When COVID-19 forced Summit54 to cancel its signature program for elementary school students in the lower Roaring Fork Valley last summer, the local nonprofit could have gone on hiatus. Instead, it doubled down on its efforts.
Summit54 created new, free programs to provide tutoring for elementary school students at a time when extra attention is needed more than ever. While the pandemic has made it difficult for schools to regularly hold classes in-person, Summit54 has made sure students could still meet with teachers in small groups.
“Kids craved interaction. Teachers missed their kids,” said Terri Caine, Summit54’s executive director. Terri and her husband, Tony, co-founded the organization to boost educational opportunities for youth. Tony climbed Colorado’s 54 tallest peaks, all over 14,000 feet in elevation, to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit, thus its name.
Senior Vanessa Leon-Gamez at Roaring Fork High School identifies as Latinx and said throughout her whole life growing up in the valley she has seen separation in the community.
“Like for example, town events or First Fridays or whatever it might be…There’s a definite divide between white people and everybody else. And that’s how it’s been for a long time,” Leon-Gamez said.
As part of the effort to increase equity and conversation around social justice in its schools, Roaring Fork School District partnered with the Aspen Institute to provide a leadership seminar for students at RFHS. There are 10 other students in addition to Leon-Gamez who meet once a week after regular school hours to share experiences and become better listeners when it comes to the discussion of challenging topics.
Roaring Fork High School students who were awarded the Seal of Biliteracy in 2018. All of the students pictured are wearing a black and white cord to symbolize the intertwining of the two languages and acknowledges their accomplishment.
Students within the Roaring Fork School District are able to graduate high school with tangible proof of their bilingual abilities thanks to the Seal of Biliteracy program that started back in 2017.
Amy Fairbanks is the Director of RFSD’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and said completion of the seal is beneficial to students after graduating as they enter the real world and go on to attain higher education or begin their careers.
Chelsea Self/ Post Independent
Anna Cole and her husband, Grand River Hospital physician Dr. Dustin Cole, were pretty confident her education career and his medical career wouldn’t cross paths.
Until last March when the pandemic came along.
“Now, we’re both on a standing meeting every Thursday with Garfield County providers and the schools,” Anna Cole mused. “He’s at the hospital, and I’m at home, and the kids are getting ready for school, and they make funny faces when they see dad on the screen … it’s kind of hilarious at times.”
Anna had just stepped into the interim role as executive director of the Roaring Fork Family Services and Resource Center, a nonprofit arm of Roaring Fork School District, when schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arlo Duncan, 4, left, Jeremy Duncan, Willa Duncan, 2, and Lyssa Duncan play in the snow outside of their home in Basalt Vista behind Basalt High School on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. The family of four moved into their home in September. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Jeremy Duncan, left, stands with his son Arlo, 4, wife Lyssa, and daughter Willa, 2, outside of their home in Basalt Vista on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
The third phase of construction is underway in the Basalt Vista neighborhood behind Basalt High School on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Jeremy and Lyssa Duncan were determined to figure out a way to settle in the Roaring Fork Valley despite the usual and formidable housing obstacles.