DCSD Notebook

Julie Crawford and Doug Humphreys have a unique assignment this year: They are founding principals of two elementary schools currently under construction – in Sterling Ranch and Lone Tree, respectively – and as their buildings are being built, they are laying the foundations for the education that will be provided when their schools open in August of 2027. 

They are both long-time principals in DCSD and even though they are both currently without a building, a staff or a student body to lead, this year has a monumental amount of preparation as each day brings them closer to school leadership as they have always known it. 

As this episode is released, eight days have passed since the DCSD Board of Education formally approved the names of their schools – and this interview was conducted when work was being done to decide on those names. Until last week, Doug’s school was temporarily known as Elementary School 50 and Julie’s was Elementary School 51. 

Now, Elementary School 50 will be called Echo Bluffs Elementary – and their mascot is the River Otters. Elementary School 51 is now Blue Sky Elementary – and they will be the Blue Sky Bears.

In this episode, Julie and Doug talk about the process of preparing a school’s physical footprint as well as everything necessary to build a staff and educational foundation – and the decision-making required at every turn. 

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 89 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

In early September, Mountain Vista High School science and cybersecurity teacher Jason Cochrane received a surprise visit from state and district leaders informing him that he is among eight finalists for the 2027 Colorado Teacher of the Year.

While he waits to find out who the winner is, he continues teaching high-level classes grounded in career preparation and relevance. Along with featuring Cochrane, this episode also has three students to share their experiences in his classes: Charlie Smyth, a junior, and seniors Nathan Samuel and Cooper Casanova.

Cochrane holds a bachelor’s degree in science education and a master’s degree in principalship from the University of Northern Iowa. A respected teacher of everything from chemistry to data analysis and technology integration, he is passionate about building community, student achievement and teacher effectiveness. 

As a finalist, Cochrane received a $1,000 check from the Colorado Department of Education and the Boettcher Foundation, and $500 from the Boettcher Foundation for MVHS.

The 2027 Colorado Teacher of the Year winner will be announced in October. This year, there were 297 applicants from 76 districts. The winner will receive $10,000 from CDE and the Boettcher Foundation, represent the state as a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year program and serve as a teaching ambassador to communities and organizations around the state and nation.

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 89 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

From e-bikes to e-motorcycles, easy mobility for school-aged children and teens has changed significantly in just the last couple of years. Related to that shift, hospital emergency departments have also seen major changes in the kinds and severity of injuries they treat on a daily basis. To explain in greater detail, Dr. Garrett Prince, emergency room physician with HCA HealthONE Skyridge, tackles the subject with host Amy Pfister, community relations coordinator for DCSD.

Dr. Prince talks about how e-bikes different from the bicycles many of us grew up riding; the roles that speed, weight, and rider experience have in crashes; misconceptions that parents may have about e-bikes (for instance, did you know many can be modified to go faster than the built-in limit?) and much more. 

Cities and towns in Douglas County partnered with county officials and the Sheriff’s Office to create this resource. 

Many e-bikes are not street legal under Colorado Law, and some local jurisdictions have local ordinances that add fines to violations of state law. Three jurisdictions in Douglas County have adopted ordinances regulating the operation of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and low-powered scooters to improve public safety:

Visit the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office e-bike resource page to learn more.

About Parent University

Parent University is a special edition of DCSD Notebook and will appear in this feed monthly. For several years, Parent University has provided training, information, and resources for parents and caregivers. By partnering with community organizations and other agencies to equip families with additional knowledge, skills and resources, Parent University supports and empowers parents and caregivers to become leaders and advocates for their children's learning. This year, Parent University has transitioned from a live Zoom meeting to a podcast format to allow parents to listen to the conversations at their convenience; provide time and accessibility for guests to delve deeper into conversation; and save staff time with streamlined production. 

Thank you to our Parent University podcast sponsor, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge for their continued support and partnership.

On August 25, 2026, the DCSD Board of Education voted to add a Mill Levy Override option for taxpayers on the November ballot. In this episode, DCSD Superintendent Erin Kane provides information about the reasons staff recommended the MLO to the Board, measures of transparency and return-on-investment the district provides for the benefit of students, and specifics regarding the needs to increase funding for: 

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 89 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

As we prepare for Season 2 and the new school year, we are reaching back into the archives, when Parent University was a live Zoom session, to re-share via this podcast feed some of the episodes that remain timely and pertinent.

This episode was originally shared in December 2024 and focuses on bullying awareness and prevention for DCSD students. 

Our featured presenter, Dr. Kelli Smith, DCSD Director of Health, Wellness and Prevention, shared information about the developing adolescent brain, the effect external influences can have — and the role DCSD schools play. The intent was to leave listeners with a better understanding and awareness of the term bullying and how we can all work to prevent it. 

