state decreases.

Because of higher assessed valuation, BVSD receives a larger portion of its revenue from local property taxes. You can see in the 2023-24 budget chart below that the state contribution for BVSD is less than peer districts.

Source: 2023-24 Proposed BVSD Budget

These mechanisms ensure that the “Total Program” funding remains constant, adhering to the balance intended by the School Finance Act, regardless of fluctuations in local property tax revenues. And the state’s contribution helps bridge the gap between wealthier and less affluent districts, so every student has access to an adequate education regardless of their district’s property tax base.

We need partners like Impact on Education, whose support addresses the funding gaps and enhances the educational experiences of BVSD students.

– Dr. Rob Anderson, BVSD Superintendent

By the numbers

Recent increases in funding for BVSD are due to changes in the School Finance Act formula, not changes in property taxes. Over the past few years, the state stabilization factor has decreased and inflation has increased, driving up the amount of “Total Program” funding for BVSD. 

• Local property tax revenue increased from $209.6M in the 2022-23 school year to a projected $282.1M for the 2024-25 school year. 
• Concurrently, state equalization funding decreased from $51.4M in the 2022-23 school year to a projected $13.3M for the 2024-25 school year.

BVSD also receives additional operating revenue through three mill levy overrides, which are property tax increases approved by voters. An additional property tax levy provides resources for capital debt payments for construction programs.

Why this is important

School district budgets are complex and there are many funding mechanisms – including legislation and ballot measures – that influence the resources provided to BVSD. And this complexity is why Impact on Education was founded in 1983 – to protect BVSD from the uncertainties of local and state funding. 

While BVSD navigates these challenges, Impact on Education is here to help. 

Your support for Impact on Education helps ensure we’re able to continue providing supplemental funding and resources to support the needs of students in our community, which prevail regardless of state and local funding. 

You can help by making a gift to support our work and sharing this post with someone in our community.

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?

2024 Impact Awards honor dedicated BVSD educators

View event photos on Facebook

We host the Impact Awards each year to honor educators across the Boulder Valley School District. Recognizing their dedication is essential, as they play a vital role in providing excellent and equitable education to students.

While we’re only able to recognize a small number of BVSD educators at the Impact Awards, we value and appreciate the hard work and dedication of every educator across BVSD.

This year’s celebration was held on Thursday, May 2 at the Boulder JCC. The energy at the event was palpable and it was a memorable occasion for all of our honorees and award winners. This year we were honored to have the event emceed by Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Deputy Superintendent of BVSD, with special remarks by Dr. Rob Anderson, BVSD Superintendent.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who make the evening go so smoothly and to our generous sponsors – Premier Members Credit Union, BVEA, Comcast, Corden Pharma and the Daily Camera – who make this event possible.

School Honorees

Since 1993, the Impact Awards has recognized hundreds of educators – teachers, custodians, office managers, food service employees, crossing guards, and more – from each school across BVSD. Each school across the district selects an honoree for the event, someone who is going above and beyond and making an extraordinary impact on student learning.

Each honoree received an engraved award, a personalized poster and a $100 check (thank you sponsors!). You can meet all of this year’s honorees in the graphics below.

New Teacher Award

The 2024 Imogene Maxon New Teacher Award was presented to Ash Mattys, an English Language Arts teacher at Fairview High School.

Established in 2020, the award is given to educators with up to three years of classroom experience who demonstrate the drive, stamina, and vision of a career educator. This award is inspired and financially supported by Jean Maxon, a lifetime educator who left a legacy gift to Impact on Education and whose own legacy extends beyond the BVSD classroom. We’re fortunate to have wonderful educators joining the profession, many of whom embody the characteristics and traits of a lifelong educator.

The nominator of this year’s winner — her induction mentor Chris Barnes — shared that she is approachable and real, a player and a coach, and life-affecting. He said “when you’re in Ash’s class, one is quick to forget that we’re in an English class. If you don’t keep an eye open, you’ll swear you’re in an after-school student club, self-help seminar, college literary society, and journalistic roundtable all rolled into one. Ash asks her students to think boldly and to act boldly, like she does. I’m honored and proud to teach with her.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2024 Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Sara McIntosh, a literacy interventionist at Emerald Elementary School.

