Dear Middle School STEM families,
It is with great excitement that I write this letter welcoming you all to the 2022/23 school year! I am honored to continue to lead our extraordinary middle school students, our dedicated staff, and our supportive school community. I feel very fortunate to be starting my eleventh year at STEM School Highlands Ranch, and I am humbled that you have chosen to entrust your most valued assets in our care.
I have been dedicated to the field of education for more than twenty-five years. I have worked with students ranging in age from Kindergarten through 12th grade in various roles. I have been a drama teacher, a school musical choreographer, an English Language Arts teacher, a Department Chair, an Instructional Coach, and a Professional Development Coordinator. It is truly exhilarating to share my skills as an educational leader and partner in education with you to ensure the success of our students.
Personally, my husband and I have lived in Colorado for 20 years. I have three daughters, one who graduated from UC Santa Barbara, one who just graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, and my baby, who will be starting Cal Poly in a few weeks. I have been skiing since the age of 3 and try to get to the mountains as much as I can. I love to play pickleball, read, hike, and celebrate with friends and family.
I view education as a life-long process, and I cannot think of a time that I have not been enrolled in some type of class, workshop, professional development or certification. In fact, each day I walk into your student’s classroom, I learn from our staff and our students. I expect that I will continue to learn at STEM for many years to come.
Most importantly, students are and will always be at the center of all school-related decisions. I am excited to continue in my role as director, to hone my skills, continue to listen and learn, and continue to provide a world-class education to our students. It is an honor to work alongside LynAnn Kovalesky, our Executive Director, and the rest of our incredible team.
Because the relationships between families and the school are paramount to the success of our students, I encourage you to become involved in any possible way. I am excited to kick this year off and see you all at our Back to School Night. I am truly looking forward to our best year yet!
Warm Regards,
Maura Ridder, Middle School Director