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
17 minutes ago
17 minutes ago
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 Gotleib, 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
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Guest: Ashley Sommers, Executive Director of The Foundation for Douglas County Schools
Topic: As the official nonprofit partner for DCSD, The Foundation for Douglas County Schools is active year-round in support of students and educators, from back-to-school supply drives to the Apple Awards, Perseverance Scholarships and much more.
Notes:
- The Foundation’s Three Pillars
- Apple Awards (nominations open Sept. 15, 2025)
- Perseverance Scholarships
- Opportunity Grants (application window opened Sept. 2, 2025)
- Chapters (PTOs and Booster Clubs)
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Guest: Lisa Stull, Licensed Clinical Therapist and Owner of Parker-based practice, Comprehensive Counseling Solutions.
Topic: Tools and tips for parents to help children who have anxiety over the start of the new school year.
Notes
- Download a four-page resource guide from CCS titled Back-to-School Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Support & Resilience
- CCS is hosting a live and virtual “Back to School” workshop from 6-8 p.m., Sept. 5. Here’s a flyer with more details. Attendance is free. Register by emailing them or by phone at 720-766-7290.
Next Month
The October episode of Parent University will feature a guest from Douglas County Libraries. To ask a question for that episode or to suggest a topic of interest for a future Parent University episode, please fill out this form.
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.
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Guests: Assistant Superintendent Danny Winsor; Director of Legacy Campus Rex Corr, Ed.D.; Assistant Director of Postsecondary Readiness Keri Stuebinger
Topic: Programs to prepare students for enrollment, employment or enlistment after high school
Notes: Every industry has its terms, acronyms and abbreviations. Here are some from the education world that were mentioned in this episode:
- ACC: Arapahoe Community College (a partner with DCSD on numerous college opportunities for high school students)
- AVID: Advancement via Individual Determination (a program – often a specific class – builds academic skills, college and career knowledge, and student agency)
- CE: Concurrent enrollment (taking college-level courses while in high school)
- CTE: Career and Technical Education (what used to be known as vocational education, but now a much more expansive program)
- Pathways: A connection between learning progressions, advanced course options, instruction that supports skill development, stackable credentials, and work-based learning experiences to prepare students for training, education, military service, and/or advancement in a career field. These include:
- Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy
- Business, Marketing, and Public Administration
- Health Science, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety
- Hospitality, Human Services, and Education
- Skilled Trades and Technical Services
- STEM, Arts & Design, and Information Technology.
- TREP: Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation (a special program that creates the opportunity for qualified students in an Educator Pathway to concurrently enroll in postsecondary courses for the two years after the 12th grade year tuition- free for two years, with DCSD covering the tuition costs)
Links to learn more:
Bonus links
- Here’s a video highlighting DCSD’s first TREP graduate and what the program means for her and her future.
- Ms. Stuebinger mentioned a student who graduated from DCSD and is now in law enforcement. Legend High School grad, Deputy Tyler Lee, has officially graduated from the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Academy. Here’s the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s video about his journey.
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Guest: Superintendent Erin Kane
Topic: Big plans for the new school year
Notes: Supt. Kane’s biographical listing on The Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship: "Erin Kane is Superintendent of Douglas County School District, one of Colorado's largest and top-performing districts. A leader in academic excellence and innovation, she has improved test scores, expanded CTE and AI, and boosted staff morale. Kane secured major funding initiatives, champions opportunities for all students, and brings experience from charter leadership and high tech. She holds degrees in Applied Math, Computer Science and Public Administration from the University of Colorado."