Dear STEM School Highlands Ranch Families,
We have some very exciting news to share with all of you. We had special visitors from the Colorado Department of Education and the DCSD School District today to recognize Tera Johnson-Swartz as one of seven finalists for the Colorado Teacher of the Year award.
CDE Commissioner Susan Cordova, along with Rebecca McClellan (Chair of the State Board of Education), Tiffany Anderson (Boettcher Foundation, Vice President of Grants and Awards), Erin Kane (DCSD Superintendent), Danny Winsor (DCSD Assistant Superintendent) and Gordon Mosher (DCSD Director of Choice Programming) joined STEM Executive Director LynAnn Kovalesky and STEM High School Director Ryan Alsup to share the news with her.
This year, CDE had more than 1,000 nominations and nearly 100 applicants, and Ms. Johnson-Swartz was one of the seven who represent the very best of teaching and learning here in our state.
During the nomination and application process, CDE heard from STEM parent Charlotte Baker that Ms. Johnson-Swartz has a remarkable ability to connect with her students and inspire a deep love of learning. STEM student Olivia Britt also shared that Ms. Johnson-Swartz makes students feel like they matter.
In addition to being recognized as one of our state’s exceptional educators, as a finalist, she will receive a gift of $1,500 funded by CDE and its partners at the Boettcher Foundation. STEM will also receive a $500 award to be used toward recognizing our amazing educators throughout the school year.
Congratulations Ms. Johnson-Swartz on this incredible honor!
Please help me in congratulating her for all that she has done during her time at STEM for our students.
In partnership,
LynAnn Kovalesky, STEM Executive Director
Ryan Alsup, High School Director