APS Chief Financial Officer Graduates from Broad Superintendents Academy

NEWS RELEASE # 40
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2010 

APS Chief Financial Officer Graduates from Broad Superintendents Academy 

Aurora Public Schools Chief Financial Officer E. Casey Wardynski recently graduated from the 2010 Broad Superintendents Academy. The academy is a 10-month executive management training program run by The Broad Center to prepare top executives from education, military, business, nonprofit and government sectors to lead urban public school systems.

In his current position, Wardynski leads finance, food service, procurement, risk management and print services for Aurora Public Schools. He is also a member of the APS Community Workforce Planning Team – an innovative effort to encourage student workforce readiness. In addition to his official role in APS, Wardynski also serves as a math tutor for 9^th grade students at Vista PEAK K-8 School. He is also a member of the 2011 Leadership Aurora class and Congressman Perlmutter’s committee for nominating young adults to enter the nation’s service academies.

“School district leaders are responsible for making sure that central office staff and available resources directly support teachers and students in the classroom,” said Eli Broad, philanthropist and founder of The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, which funds The Broad Center. “These academy graduates have the skills and experience needed to focus people at all levels of their school system on what matters most: enabling each and every student to succeed academically.”

Col(R) Wardynski previously served as Director of the Office of Economic & Manpower Analysis at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he also was an associate professor of economics. As director, he pioneered the innovative use of game technology and new media to support Army marketing and led the Army to create and deploy practices that better utilize the skills and talents of 60,000 Army officers. Wardynski’s innovations, which have earned national recognition for excellence from Harvard University and the Council for Excellence in Government, are used by more than 30 agencies and have achieved annual efficiency and effectiveness gains worth more than $200 million.

Wardynski’s class is the ninth class to graduate since The Broad Superintendents Academy was founded in 2002. The academy is the only program in the country that recruits and trains non-traditional superintendent candidates as well as stand-out career educators.

Wardynski and his wife live in the Conservatory and have a daughter in the Army who just returned from Iraq, a son in the Coast Guard and a son who is a cadet at West Point.

APS Superintendent John Barry is also a graduate of the academy.

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Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist
Paula Hans at 303-326-2755 for more information

 APS Communication Department
Georgia Durán, Chief Communication Officer
303-365-7805
FAX: 303-326-1939
e-mail: grduran@aps.k12.co.us
http://www.aps.k12.co.us/communications

Town Center at Aurora Gives Nearly $13K to APS

NEWS RELEASE # 39
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2010 

WHAT: APS Schools Earn Nearly $13K in “Cash for Class” Program
WHEN: December 17, 5:30 pm
WHERE: Town Center at Aurora, 14200 East Alameda Avenue 80012

Town Center at Aurora Gives Nearly $13K to APS
Part of “Cash for Class” Program

Several APS schools will be recognized Friday as part of the “Cash for Class” program at the Town Center at Aurora. The fundraiser helps APS students earn money to improve their schools by honoring their scholastic achievements.

The top three elementary, middle and high schools with the most points will be awarded cash prizes (first place - $2,500, second place - $1,000, third place - $750) in the Cash for Class award ceremony with APS Board of Education President Matt Cook. The public and media are invited to attend the event, which will be held at Center Court.

Since September, APS students have been earning points by bringing in report cards, college acceptance letters, attendance records and Town Center at Aurora receipts to Guest Services. For more information on the Cash for Class program, visit aurorak12.org/files/2010/09/Cash-for-class-flyers-2010.pdf.

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Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist
Paula Hans at 303-326-2755 for more information

 APS Communication Department
Georgia Durán, Chief Communication Officer
303-365-7805
FAX: 303-326-1939
e-mail: grduran@aps.k12.co.us
http://www.aps.k12.co.us/communications

Dropouts and At-Risk Students Earn High School Diplomas through Rebound Program

NEWS RELEASE # 38
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2010 

WHAT: APS students graduate from Rebound program
WHEN: December 17, 4:30 pm
WHERE: APS Professional Learning and Conference Center,
                     15771 East 1st Avenue 80011

 

Dropouts and At-Risk Students Earn High School Diplomas through Rebound Program

Twenty-one Aurora Public Schools students who had been expelled from high school, dropped out or were at risk of dropping out will be awarded diplomas Friday at the Ombudsman Rebound graduation.

