Starting strong: Why kindergarten readiness matters in Boulder Valley

As funding cuts ripple through early childhood education, one summer program is helping local students enter kindergarten with confidence.

A first step toward long-term success

Kindergarten is a foundational year, one that shapes how children feel about school and themselves as learners. But not every child begins on equal footing. Some students are unprepared for the transition to a full-day classroom with new routines, expectations, and unfamiliar faces. Kinder Bridge, a summer program in Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), helps smooth that transition and ensures all students start with the confidence and tools they need to thrive.

Kinder Bridge, also known as Rising K, is a free, full-day summer program. Funded by Impact on Education, it offers a 15-day preview of kindergarten for students who may benefit from more structure or support before the school year begins. A typical day includes breakfast and lunch, math and literacy blocks, specials like art or music, and a lot of time spent learning how school works.

“They get to experience the rhythm of a real school day,” says Heather Bale, a longtime early childhood educator and teacher leader for the program. “But it’s also a chance for teachers and staff to get to know the students, how they learn, what support they might need, and how best to set them up for success in the fall. We can start building relationships with families, connect kids with resources, and make a plan for what will help them thrive once the school year begins.”

Heather Bale, educator and teacher leader for the Rising K program, with students

Preparing every student to start strong

Students are referred to the program based on academic data and teacher recommendations, often because they need a bit more support in areas like math, literacy, or classroom behavior. Others simply need more time to build the social-emotional and academic skills that support classroom learning, like raising a hand to ask a question, lining up for lunch, or understanding how to participate in a group setting.

Without those early experiences, students can begin kindergarten at a disadvantage compared to their peers. These readiness gaps, differences in skills, confidence, and familiarity with school routines, can affect how easily a child adjusts and begins to learn. 

School readiness has long-term benefits. Children who start kindergarten with strong foundational skills perform better on standardized tests in later grades, earn higher GPAs in middle school, and are more likely to graduate high school on time — even when accounting for differences in sociodemographic factors and school context.

“For a lot of these kids, it’s their first time eating lunch in a cafeteria or being away from a parent all day. We’re helping them take that step in a setting that’s supportive and less overwhelming.”

Those needs — and the program’s role in addressing them — are even more important now. 

“It’s a chance to get familiar with school before it counts,” Bale says. “For a lot of these kids, it’s their first time eating lunch in a cafeteria or being away from a parent all day. We’re helping them take that step in a setting that’s supportive and less overwhelming.”

“There’s a perception that all families in Boulder Valley have access to the same opportunities. But that’s just not true. We serve many kids with economic and social challenges. This program helps balance that by giving them a fair start.”

State and federal budget cuts have reduced access to early childhood education across Colorado, including programs like Head Start. In April, the Boulder County Commission stepped in to keep Head Start afloat, approving $2 million in stop-gap funding to run the program for at least one more year after its request for federal funding was denied. But local officials say they aren’t sure how they’re going to fund the program moving forward. That means fewer families may have access to preschool, increasing the risk of inequities at the very start of a child’s education.

“There’s a perception that all families in Boulder Valley have access to the same opportunities,” Bale says. “But that’s just not true. We serve many kids with economic and social challenges. This program helps balance that by giving them a fair start.”

Hopeful outcomes in just 15 days

The results of Kinder Bridge speak for themselves. This year:

“It’s a short program, but it’s a meaningful one. Kids come out of it more confident, more comfortable, and more ready to learn.”

These outcomes point to more than academic growth. They reflect an increased comfort with school and greater confidence heading into a pivotal first year.

“It’s a short program,” Bale says, “but it’s a meaningful one. Kids come out of it more confident, more comfortable, and more ready to learn.”

And that, she adds, benefits everyone — students, teachers, and the entire BVSD community.

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?

Calm minds, ready to learn: A therapist’s perspective on school wellness

High schools buzz with constant energy. Lockers slam. Bells sound. Hallway chatter leaks under the door. Even after the bell rings, the stimulation continues.

