2012-13 Crystal Apple by the Brush News-Tribune

By Maggie Christensen

Special to the Brush News-Tribune

Before school, duringschool, during lunch, as wellas after school, you canalways hear the sound ofstudents’ laughter eruptingfrom Maria Chacon’s class-room.

Chacon, who has taughtSpanish at Brush HighSchool over the past fouryears, has been known forher strong connection withher students and cheerfulpersonality.

She had not alwaysplanned to become a teacherthough.

When she was little sheplanned to become a nurseand started college in thenursing program. It was notuntil she started volunteer-ing at a non-profit afterschool program she discov-ered her true passion. Theinteraction with the childrenat the program sparked anew dream and she set off tobecome a teacher.

Chacon started her school-ing in Santa Monica,California. On a trip to visither mother she discovered

Brush and instantly fell inlove with it. She enjoyed thesmall town and felt it wouldbe the perfect environmentfor her and her husband toraise their son, Joshua.

They then moved toColorado, she became anassistant ESL teacher atBrush Middle School whereshe remained for threeyears. Then after she fin-ished her college and gradu-ated with a bachelor degreein Spanish with an empha-sis in secondary teaching,she was then hired at BrushHigh School.

In her first year at BHSshe taught speech and ESLclasses. Her second year shetaught ESL classes andSpanish, with her third andfourth year spent teachingSpanish 1, 2, 3 and 4.

She enjoys teaching herSpanish classes, because asshe mentioned “I get toshare my culture; I was bornand lived in Mexico Cityuntil we moved when I was14. Culture is very impor-tant to me.”

She enjoys providing herstudents with the knowledgeof other cultures andemphasizes knowing a for-

eign language opens upmany doors for job opportu-nities. She most enjoys shar-ing something about her cul-ture and when her studentsreply, “You used to do that?”

with amazement written allover their faces.

The Crystal Apple awardwinner also has dedicatedher time to the LatinoLeadership Club and

International Travel Club.She first started the LatinoLeadership Club because feltthere were many students

Maria Chacon...Brush High School

Sharing her culture is important to Spanish teacher

22001122--1133 CCrryyssttaall AApppplleeRecognizing Excellence In Education in the Brush School District...

Children are the world's most valuable resource and it's best hope for the future." John F. Kennedy

Maggie Christensen/News-Tribune

Dedicated Spanish teacher, Maria Chacon, helps Laura Lynch understand a challengingconcept in Spanish 1.

See Chacon page 8

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013 • BRUSH NEWS-TRIBUNE • CRYSTAL APPLE2

By Katie Collins

Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer

For some, teaching is sim-ply another job. To others itis an outlet through whichlives can be changed andpassions ignited.

For Brush Middle Schoolsixth grade language artsinstructor Dorothy Dick,

education is this and more.For her, every day is anadventure.

“Like many teachers,Dorothy gives selflessly ofher time,” wrote fellow sixthgrade teacher Brian Singley.“What makes her special isthe time she dedicates tobuilding positive relation-ships with her students

while holding them to highstandards for work andbehavior.”

“I try to encourage them toexplore different types ofreading and writing and tostep out of their comfortzone, so they can see whatthey can do instead ofalways looking at what theycan’t do,” said Dorothy.

A 1990 graduate of BrushHigh School and Beetdiggerthrough and through, thisBrush born-and-raisedteacher began her career ineducation by attendingNortheastern Junior Collegewhere she received anAssociate of Arts degreebefore earning herBachelor’s in ElementaryEducation, with an empha-sis on Social Sciences at theUniversity of NorthernColorado.

Dorothy then went on toearn her Master’s in EnglishLanguage Developmentfrom the University ofColorado-Boulder beforereturning to her roots inBrush.

When asked if she hadalways wanted to be ateacher, Dorothy responded,“I think I did,” with a remi-niscing smile. “I’ve alwaysworked with kids and Itaught swim lessons foryears. When I went to col-lege, I realized teachingwould be a great fit for me.”

“First and foremost,Dorothy is an outstandingteacher,” said fellow BMSteacher Lisa Uhrig of her col-league. “Each year studentsin her classes show growthon both state assessments

and NWEA tests becauseDorothy knows how to moveher students to the nextlevel. She works hard to planmotivating, grade-appropri-ate lessons and she makeslearning fun.”

