From a first-generation student to a college freshman: Jair Ortega’s journey

Born and raised in Boulder, the University of Colorado campus loomed large in Jair Ortega’s life. To Jair, it was a symbol of opportunity, yet one that felt out of reach. Jair excelled in school, particularly in math, but tight family finances meant navigating the cost of education was a challenge from an early age. “I always thought college would be part of my story,” Jair said. “But the financial realities made it feel like something I’d never be able to afford.”

Thanks to his hard work and support from his parents, teachers, and Impact on Education, Jair not only made it to college—he is now a freshman at CU Boulder, with plans to double major in finance and economics.

Jair’s journey with Impact on Education began in elementary school at Whittier Elementary. Each year before the school year started, he visited a room filled with backpacks, carefully choosing one he liked. “The backpacks were always stocked with all the supplies I needed for the year,” Jair recalled. “That was a big deal for my family, and now I know Impact on Education provides those to around 5,000 Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) kids every year.”

In fifth grade, Impact on Education ensured Jair could attend the Cal-Wood field trip with his classmates, covering fees his family couldn’t afford. In high school, Impact on Education helped Jair pursue his advanced academic goals by covering the fees for AP exams and the CLEP test, enabling him to earn an impressive 12 college credits in Spanish proficiency.

Jair’s most life-changing opportunity came his senior year when he applied for the Houston Scholarship and received a $20,000 award distributed over four years. Established in 2023 by a generous Impact on Education supporter, the scholarship honors students who might not otherwise be able to attend college without the financial support of a scholarship.. “I didn’t think I had a chance,” Jair admitted. “When I got it, I was blown away. It took a huge weight off my shoulders and gave me the freedom to pursue my goals.”

Now on campus, Jair is learning to balance a new level of independence, from managing coursework to keeping his dorm clean. He credits Impact on Education not only for the scholarship but also for years of invisible support. “From elementary school through graduation, they’ve been there in ways I didn’t even realize until recently,” Jair said.

Jair’s story reflects Impact on Education’s mission to remove barriers and expand opportunities for BVSD students. Through programs like scholarships, school supplies and academic support, they remove barriers and empower students to reach their potential.

“Thanks to Impact on Education, I’m reaching for the stars,” Jair said. “One day, I hope I can give back and help other students the way they helped me.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

A year in review: Our top 10 blog posts of 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, our team has been reflecting on what we’ve achieved this year through the power of our community. With your help, we’ve expanded our impact significantly — such as increasing Kinder Bridge enrollment by 65% this past June to serve 260 rising kindergarten students, covering $38,910 in tuition and fee waivers for Boulder TEC students this fall alone (up from $10,000 in all of 2023-24), and welcoming almost 100 students to our Career Readiness Academy in November, our highest enrollment yet. We’re proud to share our 10 most popular blog posts — each capturing a unique moment of impact.

#10 – Turning the page: Grant helps rebuild school library after unprecedented challenges

The library at Monarch High School suffered a pair of misfortunes: the Marshall Fire and the COVID-19 pandemic, which left it in poor condition. Thanks to a $3,000 Academic Opportunity Fund grant and a lot of love and attention from Teacher Librarian Katherine Croasdale, the library and the students who rely on it are thriving.

#9 – This after-school reading club helps emerging bilingual students

Over the past few years Jessica Grant Van Lankvelt, a literacy interventionist at Alicia Sanchez Elementary School, noticed many students who are emerging bilingual did not have opportunities to practice reading in English. Sometimes parents are literate in different languages or they work evening hours which makes them unavailable to support their student’s literacy during the week.

#8 – Providing BVSD students access to college and career opportunities

Navigating the future with confidence and the right set of skills is crucial for today’s students. And it’s why we provide access to college and career readiness opportunities, helping Boulder Valley School District students get ahead in their academic and professional journeys.

#7 – How mock interviews support career readiness for high schoolers

For students in our Career Readiness Academy, mock interviews are more than just a practice run — they’re a safe space to explore their potential, polish their skills and practice professional communication.

#6 – Higher property taxes don’t provide extra funding for public education

As homeowners in our community see their property values and tax bills increase, many may assume the additional funds are flowing into our public schools. They’re not wrong — but increases in local property taxes don’t equate to increases in funding for the Boulder Valley School District. The reality of how school funding works is more complex.

