By Dr. David Peak, Superintendent

The Hall of Fame was established in 2011 to honor individuals whose long-term contributions to District 12 have helped continue the Tradition of Excellence of the Cheyenne Mountain School District. The Hall of Fame is located in the atrium of Cheyenne Mountain High School. Current Hall of Fame members include community members, alumni, faculty members, and administrators.

By April 15th of each year, the District 12 Board of Education will request nominations of individuals to be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame. Anyone may submit a nomination on behalf of an eligible individual. Nominees may be an alumnus, a former staff member, volunteer, Board of Education member, or community member worthy of the honor.

This is truly a special recognition that will continue into the future, ensuring those who have significantly impacted Cheyenne Mountain’s long standing Tradition of Excellence are memorialized for future generations. If you would like to learn more about the D12 Hall of Fame, please visit our website at https://www.cmsd12.org/page/d12-hall-of-fame (insert QR code).

D12 Hall of Fame Inductees

2011 - Carl Fetters

2012 - Rose Elnor Hamman, Darryl Laye, Lloyd Shaw

2013 - Eldon Helm, Ed Nuccio

2014 - Frank "Pop" Evans, Jim Johnson

2015 - Marcus Foster, Susie Gross, Paul Homan

2016 - Barbara Lewis, Don Wallace

2017 - Pat Abbot, David McDermott, Dorothy Shaw

2018 - Spencer Beasley, Margaret Morrow

2019 - Harlan Else, Hazel Martin

2021 - Marilyn Holliday, Jack Wiepking

2022 - Mark Vigilante, Claude Burke

2023 - Jack Chamney, Richard Marold

By Kris Roberts, District Athletics Director

The Cheyenne Mountain School District proudly celebrates the opportunity of its elementary and junior high intramural programs to include sports such as girls and boys basketball as well as co-ed volleyball. They serve as platforms offering equal access and opportunities, catering to the diverse interests of our student population. These programs are not about competition; they’re about cultivating an environment where every student feels empowered and included.

The emphasis on these transformative experiences highlights our District’s dedication to fostering the holistic development of our students. Through sports, they learn valuable life lessons that go beyond the game—lessons in perseverance, leadership, and collaboration that will serve them well beyond their school years.

By Dr. Stacy Aldridge, Assistant Superintendent for Student Achievement

As part of D12’s Teaching and Learning priority, our Board of Education supports five Professional Learning Community (PLC) days on the district calendar for campus leaders and staffs to collaborate on student learning. PLCs create a culture in which all are responsible for the progress of students and administrators are given the autonomy to work toward their PLC goals.

A PLC is “a never-ending process in which educators commit to working together to ensure higher levels of learning for every student” (DuFour, 2018). The three big ideas of PLC are: 1) A focus on learning - making student learning the fundamental purpose of the school and district; 2) A collaborative culture - every member of the organization is expected to work as a collaborative team; and 3) Results oriented - staff use timely, relevant information that provides evidence of student learning to confirm practices that work and those that do not.

Because the purpose of our schools is to support student learning, it is imperative that we work collaboratively instead of in isolation. When in teams, staff use evidence of student learning to improve instructional practices and intervene when students need support or extension.

When asked “Is this PLC thing just a fad?”, I confidently respond with, “Absolutely not!” The PLC idea has been around since the 1960s, but did not become a more familiar concept until the publication of Professional Learning Communities at Work: Best Practices for Enhancing Student Achievement by Richard DuFour and Robert Eaker (Solution Tree Press, 1998). Based on DuFour and Eaker’s evidence-based practices, the idea of a PLC gained traction and schools all over the country have implemented the framework ever since.

In D12, while some principals are supporting their teams with strengthening a culture of collaboration, others are deconstructing standards in preparation to write common assessments. While some teams are just beginning their PLC journey, others are moving forward with honing in on effective practices. No matter where you may inquire, all school teams are engaged in strong, effective PLC work in an effort to maintain Cheyenne Mountain School District’s commitment to excellence in academics.

By Eric Scott, D12 T.O.E. Foundation President

The Tradition of Excellence Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to promote and support programs of academic, artistic, and athletic excellence.

As we head into the new year, please consider a donation to our Foundation to support our D12 students. Your generosity will impact the lives of our students and will help ensure that District 12 remains a paragon of excellence in academics, the arts, and athletics.