Singley concurs, noting ofDorothy, “Her work ethichas consistently returnedsome of the highest CSAPscores in the district, butshe also makes time forher coworkers and isalways willing to lend ahand. As a teacher, she iswhat many professionalsstrive to be.”

For Dorothy, exposing herstudents to the outsideworld is one way she’s con-nected.

“I try to get them to see dif-ferent places and culturesother than Brush throughtheir reading and writing,”noted Dorothy.

According to Uhrig, thestudents enjoy Dorothy aswell. “Students enjoy herhumor and they enjoy herclass,” said Uhrig, “becauseshe truly enjoys teachingdynamic, ever-changingsixth graders.

But her dedication doesnot stop when the bell rings.

Dorothy Dick...Brush Middle School

Dedication and drive define passion for teaching

Katie Collins/News-Tribune

BMS Sixth Grade Teacher Dorothy Dick, a 2013 Crystal Apple Award winner, helps sixthgrade student Emily Lawler at BMS.

See Dick page 8

By Katie Collins


“A teacher is a lot like a coach,”noted Beaver Valley fifth gradeteacher Marcia Petterson. “You’rejust preparing them for tests and forlife outside of school,” and sheshould know.

As the mother of three Beetdiggerboys, most of this 26-year teachingveteran’s free time is spent chasingher own children to their sportingevents.

“Marcia is the consummate teamplayer,” wrote nominators JamiDewey, Lacey Hastings, DonnaLynch, Joyce Sperry and TheresaSchaffer. “In the past three years,Marcia has taught three grade levels.She did not hesitate to changegrades each year as that was whatthe school needed. Each year, ineach grade, her students showedexcellent academic growth and hercaring, kind and understanding waywith children and adults is remark-able.”

For Petterson, who grew up aKansas native in Marysville beforeattending Emporia State Universityin her home state to earn a B.S. inEducation, teaching not only runs inthe family, but was something shehad always saw herself enjoying.

“Yes, I had wanted to be a teachersince the time I was little,” remi-

nisced Petterson, whose husbandBob Petterson serves asSuperintendent for Weldon ValleySchools until he retires in 2013.“Back in those days, at the end ofthe year we could take the schoolbooks back home and I would playschool all summer long," she remi-nisced.

Petterson first began her careerteaching special education and sixthgrade in Wamego, Kansas, beforemaking the move to Wray where shespent 11 years as an instructor,teaching Title I reading and math aswell as third grade.

In 2002, when the couple moved toBrush, she continued teaching thirdgrade but with a large class of near-ly 130, was asked to move on withmany of those students to bothfourth and then fifth grades, makingher 26-year-long career full of vari-ety.

“I love my job most because it isalways fresh and changing, nevercan't,” said Petterson. “You alwayshave a fresh start and new classeach year and at the root of that isthe fact that I often have to evolveand change, and I enjoy that dynam-ic.”

When it comes to her class, thereis one motto that Petterson has reit-erated so often that students canfinish the sentiment.

“I tell them all the time, ‘Do the

right thing’ and they finish the latterhalf, ‘Because it’s the right thing todo’,” noted Petterson. “I follow thatup with lessons in being honest andrespectful.”

Although her three sons BJ, a for-mer Marine working at the BrushGrocery Kart, Alec, a sophomore at

BHS and Jeron, an eighth grader atBMS, all keep Petterson quite preoc-cupied, she does find time on rareoccasions for hobbies such assewing, quilting and hand crafts.

Also, she spends a great deal of

Marcia Petterson...Beaver Valley Elementary School

Team tactics and tenacity helps students soar

CRYSTAL APPLE • BRUSH NEWS-TRIBUNE • WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013 3

See Petterson page 8


Preparing students for test and ‘life outside of school’ is what Pettersonand the team at Beaver Valley Elementary School strive for.

By Katie Collins


“In our second grade hallway,”writes Thomson Primary SchoolPrincipal Dave Uhrig, “we have aframed document with the title, “TheCode of Ethics of the EducationProfession”.