And for teenagers today, school is only one part of a relentless flow of information and expectations. Academic pressure, social media, extracurricular demands, and constant alerts from phones create a sensory load that human bodies were never designed to handle. This chronic overstimulation doesn’t just create stress, it disrupts learning.

“When the nervous system is always on high alert, you can’t expect the brain to focus or absorb new information,” says therapist and Impact on Education donor Sarah Ahn. “Calm isn’t just about feeling better, it is about being able to learn and retain information.”

The link between mental health and learning

As a therapist, Sarah sees this connection firsthand in her work with young adults and parents. And as a parent of two Boulder Valley School District graduates and a current high school student, she understands the pressure young people today are under.

She specializes in sensory processing challenges, which often appear as intense reactions to noise, texture, or crowded spaces. Without tools to calm their nervous system, teens may shut down, lash out, or mask their distress, none of which supports learning.

“Regulation is not just for kids with diagnoses,” she explains. “It is a life skill every student needs. When they learn how to notice their stress and respond to it, they not only feel better, they learn better.”

Research is beginning to back up what educators and mental health professionals like Sarah observe every day in their work. Teaching emotional regulation skills, including mindfulness techniques, can help students strengthen attention and memory, build resilience, and manage relationships more effectively.

“Regulation is not just for kids with diagnoses. It is a life skill every student needs. When they learn how to notice their stress and respond to it, they not only feel better, they learn better.”

How Wellness Centers help boost learning

That’s where Boulder Valley School District’s Wellness Centers play a critical role. Funded by Impact on Education, these calming rooms in six Boulder Valley high schools give students something increasingly rare in their day: time and space to reset. They’re available during the school day and stocked with soft seating, sand trays, fidget toys, puzzles, and journals.

They’re also staffed by trained professionals. Mental Health Advocates are there to offer support and provide referrals as needed.

When Sarah toured a Wellness Center and saw students, including some of her daughter’s friends, relaxing in the space, she immediately recognized the value. “Students were learning how to recognize what is happening in their bodies and gaining tools to manage it,” she said. “Those are skills most adults never learned. It was so impressive to see.”

Students can step into a Wellness Center when they feel overwhelmed, talk with a trusted adult if they need to, and return to class more grounded and better prepared to engage. For some, that reset is a quiet fifteen minutes. For others, it’s a cup of tea before the next bell. Either way, the result is the same: a calmer body and a brain ready to learn.

“Imagine if all schools were centered around mindfulness and wellness,” said Sarah. “Students could fully access the resources and education available to them. But too many students today remain in fight, flight, or freeze mode throughout the school day and are desperately looking for ways to regulate their bodies and emotions.”

“Students were learning how to recognize what is happening in their bodies and gaining tools to manage it. Those are skills most adults never learned. It was so impressive to see.”

Education changed her life. Now she’s paying it forward.

Sarah’s support for public education is deeply personal. The daughter of Korean immigrants, she grew up on free and reduced price lunch in New Jersey and credits education with transforming her life.

“My parents always said, ‘Go to the best school you can get into,’” she recalled. “We didn’t have much money, but they always prioritized learning. Education changed everything for me.”

Today, Sarah and her husband Chris Moody have made education one of their family’s philanthropic pillars. They choose to donate to programs that remove barriers for students and improve their ability to learn, hoping to change lives in the same way public education changed hers.

That commitment is what led them to Impact on Education. When Sarah saw firsthand how Wellness Centers helped students regulate their emotions and return to class ready to learn, she recognized the program as exactly the kind of work their giving pillar was built to support.

She also knew these supports were not standard in most schools. Colorado public schools face significant funding gaps, especially in mental health, and without community partners like Impact on Education, students would not have access to resources like these.

To date, thanks to generous donors like Sarah, private foundations, and local government, Impact invests nearly $1 million annually in mental health, wellbeing, and belonging resources for students in the Boulder Valley. “These are not extras,” said Sarah. “They help every student, whether anxious, overstimulated, or simply needing a break, return to class ready to learn.”

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?

