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

I noticed in Scott Morton's weekly McKinley Wildcat Tracks message he recognized three staff members for outstanding work.
First, kindergarten teacher Monica Kelly was thanked for her creative work on a Battle of the Books event by creating Golden Ticket Questions. Mr. Morton says, "this incentive has our kiddos extremely excited to read and then to be quizzed."
Mr. Morton also thanks Misty Sipma for a wonderful performance put on by the 1st and 2nd graders. He said the event was well done and well attended. He also thanked staff members Donna Biemiller, Elizabeth Beran, and Amelia Kostelny for supporting their students at the evening performance. "The students loved seeing each of you there!"
Finally, Mr. Morton thanked 5th-grade teacher Chris Braiden for representing McKinley so well by being the first staff member to complete 12 Technology Badges through our new professional development process. In Fact, she was the first to accomplish the task in the entire district! Congratulations, Chris!
First, kindergarten teacher Monica Kelly was thanked for her creative work on a Battle of the Books event by creating Golden Ticket Questions. Mr. Morton says, "this incentive has our kiddos extremely excited to read and then to be quizzed."
Mr. Morton also thanks Misty Sipma for a wonderful performance put on by the 1st and 2nd graders. He said the event was well done and well attended. He also thanked staff members Donna Biemiller, Elizabeth Beran, and Amelia Kostelny for supporting their students at the evening performance. "The students loved seeing each of you there!"
Finally, Mr. Morton thanked 5th-grade teacher Chris Braiden for representing McKinley so well by being the first staff member to complete 12 Technology Badges through our new professional development process. In Fact, she was the first to accomplish the task in the entire district! Congratulations, Chris!
Tana Miles and Dan Coppa were presenters at this year's iLearn Conference!

Huge thanks go out to Cañon City Middle School Technology Teacher Tanna Miles and District Instructional Technology Coach Dan Coppa for representing Cañon City Schools by presenting at this year's iLearn Conference. Tanna presented on the topic of "Using what YOU know (about technology): How to get started," while Dan was part of a panel of experts speaking to the topic of Student-Centered Learning.
I also hear there was an outstanding parent engagement session at Mountain View Core Knowledge School about immigration and family roots. Principal Karen Sartori reports, "2nd-grade parents absolutely loved watching the students talk about their family immigration stories. They brought in traditional foods and shared great conversations with the
I also hear there was an outstanding parent engagement session at Mountain View Core Knowledge School about immigration and family roots. Principal Karen Sartori reports, "2nd-grade parents absolutely loved watching the students talk about their family immigration stories. They brought in traditional foods and shared great conversations with the

students, other parents, and staff." She adds, "this is how you build community and relationships with the parents of your students. Give them opportunities to come into the school, get involved in the learning process, and build rapport with our staff as well." Great work here, MVCKS staff!
Finally, the Harrison School Knowledge bowl team participated in the regional Optimist Bowl last weekend and placed 4th! This means they have qualified to participate in the Clorado State Knowledge Bowl Meet that will take place on March 7th. Congratulations are also due Knowledge Bowl Sponsor Crissy Bobbit on a fantastic job! Way to go Hawks!
Finally, the Harrison School Knowledge bowl team participated in the regional Optimist Bowl last weekend and placed 4th! This means they have qualified to participate in the Clorado State Knowledge Bowl Meet that will take place on March 7th. Congratulations are also due Knowledge Bowl Sponsor Crissy Bobbit on a fantastic job! Way to go Hawks!
Our Future Focus

The Cañon City High School Computer Assisted Design and Drafting class has had many amazing achievements over the years. However, this year Scott Smith's students actually swept the awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in EVERY category! Yes, CCHS Tigers took all the top spots in the categories of Mechanical Working Drawings, Technical Illustration Mechanical, Architectural Presentation Drawing, Architectural Working Drawings, and even the annual poster contest. Incredible!
On Tuesday, February 18th, we conducted an Instructional Program Review at Cañon City High School.
While there, we saw many wonderful things, some I'd like to specifically highlight here:
On Tuesday, February 18th, we conducted an Instructional Program Review at Cañon City High School.
While there, we saw many wonderful things, some I'd like to specifically highlight here:
- We recognized the incredible work staff has been doing preparing for Capstone for all.
- We recognized the years of work the staff has already invested to prepare the Class of 2021 for Colorado's revised graduation requirements.
- We thank the staff for tailoring coursework that fits the needs of students within each unique career pathway.
- We noticed CCHS has increased access to advanced classes by removing traditional barriers to entry.
- We noticed how Cañon City High School offers more post-secondary learning opportunities for students and supports more completion of such coursework per student than any high school in the state of Colorado.
- The school is offering outstanding opportunities and excellent instruction in vocational trades. This is done in an extremely engaging fashion and has increased the entire community's value in what our vocational programs have to offer students.
- We recognized many teachers are being quite thoughtful about their efforts to more deeply engage all students in lessons.
- It is clear Cañon City High School is a nationwide pacesetter in terms of providing social-emotional support to students in a high school.
- We observed staff openly encouraging students to take positive academic risks in front of their peers.
- We saw generally effective use of technology, and the staff’s willingness to take personal risks to grow on this front.
- We recognized how instructional paraprofessionals are among the strongest and most savvy Mobile Guardian users in the school.
- We saw teachers employ inquiry-based strategies to elicit student responses, and lessons where students are being asked to teach concepts, which deepens their personal learning.
- We observed a very inclusive atmosphere for special education students. Some are doing simply amazing tasks, especially in career and tech-ed courses.
- We took note of the growth of the annual SELF Expo and its demonstration of Project-Based Learning instructional strategies. This has led to increased rigor and relevance by employing driving questions.
- Everyone expressed appreciation and value for CCHS's excellent security team.
- We were excited to hear about the coming of an Advanced Maker Space in the technology wing, and encourage all subject area teachers to make use of it.
- We observed and learned about an extremely inclusive attitude of PE and athletic staff that goes beyond simple physical activity and enters the realm of raising fine young men and women who make good personal choices.
- We noticed how the entire staff continues to manage an incredible pace of change, and recognize much of this is being driven by the staff itself.
- We also recognize that in the last five years, Cañon City High School's graduation rate has improved from 73 to 87 percent. This means more kids are staying engaged in their schooling for longer.
- Finally, this school has been more successful at acquiring additional resources than any in our district. Here is a quick inventory of what we were made aware of:

