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
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The CCHS JROTC program had a busy weekend!
Terri Solano prepares for another early morning phone session.
I wish to thank Teri Solano, our Central Office Receptionist for the wonderful work she has done stepping in to fill the role of our district substitute caller whole we have been in a pinch. This work is integral to our providing great educational experiences for kids. Thank you, Teri!
Our Cañon City High School JROTC programs had an outstanding weekend! On Friday our color guard trekked to Colorado Springs to present the flag at the Colorado Association of School Boards opening general assembly. Meanwhile, the rifle team participated in the annual JROTC Postal Match. CCHS placed third nationally among all Army JROTC teams, 5th among all Brigade teams, third among all western region teams, and qualified for the JROTC Western Region Service Championship to be held in Chandler, Arizona in February. I also understand Tate Rutherford placed 4th out of 832 individual shooters in this contest. As if that all weren't enough, our Color Guard was also on hand to lead the annual Christmas Parade here in Cañon City on Friday evening!
I also understand our Pueblo Community College-Cañon City High School vocational automotive students achieved some important benchmarks last week. Mr. Duston reports thirteen of his mechanics made their first attempt at the ASE certification test, and ten of these students earned at least one certification. I also understand Kristy DeVore has now garnered a total of ten certifications! Students will have a second opportunity this spring to complete additional certifications.
Our Cañon City High School JROTC programs had an outstanding weekend! On Friday our color guard trekked to Colorado Springs to present the flag at the Colorado Association of School Boards opening general assembly. Meanwhile, the rifle team participated in the annual JROTC Postal Match. CCHS placed third nationally among all Army JROTC teams, 5th among all Brigade teams, third among all western region teams, and qualified for the JROTC Western Region Service Championship to be held in Chandler, Arizona in February. I also understand Tate Rutherford placed 4th out of 832 individual shooters in this contest. As if that all weren't enough, our Color Guard was also on hand to lead the annual Christmas Parade here in Cañon City on Friday evening!
I also understand our Pueblo Community College-Cañon City High School vocational automotive students achieved some important benchmarks last week. Mr. Duston reports thirteen of his mechanics made their first attempt at the ASE certification test, and ten of these students earned at least one certification. I also understand Kristy DeVore has now garnered a total of ten certifications! Students will have a second opportunity this spring to complete additional certifications.
Our Future Focus
The Board of Education with our 2019 CASB Student Leaders!
To say the Cañon City School district had a positive experience at this year's Colorado Association of School Boards annual convention would be an understatement. Beth Gaffney faithfully attended the New Board Member training strand, Board President Shad Johnson ran for and was elected to the CASB Board of Directors, our CCHS JROTC Color Guard presented the flag at the opening general assembly, a team of five CCHS scholars attended the Student Leadership strand and met and shared their experiences with the entire Board, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman, shad Johnson, Board Secretary Robin Reeser and I presented our Student Empowered Learning Framework visioning process to a packed breakout session, and Shad Johnson, Adam Hartman, and Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers presented a well-received breakout session on our high school capstone process. Of course, our Board of Education also received CASB's All-State Board Award while there!
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Cañon City was recognized as the All State Board of Education and presented two breakout sessions to full audiences.
Bond Progress
Lincoln School of Science and Technology student Trey Turner shared a speech he wrote about the benefits of the new playground.
Samuel Grantham spoke at the ribbon cutting.
Though it may not completely belong in this section of Echoes, last week we celebrated a number of benchmarks related to the overall improvement of facilities at Lincoln School of Science and Technology. Retired Principal Tammy DeWolfe was on hand to celebrate the completion of a number of ballot question 3B projects including new doors and windows, roof repairs, new classroom casework, a lockdown alarm system, and a secure entry system. Add to this the installation of new surveillance cameras thanks to a CDE school safety grant, and Lincoln is a much safer and more welcoming campus.
However, the major focus of last week's event was to celebrate the official opening of the new playground, installation of a beautiful community message board, and the completion of road, curb and gutter, and sidewalk work related to a Safe Routes to School grant the City and School District partnered in writing. The playground was made possible by a $300,000 Multigenerational Playground Grant issued by the Colorado Health Foundation.
However, the major focus of last week's event was to celebrate the official opening of the new playground, installation of a beautiful community message board, and the completion of road, curb and gutter, and sidewalk work related to a Safe Routes to School grant the City and School District partnered in writing. The playground was made possible by a $300,000 Multigenerational Playground Grant issued by the Colorado Health Foundation.
Last Week
The City Council is working with us to improve the safety and climate of Rudd Park.
Board President Shad Johnson ran for, and was elected to, the CASB Board of Directors.