#5 – Emerald Elementary’s Sara McIntosh honored with the 2024 Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award

There is a pivotal point in a child’s education when they stop learning to read and start reading to learn. As a literacy interventionist at Emerald Elementary School, Sara McIntosh is deeply invested in this crucial juncture. So much so that she’s dedicated her life to making sure all children grow up to be confident readers. 

#4 – Fairview High School’s Ash Mattys receives Imogene Maxon New Teacher Award

Ash Mattys took the road less traveled, and it has made all the difference. Unlike most first-year teachers who join the profession directly after college, Mattys delayed getting her degree so she could see the world instead. 

#3 – Announcing our 2024 scholarship recipients

This year we provided over $53,500 in scholarships for Boulder Valley School District graduates, including $28,500 in scholarship renewals for 16 students. And graduating seniors in the Class of 2024 were awarded over $100,000!

#2 – Daily acts of impact: Board member Ema Lyman’s 24-year career empowering BVSD youth

After dedicating 24 years to serving the young people of Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), Ema Lyman isn’t interested in measuring the broad achievements of her career. Instead, she prefers to focus on the impact she makes each day. “I don’t need to know if my students will grow into success stories — my work is unconditional.”

#1 – School-based wellness: An innovative approach to improving teenage mental health

Tess Amer, a mental health advocate at Fairview High School, knows the pressures Boulder’s teenagers face firsthand. As a licensed counselor and certified teacher, she oversees the school’s Wellness Center, a cozy and calming space that welcomes teenagers seeking mental health support.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

A Legacy of Love and Learning: Honoring Carol L’Orange

Years after Carol L’Orange retired from teaching first grade at Superior Elementary, a former student spotted her in the aisles of King Soopers. Now a teenager, he approached hesitantly. “Ms. L’Orange, do you remember me?” he asked. Carol smiled and assured him she did. Their conversation was heartfelt and full of gratitude—a small moment that encapsulated the profound, lifelong impact she had on her students.

Even in retirement, Carol continued to encounter students and parents who credited her with transforming their lives. Her husband, Hans L’Orange, recalls one encounter in particular: A mother and her son approached her and shared how much her belief in him had meant. “Everyone else in preschool and kindergarten said he was a throwaway,” the mother said. “But you believed in him and worked with him. I wanted you to know that he finished high school, and now he’s attending Front Range Community College. We weren’t sure that would happen until he ended up in your class.”

Stories like these are why Hans has chosen to honor Carol’s memory through an annual donation to Impact on Education, the foundation supporting Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). Since her passing in 2017, Hans, now living in his homeland of Hawaii, has made it his mission to continue Carol’s work by funding opportunities for teachers and students in BVSD.

“Part of who Carol was can still live on,” Hans said. “She believed in every child, and she worked tirelessly to give them the confidence and skills they needed to succeed.”

Carol’s passion for teaching was evident in everything she did. From ensuring every student was reading at grade level by year’s end to creating unique lessons like baking cookies to teach fractions and teamwork, she infused joy and innovation into her classroom. “Some parents would complain about the cookies,” Hans said with a laugh. “But Carol would explain, ‘They’re learning math, science and how to work together—and they’re getting a reward.’”

Carol’s classroom was also a space of mutual respect. During the first two weeks of every school year, she focused on building an environment where her students—always addressed as “Miss” and “Mister”—learned to collaborate and thrive together. “A frequent start of the year joke would have other teachers saying, ‘Carol always gets the easy class,’” Hans said. “But she didn’t. She created a classroom that was easy because she spent time building respect and trust.”

Hans’s dedication to education also stems from his own career in public higher-education policy, where he focused on creating equitable opportunities for students across the country.

By donating to Impact on Education, Hans is ensuring that BVSD students and teachers can continue to benefit from the kind of meaningful learning experiences Carol championed. “Carol didn’t love being the center of attention,” Hans said. “She would want the focus to be on the kids and the opportunities they’ve been given.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Karen Brown’s commitment to fostering community support for students in Boulder Valley Schools

Karen Brown’s transition from the small, supportive town of Grand Lake, Colorado, to the bustling campus of the University of Colorado Boulder could have been overwhelming. But with the encouragement of her parents and a strong educational foundation, she thrived, shaping her belief in the transformative power of quality education and community support. Now, as a board member for Impact on Education, Brown champions these values, advocating for equitable, excellent public education for the students in Boulder Valley School District.