-Increased Carl Perkins Grant investment now at $40,000 annually.
-CTA state reimbursement of $159,000.
-CTE Certification Reimbursements for a total of $179,000 earned this year.
-A prestigious Succeeds Prize garnering $15,000 for Systems Go.
-Homegrown Talent Initiative exemplary school status garnering a $25,000 honorarium.
-A Fremont County DHS FIOG Grant for $15,000 toward purchasing a greenhouse.
-A Gates Foundation award of $100,000 to be used to certify teachers to instruct Early College
-A Local Accountability Pilot Grant worth $75,000
-A Youth Connections SEL support grant worth up to $450,000 over 3 years
. . . and to top it all off, principal Bill Summers mentioned the Colorado Education Initiative has asked Cañon City High School to serve as an exemplar school for its Innovative Schools program which will likely garner another $25,000 honorarium.
-CTA state reimbursement of $159,000.
-CTE Certification Reimbursements for a total of $179,000 earned this year.
-A prestigious Succeeds Prize garnering $15,000 for Systems Go.
-Homegrown Talent Initiative exemplary school status garnering a $25,000 honorarium.
-A Fremont County DHS FIOG Grant for $15,000 toward purchasing a greenhouse.
-A Gates Foundation award of $100,000 to be used to certify teachers to instruct Early College
-A Local Accountability Pilot Grant worth $75,000
-A Youth Connections SEL support grant worth up to $450,000 over 3 years
. . . and to top it all off, principal Bill Summers mentioned the Colorado Education Initiative has asked Cañon City High School to serve as an exemplar school for its Innovative Schools program which will likely garner another $25,000 honorarium.
Our Focus on Traits
At a recent basketball game, Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers addressed spectators in the Tiger Dome about the Cañon City School District's trait of Civility, and encouraged all observers to to behave in a way that best exemplifies this trait. Click on this video to hear his comments, or go to this link: https://youtu.be/99spTveK3UE
Our Focus on Safety and Wellness

Cañon City Schools is focused on the social -emotional wellness of its students. However, in order to do this work well, staff needs to be taken care of also. Harrison School's Health and Wellness committee has been workign hard all year to support its staff. Last week, they sponsored a self defense training by Retired Cañon City Police Department Officer Niel Tyler, owner of Nova Defense. This was well attended and gave staff members the opportunity to learn and try out basic self defense moves. I understand even Dirctor of Student Support Services Paula Buser attended this event. Great work!
Last Week

I started this week by writing another Echoes installment. I then participated in an Aspen Institute focus group session on school reform. On Tuesday I attended a local accountability reform pilot phone conference and then participated in our annual Cañon City High School Instructional Program Review, conducted a director evaluation, and attended a reconvening of our Civic Canopy cohort to launch the Cañon Thrives website. I started Wednesday at a Fremont Economic Development Corporation board meeting, attended a DHS FIOG meeting, conducted a follow-up investigation related to student discipline, and held another director evaluation. On Thursday I was in Denver working on mill equity legislation. On Friday I conducted an expulsion hearing, attended a special meeting about behavior issues at Rudd Park, attended a McKinley Elementary early release PD session, and met with Board President Shad Johnson about my evaluation.
This Week
We'll conduct Washington Elementary and Harrison School Instructional Program Reviews on Monday and Wednesday. Late Monday afternoon we'll hold a Board Work Session, a student engagement session, and our regular meeting. On Tuesday we have a director meeting, an instructional Leader PLC, and a meeting with Fremont County Department of Human Services leadership. Cañon City High School will host a leadership team visit from the Holyoke School District of Wednesday, and we'll end the day with a Calendar Committee meeting. On Thursday and Friday, I'll be in Denver with Board Secretary Robin Reeser at the Colorado Association of School Boards winter legislative gathering.
Other Voices
I received this message from Cañon City High School teacher Brianna Heifner earlier this week.
Hi George,
My name is Brianna Heifner, and I am the speech and debate coach at the high school. I was wondering if, in the next Echoes, you could put in a word about the free public showcase that the speech and debate team is offering next week?
It's on February 27th at 6:30 PM in the CCHS Auditorium. There is no charge, though donations will certainly be accepted. This will be an opportunity for the public to see what we do as a team all season.
Thank you for your consideration!
Thank you, Brianna, for all your hard work. I hope the community comes out in force to support our young men and women!
. . . and thanks to all for listening once again.
George S. Welsh
Hi George,
My name is Brianna Heifner, and I am the speech and debate coach at the high school. I was wondering if, in the next Echoes, you could put in a word about the free public showcase that the speech and debate team is offering next week?
It's on February 27th at 6:30 PM in the CCHS Auditorium. There is no charge, though donations will certainly be accepted. This will be an opportunity for the public to see what we do as a team all season.
Thank you for your consideration!
Thank you, Brianna, for all your hard work. I hope the community comes out in force to support our young men and women!
. . . and thanks to all for listening once again.
George S. Welsh