Backpacks and bonding: How one mother-son duo give back

Each summer, Julie Knopf and her son Ryan roll up their sleeves to help thousands of Boulder Valley students start school on the right foot. Through their work with Impact on Education’s Crayons to Calculators program, the mother-son duo volunteers to sort and pack new backpacks, headphones, and school supplies for families across the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD).

“Volunteering is something we can do together,” says Julie. “It’s time spent doing something meaningful—not just for us, but for our whole community.”

This year, the Crayons to Calculators school supply distribution took place the week of June 23 and supported around 4,000 BVSD students facing financial hardship.

Seeing the bigger picture

Julie and Ryan volunteer through the Young Men’s Service League, a group that connects moms and their high school sons to service opportunities across Boulder County. Crayons to Calculators quickly became one of their favorite events.

Last summer, they volunteered twice — once at the start of the sorting process, and again near the end. “At first, the gym was filled with unsorted boxes,” Julie recalls. “When we came back, everything was in place. It showed Ryan how much of a difference every small task makes.”

“It makes me happy to think that I am being a good representative of what young people can do and that we actually want to be helpful in our community.”

– Ryan Knopf, Volunteer

Julie says it was also eye-opening for both of them to realize how much need exists locally. “We don’t live in the district, but that doesn’t matter. These are our neighbors. These are kids who deserve to start the year feeling excited and included.”

A small act with a big impact

According to a 2024 report by Bankrate, about a third of families surveyed said back-to-school shopping would put them in debt. When families have to choose between essentials like food or school supplies, it can affect a child’s ability to feel confident and prepared in the classroom.

“New supplies might seem like a small thing,” Julie says, “but they make a big difference. It’s about dignity and belonging. Every student deserves to walk into school feeling ready to learn.”

For the Knopfs, giving back also means modeling that mindset for others. “You don’t have to change the world on your own,” Julie says. “But when people come together — even for just a few hours — they really can make a lasting impact.”

This annual distribution is made possible by volunteers like Julie and Ryan and generous support from corporate partners like Western Disposal, Google, Swinerton, and Comcast.

“New supplies might seem like a small thing, but they make a big difference. It’s about dignity and belonging. Every student deserves to walk into school feeling ready to learn.”

– Julie Knopf, Volunteer

“Crayons to Calculators would not be possible without the time and support of our volunteers,” says Emma Lyles, Impact on Education’s donor relations and volunteer manager. “Since this program started 20 years ago, volunteers have always been a driving force to make it happen. This is truly a community effort, and we could not be more grateful for our volunteers.” 

To get involved, please visit our volunteer page and sign up for updates to learn more about upcoming opportunities.

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 welcomes three new board members

We’re proud to announce the addition of three new members to our Board of Directors: Brook Brockett, a Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) alum and youth advocate; Polly Fields, a philanthropic leader and community organizer; and Natasha Wright, executive director of Chai for Charity. The new members, who began their service in spring 2025, bring a range of experience in nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and community engagement that will support our growth and advance our mission.

Please join us in welcoming our new members and thanking those who are rolling off. Thank you to Ann Cooper, Carly Hare, and Carlos Pacheco for their combined 18 years of service on our board.

Introducing our new board members

Brook Brockett

Fast Food Manager and BVSD Alum

Brook joins the board with a deep personal connection to BVSD, as a Boulder High graduate with three years of service on the Impact on Education Student Advisory Board. They bring firsthand insight into how policy affects the student experience. Brook has served the Boulder Valley community through student leadership, youth ministry, and advocacy at both the state and federal levels. Driven by a passion for educational equity, Brook brings a unique blend of experience in fundraising, event planning, communications, and legislative policy. Brook’s voice and insights will enhance Impact on Education’s outreach and development efforts.

Polly Fields 

Philanthropic Leader and Community Advocate

Polly has led philanthropic initiatives for nearly three decades, with a strong background in community engagement, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit governance. She chairs local school accountability committees, holds leadership roles in parent-teacher organizations, and lends her time and talents to multiple nonprofits and educational institutions, such as Growing Up Boulder, WITNESS, and Wake Forest University. She excels in public policy, fundraising, special event planning, and grant writing. Guided by a strong belief in equity and opportunity, she leverages her corporate and nonprofit background and personal network to drive meaningful change locally and internationally. Polly’s enthusiasm for advocacy and resource development positions her as a passionate and strategic addition to the board.

