In the fall of 1989 I returned to work at the school as a classroom aide for a little boy with Down’s syndrome. He was a lovely young man that brought joy to everyone he met. Although he was finding success meeting the challenges Down’s added to his life, he was unable to fight off the damage the pneumonia caused to his lungs during a harsh winter and he passed away on Feb. 14, 1993. After considering the joy and fulfillment Benjamin brought to my life, I decided to complete my degree to be an elementary teacher. I graduated from Regis University in 1997 and taught 1st and 2nd grade at Campo Elementary from 1997-2000. In 2000 I graduated from Adams State College with my Master’s Degree in Special Education. I have taught Special Education at Campo Schools from 2000.
In 2003 I became the Superintendent of the Campo School District. Since that time I have worked to try to promote the school and the great work the students and teachers are doing. The school faces the same challenges as other rural schools around the state with declining enrollment and decreased funding. The administration, school board, faculty, parents, and community are dedicated to providing the best education possible and looking for innovative ways to accomplish that.
I believe the Campo School is the best school around for many reasons but I am dedicated to making it even better. One of the initiatives we are currently implementing is Service Learning. This project is designed to help students connect their interests with community needs while identifying learning standards that would be addressed by finding a solution to the problem. Students are making a difference in our community and the community is showing tremendous support for them. They have completed many projects in our community and they are sharing those experiences at Youth Engagement Days and Youth Summits in our state and also in Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. They are dedicated to making their community a place where they have the opportunity to raise their children.
Although the students in our school are where my passion lies, I also have other roles. In addition to Superintendent, Special Education, Title I teacher, and Youth Advisory Council Advisor for the school, I also serve on the Lamar Community College (LCC) Advisory Council, Baca County Economic Development Commission, and Ogallala Commons Board of Directors and I am also a member of the Campo Baptist Church.