Extended conversations with educators, leaders and students from Douglas County School District in Colorado -- which is the Number One public school district in the Denver area, serving 61,000 students at 92 schools.
Through DCSD Notebook, listeners will gain a greater understanding of the people, processes and programs in Colorado's third-largest district. Once a month, this feed will also feature Parent University.
To learn more about what makes DCSD the Top of the Class, check out the Why DCSD page.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
If you could learn how to learn better or, if you have kids in school, help them unlock proven strategies to ensure they get the most out of school, would you want to hear more about that?
Here on the DCSD Notebook podcast from the top-scoring school district in the Denver area, we’re going to devote the next three episodes to a deep dive into the AVID program.
In this episode, we’re going to start at the 10,000-foot level and learn what Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, is. DCSD’s co-director of the program, Gordon Mosher, who’s going to tell us the why, the how and the what of this program which can literally change the course of a student’s life – from someone who does OK but could achieve so much more if they were equipped, challenged and guided to embrace their potential.
In our next episode, we’ll drill down a little deeper and have a conversation with three principals in Parker who can tell us what AVID looks like at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Then, in the third episode, we’re going to hear from DCSD graduates who went through the AVID program and can tell us how it helped them go forward into college and careers with confidence.
Guest this week:
- Gordon Mosher III, executive director of schools for Choice Programming and DCSD co-director of AVID
Resources
- AVID homepage
- The AVID College and Career Readiness Framework
- AVID National data
- AVID in Colorado data
- Current AVID Schools in DCSD:
- Glossary for this episode
- AVID: Advancement Via Individual Determination
- Metacognition: According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking processes.
- WICOR: Acronym for AVID teaching and learning strategies which stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Reading
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
In this episode, host Amy Pfister and her guest Nikki Brooker, founder of YANA — You Are Not Alone, are talking about something that so many parents experience but don’t always talk about — how to find your community (as a parent) during your child’s school years.
YANA is a local nonprofit which Brooker created to help parents connect, share, and realize that none of us are meant to do this journey in isolation.
This conversation is all about why finding community matters, how schools can help foster those connections, and simple steps parents can take to feel more supported — right here in Douglas County and beyond.
Resources:
- YANA website
- Let’s Be Real Podcast: Mama Journeys (Note: This podcast, produced by YANA, features difficult subject matter and frank discussions; listener discretion advised)
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.
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
School psychologists play an important role in providing Pre-K through 12th grade students mental health services including evaluations, counseling, academic and behavioral intervention, safety assessments and support, and crisis response. They are trained in psychology, child development, and education. The growing mental health crisis, paired with an increased need for school psychologists, has resulted in a shortage.
Many doctoral school psychology programs only admit a handful of students each year. Additionally, according to the Colorado Department of Education, in 2023 there were 1,635 people who held a school psychology license with 616 of these people not working in school psychology roles, resulting in 37.7% of the potential workforce working in other professions.
One of the most promising strategies to recruit and retain school psychologists working in schools is a “grow your own program.”
In August, DCSD’s team of mental health professionals earned a rare accreditation after a long and thorough process. The accreditation is retroactive for the 2024-25 school year.
DCSD is part of the Colorado School Psychology Internship Consortium. This is a collaborative effort of the DCSD, Aurora Public Schools, and the University of Colorado Denver to pool and share resources for the purpose of creating a high-quality doctoral internship opportunity that meets the unique clinical and workforce needs of the Denver metropolitan area. The aim is to prepare and retain doctoral school psychologists to provide responsive behavioral and mental health care to children, adolescents, and families in school settings.
DCSD doctoral interns become a licensed psychologist in addition to getting their school psychology credential, and American Psychology Association accredited internships provide high-quality training in clinical practice and specialties. Programs are required to go through a rigorous process to become accredited. DCSD's program, as part of the consortium, has received full accreditation for the next 10 years. This important distinction attracts top doctoral students from across the country, as most graduate programs require an accredited internship. DCSD's program grows sought-after professionals who often are hired on after they complete their internship. This accreditation enables graduates to have a streamlined path to licensure, a supportive introduction to the district, and highly trained supervisors furthering their development into the profession.