In many ways, Brown’s childhood was idyllic. As the daughter of small-business owners who ran a local motel, she spent her time in nature and developed a love of reading. “I was a bookworm,” she recalls fondly, “and the little town library above the fire station was my favorite place. I can still remember the smell.” In her small hometown—where some peers had never ventured to Denver—Brown attended a small junior/senior high school, where Mr. Schroer, a social studies teacher known for his rigorous focus on writing, prepared her well for the academic challenges ahead.

After high school, Brown enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU). While some of her peers struggled to adjust to the academic challenge of college, Brown had a smooth transition. The support she received from her parents, along with her strong academic foundation, prepared her well for college and shaped her belief that all young people deserve similar support and resources. This conviction now drives her work in education advocacy.

After earning her degree and teaching license from CU, Brown taught for six years at Overland High School. When she moved to Louisville to raise her family, she stayed involved in public education as her children attended Boulder Valley Schools. Transitioning from education to the nonprofit sector, Brown continued to support young people through various roles at the YMCA of Boulder Valley, including grant administrator and director of summer camps.

Today, as a board member for Impact on Education, Brown is driven by a mission: to ensure every child in the Boulder Valley School District receives the kind of community support and quality education that shaped her own childhood. She highlights the organization’s innovative approach, funding ideas and programs that the school district may not be able to immediately support. “It’s an organization that isn’t afraid to experiment with potential solutions, and if it works, it can be scaled up by the district,” Brown said. “They pool community resources and fill gaps in a way that is game-changing.”

A passionate advocate for equity, she believes good, quality public education, whether in big cities or rural towns, can be a great equalizer. Two of her favorite Impact on Education initiatives are the Career Readiness Academy and KinderBridge, which help students build strong foundations and ensure equitable starts.

“You never know whose life will change when you cross paths,” Brown said. “One guest speaker, one interesting class, or access to the right technology or field trip can open up a student’s world.” For Brown, supporting Impact on Education is about creating those moments—small sparks that can ignite a lifetime of opportunity.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Impact on Education expands leadership with four new board members

We’re excited to introduce four new members to our Board of Directors. Joining us this year are Bob Gaddis, Senior Vice President and Market Manager at BOK Financial; Bianca Gallegos, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at Boulder Valley School District (BVSD);  and Emily Mears, Managing Director and Shareholder at Pathstone Family Office. David Stewart, Boulder Valley Education Association President, also joined the Board this year as an Ex-Officio member, replacing Patty Delgado as President of the teacher’s association. Their expertise and dedication to our mission will enhance our ability to support BVSD students and educators. 

Despite being a highly educated and prosperous state, Colorado public schools receive $3,000 less per student than the national average, ranking 40th in the nation for funding. In Boulder County, there is also a huge disparity in wealth that impacts our students and their families every day. Bob, Bianca, David, and Emily bring a wealth of experience from education, finance and community engagement, and they join us in ensuring BVSD students have access to an education that is both excellent and equitable.

Bob Gaddis

Senior Vice President and Market Manager
BOK Financial

Dr. Bianca Gallegos

Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
Boulder Valley School District 

Emily Mears

Managing Director and Shareholder
Pathstone Family Office

David Stewart

President
Boulder Valley Education Association

We are thrilled to welcome these four new members as we continue to expand our impact and support for students and educators in BVSD.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Career Readiness Academy gives students skills to enter the workforce

Globalization and the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a new world of work that has only been exacerbated by AI, gig work and technological leaps. To succeed, students need flexible skills that will allow them to shift and grow in an ever-changing economy. Experts say in order to succeed, students need to start thinking about the world of work far earlier than previous generations. 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis agrees. “We have historically asked students to make choices about their careers after leaving high school, often without the appropriate data needed to identify industry-specific needs or what kind of return on investment a particular pathway will afford,” he said in an essay originally published as part of the 2023 “State of the American Student” report. “As the global economy rapidly evolves, we must rethink the way we educate students and our workforce.”

Empowering students with skills and resources

This is why we provide students access to an after-school program, the Career Readiness Academy, that embraces this fluid approach to career preparation. This year the program will be offered to 10th graders at Boulder High, Broomfield High and Centaurus High, and parts of the curriculum will also be available to students at Arapahoe Ridge. 

The program focuses on developing professional skills which are often not taught in school and may not be modeled at home.