Established in 2017, the Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award honors the legacy of one of our most fervent supporters, Blake Peterson. This award recognizes and celebrates an individual who, consistently over the course of decades, catalyzes positive change within Boulder Valley School District, and whose own passion for education and learning mirrors that of the award’s namesake. This award is financially supported and selected by the Peterson family.

One of the nominators of this year’s winner shared that “she is a voice and support for the many children in our school who too often slip through the cracks because of lack of home support, resources, or other reasons beyond their control.”

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?

Emerald Elementary’s Sara McIntosh honored with the 2024 Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award

By Alison Meyer

There is a pivotal point in a child’s education when they stop learning to read and start reading to learn. As a literacy interventionist at Emerald Elementary School, Sara McIntosh is deeply invested in this crucial juncture. So much so that she’s dedicated her life to making sure all children grow up to be confident readers. 

“When a person can read to learn, they become consumers of information, informed citizens, and can access any type of information they want,” shared McIntosh. “It’s incredibly empowering.”

A legacy of learning

Raised in a family of educators — her mom was a preschool, kindergarten and first-grade teacher, and her dad was a social studies teacher and football coach — McIntosh learned the value of education early on. “When I was in school, my mom worked part-time as a teacher and was also the puppet lady,” McIntosh recalled. “She would make and sew all of her own puppets, write scripts and perform at all the elementary schools. She made learning fun. Because of her, I fell in love with reading in school.”

“When a person can read to learn, they become consumers of information, informed citizens, and can access any type of information they want.”

Like her parents, McIntosh became a teacher, dedicating 30 years of service to the Boulder Valley School District. Four years ago, she moved to supporting literacy efforts, providing targeted, specific instruction to small groups of children struggling with reading. Lighting up when she talks about her work, McIntosh sees reading as a tool for equity.

“My life’s mission is empowering others, particularly children who are still learning how to find their own way in the world,” she said. “Reading helps them find their voice. They can’t be truly independent if they can’t confidently read.”

This video about Sara was produced by students in the Boulder TEC Video Production Program.

Impacting a generation of learners

At a young age, children learn to read by being taught the patterns and rules so they can break the code. By second or third grade, they need a strong foundation to transition to reading to learn. Interventionists like McIntosh play a crucial role in ensuring young readers who struggle get on track before they fall too far behind. McIntosh, who goes above and beyond for her students, was recently awarded the 2024 Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fellow interventionist and nominator Jamie Smith shared, “Sara takes her role as title literacy interventionist very seriously. She is a voice and support for the many children in our school who too often slip through the cracks because of a lack of home support, resources or other reasons beyond their control. If a student is in need, she will go out of her way to advocate for resources or time for them.”

“[Sara] is a voice and support for the many children in our school who too often slip through the cracks because of a lack of home support, resources or other reasons beyond their control.”

Established in 2017, the Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award honors the legacy of one of Impact on Education’s most fervent supporters, Blake Peterson. This award recognizes and celebrates an individual who consistently catalyzes positive change within Boulder Valley School District over the course of decades and whose passion for education and learning mirrors that of the award’s namesake.

Blake, who deeply valued education and devoted his life to community service and supporting quality public education for all students, was also raised by teachers. McIntosh said by winning this award, she hopes to pay tribute to Blake’s parents. “I am so grateful that I had the upbringing that I had with parents as teachers, and so I want to honor Blake’s memory and his parents’ work,” shared McIntosh.

Above: Sara McIntosh (left) with one of her nominators and fellow educators Jamie Smith (right).

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?

Fairview High School’s Ash Mattys receives Imogene Maxon New Teacher Award

By Alison Meyer

Ash Mattys took the road less traveled, and it has made all the difference. 

Unlike most first-year teachers who join the profession directly after college, Mattys delayed getting her degree so she could see the world instead. While her peers moved into dorms, Mattys worked in corporate America, saving enough money to travel. Over the next sixteen years, she had many adventures, including living in Japan for six months and adopting eighteen freshwater stingrays. She also became a mom, leading her to decide she was ready to hunker down and get her degree. 