Ombudsman Rebound represents a partnership among Aurora Public Schools, the Community College of Aurora, Colorado Youth for a Change and a national program called Ombudsman Educational Services. Since Ombudsman Rebound was created in January 2008, 106 students who otherwise may not have graduated have earned an accredited high school diploma.

Media is welcome to attend the graduation ceremony:

Friday, December 17
4:30 pm
APS Professional Learning & Conference Center
15771 East 1^st Avenue
Aurora, CO  80011

One of the speakers at Friday’s ceremony is December graduate Richard Jennings, who had dropped out of school. Attending Ombudsman Rebound has helped him understand that hard work and dedication pay off, Jennings said.

“Graduating means everything to me at this point in my life,” he said. “It means I’m one step closer to pursuing my future plans of attending college and establishing career plans.”

Jennings’ brother, Mike Jennings, graduated from Ombudsman Rebound in May and will also speak at the graduation.

Aurora Public Schools and Ombudsman Rebound were recently recognized by America’s Promise Alliance, a national education initiative, for providing at-risk students an alternate route to a high school diploma.

Ombudsman Rebound students follow a customized academic plan created to meet their specific educational needs and give them greater accountability for their learning. They complete most coursework in a technology-rich environment, which allows them to receive immediate feedback and helps them become more familiar with tools they will use in college, trade or vocational school, or the workplace. In addition to academics, the program supports students through behavioral intervention, as well as training in life management and social skills. Students also have the opportunity to enroll in the Community College of Aurora to earn college credit while completing their high school courses.

Nationally, 85 percent of Ombudsman students graduate, earn credits, or return to their district school closer to or at grade level. Ombudsman has served more than 132,000 students since its founding in 1975 and partners with more than 120 school districts in 18 states. For more information, visit www.ombudsman.com.

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Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist
Paula Hans at 303-326-2755 for more information

 

 APS Communication Department
Georgia Durán, Chief Communication Officer
303-365-7805
FAX: 303-326-1939
e-mail: grduran@aps.k12.co.us
http://www.aps.k12.co.us/communications

APS Board of Education Executive Session

NEWS RELEASE # 37
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2010

APS Board of Education Executive Session

The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education is expected to recess into executive session on Tuesday, Dec. 14 under the authority of C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b) and (e), to receive legal advice regarding the budget and negotiations.

This session will take place from 5-6 p.m. in conference room A of Educational Services Center 4, located at 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora 80011.

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Aurora Central Student Injured Off Campus

NEWS RELEASE # 36
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2010

Aurora Central Student Injured Off Campus

Today at approximately 2:30, Aurora Central was placed in lockdown due to an incident in the neighborhood. 

At approximately 4 p.m., we learned that an Aurora Central student was shot in an off-campus incident.  We do not have more information at this time.

Our thoughts go out to our student and her family. Our top priority is keeping our students and staff safe, and we are working closely with the Aurora Police Department as they investigate this incident.

We have informed Aurora Central parents and other APS parents and staff about this incident through our emergency call line.

We will have counselors available for students tomorrow at Aurora Central.

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APS Board of Education Executive Session

NEWS RELEASE # 35
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2010

WHAT: APS BOE Executive Session
WHEN: December 7, 5-6 p.m.
WHERE: 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora, CO 80011

APS Board of Education Executive Session

The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education is expected to recess into executive session on Tuesday, Dec. 7 under the authority of C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b) and (e), to receive legal advice regarding the budget and negotiations.

This session will take place from 5-6 p.m. in conference room A of Educational Services Center 4, located at 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora 80011.