Natasha Wright

Chai for Charity Executive Director

Natasha joins our board with a robust understanding of nonprofit leadership, community organizing, fundraising, and program development. She brings 16 years at Google, two years at a tech startup, and valuable leadership experience running her charitable organization, Chai for Charity. Through her nonprofit work, she’s built strong connections with small- and mid-sized businesses and local students. Over six years of directing community service events, she’s united diverse volunteers around shared values and goals. On the board, Natasha will support strategic community engagement, helping Impact on Education reach new audiences.

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?

Boulder Valley’s Class of 2025 scholarship winners

For Boulder High graduate Yaretsi Diaz, last month’s graduation ceremony represented more than personal achievement — it marked the beginning of her future as a community advocate. A bilingual Latina passionate about mental health, she has a clear goal in mind: to one day help families like hers get the care they need.

This fall, Yaretsi plans to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, where she’ll study psychology and business. Eventually, she wants to open a mental health practice serving Latino children. 

“Seeing how Latino families hesitate to [take part] in certain things due to their lack of understanding English, being a bilingual person, I want to be the help that they need.”

Thanks to her hard work and support from the Jeff Howenstein Panther Scholarship, Yaretsi is on track to achieve her dream. 

“I not only want to make my dad proud the way he has made me proud, but I want to be an example for other Hispanic children out there, showing them that they can be whatever they put their mind to,” Yaretsi shared.

This year, we invested $89,210 in talented students like Yaretsi — $37,210 in new scholarships for graduating seniors and $52,000 in renewed support for alumni. These renewable awards mean we’ll invest up to $108,000 in the Class of 2025 scholars over the next two to four years. These scholarships support students pursuing four-year college, community college, and technical training programs.

Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!

2025 scholarship recipients

Houston Scholarship

This $10,000 scholarship celebrates exemplary Boulder Valley students who excel in school and help support their loved ones financially. Renewable for up to four years, this scholarship opens doors to higher education for those facing financial hurdles.

Lupito Garcia, Boulder High

Lupito plans to study psychology and biology at Metro State University

“I love learning and I enjoy school, so of course college is a dream of mine. It is also a goal that is important for me to fulfill my future plans. With this scholarship, I [can] begin to accumulate the necessary funds to go to college and continue my passion for learning and growing as a person.”

Alexandra Jacobo, Boulder High

Alexandra intends to study business at the University of Colorado Boulder

“Receiving this scholarship [will] not only help myself, but it [will] allow me to help others in my community by mentoring them to create their own businesses. I want to inspire others to continue their education despite hardships and financial barriers.”


Earl & Barbara Bolton Scholarship

This $5,000 scholarship supports a student who plans to pursue a career in engineering, forestry, nursing, or the sciences, and can be renewed for up to four years.

Addisu McCormick, Centaurus High

Addisu plans to study architectural engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder

“To me, the American dream is the opportunity to make something of yourself no matter what you lack and no matter what challenges you’ve faced. As Americans, we also bear the responsibility to lift others up and to give back for what we’ve received. I want to create practical, affordable and sustainable solutions to the growing climate and economic crisis that make a real difference for the average person.”


Dennie & Donna Wise Scholarship

These $1,000 scholarships are awarded to Boulder Valley students pursuing vocational, technical, or community college education. They are renewable for up to two years. 

Erika Valdez, Centaurus High

Erika plans to pursue cosmetologist at Emily Griffith Technical College

“I am eager to create an all inclusive space where I will take every aspect on beauty [into] account. I am genuinely excited to start my journey in cosmetology, with the goal of establishing my own salon and mastering being a cosmetologist.”

Blanca Escobar, Boulder High

Blanca plans to study nursing at Front Range Community College 

“My dream is still to graduate from high school and, if I have the opportunity, continue my studies in nursing and work in a hospital or clinic. I know that language is a barrier I need to overcome, but I am convinced that if I keep working hard and don’t give up, I will succeed.”