By Dr. David Peak, Superintendent, Dr. Carolena Steen, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, and Mr. Carlos Sandoval, District Security Coordinator

Approximately three years ago, the District 12 Board of Education and leadership made a commitment to hire an armed security team. To date, we have eight armed security officers, led by our District Security Coordinator, Mr. Carlos Sandoval, who supports the physical safety and security of all our school locations. Members of our security team have prior experience in law enforcement and/or the military and have a true passion and commitment to support our students, staff, and families. Our security team engages in routine drills and professional development to include regular time on the range, active shooter training, first aid/CPR/AED/Narcan training, and other key emergency response protocols. Moreover, the security team also serves as a critical part of the district crisis team and works closely with school and district administrators, mental health professionals, as well as our CSPD School Resource Officer, Bill Walsh.

In addition to key individuals on our security and mental health teams, the District conducts routine drills associated with evacuations, reunifications, lockdowns, secure access, and other protocols to support our overall preparedness in the event of an emergency. The District also maintains inter-agency agreements with CSPD, CSFD, El Paso County Office of Emergency Management, and other first responders as well as neighboring school districts. The District has also committed additional capital resources to improve secure access to our buildings, cameras, communications, and other enhancements to protect our students, staff, and visitors.

For more information about our District safety and security, please visit our security webpage where you can learn more about the specific protocols and training, such as National Incident Command System (NIMS), Standard Response Protocol (SRP), PREPaRE I & II, and Safe2Tell that guide our work. If you have additional questions about the safety and security of District 12, please do not hesitate to contact our D12 Admin Office at (719) 475-6100.

By Willie Roberts, CMHS Business Teacher

In the fall, CMHS student, Atticus Wei, worked to gain a proclamation from Governor Jared Polis to name October Financial Planning Month in the state of Colorado. By securing a governor’s proclamation for Financial Literacy Month at the state level, he hopes to elevate the significance of financial literacy locally.

Atticus has been spreading financial literacy for the last three years, running numerous programs to teach financial literacy, including his own nonprofit organization called United States Junior Investment Challenge (USJIC), an investment competition that teaches personal finance through engaging activities and personal experiences.

Learning about the stock market and its inner workings kindled a cu- riosity within Atticus. As he explored the world of finance, he realized that there was a lack of accurate and reliable online public resources. This experience ignited a passion in him to bridge the gap in financial knowl- edge and empower individuals with the tools they need to make informed and confident financial choices. Atticus says, “We at CMHS are lucky to have a Personal Finance course, as only 21 out of 50 US states require finance courses in high schools as of 2023, and two-thirds of high school students fail a basic financial literacy test. These statistics show how little students know about financial liter- acy. I believe that preparing students with these skills is crucial for the improvement of our society.”

Beginning in the fall of 2024, in- coming freshmen will be required to complete a semester of financial liter- acy as a part of the revised CMSD12 graduation requirements.

By Dr. Stacy Aldridge, Assistant Superintendent for Student Achievement

Lights…Camera…Action! This year’s musical, Guys and Dolls, made headlines with sell out performances and a district-schools matinee. For over 30 years, Cheyenne Mountain High School’s (CMHS) vocal, instrumental, and drama students have collaborated on Broadway caliber performances with the 28 year co-directorship of Ms. Dawn Wisdom and Ms. Jodi Papproth. CMHS’s Instrumental Music/Band Teacher Ms. Genice Matske joined the team a few years ago.

The Fine Arts Department produces musicals recruiting students from multiple courses (Vocal Music, Dram, Technical Theatre, Band Video Production, Graphic Design, Visual Arts), many of whom audition to participate or as volunteers, depending on their role. Rehearsals require hours and hours of commitment, and ancillary support means students give up their free time to ensure a high quality musical experience. Over 60 students were needed for this year’s musical, with each one playing a key role in its successful production.

But student participation isn’t the only resource needed to pull off one of these shows; financial support from the district and community is invaluable to keeping this tradition alive. Rights to produce each show can cost between $5,000 and $10,000, most of which is covered by admission, but one now offset through district funds. Other than scripts, sheet music, and an online score, each musical comes with set building costs, program printing, costume rentals, and make up.

While the investment of such an event may seem challenging, both Ms. Wisdom and Ms. Papproth say it is totally worth it. The greatest payoff, they both agree, “is seeing it all come together and the community that forms between all students and how they can experience so much success. Student growth in a variety of ways is observable.” And while their calendars are completely booked for weeks leading up to the show, these co-directors believe, “The final product is a true gift of production to our D12 community.”