A doctoral graduate student attends a four- to six-year program dependent upon whether they already have earned their masters degree. To obtain an internship they go through a stringent match process, similar to the process for placement of medical residents. There are approximately 782 psychology internships in the country with only 17 school district internship programs; and 24 internship programs in Colorado with only 2 school district programs. The only one in the Denver Metro area is in DCSD.
This episode is highlighted by the leader of the district’s mental health team and originator of the newly accredited program, as well as a doctoral intern and his experienced mentor.
Guests this week:
- Dr. Stephanie Crawford-Goetz, DCSD Director of Mental Health
- Dr. Ryan Trowbridge, School Psychologist at Cresthill Middle School
- Joel Flores, School Psychologist Intern
Resources
DCSD Mental Health Support and School Providers
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
In any school district, student engagement and involvement can be seen as a three-legged stool of academics, activities and athletics. In DCSD, two of those three legs are supervised, along with student leadership, by our guests for this episode: Derek Chaney, director of Activities, Athletics, and Student Leadership, and Brad Wiidakas, assistant director for the department. Both have been with DCSD for decades, and Chaney is retiring after this school year. This super-sized episode is both a tribute to Chaney’s leadership and accomplishments as well as a deep dive into the hard work and long hours that both men invest in an organization with countless moving parts but a simple, straightforward mission: “It’s all about the kids.”
Guests this week
- Derek Chaney, director of Activities, Athletics, and Student Leadership
- Brad Wiidakas, assistant director of Activities, Athletics, and Student Leadership
Resources
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
This is the second of two chapters in the DCSD Notebook regarding bullying prevention. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and this Parent University episode, hosted by Community Relations Coordinator Amy Pfister, features three members of the DCSD Health, Wellness and Prevention team. They discuss ways they, as professionals as well as mothers, deal with the challenges presented by bullying.
Guests:
- Dr. Kelli Smith, director of Health, Wellness and Prevention
- Trena Hand, Health, Wellness and Prevention lead
- Hope Ebel, Health, Wellness and Prevention lead
Resources Mentioned:
- “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt
- DCSD Bullying Prevention webpage
- Parent University anti-bullying presentation from 2024
Next Month:
Our November Parent University podcast, "Community Matters" will explore the power of community and how parents can build stronger connections with one another. Joining us will be a representative from the local nonprofit, YANA. We invite you to submit your questions about fostering community and collaboration here as your voice helps shape the conversation!
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 Skyridge for their continued support and partnership.
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and the DCSD Notebook will have two chapters. This week's chapter features a panel of district and school leaders discussing what bullying is and what it isn’t; how schools work with families to investigate and address issues of bullying; resources available to parents; and the legal requirements that all schools face when dealing with these complex issues.
Next week’s chapter will be Part 2 of our bullying coverage. It will be a Parent University episode with host Amy Pfister interviewing a panel of DCSD leaders who also happen to be mothers of students who span the age range from elementary to high school. They will do an even deeper dive into the resources and efforts the district uses every day to make schools as safe and welcoming as possible.
Guests this week:
- Erin Kruse, executive director of schools for DCSD’s Castle Rock region
- Jarod Nicholson, principal of Mesa Middle School
- Trena Hand, the district’s health, wellness and prevention lead
Links and resources:
DCSD Bullying Prevention webpage
Safe2Tell – Report anonymously. Any time. Any day. Visit the website or call: 877-542-7233
FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, mentioned in the episode, provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records.
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
In this month’s edition of Parent University, we’re talking about one of the best community spots around — the public library! If you think the library is only about checking out books, you’re missing A LOT. The library is full of fun programs, cool resources, and opportunities that can support children’s learning and give families new ways to connect.
Our guest is Jaime Gotlieb, community services and partnerships manager from Douglas County Libraries, talking about the many amazing programs, resources and events at the library and how Douglas County families can get involved.
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Kindergarten teachers have an incredibly important job: They teach small children how to become students and get the most out of school (not to mention welcoming parents into the school community). Is that pressure or a treasured privilege? Listen to the genuine joy and laughter from a pair of kindergarten teachers from Bear Canyon Elementary, along with their inspiring principal, and you’ll have the answer pretty quickly: There’s nowhere they would rather be than in the classroom.
Guests: Bear Canyon Elementary Principal Allison Sullivan and Kindergarten Teachers Megan Harris and Samantha Banis