Jeff Howenstein Panther Scholarship

The Jeff Howenstein Panther Scholarship honors former Boulder High AVID teacher Jeff Howenstein. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program and is renewable for up to four years. 

Yaretsi Diaz, Boulder High

Yaretsi plans to study psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder

“My goal is to become a therapist for children because they are the next doctors, lawyers, and even presidents, yet I feel like we as a society don’t take [the] time to notice and understand them. By giving time for children to express their ideas and explore their imaginations, our world would be more beautiful, creative, and pure.”


Gould Scholarship

The $2,500 Gould Scholarship is a one-time scholarship awarded to a student graduating from Boulder High who is studying education.

Jenifer Martinez, Boulder High

Jenifer plans to attend CU Boulder to study elementary education

“My future career is elementary education because I want to work with children and help shape their future through education. I desire to make a difference to positively impact young lives and contribute to the community.”


Smyth Scholarship

The Smyth Scholarship is a one-time, $5,710 scholarship awarded to a student selected by the Boulder High Counseling team who demonstrates academic excellence and financial need. 

Amitabha Jamyangling-Kawaguchi, Boulder High


Panther Pride Excellence in Leadership Scholarship

This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a Boulder High School student who demonstrates leadership excellence.

Isla Jones, Boulder High

Our scholarships support bright Boulder Valley students who are committed to bettering themselves and their communities. With support from generous donors like you, we help ensure that financial circumstances don’t limit what these talented students can achieve.

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?

Centaurus senior Addisu: Future affordable housing engineer

The Earl and Barbara Bolton Scholarship recipient will attend University of Colorado at Boulder next year.

Addisu McCormick is thinking big. This fall, he’ll begin studying architectural engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder in hopes of eventually using his degree to design affordable housing.

“I want to create solutions that give people a better shot at stability and at building generational wealth,” he said.

Addisu’s long-term goals are deeply personal. Born in Ethiopia, he was adopted to the United States after his birth mother died and religious conflict made it unsafe for him to stay. He’s seen firsthand how opportunity is unequally distributed and how much it matters.

“If you look back at history, you see how homeownership was out of reach for many communities, especially Black families. That affected our ability to build wealth and pass it on,” he said. “I want to help change that, so families don’t just survive but get a real chance to grow and thrive.”

“I want to create solutions that give people a better shot at stability and at building generational wealth.”

A scholarship’s impact

Receiving the Earl and Barbara Bolton Scholarship through Impact on Education has brought that future closer. 

“When I saw the email, I thought it was another interview,” Addisu recalled. “Then I saw the word ‘Congratulations,’ and my mind just blew up. I rushed home to tell my mom and said, ‘I got a scholarship!’ Even my dog was jumping up and down. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”

For Addisu, the financial support matters, but so does the vote of confidence.

“Receiving this scholarship means other people believe in me. That’s the biggest part,” he said. “It reassures me that I’m on the right path.”

The Earl and Barbara Bolton Scholarship is one of several awards Impact on Education grants each year to Boulder Valley School District graduates. The Boltons — a Boulder-born couple who shared a love for education, aviation, and service — left a bequest to Impact on Education that now supports students like Addisu. The $5,000 scholarship is renewable for up to four years, for a total of $20,000.

“Receiving this scholarship means other people believe in me. That’s the biggest part… It reassures me that I’m on the right path.”

Ready for a fresh start

Addisu is most excited about starting college life and meeting new people. “When I was younger, it was hard for me socially,” he said. “I didn’t speak the language when I first got here, and there was no one to translate. By the end of 8th grade, I caught up thanks to the support from my parents and teachers. At college, no one will know my background. I’m looking forward to the fresh start.”

That mix of resilience and optimism is part of what makes Addisu’s journey so compelling. Whether he’s researching 3D-printed concrete homes or thinking deeply about the importance of staying close to his family, he brings both heart and purpose to his goals. Being able to attend CU Boulder lets him do both: pursue an innovative career in architectural engineering and remain near the people who raised him.

