Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
This week I would like to highlight outstanding work nutrition services manager Heather Williams has been doing, first by applying to participate in, and now guiding her staff putting into action our summer food service program. For the first time we are not only providing on site meals at Cañon City High School, but delivering sack lunches to key locations in our community. The program is fully funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, allowing school age children to access a free breakfast and lunch each weekday. All costs of operation are paid through the program as operated though our nutrition services program and, thanks to the popularity of our new mobile drop off program, more students than ever are participating.
I also want to take a moment to thank board/superintendent secretary Colleen Carroll for the detailed work she has been doing completing our annual CDE discipline report. Submission is required prior to July 1st. Before the 2016-17 school year we made a significant effort to simplify reporting processes by creating uniform discipline indicators. However, we still have
kinks to work out. Colleen, I know this is a thankless job and I want you to know how much we appreciate all the hard work you put into it each year.
I also want to take a moment to thank board/superintendent secretary Colleen Carroll for the detailed work she has been doing completing our annual CDE discipline report. Submission is required prior to July 1st. Before the 2016-17 school year we made a significant effort to simplify reporting processes by creating uniform discipline indicators. However, we still have
kinks to work out. Colleen, I know this is a thankless job and I want you to know how much we appreciate all the hard work you put into it each year.
The Focus of Our Work
Last Wednesday at a special meeting our board of education approved contracts for a new principal and assistant principal to serve Harrison K-8 School.
Marne Autobee is our new principal. She is a graduate of Adams State University and the University of Phoenix with a masters degree in education leadership. As a teacher she instructed high school language arts and served several years as a school counselor. Mrs. Autobee’s administrative experience has all been in the Pueblo 60 School District, having first served as an assistant principal, and then principal for eight years at Goodnight K-8 School. Marne has also been an Administrator on Special Assignment for educator effectiveness and most recently served in the position of principal of Heroes K-8 Academy. We are thrilled to have such an experienced principal with a successful K-8 track record join our team.
Mrs. Autobee’s administrative partner will be new assistant principal Garrett Olguin, a CSU Pueblo and soon to be Adams State University master's graduate. Mr. Olguin is no stranger to the Cañon City School District, having served as a middle school teacher at Mountain View Core Knowledge for three years and then as a 7th grade social studies teacher and team leader at Harrison for five. Garret spent the last four years as a GED Academic Instructor at the Colorado State Penitentiary in an effort to earn better pay while he and his wife started to raise a family.
At Wednesday’s meeting the board also approved the contract of new Cañon City High School assistant principal Michelle Johnson. Mrs. Johnson is a graduate of both the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and the University of Texas, ultimately earning a master’s degree in education leadership. Michelle began her teaching career at North Middle School in Colorado Springs, then moved to Mitchell High School to teach social studies and English before becoming Dean of Discipline. She brings experience handling student discipline and an ability to implement the Capturing Kids Hearts program, for which she is a certified trainer. She also has plans to mover her three school age children here to Cañon.
Another area of focus for summer is facilities repair and improvement With now roofing repair work is taking place at Cañon City High School, thanks to a BEST grant we secured in May 2016. Because of great pricing director of operations Jeff Peterson has secured we have been able to cover more square footage through this process than we originally anticipated.
Marne Autobee is our new principal. She is a graduate of Adams State University and the University of Phoenix with a masters degree in education leadership. As a teacher she instructed high school language arts and served several years as a school counselor. Mrs. Autobee’s administrative experience has all been in the Pueblo 60 School District, having first served as an assistant principal, and then principal for eight years at Goodnight K-8 School. Marne has also been an Administrator on Special Assignment for educator effectiveness and most recently served in the position of principal of Heroes K-8 Academy. We are thrilled to have such an experienced principal with a successful K-8 track record join our team.
Mrs. Autobee’s administrative partner will be new assistant principal Garrett Olguin, a CSU Pueblo and soon to be Adams State University master's graduate. Mr. Olguin is no stranger to the Cañon City School District, having served as a middle school teacher at Mountain View Core Knowledge for three years and then as a 7th grade social studies teacher and team leader at Harrison for five. Garret spent the last four years as a GED Academic Instructor at the Colorado State Penitentiary in an effort to earn better pay while he and his wife started to raise a family.
At Wednesday’s meeting the board also approved the contract of new Cañon City High School assistant principal Michelle Johnson. Mrs. Johnson is a graduate of both the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and the University of Texas, ultimately earning a master’s degree in education leadership. Michelle began her teaching career at North Middle School in Colorado Springs, then moved to Mitchell High School to teach social studies and English before becoming Dean of Discipline. She brings experience handling student discipline and an ability to implement the Capturing Kids Hearts program, for which she is a certified trainer. She also has plans to mover her three school age children here to Cañon.
Another area of focus for summer is facilities repair and improvement With now roofing repair work is taking place at Cañon City High School, thanks to a BEST grant we secured in May 2016. Because of great pricing director of operations Jeff Peterson has secured we have been able to cover more square footage through this process than we originally anticipated.
Last Week
Last week I met extensively with Harrison Parent Teacher Association representatives, appeared on KRLN’s Morning Line with director of instruction Adam Hartman, worked on finalizing principal evaluations, attended a special school board meeting, had a series of individual meetings with several board members, met with staff about implementation of our School Counselor Corps grant, and attended a number of routine monthly meetings.
This Week
This week I’ll attend a summit we put together to make sure district employees understand how our current grant initiatives work together. I’ll also meet with Chris Mayberry from Lindamood-Bell about the results of our first year intervention implementations, attend a board work session and regular meeting, touch base with CCPD personnel, attend a Building Bridges for Quality Cañon City Schools meeting, participate in a Communities that Care board meeting, attend a monthly meeting with RE-2 superintendent Rhonda Roberts and Fremont DHS director Steve Clifton, and begin work on our federal programs grant application.
Thanks for listening once again.
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again.
George S. Welsh