"I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard." -- Malala Yousafzai
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Women's History Month 2022 Submissions |
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In honor of Women's History Month, we asked the DPS community to tell us about a woman in DPS who has made a positive impact. Check out a few of the stories below and read all of the uplifting submissions here, celebrating the incredible women who serve our students, staff and families.
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Patricia Throckmorton
ELA-S Math teacher for Newcomers, Hamilton Middle School
“Her passion and commitment to Newcomers inspires me everyday. She goes above and beyond to support students who are still adjusting to their new school. Mrs. T (as her students call her) has created strong connections with her students and their families, becoming a trusted adult for many of them. For those students who do not advocate yet for themselves, Mrs. T has a voice and comforting words to make them feel welcome and loved.” -- Johanna Melo Laffey
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Mildred Reyes
AP Spanish Language & Culture and Spanish Language Arts Teacher, North High School
“Mildred is a model of commitment for supporting Hispanic students and families. Her kindness and her beliefs that every one of them can make it to college and push themselves to the higher level are astonishing. Every day, many students stop by her door to give her a hug, to start with her love before they go to their classes.” -- Dr. Martin Hernandez
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Destini Baldonado
Math/Science Teacher & DCTA Representative, West High School
“I have never met someone who works as hard as Dez. Though she joined our team during the pandemic, she has proven herself to be a real force. She embraces every student, creating an engaging and magical environment for their learning. She especially makes our LGBTQ+ students feel welcome and loved. She manages many roles -- like ILT, STL, SLT, and DCTA Rep. -- in addition to teaching amazing lessons for her students. I'm not sure how she juggles it all but she is a sure powerhouse. I aspire to be as organized and creative as she is. She has been embraced by the West family and it is my pleasure to work with her. The Cowboy grit shines through her every day.” -- Kris Bethscheider
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Liz Jagiello
Executive Assistant, Student Equity & Opportunity
“Liz has supported the work of SEO for over 15 years. She has a passion for equity and students first. She is hardworking, funny and dedicated to DPS. My life has been enriched by having her in it!” -- Ellen Kelty
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Want to learn more about Women's History Month and access resources that you can use in the classroom? Visit the Cultural Moments page on The Commons.
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Our DPS Equity Statement
Racial and Educational Equity is our collective responsibility. We will achieve equity when we dismantle deeply rooted systems of oppression that have historically resulted in inequitable access and distribution of opportunities and resources for those who represent marginalized identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, language and ability. We will create conditions where we all belong, are included, have clear purpose (why) and have the autonomy to lead in our respective areas. By creating these conditions, we will eliminate the predictability of success or failure for our students and team members.
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Each month, we'll showcase celebrations big and small, and the work being done to create more equity for students and team members throughout DPS. Share what you and your team have been doing to make a change for a more equitable DPS here.
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New School-Based Health Center at George Washington High School Provides No-Cost Healthcare to Students |
In partnership with Denver Health, DPS celebrated the grand opening of the George Washington School-Based Health Center in February.
“These clinics provide primary care services to students in an environment that is familiar, convenient and safe,” said Dr. Steve Federico, Director of General Pediatrics at Denver Health. “Our hope is that students will be able to access necessary medical care without missing class and will be encouraged to employ healthy choices every day.”
Denver Health Pediatrics at DPS operates 19 primary care clinics within select school buildings, providing a full complement of primary physical and behavioral health care to students while minimizing missed classroom time. This partnership spans 30 years and serves over 10,000 students annually.
"We are very excited to open the Denver Health School-Based Health Center at our school,” said George Washington High School Principal Dr. Kristin Waters. “We know that this center will be a huge benefit to our school and the surrounding community by providing no-cost health care for all DPS students.”
Students can easily access appointments for general physicals, routine lab tests, immunizations, prescriptions and medications; care for chronic conditions such as asthma, care for acute injury and illness; and individual, group and family mental health counseling, among other needs.
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César E. Chávez 21st Annual Celebration March |
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César Chávez was a Chicano leader who fought for civil rights and the labor movement in the 20th century, and his legacy holds a special place in Denver. Our city commemorated Chávez’s birthday as a holiday more than 20 years ago, many years before it was declared a national holiday in 2014.
The César E. Chávez Peace and Justice Committee of Denver began honoring the late leader in 2002. His memory continues through the work of the community. Each year, we march to honor the spirit of Cesar Chavez. Following the march is a program that includes an awards presentation, poetry, art, music, speakers, dancers and food.
Join the César E. Chávez Peace and Justice Committee of Denver at the 21st Annual Celebration on Saturday, April 2. The Marcha begins at 10 a.m at the Regis Chapel and ends at the César E. Chávez Park, 4131 N. Tennyson St. The program and awards ceremony in the park begins at 11:15 a.m.
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Pat Hurrieta
Principal, Grant Ranch Elementary
Equity
"Pat Hurrieta was instrumental in my life because she wanted to improve our bilingual program and our teaching of English for all of our students at Godsman Elementary. As principal then, she brought in the Literacy Squared BUENO Center Project from CU Boulder where we worked over a five-year period to improve and develop our bilingual program. In addition, she introduced the GLAD program, which impacted and improved how we taught the English language in all contents. I believe that Pat's open, innovative outlook and her love of social justice made me a much better, more skilled teacher and gave the Godsman community and students invaluable resources."
-- Caitlin Goodson, Gust Elementary
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Calendar of Upcoming Events |
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