Mattys enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder, majoring in Communication. While figuring out her next steps in life, Mattys kept returning to her beloved 8th-grade teacher, Ms. Cardin. “She spoke to me like the budding human being I was at the time,” recalled Mattys. “She made me feel interesting. She saw me, and was passionate about connecting with me so that she could teach me.

It’s hard to think of anything more inspiring than how much she valued my education and the education of her countless other students.” Mattys realized she could play the same role for young people as Ms Cardin did for her, and from that point on, teaching became the goal. She enrolled in graduate school, earned her master’s in education, and was hired as an English teacher at Fairview High School.

Ash Mattys with her family.

“Two roads diverged in a wood”

While it took her longer to become a teacher, Mattys believes every part of her journey was critical to her success. “All those steps were necessary — now I feel like the luckiest teacher of all time.” Her students are 9th and 10th-grade pre-IB students learning Shakespeare. But Mattys, inspired by Ms. Cardin, sees her job as more than teaching language arts. She’s there to ensure her students feel seen. “What I needed when I was their age was for someone to tell me that it was going to be okay,” shared Mattys. “I want them to know that I see their uniqueness and remind them that they are resilient. I feel like that’s the unwritten curriculum.” 

“I want them to know that I see their uniqueness and remind them that they are resilient. I feel like that’s the unwritten curriculum.”

Ash Mattys, English Language Arts teacher at Fairview High School

According to her mentor, fellow teacher and nominator Chris Barnes, Mattys is succeeding. “When you’re in Ash’s class, it’s easy to forget that you’re in an English class,” said Barnes.  “If you don’t keep an eye open, you’ll swear you’re in an after-school student club, self-help seminar, college literary society, and journalistic roundtable all rolled into one. Ash’s class is that special. Students are that valued. The flow of instruction and student participation is seamless. And the atmosphere is one in which you feel lucky to belong.”

Winning the Imogene Maxon New Teacher Award is especially validating for Mattys because she doesn’t feel like she fits the norm, both as a nontraditional first-year teacher and as an educator of color. “This honor means so much to me because I’ve had to do some difficult navigating, within myself and with others, to get here,” she shared.” There were so many points along this journey when I felt like this profession wasn’t for people like me and I felt like giving up. Somehow, I actually got here and I’m doing my dream job. I’m so grateful.” 

“I dwell in possibility” 

Not one to be satisfied with the status quo, Mattys has goals for the rest of her education career. She looks forward to perfecting her craft as a classroom manager and content deliverer. Mattys also wants to see more students of color in advanced classes. “I think it’s powerful that I am an educator of color, and students can envision themselves in my shoes,” said Mattys.

“I’d like to see the percentage of students of color in the school reflected in advanced classes, where we currently have a disparity.” She also co-leads Families and Educators Together, a group that creates a more inclusive community to support the well-being of all students and families, especially parents and guardians from underrepresented groups. 

“Ash’s class is that special. Students are that valued. The flow of instruction and student participation is seamless. And the atmosphere is one in which you feel lucky to belong.”

Chris Barnes, BVSD Induction Mentor

Barnes isn’t surprised Mattys is so future-focused. “Ash is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. Check that—she’s a hurricane of cleansing, rejuvenation and complete upending of all arcane models and notions of what makes an English teacher.”

Congratulations to Ash Mattys for winning the 2024 Imogene Maxon Early Educator Award.

About Imogene Maxon

Imogene Maxon was a lifelong educator who taught with the Boulder Valley School District. In 2020, Impact on Education received a bequest from her estate, creating the Imogene “Jean” Maxon New Teacher Award in her honor. Imogene believed strongly in the impact of teachers who spend a lifetime honing instruction and learning practices and positively impacting countless students within the classroom.

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?

Announcing our 2024 scholarship recipients

Scholarships play a pivotal role in empowering students to pursue their educational dreams without the burden of financial constraints.

This year we provided over $53,500 in scholarships for Boulder Valley School District graduates, including $28,500 in scholarship renewals for 16 students. And graduating seniors in the Class of 2024 were awarded over $100,000!

Scholarships awarded to the Class of 2024 are all renewable for two to four years, with the potential to contribute $94,000 toward their post-secondary education.

