Cañon City thrives through adventurous spirit, dynamic people, innovative schools, and historic charm.
Echoes from Cañon
Our Mission
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
Our Core Beliefs
1. We meet the social-emotional needs of all students, putting Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs before Bloom’s Taxonomy.
2. We believe learning growth matters most, requires risk-taking, and the work we do in our schools has the greatest impact on this.
3. We’re future-focused, believing the development of certain traits and skills will best prepare our students for ever-changing careers.
4. We emphasize what is good for kids over the needs and comfort of adults.
1. We meet the social-emotional needs of all students, putting Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs before Bloom’s Taxonomy.
2. We believe learning growth matters most, requires risk-taking, and the work we do in our schools has the greatest impact on this.
3. We’re future-focused, believing the development of certain traits and skills will best prepare our students for ever-changing careers.
4. We emphasize what is good for kids over the needs and comfort of adults.
Our Core Beliefs in Action

Congratulations are due Masen Gutormson and Peter Manfredo as they are Cañon City High School's latest Daniels Scholars. The Daniels Fund established the Daniels Scholar Success Program in an effort to support the success of each student and to strengthen relationships with their college and university partners. The program provides full-tuition coverage for honorees. Congratulations Masen and Peter!
Also this week, I'd like to offer a small sampling of some of the amazing work our teachers are doing to support student learning and to live by our core beliefs. There are, no doubt, hundreds of more examples that these three.
I wish to thank Harrison Science Teacher James Krumm for the work he did helping us secure a recent Care and Share shipment of non-perishable food for our many families in need. His advocacy resulted in a delivery of 700 bags filled to the brim with food and ready to be distributed through our backpack meals program. Thanks, Mr. Krumm!
Also this week, I'd like to offer a small sampling of some of the amazing work our teachers are doing to support student learning and to live by our core beliefs. There are, no doubt, hundreds of more examples that these three.
I wish to thank Harrison Science Teacher James Krumm for the work he did helping us secure a recent Care and Share shipment of non-perishable food for our many families in need. His advocacy resulted in a delivery of 700 bags filled to the brim with food and ready to be distributed through our backpack meals program. Thanks, Mr. Krumm!

In an effort to highlight some great work by her students, Cañon City Middle School Technology Teacher Tanna Miles created what she calls a virtual refrigerator door through Great Works Padlet to highlight the great work her students are doing. As she receives expert work she posts it to the website. Thank you so much for thinking outside the box, Tanna, and for taking the time to honor outstanding effort!
A thank you goes out to Cañon Exploratory School Teacher Ellie Brown who has taken it upon herself to write and deliver personal notes to all her students. She began doing so as an effort to encourage engagement in classwork and has found it to be quite a successful strategy.
Finally, on Monday, April 13th I sat in on a Lincoln School of Science and Technology staff meeting during a portion of time where every teacher shared the struggles they are facing engaging some of their students on digital classwork. I was extremely impressed by the efforts being made to reach out to EVERY family and to prevent students from falling through the cracks. Words can't express how much I appreciate their attentiveness to such details!
A thank you goes out to Cañon Exploratory School Teacher Ellie Brown who has taken it upon herself to write and deliver personal notes to all her students. She began doing so as an effort to encourage engagement in classwork and has found it to be quite a successful strategy.
Finally, on Monday, April 13th I sat in on a Lincoln School of Science and Technology staff meeting during a portion of time where every teacher shared the struggles they are facing engaging some of their students on digital classwork. I was extremely impressed by the efforts being made to reach out to EVERY family and to prevent students from falling through the cracks. Words can't express how much I appreciate their attentiveness to such details!
Our Future Focus

To support students who may need access to class and project materials while school buildings are inaccessible, on Tuesday, April 14th the district will hand out free supplies on a first-come, first-served basis at Cañon City High School. This will take place from 11 AM until 1 PM, or until they run out. This distribution will take place on the front steps of the high school. Items to be distributed will include paper, writing utensils, and a limited amount of craft supplies.
As support for community members who may be interested, I'm including updated information about all the ways local organizations are reaching out to the community to ensure food security during the COVID-19 crisis.
On Monday, April 6th the Cañon City Education Association and representatives from the Cañon City School District met electronically on to negotiate Master Agreement language. The process was positive and issues surrounding employee leave, class size, and collaborative decision making related to professional development and instructional technology were addressed. These tentative agreements will be brought to Association membership for ratification and the Board of Education for approval. Bargaining related to employee compensation will take place after the Colorado legislature approves a 2020-21 education budget. Because of the crisis, this may not happen until early June.
As support for community members who may be interested, I'm including updated information about all the ways local organizations are reaching out to the community to ensure food security during the COVID-19 crisis.
On Monday, April 6th the Cañon City Education Association and representatives from the Cañon City School District met electronically on to negotiate Master Agreement language. The process was positive and issues surrounding employee leave, class size, and collaborative decision making related to professional development and instructional technology were addressed. These tentative agreements will be brought to Association membership for ratification and the Board of Education for approval. Bargaining related to employee compensation will take place after the Colorado legislature approves a 2020-21 education budget. Because of the crisis, this may not happen until early June.
Our Focus on Safety and Wellness
This week we wish to thank the Colorado Mission of Mercy for delivering a van load of Personal Protective Equipment to Fremont County for use by essential employees. This was gratefully accepted by Amy Jamison and Sarah Miller from the Fremont County Public Health Department.
Override and Bond Progress
Though Colorado is under a Stay At Home rule, construction projects are allowed to continue, and good progress continues to be made at Cañon City Middle and Washington Elementary School. Last week Cañon City Middle School Principal Jesse Oliver took a tour of the facility and shared some pictures with us.
Last Week

Last week I participated in a bargaining session with the Cañon City Education Association on Monday. On Tuesday I phoned KRLN's Morning Line program for my monthly interview, conducted a directors meeting, and then attended a Colorado Safe Schools Resource Center meeting through a Zoom connection. On Wednesday I participated in an Opportunity Coalition legislative advocacy call, a regional superintendent Hangout meeting, and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman and I worked on calibrating mid-year reviews. On Thursday I attended the Pikes Peak Alliance meeting by phone and held a special principal meeting. On Friday I surfed some professional development sessions and had a CCESPA leadership touching base meeting.
This Week
On Monday morning I'll publish Echoes from Cañon, work with Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman and Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers to present a Colorado Education Initiative Homegrown Talent Initiative virtual workshop. That afternoon and evening Adam and I will work some more on building instructional program reviews and I'll attend a board work session and regular meeting. On Tuesday I'll touch base with Director of Student Support Services Paula Buser, hold a directors meeting, attend a CDE Federal Programs support meeting, hold a virtual Leadership Team meeting. On Wednesday I'll attend an area superintendent virtual meetings and a CASB COVID-19 information meeting. On Thursday I'll meet with Fremont County Director of Human Services Stacie Kwitek, I'll promote surveys designed to seek feedback from parents and students about the digital instruction we are offering, and participate in a meeting designed to write a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. On Friday I'll work on a variety of administrative tasks on my computer.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh