Echoes from Cañon
Our Mission and Core Beliefs
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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.
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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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On Wednesday November 11th schools all over the district honored our nation’s Veterans by engaging current and former military personnel and conducting ceremonies and assemblies. The students at Cañon City Middle School gathered at their new flagpole just after 8 AM where some performed music and local Veterans were thanked for their service. Harrison K-8 held an indoor assembly where the Cañon City High School JROTC Color Guard made a special presentation and local Veterans were honored as well.
This week at Cañon Exploratory School students focused on our first core belief by participating in small group projects. Explorers collaborated to develop kindness campaign slogans. Students brainstormed ideas then created straw designs and presented them to their classmates. In the process they demonstrated our traits of collaboration, communication, and agency.
On Monday evening the staff and students of Washington Elementary School hosted the Board of Education by providing a student led tour of their new facility. Then, during the staff and student report section of the meeting, Michelle Taylor and Kaycee Hayes presented the progress of the school art program with assistance from some amazing student leaders.
This week at Cañon Exploratory School students focused on our first core belief by participating in small group projects. Explorers collaborated to develop kindness campaign slogans. Students brainstormed ideas then created straw designs and presented them to their classmates. In the process they demonstrated our traits of collaboration, communication, and agency.
On Monday evening the staff and students of Washington Elementary School hosted the Board of Education by providing a student led tour of their new facility. Then, during the staff and student report section of the meeting, Michelle Taylor and Kaycee Hayes presented the progress of the school art program with assistance from some amazing student leaders.
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Our Future Focus
At that meeting board meeting on Monday November 8th, Molly Merry and Todd Albrecht were sworn in as new Board of Education Directors of the Cañon City School District. Molly is a long-time community member and retired education innovator, having worked in and conceptualized both Garden Park Alternative High School and Madison School. Todd is a retired career educator who guided Cañon City High School’s vocal music programs to state prominence and dominance for decades.
Also at the meeting the staff of Cañon City High School presented 8 new courses to add to their pathways curriculum. These include Personal Finance, Tiger Production, Digital Photography, Emergency Medical Services 115, Catering, and Advanced Placement Government and Politics.
Also at the meeting the staff of Cañon City High School presented 8 new courses to add to their pathways curriculum. These include Personal Finance, Tiger Production, Digital Photography, Emergency Medical Services 115, Catering, and Advanced Placement Government and Politics.
Applying Our Traits and Skills
Also during our Board of Education meeting on Monday November 8th, at Washington Elementary School, the Cañon City School District dedicated space in the hallway of the new facility to long time staff member Gerald Williams. Gerald worked in a number of roles across 7 decades in our operations department. Sadly, he passed away on April 15, 2020 before the facility was completed.
Moving forward, as students, staff, and visitors enter the building and turn left, they will find the Williams Nook. It is signified by a beautiful plaque produced by Cañon City High School students, and it says this:
Gerald Williams was a stalwart member of the Cañon City Schools operations crew from 1959 through 2019. Upon his retirement in early 2019 after 60 years of outstanding service, Mr. Williams took a short vacation then returned to the district as a full-time volunteer, handling the mail route he had already worked for so many years. Mr. Williams lived for human interaction. He was a loving husband and a private and extremely humble man. His main interests were his family, the people he served, and his deep involvement in Masonic activities.
If you’ve been following the news you have seen Fremont County is dealing with a bit of a spike in COVID cases. The school district recognizes this and understands the best way to weather the situation is to encourage the practice of proven mitigation strategies. Wearing masks, which the district still has no intent to pursue as a requirement without being ordered by the state and/or county health departments, is one way to stem the spread. Having a high percentage of staff and students vaccinated is another. Thus, with the approval and availability of vaccinations for children as low as age 5, you’ll see the district making families aware of their availability. Some of these vaccination events will even take place on our campuses,. However, parents can rest assured we, nor the vaccination providers, will allow children to be vaccinated without parent approval.
Moving forward, as students, staff, and visitors enter the building and turn left, they will find the Williams Nook. It is signified by a beautiful plaque produced by Cañon City High School students, and it says this:
Gerald Williams was a stalwart member of the Cañon City Schools operations crew from 1959 through 2019. Upon his retirement in early 2019 after 60 years of outstanding service, Mr. Williams took a short vacation then returned to the district as a full-time volunteer, handling the mail route he had already worked for so many years. Mr. Williams lived for human interaction. He was a loving husband and a private and extremely humble man. His main interests were his family, the people he served, and his deep involvement in Masonic activities.