Scholarship applications are reviewed by trained community volunteers, and student winners are selected based upon their academic achievement, financial need, and other eligibility requirements.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

*The Independent Order of the Odd Fellows and Panther Pride scholarship winners will be announced soon.

2024 Scholarship Winners

Houston Scholarship

New this year, the Houston scholarship honors a family member whose dedication to taking care of their family financially, meant they were unable to pursue their dream of formal education. The scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement and financial need, and each scholarship is renewable for up to four years.

$10,000
Kevin Botello, Boulder High

Kevin plans to study engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, or Regis University.

“As an engineer I believe I can help solve many different types of programs and help make the world a better place for all of us. There are so many issues that are currently facing us as humans and we can work through some of these challenges through engineering.”

$5,000
Jair Ortega, Boulder High

Jair plans to attend the University of Colorado Boulder.

“My educational goal of being a first generation college student is more than just something that’s personal to me. It is also a testament to the impact of determination, perseverance and hope has on defying expectation. Breaking down barriers of cultural and social limitations.”

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Earl & Barbara Bolton Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a student who plans to pursue careers in engineering, forestry, nursing or the sciences, and is renewable for up to four years.

$5,000
Abigail Bensler, Monarch High

Abigail plans to pursue a biomedical education at Colorado State University.

“Whether it is through a wide-reaching medical practice or simply helping people within my own community, I want to spend my career bettering humanity. I am motivated by my own personal experiences with my father’s sickness. His fight and struggles showed me that everyone deserves the best medical care, and a chance to live a strong and healthy life.”

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Dennie & Donna Wise Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded to students pursuing a vocational, technical or community college education. Each scholarship is renewable for up to two years. 

$1,000
Yareli Ordaz, Boulder High

Yareli plans to study nursing at Front Range Community College.

“The Latinx community and I Have a Dream Foundation have helped me be a better person and achieve my academic goals. Being bilingual is a gift, but it also makes schooling a little bit more difficult, especially reading and writing. The afterschool program has given me opportunity and the extra support I need to be successful academically and socially.”

$1,000
Nicholas Folsom, Monarch High

Nicholas plans to pursue the automotive tech program at NASCAR Technical Institute in Moorsville, NC.

“Upon graduating from the NASCAR Technical Institute, I want to obtain employment in the racing industry. At a race team I would do whatever job that I am hired to do with the hopes of becoming a crew chief. I want to use the skills that I learn from attending the NASCAR Technical Institute to ensure that I will have a successful career.”

$1,000
Jameson Winding, Arapahoe Ridge

Jameson plans to study Sustainability and Climate Change at Colorado Mountain College.

 “The CMC Sustainability program really stood out to me. I’m drawn to the experiential and hands-on elements of the program. The possibility that, in the not so distant future, a lot of the nature we take for granted now will be gone permanently motivates me to learn how to create a more sustainable future.”

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Jeff Howenstein Panther Scholarships

This is a new scholarship for 2024, created in honor of former Boulder High AVID teacher, Jeff Howenstein, by his family and friends. The scholarship is awarded to students who participated in the AVID Program at Boulder High and is renewable for up to four years. Pictured below are the two recipients and with Jennifer DL and Kate V. who organized Howie Fest to raise the funds.

$1,000
Nataly Villa, Boulder High

Nataly plans to attend the University of Denver.

“AVID made me feel like I belonged in a space where my dreams and aspirations carried weight and meaning. That I held a place and position where I could do anything that I set my mind to. That I was limitless in my endeavors. Having teachers who believed in me and who kept me on track, only inspired me to work harder.”

$1,000
Andrea Herrera Rincon, Boulder High

Andrea plans to study nursing at the University of Colorado Denver.

“AVID has made a really big impact on my life and goals. Especially when it comes to self-advocacy. It taught me to have a voice and to reach out when I need help.”

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Independent Order of Odd Fellows Scholarships

Recipients will be announced soon!

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Panther Pride Scholarships

Recipients will be announced soon!

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?

Providing BVSD students access to college and career opportunities

Navigating the future with confidence and the right set of skills is crucial for today’s students. And it’s why we provide access to college and career readiness opportunities, helping Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) students get ahead in their academic and professional journeys.

