Apple Award finalists shine
Pictured left: Amy Tempel (left) and Kristin WardBrown (right) are finalists for the Douglas County Educational Foundation Apple Award.
By Lisa Crockett
The Douglas County Educational Foundation will present its Apple Awards on March 17 at an event designed to honor the finest educators in the county, while also raising money to support school programs. Two Castle Pines area teachers have been chosen as finalists and are now in the running for the prestigious award.
Kristen WardBrown is a second grade teacher at Timber Trail Elementary School. She’s been teaching first and second grade since 1994 and has been a Douglas County teacher since 1999. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a minor in Psychology, M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, Long Beach; and she continues to take continuing education classes at Adams State College.
WardBrown, who lives in Castle Pines, said she enjoys living and working in the same place and feels it adds a special dimension to her teaching experience.
“I enjoy working with children that live in the same community as I do,” said WardBrown. “I can continue to see them grow long after they leave second grade. It is so rewarding to know I had a small part in making these wonderful children into the fantastic people they have become.”
Amy Tempel is the teacher librarian at Rocky Heights Middle School. She has taught library since 2006. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Central Missouri State University, an M.A in teaching from Webster University, and earned her Colorado School Library Endorsement (K-12) from the University of Colorado, Denver.
As a librarian, Tempel has contact with more students than a regular classroom teacher. She said she enjoys the variety that comes with teaching students at several different grade levels and helping students learn about different subjects.
“The library has become a place where both students and staff feel comfortable and welcome – we have a revolving door,” said Tempel. “It’s not a quiet library! Lots of people stop in daily.”