Mark your calendars: the next show will be November 2025!

Dr. Carolena Steen, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services

Did you know that the Family Awareness Network (FAN) was established in 2011 by parents and staff members to engage parents on topics of interest? FAN provides relevant information and programs to engage and support our parent community in fostering the development of thriving and resilient youth. Previous events included Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Understanding Teen Stress, How Children Succeed, Managing Academics, and Mindfulness. The FAN Committee is composed of parents, community members, and staff to provide two to three educational events each school year.

The first FAN event for the 2023- 2024 school year highlighted Dr. Jessica Minahan, author of The Behavior Code and The Behavior Code Companion. The parent session titled Reducing Anxiety in Kids, was offered to all parents from preschool through high school and community members, at no cost to participants. Dr. Minahan also worked with staff as part of the Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) focusing on academic and social-emotional domains. The next FAN event is March 13, 2024, featuring the Screenagers follow-up documentary, "The Next Chapter: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience And, now you know!

By Natalie Morin, Executive Director of Business Services

While CMSD may be one of the lowest funded school districts in the state, we continue to maintain a strong General Fund balance. As of our June 30, 2023 financial audit, we ended the fiscal year with a fund balance equal to 49% of our expenditures and allocations to other funds. We’ve maintained a strong General Fund balance year after year by making good fiscal decisions, and by careful strategic long-range planning. The General Fund is the district’s primary fund for day-to-day operations of the district. The biggest expense in our General Fund are salary and benefits, which make up approximately 85% of the budget (recurring cost). Utilities and regular maintenance (overhead) equate to 5% of the budget, while the remaining 10% of the budget is designated for instructional supplies and materials. The District utilizes other funds for expenses associated with capital projects, food service, and risk management.

Maintaining a strong fund balance is important for many reasons. First, it allows us to continue to invest in our staff with strong raises each year. We, along with the Board of Education, have made a commitment to be competitive in salaries to retain and recruit staff. Secondly, a strong fund balance helps the district with cash flow. The bulk of our funding is released to us in March, May, and June. A strong fund balance is needed to pay for our expenditures (especially salaries) during the months that we receive little funding. By maintaining a strong fund balance, the District does not have to participate in any loan programs for cash flow. Thirdly, and most importantly, a strong fund balance helps with the sustainability of staff and programs. Given that public school districts rely heavily on funding from the state, and given that the funding can vary drastically from year to year, a strong fund balance allows us to “weather the storm” when it comes. This is extremely important when the majority of our budget is associated with employee’s salaries and benefits. During times when our funding has been cut by the state, we have not had to reduce staff or programs, which allows us to maintain an excellent learning environment for our students.

For more information, and to see our latest financial audit, please visit our transparency webpage.

By Dr. David Peak, Superintendent

As the Superintendent of Cheyenne Mountain School District 12, I am truly privileged to work for such a strong and committed Board of Education. The members of our D12 Board exemplify the key characteristics identified by the Colorado Association of School Boards including: a desire to serve children and the community; a strong belief in the value of the public schools; an ability to work as a member of a team, including an open mind and ability to engage in give-and-take; a willingness to spend the time required to become informed and to do the homework needed to take part in effective school board governance; and, respect for the needs and feelings of other people, including a well-developed sense of fair play and the ability to listen and communicate well. Our Board of Education truly possesses a sincere passion for our children as well as an unwavering goal for providing a quality education for all of our students!

2024 Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 Board of Education

Susan Mellow, President

Nissa Steinhour, Vice President

Randy Case, Treasurer

Michael Grage, Secretary

Dr. Betsy Kleiner, Director

FUTURES CONCERT ▪ February 7th, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

NIGHT OF ONE ACTS ▪ February 15th, 7:00 p.m. High School Black Box ThTheater

CRIMSON & SLATE CONCERT ▪ February 21st, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

DISTRICT SHOW CHOIR CONCERT ▪ February 27th, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

CHOIR FESTIVAL PREVIEW CONCERT ▪ March 19th, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

JH/HS JAZZ CONCERT ▪ April 10th, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE PLAY ▪ April 11th - 13th High School Black Box Theater

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ART CELEBRATION ▪ April 18th, 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. High School Cafeteria

SPRING CHOIR CONCERT ▪ May 9th, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

SPRING BAND CONCERT ▪ May 10th, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

JH BAND CONCERT ▪ May 16th, 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ▪ May 26th, 1:30 p.m. World Arena