Over the course of ten after-school workshops, students receive training and resources to empower them for successful lives after high school. This includes:

• Crafting a resume and developing other crucial professional skills 
• Practicing interviewing skills through mock interviews
• Learning about various career paths
• Practicing professional communication and soft skills 
• Building self-confidence and self-knowledge
• Accessing school resources to meet their future goals
• Learning how to advocate for help
• Receiving a $300 stipend for attending 80% of the workshops

Students in the program gain valuable insights into what employers look for while building the confidence needed to thrive. “A workshop that helped me a lot was the mock interviews,” said one program participant. “It was really scary leading up to the actual event, but when I sat down and did it, it felt surprisingly easy. It helped me boost my confidence a lot.”

Not your mom’s career path

According to a recent Earth Web poll, 75% of kids ages 6 to 17 want to be a YouTuber when they grow up. Adults might laugh, but students know that career options have changed and continue to do so.

The Career Readiness Academy supports students in exploring a variety of career paths before entering post-secondary education, empowering them to make informed choices and broadening their horizons. 

Tangible benefits for their futures

After participating in Career Readiness Academy, students felt much more confident about and prepared to enter the world of work. The number of participants who said they knew where to go to learn about job opportunities increased by 41%, and the number of those who knew how to learn about job opportunities increased by 32%. 

Ensuring they are prepared now, and in the future, students in the program learned how to obtain college and work opportunities while still in high school. 85% of students had met their counselor by the end of the program, up 20%. 88% had a current resume, an increase of 69%

“I feel more prepared and want to get a job a lot sooner,” said a program participant. “I feel more at peace being able to say, ‘I’ll figure this out.’ I feel more prepared for the future and less stressed out about today.”

Whether they are becoming a YouTuber, a firefighter or some career that has yet to be invented, Impact on Education knows that empowering students with confidence and professional soft skills will always be a good investment.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Please Note: Our second (and final) educator grant funding cycle for the school year closes on January 26, 2024. Click here to learn more.

A history of grants and growth

Since its inception, Impact on Education has stood as a pillar of support for educators in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). Our commitment to enriching academic experiences has a history that spans nearly four decades.

Starting in 1986, with an initiative to empower educators through mini-grants, we’ve continued to evolve our grant program to meet the ever-changing needs of schools and students. This evolution is a testament to our dedication to creating opportunity for students and leveling the educational playing field.

The history of Impact on Education educator grants

1986
The Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools (now Impact on Education) began awarding mini-grants to BVSD educators, later known as Classroom Innovation Grants.

2004
Impact on Education launched a new Opportunity Fund to reduce economic barriers to academic opportunities and enrichment for students. Funds paid for expenses such as art supplies, instrument rentals, sports physicals, class fees, and more.

2019
Through a partnership with Pathways to Jazz, Impact on Education provided $10,000 in grants to music educators at schools across BVSD. Impact on Education continued awarding Classroom Innovation Grants to educators.

2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Impact on Education merged the Opportunity Fund and Classroom Innovation Grants programs to create a Student Academic Support Fund. Funds covered class fees, technology needs, supplemental equipment, transportation expenses, instrument rentals and repair, and other student academic needs.

“It’s remarkable to see the ingenuity and passion BVSD educators bring to their grant applications, all in the pursuit of enriching their students’ educational journeys. I volunteer to review grants because I believe they’re a vote of confidence for our teachers and can uplift the entire school community.”

Laura Arentsen, Impact on Education volunteer

2021 to Present – Academic Opportunity Fund

Launched in 2021, our Academic Opportunity Fund allows educators and schools across the district to request funds for the resources they need. Over the past three years we’ve awarded $615,113 across 368 grants, with more than 80% of our 56 schools applying for at least one grant.

Each grant has a story behind it – from providing essential resources for hands-on science projects to ensuring equitable access to tutoring supports, technology licenses, books, and more.

Today, we prioritize requests that expand access to resources, opportunities, and support for students from marginalized and underserved communities. And we involve trained community volunteers in our grant review process.

On the horizon

Our grant program will continue to evolve, just as the needs of our educators and students do. With the upcoming January 26, 2024 deadline in our current funding cycle, we’re excited to see what new projects and innovative resources our educators will share with us. 

We’re proud of how this program continues to empower educators to meet the evolving needs of BVSD students.

Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of BVSD students, one grant at a time.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

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