Think back to when you were a student, back-to-school shopping, finding your classroom, and the exciting lessons that would soon fill your day. The first day of school jitters that were calmed by the friendly, welcoming face, and celebrating the “ah ha” moments when you finally figured out how to solve the problem. Then there was the time in kindergarten, when you went to the restroom but couldn’t remember the way back to your classroom. As panic set in, that friendly face walked around the corner and they knew exactly where your classroom was. These champions make math exciting and words come to life through reading and writing, they stood beside you and cheered as you mastered kickball, that difficult note, or the masterpiece that needed a little finesse.

Although everyone’s school experience was different, teachers are the common thread throughout classrooms and schools. They are the first to welcome you to a new class, they spend extra time working through a challenging problem, and they give you a high five when you accomplish your goals.

St. Vrain is the proud home to nearly 2,000 teachers who spend their days preparing our students for the future. Join us in celebrating our teachers and learn what they enjoy about teaching, why they became teacher and what their favorite memory is from the days they spent as a student in the classroom.

Thank you to all of our teachers.

Getting to know:
Diane Starkey
English
Frederick High School

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
My favorite part about teaching is planning lessons that will engage a wide variety of learners and will allow them to play to their strengths as they show what they know.

Briefly tell us about the path you took to becoming a teacher?
This is my 44th consecutive year as a member of this school district. I started as a kindergartner at Niwot Elementary and have been a student, coach, and teacher ever since. I was the first in my family to go to college. My father believed it was a waste of money to educate girls. My students and I have been proving him wrong ever since! 

What is your favorite memory from when you were a student?
My favorite memories are the relationships I made with my teachers growing up. I was lucky enough to have many teachers who went out of their way to get to know their students as people. I learned then that the relationships built with students make all the difference in teaching.