One of the highest compliments that can be bestowed on a teacher at Colorado Academy is to win one of the school’s annual peer-nominated teaching awards. Each year, faculty members nominate deserving teachers in three different categories designed to recognize excellence in classroom teaching. In ceremonies held April 26, Head of School Dr. Mike Davis announced this year’s winners, as well as the recipients of the Head of School Award.
Frances Newton Outstanding Faculty Award
Lower School Music teacher Brenda Bartel, Upper School Chinese teacher Julie Wei, and Middle School Mathematics teacher Kathy Zolla each received the Frances Newton Outstanding Faculty Award. The award honors faculty who model teaching excellence, render exemplary service on behalf of students and colleagues, and who, in their teaching practice, provide examples of the multiple talents and values that are mirrored in the school’s mission.
Connie Adcock Award for Inspirational Teaching
The Connie Adcock Award for Inspirational Teaching, endowed by an anonymous family in 2011, was named for a faculty member who taught Kindergarten and First Grade at CA for 21 years. It recognizes a teacher who ignites in students a lifelong love of learning and creative expression through the use of innovative teaching methods. The 2019 Connie Adcock Award was bestowed upon Upper School Science teacher Dani Meyers.
Yoeman Fisher Award for Teaching Excellence
Lastly, CA honors a faculty member each year with the Yoeman Fisher Award for Teaching Excellence, an honor that was instituted in 1980 in memory of a beloved retiring teacher. It was established to recognize a teaching career that has been punctuated by creative, inventive, and inspiring teachings. This year’s Yoeman Fisher Award winner is Elissa Wolf-Tinsman.
Head of School Awards
The Head of School Awards, given by Dr. Mike Davis, went to two groups and one individual who have gone above and beyond in their work. Jesse Schumacher was recognized for excellence in supervising several major campus construction projects completed on time and within budget. Allison Peters Jensen, Mary Singer, and Kate O’Donnell were recognized for excellence in their service as collaborative leaders of the Lower School during the 2019-2020 school year. The Admission Department, including Catherine Laskey, Heidi Chesley, Caren Salzer, Karen Chavez, Lisa Dean, and Paige Siemers, were recognized for excellence in managing the Admission process.
Dr. Davis also recognized nine faculty members who took part in a rigorous process of study and evaluation through the school’s professional development program that provides three levels of advancement, including Senior Instructor, Preceptor, and Master Teacher. Those faculty who achieved a new level of advancement include:
- Middle School Core & Civics teacher Eric Augustin, Preceptor
- Pre-K teacher Stacey Boyd, Senior Instructor
- Upper School Mathematics teacher Steven Hammer, Master Teacher
- Upper School History teacher Paul Kim, Master Teacher
- Upper School Spanish teacher Daniel Lopez, Senior Instructor
- Grade Three teacher Stephanie Stone, Preceptor
- Kindergarten teacher Leslie Webster, Preceptor
- Upper School Chinese teacher Julie Wei, Preceptor
- Kindergarten teacher Christine West, Senior Instructor.
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