Since the beginning, we’ve partnered with BVSD to create and implement the GradPlus Framework, helping students prepare for their futures, opening doors to work-based learning and industry certifications and providing opportunities to earn college credit and a Seal of Biliteracy.

Some of these opportunities – including advanced courses and concurrent enrollment – require fees that make them inaccessible to students from low-income families. But there are four ways – in addition to our Career Readiness Academy – that Impact on Education helps students with financial need access these post-secondary readiness initiatives across BVSD:

Student test fees

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a credit-by-examination program that measures a student’s level of comprehension of introductory college-level material and consecutively earns college credit. While a few students take tests in math and science, for our students who speak a second language, the CLEP language proficiency tests allow them to earn college credit by taking a written and oral language test. Test fees are only $90 and students can earn up to 16 college credits, so Impact on Education has offered to cover these test fees for any student who is eligible for free and reduced lunch – what a valuable opportunity!

Students who pass the exam also become  eligible for Colorado Department of Education’s ASCENT (Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment) program, which offers a free year of college tuition.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) course test fees can also present a barrier to students with financial need. From calculus and physics to computer science and U.S. history, AP level courses prepare students for college-level work, but their associated costs shouldn’t deter eager minds.

During the fall 2023 semester Impact on Education paid over $6,000 in test fees for BVSD students. These investments allowed 29 students to take CLEP tests, earning 324 college credits. Another 15 students from four BVSD high schools were able to take AP/IB courses. We anticipate funding an additional $13,000 this spring to cover student test fees, allowing students with financial need to access post-secondary credits before they graduate high school.

College Before Graduation

BVSD works with local colleges and universities to support students in getting a head start on earning college credits and gaining industry certifications. Concurrent and dual enrollment refer to courses where students simultaneously earn college credits while completing high school requirements. 

I am extremely grateful for the assistance, aid, and support ASCENT/ Concurrent Enrollment has given me; I don’t think I would be in college now if I hadn’t been welcomed into the program.

BVSD Graduate who participated in the ASCENT program

Students may qualify to take courses at Metropolitan State University or Front Range Community College as a general high school student, or as part of the ASCENT or Teacher Recruitment Education & Preparation (TREP) program.

During the fall 2023 semester, Impact on Education provided $5200 to pay for books and fees for students with financial need. This investment allowed 17 students to collectively attempt to earn 135 credits (an average of 8 credits per student).

Pathway building

Impact on Education is also helping BVSD recruit launch partners to build new educational pathways and covering fees associated with their rollout. 

During the fall 2023 semester, we invested $8000 to pay student course fees at Boulder TEC. From criminal justice and biomedical classes to supporting students in the new Teacher Pathway program, our investment allowed 14 students to earn 67 credits by pursuing these pathway courses.

BVSD has ambitious plans to roll out new pathways at all of our high schools, and Impact on Education is helping to recruit corporate partners that align with this work. These exciting pathways will allow students to gain skills, instruction, experience and credentials in emerging and relevant career sectors. Learn more about the pathways. 

Educator grants

Another way we’re able to support student futures is through Academic Opportunity Fund grants. These funds empower educators to provide enhanced learning experiences and unique education opportunities for their students, and we’ve awarded over $160,000 this school year to meet a variety of needs across all grade levels.

A few recent grants enabled high school students in CTE courses and technical education pathways to receive specialized training, including:

• Wilderness First Aid certification for 16 students 
• AIARE Avalanche 1 training for 8 students
• CPR training for 190 students

These funds allow students to graduate with valuable certifications and training that equip them both for personal safety and career opportunities.

Our future support

Impact on Education is committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent ambitious students from accessing these valuable learning experiences. And our efforts stem from a deep belief in the potential of every student within BVSD to succeed and thrive.

As BVSD continues to work to build more and better opportunities for students, Impact on Education and our partners are working alongside them to ensure that these exciting new pathways will be equitably available to all students.

Another important way we’re supporting BVSD student access to post-secondary opportunities through college scholarships – Impact on Education will be awarding up to $80,000 to BVSD students this spring. Applications for the Class of 2024 are due on April 5, 2024.

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?

Connect with Us