On Monday I spent time at the office focusing on communication and finalizing a breakout presentation our board offered at the Colorado Association of School Boards annual convention. On Tuesday morning we held a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting and then I attended to School Safety Resource Center advisory board duties. On Wednesday morning we held our monthly Central Administrative Office staff meeting, I conducted an expulsion hearing, stopped by PCC-Fremont's tree lighting ceremony, and then attended a City Council work session. Thursday brought a Lincoln School of Science and Technology playground grant and Safe Routes to School completion ribbon-cutting ceremony, then I traveled to Springs to watch Board President Shad Johnson run for the CASB Board of Directors, attend a legislative connections reception, and attend the annual convention on Friday and Saturday.
This Week
On Monday morning I'll jump on a conference call with other districts applying for a local accountability pilot grant, I'll write this communication, and I'll spend the rest of the day with the Board of Education in a retreat, work session, and regular meeting. On Tuesday I'll meet with Director of Student Support Services Paula Buser, local law enforcement partners, conduct a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, participate in a District Leadership Team gathering, sit in on McKinley After School Academy Coordinator interviews, then attend the annual Fine Art of Christmas performance at Cañon City High School. On Wednesday I have a series of routine meetings, and on Thursday I'll participate in the interview committee for our next PCC-Fremont Campus Executive Dean. On Friday morning I'll attend a regional superintendent gathering and end my day celebrating the holidays with our central administrative office staff.
Other Voices
Larry Oddo congratulates his board colleagues on the International Hall stage at the Broadmoor.
On Friday in Colorado Springs, the Cañon City Board of Education was officially recognized as the All-State Board of Education. This took place at a ceremony at the Broadmoor International Hall and included a plaque and a check for $2,500 that the board can invest toward any future endeavor.
Outgoing President Larry Oddo was given the opportunity to say a few words. Here are the thoughts he shared:
What a tremendous honor to be recognized for the work we do on behalf of our kids and community!
We are very fortunate to have the people we have on this board, and that includes our two newest members. They are all genuinely wonderful people.
As elected officials, we generally do not get to choose who we work with. The community makes that decision for us. But we try our hardest to be the best team we possibly can because the work is important, and the stakes are high. We’ve been a work in progress since the day each one of us got elected, seeking to improve as individual board members and as a governing body, working with CASB on strengthening our team, listening to each other and respecting each other’s’ opinions which did not always align. Always landing together on decisions we could get behind without undermining the board as a whole. What we ALL agree on, however, is that we adhere to our established operating norms in good and in challenging times, we place a high priority on people, we believe the behavior of the board sets the tone for the entire district, we advocate for adequate and equitable funding of public education whenever and wherever possible, and we govern with an emphasis on what is good for kids over the needs and comfort of adults.
We believe learning growth matters most, requires risk-taking, and the work we do in our schools has the greatest impact on this. We are also future-focused, believing the development of certain traits and skills will best prepare our students for ever-changing careers.
As such, we have given our superintendent, Mr. Welsh, and his leadership team permission, if you will, to transform our schools and our community based on these beliefs, extending trust and respect to the professionals within Cañon City Schools to continually curate an innovative educational experience that is relevant and student-empowered.
Taking a look at just a few of our district’s recent successes: the 2019 Colorado Succeeds Prize for Excellence in STEM Education, being recognized as an Exemplar District featured by the Colorado Education Initiative as a must place to visit through the Homegrown Talent Initiative, the successful implementation of Pathways at our high school, a Governor’s Distinguished improvement award, the expansion of career and technical offerings coupled with an insanely robust internship program for a rural community, and statewide and even national recognition for our work in social and emotional learning.
As you can see, we are pretty comfortable placing that trust and respect where it is.
Encourage your leaders to lead with inspiration and your educators to innovate and have agency in their craft. Be frugal and creative in leveraging limited financial resources, and the rest will take care of itself.
Many of our recent successes would not have been possible without the support of our community. We highly value our community partners and work to establish and maintain those relationships.
As an example, Pueblo Community College partners with us to offer a roster of college-level courses resulting in the highest concurrent enrollment college credits earned per capita in the state. We also partnered with them to become the first rural school in the US to earn a P-TECH program, on a grant written by and submitted by our students.
Outgoing President Larry Oddo was given the opportunity to say a few words. Here are the thoughts he shared:
What a tremendous honor to be recognized for the work we do on behalf of our kids and community!
We are very fortunate to have the people we have on this board, and that includes our two newest members. They are all genuinely wonderful people.