Within the Preamble of this code,”he explained, “it states, 'We affirmour responsibility to practice ourprofession according to the highestethical standards'". It also states,“'We acknowledge the magnitude ofthis profession we have chosen…'. Iwould argue,” noted Uhrig, “that thetitle should read, “Codes MarciSanders Lives By”.

Although her 20-year-long teach-ing career has taken Sanders fromthe tip of Texas, to Cheyenne Wellsand then to Brush, and placed herbefore almost every grade level class-room from pre-Kindergarten toeighth grade (minus kindergartenand first grade), Thomson is morethan just a building, it’s a family.

“I have amazing kids,” saidSanders, “and always have. I tellthem on the first day of school thatthis is family. We depend on eachother and care for each other. Fromthe kids and their parents to theentire community, that connection issomething special to me and here wecall ourselves the Thomson family

for a reason,” she continued. “Theyare always there and have my backand I am a better teacher because ofwho I work with.”

Sanders also notes of her Thomsonfamily surroundings, “If you don’tlaugh here at least once in a day,you’ve missed out on something.”

When Marci and husband RobSanders, who currently serves as theSuperintendent for Merino Schools,were first married they found them-selves just nine miles north of theMexican border, near the Texas-tipfor two years before Marci becamepregnant with the couple's first oftwo sons.

It was then that the BurlingtonHigh School graduate and her hus-band decided to move closer to fam-ily and the journey took them toCheyenne Wells.

After earning her B.A. inElementary Education with anemphasis on Early Childhood fromUNC, and after 10-years of teachingelsewhere and two sons later,Sanders began a 10-year-long careerteaching in Brush where she beganteaching preschool before taking onthe task of educating secondgraders.

The career choice was natural forSanders, who comes from a long lineof teachers that include her grand-

Marci Sanders...Thomson Primary School

Thomson values exemplified in ‘Code of Ethics’



Thomson Primary School second grade teacher Marci Sanders utilizes the‘highest ethical standards’ when it comes to helping her students.

See Sanders page 7

By Katie Collins


“Don’t judge a book by itscover”, or so the adage goesand for Beaver ValleyLibrarian Brenda Schilz,looks can certainly bedeceiving.

Although from the outsidethe job of a librarian mayseem simple, a great deal ofduties and diligence arerequired.

From dealing with budg-ets, checking kids in and outeach day to ordering booksand compiling inventory andpurchase orders, maintain-ing a library is not for thefaint of heart. For Schilz,however, who now has 12years under her belt atBeaver Valley Elementary inBrush, spending a few extrahours each day with stu-dents in need of more one-on-one instruction in allaspects of life isn’t justanother duty but rather amission.

“Through 12 years here atBeaver Valley I’ve witnessedkids grow from third gradersto seniors,” noted Schilz,“and it’s wonderful to see

what they turn out like andwho they become.

Developing close friendshipswith the kids and seeing

them grow up around townhas been the best part of the

job.”For this Brush native it

was the anticipation of beingaround children that com-pelled the BHS Class of 1987graduate to become involvedin education.

“I loved being around kids,watching my nieces andnephews grow up, and Iwanted more time with myown kids,” said Schilz who,after earning an Associate ofArts in General Business atNJC, thought school mightmake for an excellent placefor her to nurture her pas-sion and talents.

“Brenda has shown theability to establish an excel-lent rapport with the otherstudents in the class,” wroteBeaver Valley CounselorJennifer Schlatter in hernomination of Schilz. “She isgenuinely interested in help-ing others and provides serv-ice in a consistently positiveand helpful manner in andout of the classroom and herwillingness has carried overto before school and afterschool,” finished Schlatter.

“She has stepped up andtaken on extra duties that

Brenda Schilz...Classified Staff

Extra time and effort spark student success



Brenda Schilz may serve as the librarian at Beaver Valley, but she has taken on addition-al duties in her 12 years at Beaver Valley Elementary School including helping studentsafter school.

See Schilz page 7


By Katie Collins


“If something breaks, wefix it,” explained BrushSchool District Maintenanceemployee ChuckBlackwelder after a recentsnow-filled morning hadcrews up plowing as early as3 a.m.

Although the job descrip-tion seems simple, there is alot involved in keeping upthe grounds of Brush’s fourschools.