If you’ve been following the news you have seen Fremont County is dealing with a bit of a spike in COVID cases. The school district recognizes this and understands the best way to weather the situation is to encourage the practice of proven mitigation strategies. Wearing masks, which the district still has no intent to pursue as a requirement without being ordered by the state and/or county health departments, is one way to stem the spread. Having a high percentage of staff and students vaccinated is another. Thus, with the approval and availability of vaccinations for children as low as age 5, you’ll see the district making families aware of their availability. Some of these vaccination events will even take place on our campuses,. However, parents can rest assured we, nor the vaccination providers, will allow children to be vaccinated without parent approval.
Looking Ahead
This week we’ll investigate an opportunity to participate in a Math resource pilot, hold a Fremont County Multi-District Collaborative planning meeting with our partners from the RE-2 and RE-3 school districts, I’ll meet with Superintendent Designee Adam Hartman to more clearly define our roles for the spring semester, we’ll hold a monthly CCESPA officer touching base meeting, we’ll conduct our weekly directors meeting, Mr. Hartman will facilitate our monthly Instructional Leader Professional learning Community, and I’ll work on updating some by-laws for organizations the school district partners with.
As a side note, on Tuesday November 16th I hope to welcome my first grandchild Konor George Wels, to our family!
As a side note, on Tuesday November 16th I hope to welcome my first grandchild Konor George Wels, to our family!
Other Voices
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On Monday evening the Cañon City School District had an opportunity to thank Shad Johnson and Mary Kay Evans for their years of service on the Board of Education. They each served for 8 years.
Mr. Johnson ran for a seat in 2013 because he was seeking a way to serve the community. He says he always had a fond connection with students through his wife's role as a teacher and through his work with the annual Senior Fun-Fest, so he thought why not run take a shot.
Mrs. Evans ran because she feels our kids are our future and we have to develop in them the traits skills they need to adapt and compete in our world. She said, “I saw after working in probation for 32 years that most of my kids were not prepared. They did not feel they had any real support systems and many could not read. I wanted to run for the school board to see if I could make a difference in making sure we were addressing their social-emotional needs so they would feel accepted and could feel comfortable in seeking help and to fill the gaps in their reading skills.
At the time Shad and Mary Kay were seated, the district was reeling from steep budget cuts brought on by the Great Recession. Facilities were in desperate need of attention, employee experience steps had been frozen 6 times, and the school district had just lost a bond and a mill override election in extremely close contests.
Within two years of service on the board, they were also faced with replacing their superintendent of schools. By the end of their 8 year terms they had to repeat this process.
Mr. Johnson ran for a seat in 2013 because he was seeking a way to serve the community. He says he always had a fond connection with students through his wife's role as a teacher and through his work with the annual Senior Fun-Fest, so he thought why not run take a shot.
Mrs. Evans ran because she feels our kids are our future and we have to develop in them the traits skills they need to adapt and compete in our world. She said, “I saw after working in probation for 32 years that most of my kids were not prepared. They did not feel they had any real support systems and many could not read. I wanted to run for the school board to see if I could make a difference in making sure we were addressing their social-emotional needs so they would feel accepted and could feel comfortable in seeking help and to fill the gaps in their reading skills.
At the time Shad and Mary Kay were seated, the district was reeling from steep budget cuts brought on by the Great Recession. Facilities were in desperate need of attention, employee experience steps had been frozen 6 times, and the school district had just lost a bond and a mill override election in extremely close contests.
Within two years of service on the board, they were also faced with replacing their superintendent of schools. By the end of their 8 year terms they had to repeat this process.
Shad says, “the greatest thing I've learned on the board is to always listen, watch, learn and understand before trying to help or fix anything. Sometimes it just takes time to get a more complete picture, but it is invaluable when it comes to working on behalf of our students, staff, and community.”
Mary Kay says, “listen to other people's ideas and concerns, be open, think outside the box, treat others with respect in order to come to a consensus for the good of our kids.”
It’s safe to say Mary Kay also found a simple formula for being a successful board member. “If it’s good for the kids, it is good for the district!”
Though there were many challenges along the way, it’s safe to say Shad and Mary Kay have left Cañon City Schools better than they found it.
-They transitioned us through one change in superintendent leadership and have already set the table for a dynamic new leader to take the reins in July 2022.
-They supported board, administrative, and association decisions that led to recovering frozen experience steps, increasing health benefits for employees, expanding parental leave, offering low-cost childcare to employees, bringing counselors back into our schools, and placing the social-emotional wellness of our children first.
-They supported asking the community to invest in higher salaries, one-to-one technology, updated learning resources, and improved facilities, and through expert oversight, have ensured each of these promises was fulfilled.