Original episode on YouTube

About Parent University

Parent University is a special edition of DCSD Notebook and will appear in this feed monthly. For several years, Parent University has provided training, information, and resources for parents and caregivers. By partnering with community organizations and other agencies to equip families with additional knowledge, skills and resources, Parent University supports and empowers parents and caregivers to become leaders and advocates for their children's learning. This year, Parent University has transitioned from a live Zoom meeting to a podcast format to allow parents to listen to the conversations at their convenience; provide time and accessibility for guests to delve deeper into conversation; and save staff time with streamlined production. 

Thank you to our Parent University podcast sponsor, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge for their continued support and partnership.

About Parent University

Parent University is a special edition of DCSD Notebook and will appear in this feed monthly. For several years, Parent University has provided training, information, and resources for parents and caregivers. By partnering with community organizations and other agencies to equip families with additional knowledge, skills and resources, Parent University supports and empowers parents and caregivers to become leaders and advocates for their children's learning. This year, Parent University has transitioned from a live Zoom meeting to a podcast format to allow parents to listen to the conversations at their convenience; provide time and accessibility for guests to delve deeper into conversation; and save staff time with streamlined production. 

Thank you to our Parent University podcast sponsor, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge for their continued support and partnership.

In the business world, company leaders set standards through mission and vision statements and by listing their values. In the education world, it’s all about setting examples and teaching what are called Norms. Here are DCSD’s norms for Culture and Climate: 

These five norms are the topic for this episode – our season finale as the school year comes to a close. We’re bookending the season by welcoming back our very first guest: Supt. Erin Kane. And this time we’ve got two more guests to make a great conversation about the district’s Culture and Climate Norms. Alicia Elmore is the director of our Before and After School Enterprise, or BASE, program, and Dion Killingsworth is director of Human Resources. 

This episode complements Episode 20 with the brilliant Jolee Jones, who talked about Organizational Development. While Supt. Kane gives us the 30,000-foot perspective of the ideals behind the norms, Alicia and Dion talk about how those are applied and lived at the department level and even person to person.

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

Magic happens when therapy dogs can help school staff members reach out to students who are struggling. DCSD’s pioneering Animal Assisted Interventions team is the largest and most advanced in Colorado. With 34 therapy dogs deployed all over the school district – and more preparing to join their ranks, the AAI team continues to prove its value and brighten the days of thousands of students all over Douglas County. 

In this episode, we hear from three of the top innovators who established the AAI program and learn how specially trained, four-legged friends provide gentle, empathetic, tail-wagging support that keeps students in school, opening their hearts and then their minds to overcome many kinds of difficulties. 

Our guests explain the research that supports their work, including close ties to University of Denver experts in human-animal connections, as well as a commitment to ethical support of therapy dogs and their interactions with students. Make sure to listen all the way to the end, when you’ll  hear a small sample of the many stories illustrating just how powerful a dog-to-student connection can be. These are literally life-changing relationships that allow students to succeed when they otherwise might not.

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Pictured: From left, Laura Wilson with Daphne, Ellen Kerkhoff, and Dani Morrison with Betty.

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

Supt. Erin Kane’s State of DCSD address on Monday, May 4, 2026, featured a Q&A panel with six outstanding seniors who represent a range of academic pursuits, goals and even the types of schools they attended. The students shared their future plans, how DCSD helped prepare them for those next steps, and how they have grown as people during their time in Douglas County Schools. 

Supt. Kane’s full presentation was live-streamed and recorded on the DCSD YouTube channel. She also shared points of pride, numerous examples of how the district is stewarding taxpayer funds, and her vision for the district’s future in preparing students for a rapidly changing world. 

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

Students’ use of smartphones in schools is a huge topic. Is it a distraction? Can they be helpful in an educational setting? When should they be used and when should they be put away? 

On April 21, 2026, the DCSD Board of Education approved a new policy about the use of communication devices in schools. This was the culmination of nearly two years’ worth of district leaders’ examination of the challenges and benefits of smart phones and other high-tech devices being used by students during school hours. The policy adoption was also required by a new state law. 

In this episode, DCSD Chief of Staff Steve Colella and ThunderRidge High School Principal Liz Walhof discuss the issue, the policy, and most importantly, the practices of students, teachers, parents and district leaders when it comes to communication devices – not just phones. Colella co-led an effort to speak with hundreds of people across the district over the last several months, as well as conducting deep research into the issue surrounding communication device use and helping craft the new policy. Walhof has years of experience as an ed-tech expert and administrator. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about the in-class challenges that technology poses.

To read the full policy, watch recent discussions at Board of Education meetings, and access the wide range of research, visit DCSD’s Digital Literacy webpage.

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?