From plowing snow tomaintaining and repairingsprinkler systems, wateringin the summer, buildingrepairs, HVAC and plumb-ing, Brush School District(BSD) maintenance workersare resourceful to say theleast, but that’s what 2013Crystal Apple District Awardwinner Blackwelder likesmost.

“I enjoy the versatility ofthe job,” he said. “Every dayis a different day. You neverknow what will come up andyou have to be able to jug-gle the schedule, because ifan emergency comes upyou may have to drop every-thing and take on a newtask.”

The can-do attitude thatBlackwelder, an 11-year vet-eran employee with BSD,has exhibited has not goneunnoticed by staff though.

“Chuck is a ‘get-it-done’guy,” wrote ThomsonPrimary teacher TraceySingley in her nomination.“He is at the beck-and-callof all of us that need itdone right now, which usu-ally requires him to setaside his current task totake care of an emergency.Yet, he remains courteousand friendly,” she contin-ued.

“Without this behind-the-scenes Crystal Apple candi-date, our district could notfunction. Most days, he hasto get it done as he worksaround classrooms andplaygrounds filled with stu-dents,” she concluded.

“You have to have a love forkids,” replied Blackwelder,“and you have to havepatience because they are allvery curious and are alwaysasking questions.”

Blackwelder grew up notfar away in Limon, wherehe was born, raised andbegan a long career infarming and ranching afterobtaining his Associate of

Applied Science degree inAgri-Business from NJC.

“I’ve always liked theBrush area,” he noted andhis many trips to Brush hadthe area feel much like homeeven before he made themove in 1999 and spentseven years in the area as anelectrician.

With one son and threedaughters, Blackwelderspends what free time hecan as a member of the St.Mary’s Catholic Church andis a member of the Knightsof Columbus there. In thesummer he also tries to taketime for hobbies like garden-ing and doing his own can-

ning. When asked how he felt

about winning the CrystalApple award for BSD,Blackwelder humblyremarked with a grin, “I’m agiver, not a receiver, but it isnice to be recognized and toknow someone out thereappreciates what you do.”

Chuck Blackwelder...District StaffMaintenance employee proves go-to guy for the district


The duties bestowed upon Chuck Blackwelder are numerous and varied, but that’s whatCrystal Apple District Staff winner enjoys about the job.


she is not reimbursed for,”Schlatter continued, adding,“Before school, she meetswith two students. Thisallows these students whoneed some more attentionto receive that time with asafe and welcoming adult.She is taking the time toteach these girls how toproperly do self care and willhelp the two students learnto do their own hair. Shetakes time to teach themhow to properly brush their

teeth and students learnhow to take care of theirbodies as a crucial part oftheir daily routine. Having apositive interaction with asafe adult enhances theirlearning environment,”Schlatter continued. “She isalways energetic and has apositive attitude, whichhelps create a warm andcaring environment for stu-dents. She can be strict andserious,” noted Schlatter,“but she can also laugh and

joke with them.”“Sometimes kids look at

the outside rather than theinner self,” respondedSchilz when asked about theextra time she devotes tothese students. “And helpingthem here with theseissues seems to helpimprove self-confidence,which is a wonderful thingto witness.”

Schilz also notes thatwhen a student loses his orher library book and she

realizes it is quite beyondtheir control and fault, dueto family experience, she’llallow the student to readand work off the overduefees.

“I tell my kids to live andlearn,” said Schilz whoseextra efforts to help studentsin need has earned her the2013 Crystal AppleClassified Staff award.

“Along with the two com-mittees Brenda sits on,”wrote Schlatter, “she also

volunteers to do bus moni-toring a few times per weekand this takes a lot ofpatience.”

Besides spending timethat she can with her daugh-ters Sarah Padilla, a collegestudent at Aims and KristaPadilla, who is graduatingfrom UNC in the spring of2013, and husband JamieSchilz, Brenda enjoys walk-ing and riding her bike dur-ing what free time she canmuster.

SchilzFrom Page 5

parents, parents, aunt and uncle. “When I was little I would beg to go

see my grandparents in Wichita,”reminisced Sanders, “so I could go toschool with them. I vividly recallgoing into my dad’s classroom withall his critters. I love everythingabout the job, but most of all thekids and watching that spark whenwhat they are learning clicks. I alsolove being able to impart knowledgeand to see them soak it up.”