-They guided us through two unexpected and extremely stressful pandemic years, not always agreeing on the actions we should take, but keeping the focus on what is best for kids at the forefront. In doing so, they have made sure we are ready to face ANYTHING as we move toward the future.
-They pushed us to revisit our district vision, and mission and gladly signed on to our core beliefs and profile of a graduate. So much so that each has even participated in judging student capstone projects. I think it’s safe to say Shad and Mary Kay, perhaps better than any board of education directors in Colorado, understand EXACTLY what it is they want our students to know and do before earning their diplomas.
Each has also made us proud. Both received Colorado Association of School Boards McGuffey Awards for career service to our board. They were also key members of the Governance Team that was named the 2019 Colorado All-State Board.
When asked to reflect on his service, Shad Johnson said “I’m most proud of our students and staff. They are simply remarkable and to get to work as a team to try to improve education outcomes, facilities, and our future outlook has made this an incredible experience for me I hope if someone is considering running they will do so with a heart that loves education, children, and people in general. Thank you Cañon City for allowing me to be a part of this incredible district.”
Mary Kay responded, “so much has happened in the last 8 years. How do I pick one thing? I really had nothing to do with any of this I am most proud of the way all of our staff has embraced our Core Beliefs and worked so hard to challenge our kids to be successful, which has shown up in the form of improved student achievement. I am also pleased that we embraced the Kindness Campaign and our Lindamood-Bell reading program which are two things that have begun to address my concerns as to why I ran for school board. My hope is we’ll continue these things with fidelity so our kids know we care and that we are doing all we can to help them be successful to face the future.”
She adds, “Thank you for allowing me to serve all of you. It has truly been an honor to see such dedicated staff! I love you all. I am not going away. My pledge is to continue to volunteer wherever you need help.”
Shad, Mary Kay, from all of us to both of you, we thank you for your service to the Cañon City Schools Community!
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you!
George S. Welsh
Mary Kay says, “listen to other people's ideas and concerns, be open, think outside the box, treat others with respect in order to come to a consensus for the good of our kids.”
It’s safe to say Mary Kay also found a simple formula for being a successful board member. “If it’s good for the kids, it is good for the district!”
Though there were many challenges along the way, it’s safe to say Shad and Mary Kay have left Cañon City Schools better than they found it.
-They transitioned us through one change in superintendent leadership and have already set the table for a dynamic new leader to take the reins in July 2022.
-They supported board, administrative, and association decisions that led to recovering frozen experience steps, increasing health benefits for employees, expanding parental leave, offering low-cost childcare to employees, bringing counselors back into our schools, and placing the social-emotional wellness of our children first.
-They supported asking the community to invest in higher salaries, one-to-one technology, updated learning resources, and improved facilities, and through expert oversight, have ensured each of these promises was fulfilled.
-They guided us through two unexpected and extremely stressful pandemic years, not always agreeing on the actions we should take, but keeping the focus on what is best for kids at the forefront. In doing so, they have made sure we are ready to face ANYTHING as we move toward the future.
-They pushed us to revisit our district vision, and mission and gladly signed on to our core beliefs and profile of a graduate. So much so that each has even participated in judging student capstone projects. I think it’s safe to say Shad and Mary Kay, perhaps better than any board of education directors in Colorado, understand EXACTLY what it is they want our students to know and do before earning their diplomas.
Each has also made us proud. Both received Colorado Association of School Boards McGuffey Awards for career service to our board. They were also key members of the Governance Team that was named the 2019 Colorado All-State Board.
When asked to reflect on his service, Shad Johnson said “I’m most proud of our students and staff. They are simply remarkable and to get to work as a team to try to improve education outcomes, facilities, and our future outlook has made this an incredible experience for me I hope if someone is considering running they will do so with a heart that loves education, children, and people in general. Thank you Cañon City for allowing me to be a part of this incredible district.”
Mary Kay responded, “so much has happened in the last 8 years. How do I pick one thing? I really had nothing to do with any of this I am most proud of the way all of our staff has embraced our Core Beliefs and worked so hard to challenge our kids to be successful, which has shown up in the form of improved student achievement. I am also pleased that we embraced the Kindness Campaign and our Lindamood-Bell reading program which are two things that have begun to address my concerns as to why I ran for school board. My hope is we’ll continue these things with fidelity so our kids know we care and that we are doing all we can to help them be successful to face the future.”
She adds, “Thank you for allowing me to serve all of you. It has truly been an honor to see such dedicated staff! I love you all. I am not going away. My pledge is to continue to volunteer wherever you need help.”
Shad, Mary Kay, from all of us to both of you, we thank you for your service to the Cañon City Schools Community!
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you!
George S. Welsh