As elected officials, we generally do not get to choose who we work with. The community makes that decision for us. But we try our hardest to be the best team we possibly can because the work is important, and the stakes are high. We’ve been a work in progress since the day each one of us got elected, seeking to improve as individual board members and as a governing body, working with CASB on strengthening our team, listening to each other and respecting each other’s’ opinions which did not always align. Always landing together on decisions we could get behind without undermining the board as a whole. What we ALL agree on, however, is that we adhere to our established operating norms in good and in challenging times, we place a high priority on people, we believe the behavior of the board sets the tone for the entire district, we advocate for adequate and equitable funding of public education whenever and wherever possible, and we govern with an emphasis on what is good for kids over the needs and comfort of adults.
We believe learning growth matters most, requires risk-taking, and the work we do in our schools has the greatest impact on this. We are also future-focused, believing the development of certain traits and skills will best prepare our students for ever-changing careers.
As such, we have given our superintendent, Mr. Welsh, and his leadership team permission, if you will, to transform our schools and our community based on these beliefs, extending trust and respect to the professionals within Cañon City Schools to continually curate an innovative educational experience that is relevant and student-empowered.
Taking a look at just a few of our district’s recent successes: the 2019 Colorado Succeeds Prize for Excellence in STEM Education, being recognized as an Exemplar District featured by the Colorado Education Initiative as a must place to visit through the Homegrown Talent Initiative, the successful implementation of Pathways at our high school, a Governor’s Distinguished improvement award, the expansion of career and technical offerings coupled with an insanely robust internship program for a rural community, and statewide and even national recognition for our work in social and emotional learning.
As you can see, we are pretty comfortable placing that trust and respect where it is.
Encourage your leaders to lead with inspiration and your educators to innovate and have agency in their craft. Be frugal and creative in leveraging limited financial resources, and the rest will take care of itself.
Many of our recent successes would not have been possible without the support of our community. We highly value our community partners and work to establish and maintain those relationships.
As an example, Pueblo Community College partners with us to offer a roster of college-level courses resulting in the highest concurrent enrollment college credits earned per capita in the state. We also partnered with them to become the first rural school in the US to earn a P-TECH program, on a grant written by and submitted by our students.
The 2019 Colorado All-State Board of Education.
Other community partnerships have resulted in the internship program mentioned earlier, a river science education program, and a school-based health center in our new middle school that will be available for students and staff.
No doubt our Mill Levy Override and Bond Issue would not have passed without the support and trust of our Citizen Committee and strong community ties, including those with our Charter School.
We have also assembled a cadre of community leaders under an ongoing Civic Canopy process to brainstorm and capitalize on various ways we can attract and retain quality staff, because we believe a qualified, engaged professional in the classroom is the single most important factor influencing whether a student receives the education he or she deserves, regardless of their zip code.
On a final note, we would not be the board we are without the superintendent we have and, therefore, share this award with him. We value George as a sixth member of the board, working collaboratively on developing and implementing a vision for the district, providing instructional leadership, identifying and developing talent, and following through on any and all good ideas brought to the table. Maybe a few goofy ideas too but that’s OK!
Upon his hiring, we created an established method of evaluation, on which we have even presented here at CASB, that provides George with honest and actionable feedback that helps him be a better superintendent and gives him the ability to focus on clearly stated board priorities. In turn, he challenges each of us to be the best board members we can be, pushing us out of our comfort zones and providing us with opportunities to enjoy and advocate for our schools, kids, parents, and educators in every arena possible.
We’ve had a good run.
We thank you again.
Larry Oddo
. . . Thanks, Larry, and thank you all for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
No doubt our Mill Levy Override and Bond Issue would not have passed without the support and trust of our Citizen Committee and strong community ties, including those with our Charter School.
We have also assembled a cadre of community leaders under an ongoing Civic Canopy process to brainstorm and capitalize on various ways we can attract and retain quality staff, because we believe a qualified, engaged professional in the classroom is the single most important factor influencing whether a student receives the education he or she deserves, regardless of their zip code.
On a final note, we would not be the board we are without the superintendent we have and, therefore, share this award with him. We value George as a sixth member of the board, working collaboratively on developing and implementing a vision for the district, providing instructional leadership, identifying and developing talent, and following through on any and all good ideas brought to the table. Maybe a few goofy ideas too but that’s OK!
Upon his hiring, we created an established method of evaluation, on which we have even presented here at CASB, that provides George with honest and actionable feedback that helps him be a better superintendent and gives him the ability to focus on clearly stated board priorities. In turn, he challenges each of us to be the best board members we can be, pushing us out of our comfort zones and providing us with opportunities to enjoy and advocate for our schools, kids, parents, and educators in every arena possible.
We’ve had a good run.
We thank you again.
Larry Oddo
. . . Thanks, Larry, and thank you all for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