From rewarding effort and hardwork for her students through a‘lunch bunch’ special, that hasSanders give out five tickets to eachstudent at the beginning of eachweek and has her students attemptto keep at least one of those withpositive behavior in order to eatlunch in the classroom, her motto of

‘the harder you work, the better youget’ is imparted.

“I love it and it is really a rewardfor me,” said Sanders, “because itgives me a chance to connect withthem other than on an academiclevel. I get to hear about their livesoutside of school, their weekends,their families, and projects they aredoing and more.”

In his nomination of Sanders,Principal Uhrig reiterated the codesthat Marci exemplifies, starting withPrinciple I being commitment to thestudent.

“She knows each child, their needsand what makes them tick,” wroteUhrig. “I have seen Marci working toplan for her students on the week-ends, in the evenings and on vaca-tion days and this is because she

devotes her time to the studentsduring the day. She meets her stu-dents for weekly lunch dates and thechildren love building this relation-ship with her.”

When it comes to commitment tothe community,Thomson PrimarySchool Principal, Uhrig noted ofSanders, “Marci is a member of ourschool leadership team and is therehelping to make the hard decisionsto move the school forward. She isan academic leader in our schooland has been integral in helpingbring best practice back throughtraining. She is also a member of ourschool’s Positive BehaviorIntervention System Committee, ateam that helps direct the positivebehaviors taught to our studentsand modeled by our staff.”

As for commitment to the profes-sion, Uhrig cited Sanders as anotherprime example, writing, “She holdsherself to a high level of profession-alism. Every day she walks in theschool, greets everyone with a bigsmile and hello. It is quiet strengththat touches every person shemeets, reassuring them that every-thing is going to be alright, no bettersaid – GREAT!”.

In her nomination, Traci Rudelalso praised her sons’ second gradeteacher, saying, “Where do I evenstart, she is the most loving, caring,understanding teacher I have everhad the pleasure of knowing, butmost of all she is amazing. Sheknows what it takes to get her stu-dents to learn but most importantlyshe makes them believe they can.”

SandersFrom Page 4


who didn’t have a club that fit themwell and she knew from a lot of herformer students they didn’t feelaccepted.

She strongly encourages anyone tojoin. “The Latino Leadership Club isopen to anyone,” she proudly stated.They put on dances, do communityservice…they read to ThomsonStudents and help serve at EbenEzer. Chacon also is in charge of theInternational Travel Club where stu-dents raise money all year to take atrip to Europe and tour amazingplaces, including Spain and France.

The students on the trip not onlylearn about culture but more impor-tantly, they experience it as well.

Along with these clubs you canfind Chacon volunteering to super-

vise activities.According to Kim Pabst, “Maria is

an exemplary employee at BrushHigh School. Maria is always willingto go the extra mile to give assis-tance with any project or activity atthe school.”

This year as well, she has taken onthe responsibility of sellingBeetdigger apparel at many of theathletic events.

Over the past four years, the stu-dents have grown very close to Mrs.Chacon. Her positive attitude andgenuine care for her studentsencourages them to learn.

Dylan Ferguson mentioned, “Sheis friendly to everyone and very funto be around.”

She is not just a teacher - she is

their friend too. She is always askingher students how they are, cheeringfor them at games, or attendingevents other clubs are putting on.

Maria Chacon gives endless hours

to BHS and her students and is verygrateful for her years of teaching asshe gets to share her culture withher students every day. Teaching isher passion.

ChaconFrom Page 1

time on school committees, servingon both the Calendar committee andthe Sunshine (a social) committeeand even spent time in previousyears with efforts to cross-referencestandards to curriculum.

“She is an exceptionally pleasantperson,” noted this 2013 BeaverValley Crystal Apple winner’s nomi-nators, “She goes out of her way togreet everyone she meets with asmile, is fair-minded and patient.

She exemplifies what teachersshould strive to be and Brush is verylucky to have Marcia,” they finished.

For Petterson, the honor is hum-bling.

“There are so many more deservingpeople,” she said with humility, “andbecause teachers don’t usually likethe limelight, we don’t often taketime to recognize each other, but Iam honored and humbled by theaward.”

PettersonFrom Page 3

“Beyond the classroom, studentslearn from Dorothy too,” reiteratedUhrig in her nomination form. “Sheis a student council advisor and shemanages the Brush Municipal Pool.”

Dorothy spends much of her freetime, when not with husband Ron,who works at Crop ProductionServices or with their childrenCassidy (10) and Brody (7), helpingthe local City of Brush RecreationDepartment during events and bymanaging the pool.

She has also served as a coach forvarious sports through the years,including coaching the fourth grade

girls traveling basketball squad andenjoys softball, watching her kidssporting events and gardening ashobbies.

“Inside the classroom and out,”Uhrig concluded in her nomina-tion, “Dorothy exemplifies a workethic that both students and fellowteachers desire to emulate.”

“I’m very, very honored,” respond-ed Dorothy when told she hadreceived the 2013 Crystal AppleAward for BMS. “I think there area lot who deserve this award and Iam extremely honored it’s veryhumbling.”

DickFrom Page 2


Thomson Primary - Anne Budde Beaver Valley Elementary - Rob Sanders Brush Middle School - Dave Uhrig Brush High School - Curt Miller District Employee - Barry Quinlin Classified Employee - Diane Wheeler Community Choice - Becky Loften - Brush High School English Teacher

Thomson Primary - Bev Bever Beaver Valley - Karl MagnusonBrush Middle School - Joy FriehaufBrush High School - John SchafferDistrict Employee - Corina SepulvedaClassified Employee - Karen LeisCommunity Choice - Bret Miles - Brush Re-2(J) Superintendent

Thomson Primary - Jeanette Dehning Beaver Valley - Gary Bloemker Brush Middle School - Amy Ely Brush High School - Laura KrobDistrict Employee - Dave MadsenClassified Employee - Toby PadillaCommunity Choice - Kendra Anderson - Principal of Thomson Primary

Thomson Primary - Kristi DillehayBeaver Valley Elementary - Jean TaylorBrush Middle School - Connie DreitzBrush High School - Barbara BolingerDistrict Employee - Hilary HansenClassified Employee- Connie HeadyCommunity Choice - John McDonald- Brush Middle School Music

Instructor

Thomson Primary - Sheila BostromBeaver Valley Elementary - Crystal RigelBrush Middle School - Monica GarciaBrush High School - Doree ThilmonyDistrict Employee - Virginia FoleyClassified Employee - Cindy PerezCommunity Choice - Theresa Schaffer - Beaver Valley Elementary

Fourth Grade Teacher

Thomson Primary - Tracey SingleyBeaver Valley Elementary - Julie ToftBrush Middle School- Pauline ArteryBrush High School - Danielle OdleDistrict Employee - Ed GagenClassified Employee - Penny HarbertCommunity Choice - The Late Jeff Mickey- Former Beaver Valley

Elementary Teacher

Thomson Primary - Shawn LoosBeaver Valley Elementary - Janie ChurchwellBrush Middle School- Brooke GuccioneBrush High School - Jennifer TaylorDistrict Employee - Bruce FyfeClassified Employee - Laura McConnellCommunity Choice - Jean Taylor - Brush Middle School Special

Education Teacher

2010-11 Crystal Apples

2004 Crystal Apples

2005 Crystal Apples

2006 Crystal Apples

2007 Crystal Apples

2008 Crystal Apples

2009 Crystal Apples

Thomson Primary - Mandy Brown Beaver Valley - Ann BloemkerBrush Middle School - Audra Unrein Brush High School - Jen GudahlDistrict Employee - Joe MattoranoClassified Employee - Esther AndersenCommunity Choice - Rose Reitz - District RE-J2 Bus Driver

2011-12 Crystal Apples


Congratulates the2012-13

Crystal AppleAward Winners!


"Our mission is to be the premier"Our mission is to be the premierschool district in Colorado,school district in Colorado,

ensuring that each student hasensuring that each student hassolid roots and agile wings tosolid roots and agile wings to

attain any dream." attain any dream." Mission statement of Brush School Distr ict Re-2(J)Mission statement of Brush School Distr ict Re-2(J)


2012-13 Crystal Apple by the Brush News-Tribune

Documents

highest ethical standards

international travel club

tribune crystal apple

tribune staff writer

brush middle school

thomson primary school

brush high school

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