“I want to stay close to my parents. But I also want to grow and give back,” he said. “This scholarship is helping me do both.”

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?

32nd Impact Awards recognize excellent educators across Boulder Valley

Yesterday, nearly 500 educators, administrators, and community members attended our 32nd annual Impact Awards. We honored 58 educators from across the Boulder Valley School District for their exceptional impact on students and their education. In addition, we presented two special awards — the Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award and the Imogene Maxon Early Educator Award.

Check out photos from the event

Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Elizabeth Evans, Music/Theater Director

Nederland Middle-Senior High School

Thank you to the Boulder TEC students who produced this video!

As a former student in the Boulder Valley School District, Elizabeth Evans has deep roots in our local education system, spanning most of her life. She began her impressive teaching career in 1985 at Nederland Middle-Senior High School and has been inspiring students there ever since. A firm believer in the power of the arts, she teaches choir, band, theater, and film literature courses. 

To students, she’s known for building a safe and loving creative community. To parents, she’s recognized as someone who goes above and beyond to give kids exceptional experiences, like a choir performance at Carnegie Hall last year. And to school leadership, she’s regarded as the epitome of dedication and commitment. Elizabeth Evans is a one-of-a-kind educator who inspires her students to take risks, believe in themselves, and find their unique voices through art. 

Please join us in thanking Elizabeth for 40 years of service to students and our public schools.

Imogene Maxon Early Educator Award winner
Shannon Boyle, Special Education Teacher

Alicia Sanchez Elementary

Shannon is a special education teacher at Alicia Sanchez Elementary who has made a memorable impact on the Boulder Valley School District in just two years. With a gift for connection, Shannon creates a classroom environment where every child is seen. Each morning begins with personal greetings, and each day is filled with meaningful conversations that make every child feel valued and understood.

Drawing from her background in enrichment teaching, Shannon infuses creativity into her work to expand the standard curriculum. Her classroom is often twinkling with patches of glitter, showing how she happily embraces the sometimes messy journey of learning. Her students build critical social-emotional skills and a love for learning at a young age, thanks to her dynamic teaching style.

But what makes Shannon truly exceptional is her remarkable ability to meet each of her students exactly where they are. Whether she’s engaging a precocious 5-year-old in deeper conversations about their interests or adapting activities for a neurodiverse learner, her approach is always personalized and compassionate. She’s a fearless champion for her students, advocating tirelessly for their unique needs with a level of dedication that inspires everyone around her.

2025 Impact Award honorees

Educators from schools across the Boulder Valley School District were nominated by their principals and honored at the Impact Awards.

Join us in congratulating and celebrating these everyday education superheroes! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the award ceremony, and to the generous sponsors who made the event possible: Premier Members Credit Union, the Boulder Valley Education Association, Google, Comcast, and the Daily Camera.

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?

7 must-read books: Recommendations from a librarian

When students open a book, Shoshannah Turgel, the teacher-librarian at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, wants them to find more than just a good story.

“A great book can be a mirror that reflects your own identity, a window into someone else’s life, or a door that opens to a new experience,” she said, referencing a concept popularized by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. 

Ensuring students have access to stories that reflect their lives and expand their perspectives requires regular updates to the school’s library collection. Each year, Shoshannah and her team replace outdated and incorrect books with inclusive, engaging, and current ones.

Doing that on a limited school budget isn’t possible. So she turned to Impact on Education, which provides grants to help educators bridge opportunity gaps and create more equitable learning environments.

Since joining the school six years ago, Shoshannah has applied for and received ten Academic Opportunity Fund grants. The most recent grant provided $500 to purchase nearly 30 new award-winning books exploring various identities, voices, and genres.

“These books are current and compelling,” she said. “When students see themselves, they get excited to read.”

In honor of National Library Week (April 6-12),  Shoshannah recommended seven books for young adult and adult readers.

“A great book can be a mirror that reflects your own identity, a window into someone else’s life, or a door that opens to a new experience.”

