D. Rico Munn to Lead Aurora Public Schools

NEWS RELEASE # 95
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2013 

 

D. Rico Munn to Lead Aurora Public Schools

In a unanimous vote, the APS Board of Education appointed D. Rico Munn as the next Superintendent of Schools. “The APS Board of Education is confident that Munn is committed to the APS community, to doing what is best for the district and to increasing student achievement,” BOE President JulieMarie Shepherd said. Munn will begin his role on July 1.

Munn expressed his enthusiasm for leading Aurora Public Schools.

“I am honored to serve as the Aurora Public Schools superintendent. As an APS parent who is active in the Aurora community, I look forward to having a positive impact on teaching and learning for all of our students,” Munn said. “APS has dedicated teachers, leaders and support staff that have created many innovative initiatives. My goal is to build on our strengths and overcome any challenges that interfere with student success.”

Munn brings a broad range of experiences to APS. He is a litigation partner at Baker and Hostetler, LLP, and an adjunct professor of law at the University Of Denver Sturm College Of Law. Munn serves on the 15-member Board of Governors for the Colorado State University System, appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper. He was a member of Governor Bill Ritter’s cabinet as executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies from 2007-2009 and then executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education from 2009-2011. Munn served on the Colorado State Board of Education from 2003-2007.

He also was a member of the Strategic Planning Task Force for Amnesty International. Munn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and Social Sciences from Midland University in Fremont, Neb., and a law degree from the University Of Denver Sturm College Of Law.

 

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 Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist 
Paula Hans at 303.326.2755

 

 

 

 

  

APS Board of Education Executive Session

NEWS RELEASE # 94
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2013

WHAT: APS Board of Education Executive Session
WHEN: May 7, 2013
WHERE: 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora, CO 80011

APS Board of Education Executive Session

On Tuesday, May 7, the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education is expected to recess into executive session under the authority of C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b), to discuss the superintendent’s contract and to receive a legal opinion from counsel regarding the Lobato case and under the authority of C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(f)(I), to discuss a personnel matter.

The executive session will be held from 5-6 p.m. in conference room A at Educational Services Center 4, located at 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora, CO  80011.

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Peter Yarrow Brings Operation Respect to Sable

NEWS RELEASE # 93
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2013 

WHAT: Peter Yarrow, “Operation Respect” Visit Sable Elementary
WHEN: April 26, 8:15 a.m.
WHERE: Sable Elementary School, 2601 Sable Boulevard 80011

 

Peter Yarrow Brings Operation Respect to Sable

Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary folk group fame) is bringing his “Operation Respect” message to students at Sable Elementary School. Operation Respect is a non-profit organization working to assure each child and youth a respectful, safe and compassionate climate of learning where their academic, social and emotional development can take place free of bullying, ridicule and violence.

Yarrow founded the organization as a way to establish a climate that reduces the emotional and physical cruelty some children inflict upon each other. Operation Respect developed the Don't Laugh at Me (DLAM) program, which utilizes inspiring music and video along with curriculum guides based on the well-tested, highly regarded conflict resolution curricula developed by the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP) of Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR).

Operation Respect disseminates the DLAM programs free of charge. More than 150,000 copies of the program have been distributed to educators since Operation Respect's inception.

About Peter Yarrow

As a performer and social activist, Yarrow has used music as a way to bring people together to create a more just, peaceful, and compassionate society. Peter’s gift for songwriting has produced some of the most moving songs in the Peter, Paul & Mary repertoire including “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” “Day is Done,” “Light One Candle,” and “The Great Mandala.” 

 

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 Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist 
Paula Hans at 303.326.2755

 

 

 

 

  

Pathways to Results Celebration

NEWS RELEASE # 92
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2013 

WHAT: Pathways to Results Celebration
WHEN: April 25, 10 a.m.
WHERE: APS Professional Learning and Conference Center, 15771 East 1^st Avenue 80011

 

Pathways to Results Celebration

Spine palpation, bioloid robots and aerospace engineering – just a few of the Aurora Public Schools student demonstrations headlining a special celebration on April 25.

