DCSD Notebook

If you could learn how to learn better or, if you have kids in school,  help them unlock proven strategies to ensure they get the most out of school, would you want to hear more about that?  Here on the DCSD Notebook podcast from the top-scoring school district in the Denver area, we’re going to devote the next three episodes to a deep dive into the AVID program. In this episode, we’re going to st...

In this episode, host Amy Pfister and her guest Nikki Brooker, founder of YANA — You Are Not Alone, are talking about something that so many parents experience but don’t always talk about — how to find your community (as a parent) during your child’s school years. YANA is a local nonprofit which Brooker created to help parents connect, share, and realize that none of us are meant to do this journe...

School psychologists play an important role in providing Pre-K through 12th grade students mental health services including evaluations, counseling, academic and behavioral intervention, safety assessments and support, and crisis response. They are trained in psychology, child development, and education. The growing mental health crisis, paired with an increased need for school psychologists, has...

In any school district, student engagement and involvement can be seen as a three-legged stool of academics, activities and athletics. In DCSD, two of those three legs are supervised, along with student leadership, by our guests for this episode: Derek Chaney, director of Activities, Athletics, and Student Leadership, and Brad Wiidakas, assistant director for the department. Both have been with DC...

This is the second of two chapters in the DCSD Notebook regarding bullying prevention. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and this Parent University episode, hosted by Community Relations Coordinator Amy Pfister, features three members of the DCSD Health, Wellness and Prevention team. They discuss ways they, as professionals as well as mothers, deal with the challenges presented by bul...

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and the DCSD Notebook will have two chapters. This week's chapter features a panel of district and school leaders discussing what bullying is and what it isn’t; how schools work with families to investigate and address issues of bullying; resources available to parents; and the legal requirements that all schools face when dealing with these complex i...

In this month’s edition of Parent University, we’re talking about one of the best community spots around — the public library! If you think the library is only about checking out books, you’re missing A LOT. The library is full of fun programs, cool resources, and opportunities that can support children’s learning and give families new ways to connect. Our guest is Jaime Gotlieb, community service...

Kindergarten teachers have an incredibly important job: They teach small children how to become students and get the most out of school (not to mention welcoming parents into the school community). Is that pressure or a treasured privilege? Listen to the genuine joy and laughter from a pair of kindergarten teachers from Bear Canyon Elementary, along with their inspiring principal, and you’ll have...

Guest: Ashley Sommers, Executive Director of The Foundation for Douglas County Schools Topic: As the official nonprofit partner for DCSD, The Foundation for Douglas County Schools is active year-round in support of students and educators, from back-to-school supply drives to the Apple Awards, Perseverance Scholarships and much more. Notes:  The Foundation’s Three Pillars Apple Awards (nominations...

Guest: Lisa Stull, Licensed Clinical Therapist and Owner of Parker-based practice, Comprehensive Counseling Solutions . Topic: Tools and tips for parents to help children who have anxiety over the start of the new school year. Notes  Download a four-page resource guide from CCS titled Back-to-School Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Support & Resilience   CCS is hosting a live and virtual “Back to...

Guests: Assistant Superintendent Danny Winsor; Director of Legacy Campus Rex Corr, Ed. D.; Assistant Director of Postsecondary Readiness Keri Stuebinger Topic: Programs to prepare students for enrollment, employment or enlistment after high school Notes: Every industry has its terms, acronyms and abbreviations. Here are some from the education world that were mentioned in this episode: ACC: Arapah...

Guest: Superintendent Erin Kane Topic: Big plans for the new school year Notes: Supt. Kane’s biographical listing on The Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship : "Erin Kane is Superintendent of Douglas County School District, one of Colorado's largest and top-performing districts. A leader in academic excellence and innovation, she has improved test scores, expanded CTE and AI, and boosted sta...

Guest: Amy Pfister, DCSD Community Relations Coordinator Topic: The Senior Gold Card program Notes: The Douglas County School District Senior Gold Card is now available to Douglas County residents age 60 and older. The Gold Card offers our senior neighbors FREE admission to most DCSD home athletic events and most student fine-arts performances including plays, concerts and choir performances. We’r...