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

Bob Gaddis has spent decades building a successful career in finance and giving back to the Boulder community. His expertise in nonprofit governance and financial management makes him an ideal fit for the role of Treasurer. Bob’s longstanding involvement includes leadership roles on the Boulder Valley YMCA Board and the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, where he has supported numerous community initiatives. His commitment to BVSD goes beyond his professional experience, as his family is deeply connected to the district—both his children are alumni.

Dr. Bianca Gallegos

Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
Boulder Valley School District 

With over 21 years of experience in education, Dr. Bianca Gallegos specializes in student academic growth, bilingual education, and family and community partnerships. Throughout her career, she has held various roles in PK-12th grade administration and teaching and is known for her collaborative and student-centered leadership. Bianca is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the district and overseeing the implementation of BVSD’s Grad+ framework which prepares students to graduate with more than a diploma. The GRAD+ Quadrants include College Credits Before Graduation, Industry Certifications, Seal of Biliteracy, Work-Based Learning . Her current role engages partners in this important work. A proud graduate of BVSD, Bianca attended its schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, following in the footsteps of her mother, who is a long-time educator in the district. Most recently, Bianca served as Principal at Columbine Elementary in Boulder, the same school she attended as a child.

Emily Mears

Managing Director and Shareholder
Pathstone Family Office

As a BVSD parent, Emily Mears is passionate about supporting students’ mental health and ensuring resources reach those in need. In her role as managing director and shareholder at Pathstone Family Office, Emily is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and their families — she and her team manage over $1 billion in client assets. By joining our board, Emily brings both her financial acumen and dedication to BVSD. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Community Foundation Boulder County and co-chairs its Investment Committee.

David Stewart

President
Boulder Valley Education Association

David Stewart has spent 30 years as an educator in BVSD.  As president of the Boulder Valley Education Association, his leadership is rooted in fostering collaboration and partnerships that make BVSD an exceptional district for both educators and families. In addition to his professional dedication, David is also a proud parent of three BVSD graduates, further deepening his connection to the Boulder Valley community.

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:

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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info@impactoneducation.org
303.524.3865

Impact on Education
721 Front Street, Suite A
Louisville, CO 80027

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