Recommended reads for National Library Week

1. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

True Crime Narrative Nonfiction | Young Adult to Adult

In The 57 Bus, two teenagers are involved in a crime on the 57 Bus in Oakland, CA. Incredibly researched and written, this true crime book is professional journalism at its best. The author is an award-winning journalist, and masterfully represents all sides in complex situations revolving around sensitive topics.


2. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

Realistic Fiction | Middle Grade to Adult

Maudie is a neurodivergent teenager whose parents are divorced. Her dad loses his home in a CA wildfire, and Maudie spends her summer with him, learning many things, including how to surf and advocate for herself. This book is an amazing coming-of-age narrative. Sally J. Pla is a neurodivergent author, so this is an “own-voice” text.


3. Go As a River by Shelley Read

Historical Fiction | Adult

Set in 1950s Colorado, Go As a River follows seventeen-year-old Victoria Nash on a journey through love, loss, and self-discovery. Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola, this powerful novel celebrates female resilience and the rugged beauty of our state. Readers will visit Colorado’s rich history, including the damming of the Gunnison River, the role of women in rural communities, and the discrimination faced by Native Americans. This book is a peach!


4. Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman

Memoir | Young Adult to Adult

Elite runner, coach, and entrepreneur Fleshman shares her personal story and a critical analysis of the world of running, arguing that male-designed best practices often fail women. Fleshman explores the mental health challenges, eating disorders, and injuries that plague many young female runners as their bodies naturally change and they contend with gender-based social pressure. Teens will connect with Fleshman’s evidence-based insights and personal experiences navigating puberty as a young athlete. Adults will appreciate Fleshman’s actionable approach to combating these problems and helping girls succeed. 


5. Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Historical Fiction | Young Adult to Adult

Junie is an enslaved woman on the Bellereine Plantation in Alabama. Her life changes course when she encounters her sister’s ghost in the woods near her home. Junie is a complex character with a distinct voice and strong values, opinions, and dreams. This story offers a unique narrative and makes a significant contribution to the existing body of literature on the Antebellum South.


6. Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

Mystery-Thriller | Young Adult

J.B., Ramón, and Trey have two things in common: They’re students at Urban Promise Prep, a prestigious public charter school in Washington D.C., and they’re suspects in the murder of beloved school founder and principal, Mr. Moore. This book is a fast-paced, multiple first-person point-of-view mystery-thriller about racism, corruption, and learning to do the right thing. 


7. Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta

Realistic Fiction | Young Adult

Life is complicated for high school seniors Belén and Leti. Belén is struggling to graduate high school and make her mom proud. Her father abandons their family, leaving Belén and her mother heartbroken. Leti is an AP scholar, Berkeley-bound, and pregnant. Together, they hold each other up in this coming-of-age story about hardship, resilience, and learning to be your best self. 

Bringing stories to life for students

“When students see an author who shares their culture or story, it is incredibly powerful… And when it is not their own experience, it still expands their worldview.”

In addition to updating the library’s collection, Shoshannah has used previous Impact on Education grants to support larger literacy goals. At Centaurus, these grants have helped fund author visits that allow students to meet the writers behind the stories they love and receive a personal copy of the book to keep.

These community-wide events have reached hundreds of students and brought acclaimed authors such as Kwame Alexander and Matt de la Peña to Lafayette.

“When students see an author who shares their culture or story, it is incredibly powerful,” Shoshannah said. “And when it is not their own experience, it still expands their worldview.”

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?

Opening doors to college: Helping students earn credit early

A record number of Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) students are earning college credit while still in high school, often at no cost to their families. Through concurrent enrollment, students can take college courses while still enrolled in high school, allowing them to graduate with college credit and save significantly on tuition. BVSD students have taken 5,500 college course sections this year, an 85% increase from last year.

But for some students, hidden costs can stand in the way of accessing concurrent enrollment.

The cost of “free” college credit

While the state covers most concurrent tuition, students often need to pay fees for colleges to officially recognize their credits. There are also placement exam costs that allow students to skip required college courses. For families going through a financial rough patch, or those who simply didn’t plan for these costs, a few hundred dollars can feel out of reach. That’s where Impact on Education helps.

