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St. Vrain Valley 2017 Teacher of the Year is Charlie Garcia of Erie Elementary!

Published August 10, 2020

May 2017

The Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley celebrated the 10th Annual Tribute to Teachers event on May 5, 2017 to recognize this year’s top St. Vrain Valley School District Teachers. Over 500 people were in attendance to recognize the 155 Encore Award nominees. Nominations are submitted by members of the St. Vrain Valley community including students, parents and colleagues.

The St. Vrain Valley School District 2017 Teacher of the Year is Charlie Garcia. He has been teaching at Erie Elementary for 40 years. One nominator writes of Mr. Garcia, “If you say the name ‘Gar’ in Erie, Colorado, most people know whom you are talking about. People will always say, ‘I love Gar! He was my fourth grade teacher,’ or ‘Gar was the best teacher I ever had.’ Few in this town are respected, honored, and loved as much as Charlie Garcia because he has been making an impact on our community for forty years. “

Six outstanding teachers are given Spotlight Awards. The 2017 Spotlight Award recipients are Amy Marcellus, Prairie Ridge Elementary; Spencer Prestwich, Mountain View Elementary; Breanna Jaworski, Rocky Mountain Elementary; Shelly Stephens, Coal Ridge Middle; Mary Calhoun, Career Development Center; Marie Kaufman, Skyline High School.

The Encore Award program was established in 2008 to formally honor and recognize teachers who are extraordinary educators.