APS Superintendent John L. Barry, APS Board of Education members and community partners will come together to see first-hand how APS Academic and Career Pathways are impacting student learning.

There are four Academic and Career Pathways in Aurora Public Schools:

• Arts and Communication
• Business
• Health Sciences
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

Visual demonstrations from each pathway – plus other learning related to business/community/workforce partners – will give students the opportunity to showcase what they are learning in the classroom.

APS partners continue to significantly impact the development and hands-on learning opportunities related to Academic and Career Pathways and student success.

Pathways to Results Celebration
Thursday, April 25
10 a.m.
Professional Learning & Conference Center
15771 East 1^st Avenue
Aurora, Colorado 80011

Please join us at this special event to see the results of the community’s contributions to APS student learning.

 

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 Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist 
Paula Hans at 303.326.2755

 

 

 

 

  

Comcast Awards APS Seniors with Scholarships

NEWS RELEASE # 91
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2013 

 

Comcast Awards APS Seniors with Scholarships

 

Four Aurora Public Schools students are recipients of the Comcast Foundation’s 2013-14 Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program.

“Each fall, we ask principals and guidance counselors to help us identify the best and the brightest high school seniors across Colorado for recognition as ‘Leaders and Achievers,’” said Rich Jennings, Senior Regional Vice President of Comcast’s Mile High Region. “Comcast is proud to honor these outstanding young leaders who are committed not only to their own academic and future success, but also are passionate about serving others in their communities.”

Congratulations to Michael Brungardt of Hinkley High School, Jonathan Delgado of Aurora Central High School, T'Hani Holt of William Smith High School, and Jasmine Koch of Rangeview High School. These students will receive their scholarship awards this summer as they prepare to begin college in the fall.

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program provides $1,000 scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, are catalysts for positive change in their communities, are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students.

The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

Since the program’s inception, more than 550 Colorado students have received a total of $667,000 in scholarship funding. Nationally, Comcast has awarded nearly $19 million to nearly 19,000 Leaders and Achievers Scholarship winners across the country.

About the Comcast Foundation

The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified nonprofit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $123 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.

 

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

 

 

  

 

APS Board of Education Executive Session

NEWS RELEASE # 90
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2013

WHAT: APS Board of Education Executive Session
WHEN: April 16, 2013
WHERE: 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora, CO 80011

APS Board of Education Executive Session

On Tuesday, April 16, the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education is expected to recess into executive session under the authority of C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b), to receive legal advice regarding the superintendent’s contract negotiations.

The executive session will be held from 5:30-6:00 p.m. in conference room A at Educational Services Center 4, 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora, CO  80011.

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Students Receive Free Helmets, Learn Sports Safety

NEWS RELEASE # 89
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2013 

WHAT: Helmet Giveaway, Sports Safety Lesson
WHEN: April 12, 8:45 a.m.
WHERE: Fletcher Primary School, 10455 East 25^th Avenue 80010

 

Students Receive Free Helmets, Learn Sports Safety

Second grade students at Fletcher Primary School will get to choose a new helmet and learn about sports safety from University of Colorado Hospital emergency medicine doctors, nurses and staff. UCH and Dr. Bruce Evans, Senior Medical Director of the UCH Emergency Department, will give away about 500 new Bell helmets to second-graders at four elementary schools. Staff members will also teach the students about sports safety in a fun and visual way using a “coconut smasher.”

Friday, April 12
8:45 a.m.
Fletcher Primary School
10455 East 25^th Avenue
Aurora, Colorado 80010

“Emergency Department staff see first-hand how serious head injuries can be,” said Dr. Evans, who has been practicing emergency medicine at University of Colorado Hospital since 2001. “Many injuries can be prevented just by wearing a helmet, so we want to give helmets to as many kids as we can.”

The program expands this year from three schools to four, and Dr. Evans’ goal is to eventually give free helmets to students throughout Aurora and Denver.

 

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Interested media may contact 
Aurora Public Schools News Media Specialist Paula Hans at 303.326.2755
or
University of Colorado Hospital Media Relations Coordinator Dan Weaver at 720.441.7050