We committed $100,000 this year to help BVSD students pay for things like transcript processing, placement tests, and material fees, helping them earn college credits or industry certifications. Seeing a clear need, we quadrupled our investment over the previous year. In only one semester this year, 298 students have benefitted, exceeding last year’s total.

One of those students is Michelle Arciniega, a Boulder High School graduate and first-generation college student who is now studying at Front Range Community College (FRCC). While still in high school, Michelle took a personal finance course at FRCC, earning college credit. That course also gave her valuable experience with the rigors of higher education-level coursework.

“I learned how to manage my time and get my assignments done without a lot of guidance. Once I actually enrolled in college, I felt better prepared than a lot of my peers.”

“My college work was online and asynchronous,” said Michelle. “I learned how to manage my time and get my assignments done without a lot of guidance. Once I actually enrolled in college, I felt better prepared than a lot of my peers.”

Besides concurrent enrollment, Michelle also participated in Impact on Education’s Career Readiness Academy, where she built her first resume, practiced interviewing, and explored future careers. 

“I wouldn’t have had access to these opportunities without support,” Michelle said. “It really helped me understand how college works and what I want to do with my life.”

A smart investment in students and the state

Colorado has the highest number of residents with some college education. However, the state struggles to increase college enrollment, especially among students of color. Colorado trailed the national average in college enrollment by more than 10 percentage points in 2021.

Concurrent enrollment is one way to close that gap. By helping families cover the extra costs, Impact on Education is making sure more students can participate in these life-changing opportunities.

“I want to be a support teacher someday,” Michelle said. “I got so much help growing up, and now I want to do the same for others. That’s what college means to me. It’s a way to thank my parents and those who have supported me throughout my education journey and create a different life.”

Michelle’s journey shows what’s possible when students have access to early college experiences. Through BVSD’s Grad Plus framework, launched in 2022, students are graduating with more than a diploma. Students build college readiness, job skills and the confidence to navigate life after high school. 83% of the Class of 2024 left high school with work-based learning experience, a seal of biliteracy, industry certification, or college credit.

“I got so much help growing up, and now I want to do the same for others. That’s what college means to me. It’s a way to thank my parents and those who have supported me throughout my education journey and create a different life.”

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?

Speak up for the future of education

Last week, our team joined thousands of educators, students, and community members at the Capitol for a statewide rally — calling for no more funding cuts to education. 

Colorado legislators are trying to address a more than $1 billion state budget shortfall by taking money from public education yet again. This time by changing how the state funds schools with declining enrollment. They want to use a one-year student headcount instead of our current multi-year averaging method. Student counts determine how much state money flows to our schools. 

The Boulder Valley School District stands to lose nearly $5 million next year under the state budget proposal Governor Polis announced in January. We need your help to take action now.

As any savvy business leader knows, using a one-week snapshot to fund an entire year of expenses is an incredibly challenging way to manage your budget. Averaging over multiple years allows for changes over time when facing difficult fiscal decisions. In an industry like education, where enrollment is constantly changing, accounting for variability is critical. 

Colorado’s public education system is facing a $150 million cut. 

Politicians’ self-serving messaging suggesting that the state is funding “phantom students” masks the harsh realities that our students and teachers would face if funding formulas change. Schools and districts will lose predictability, funds, and time to make good decisions. They’ll be forced to decide things like which teachers to let go or what to trim from student support. 

After years of underfunding (including $340 million withheld from BVSD due to the Budget Stabilization Factor over 15 years), there are no “nice to haves” to trim back; our district will be forced to cut necessary resources and staff to accommodate a $5 million loss.

Getting to a balanced budget is fiscally responsible and legally required, but putting teachers’ jobs and students’ futures on the chopping block isn’t the right way to get there.

Speak up for Boulder Valley educators and students. Tell your state legislators — no more cuts to education. It’s time to fully fund our schools.

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

Tax ID #84-0943046