Colorado Department of Education presents nearly 700 awards recognizing schools, districts
The event celebrated schools and districts that received awards for the 2023 and 2024 school years, in categories recognizing academic achievement and student growth, among other things.
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'Behind every one of these awards is a story of hard work, heart, and hope,' State Board of Education Chair Rebecca McClellan said in a statement. 'These schools and districts are shining examples of what's possible when educators, students, and families come together with a shared purpose—to help every child thrive.
The awards were presented by McClellan, Vice Chair Yazmin Navarro, Board member Lisa Escárcega, Board member Kathy Gebhardt and Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova.
Did your school win an award? The full list of winners can be found here.
The awards seem to follow a positive trend of upward growth for education in Colorado, with data released in January from the 2023-2024 school year showing the state's four-year high school graduation rate and student drop-out rates improved.
CDE noted at the time that the growth was not equal among all student groups, with students experiencing homelessness, students from migrant families, students with disabilities, multilingual students, students in foster care and male students not reaching the statewide graduation rate of 84.2%.
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Four schools from Colorado were also designated as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education last September, including DSST: Cedar High School in Denver, Mesa View Elementary School in Grand Junction, Skyview Middle School in Pueblo West and Zach Elementary School in Fort Collins. The schools were also presented with awards at Friday's event.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
How a federal monument's new welcome center in Maine honors Native Americans
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Dubbed 'Tekαkαpimək' (pronounced duh gah-gah bee mook), which means 'as far as the eye can see' in the Penobscot language, the contemporary wood-clad structure atop Lookout Mountain provides a stunning view of Katahdin, a mountain of key importance to Penobscot Nation, one of four Wabanaki Confederacy tribes in present-day Maine. 'It's a sacred mountain. For Penobscot people, it's really the heart of our homeland,' said Jennifer Neptune, a Penobscot who contributed artwork and written interpretations for the exhibits. Reflecting the land's Native stewards Philanthropic funds covered the construction costs and land purchases for the monument, which is now now maintained by the park service. Tekαkαpimək donors included L.L. Bean, Burt's Bees and the National Park Foundation, funneled through the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, along with the Quimby family. Quimby sold Burt's Bees, maker of lip balm and other products, as she turned her attention to philanthropy. Off the grid and reachable only by unpaved roads, the center features an amphitheater and eastward lookout for sunrise ceremonies led by the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes, known collectively as the 'people of the dawn.' The vista stretches over land the tribes traversed for thousands of years. The other side faces Katahdin, which at 5,269 feet (1,606 meters) is Maine's tallest peak. Inside, exhibits and artwork teach visitors about birch bark canoes, ancient fishing techniques, the night sky and local wildlife, with translations in Wabanaki languages. Floor tiles reveal an intricate map of tributaries to the Penobscot River, which flows past the island home of the Penobscot reservation to the ocean. 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Another pivotal moment came after the unveiling of the first welcome center design, which Neptune said was inspired by a New England farmhouse-style structure that once served loggers in the area. Tribal representatives felt the design smacked of colonialism and oppression, Neptune said. Lawyers were brought in to protect tribal heritage and intellectual property, while the non-natives involved made deeper efforts to understand Wabanaki culture, and the architect collaborated with an expanded tribal advisory board on a new design evoking a moose's antlers, inspired by a story of a tribal hero. James Francis, the Penobscot Nation's tribal historian, hopes this collaboration serves as a template for future projects involving Native Americans. 'The real achievement of this project was the connection to Maine and how it was done — bringing in the Wabanaki people and giving them a voice,' he said. Would Thoreau approve? 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Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
EWSWA to deliver Green Bins to phase 1 municipalities starting July 21
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It will be looked at to be expanded at some point, including the potential at schools and businesses. · It will be up to each municipality to manage its current garbage collection schedule, and determine if they want to go to bi-weekly in the future. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
NPSC welcomes new Indigenous Student Trustee
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