Supporting Every Child: SEAC Empowers Families in Special Education

Navigating the maze of special education policies and programs can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone. Parents of children with disabilities have come together to create the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), a passionate team dedicated to guiding families through the complexities of special education.

The Vision: SEAC envisions a world where every learner is respected, challenged with high expectations, and empowered to achieve their dreams.

The Mission: With parents, educators, and community members at its core, SEAC is committed to representing children and youth with disabilities, influencing educational decisions, and enhancing the quality of special education services.

How SEAC Makes a Difference:

• Monthly meetings to discuss challenges, share resources, and brainstorm solutions.

• Recommendations on programs and curricula for the Aspen School District Board of Education, the Superintendent, and other key administrators.
• When needed, sharing insights with the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee.**Resources to Empower Families:*To make navigating this journey easier, SEAC has created a “Welcome” booklet packed with resources and practical tools, including: A list of 50 must-know acronyms to decode special education lingo.
• Guidance on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans.
• Tips for fostering positive relationships with your child’s Special Education Team and holding impactful parent-teacher conferences.
• Links to local, state, and national resources, including essential information about Parents’ Rights in Special Education.
• The welcome letter warmly states:

“We know IEPs and 504 Plans can be overwhelming. Navigating special education laws, policies, and procedures can create anxiety. We are here with you every step of the way.”

SEAC is also accepting applications for new committee members. If you’re passionate about making a difference, consider joining this incredible team.

Ready to learn more

Explore the Welcome Packet and become part of the movement shaping a brighter future for all students.

Summer Opportunities Virtual Seminar - 7 p.m. Jan. 22

Students and their families, school counselors and educators are invited to participate in College Outreach's first virtual event this year – the Summer Opportunities Seminar (Part I) – Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 7 to  8:30 p.m. 

Habrá interpretación en español en vivo disponible.

• Learn about the many exciting summer opportunities available: part-time jobs, summer programs on college campuses, service work, and more.
• FACTS to enhance the high school summer experience:

• Fun 
• Academics & Activities 
• Career 
• Travel  
• Service 

• For 7th – 12th grade students, their families, and counselors
• Live Spanish Interpretation will be available
• A 30 minute Q&A session at the end
• For the virtual event link and more information, please visit the College Outreach website.

If you go:

• The opening reception is from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11.

• The exhibition will run from Jan. 11 to Feb. 9. Chapel Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

• Donations can be made to the AHS Visual Art Department by “adopting” one or more pieces of AHS art from the show (75% of each $25 adoption goes to the art department).

Aspen High School art students will showcase 17 pieces of art in the Roaring Fork Valley Art Show, “5 x 17,” hosted by the Aspen Chapel Gallery.

The exhibition features artwork from students at five area high schools, with each school contributing 17 pieces. The AHS students study art under the guidance of art teachers Julie Trahon and Whitney Zordan.

Students submitted their artwork for initial review by Trahon and Zordan. Then, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Visual Art seniors narrowed it down to the final 17 pieces. This is part of their curation practice in preparation for their upcoming IB art show. “An aspect of this show that makes it a double learning experience for our students is that our IB Visual Art seniors served as curators,” Trahon said.

“These seniors will be curating their own body of work and writing a curatorial rationale for their IB art show in April. This experience as well as their curation field trip last year at the Powers Art Center will help them to prepare. I was so proud of how thoughtful and deliberate they were in choosing a variety of pieces that complemented one another while also showcasing students’ individual talents and voices.”

The selected 17 pieces include drawing, painting, ceramics, graphic design, fashion illustration, cut paper, and ink.

“Our ceramics students have been working to develop technical skills, creativity, and an appreciation for three-dimensional artwork,” Zordan said. “They are also building on their knowledge of art elements and design principles. I believe viewers will see their exceptional skills and hopefully be moved by their work.”

The five participating high schools are Aspen High School, Basalt High School, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, Glenwood Springs High School, and Roaring Fork High School.

The following AHS students were selected to display their artwork in this year’s show: Jack Berro, Wyatt Calliham, Caroline "Coco" Clettenberg, Aife DeStefano, Kirilee Eklund, Grace Gallagher, Linda "Lin" Green, Zariah Green, Lucy Halferty, Suki Manuel, Hudson Miedema, Camilla Mendoza, Tarel Ramos, Zoe Riboud, Emma Scherer, Farah Stevenson, and Graceann Viola.

“This art show gives our non-IB students a chance to exhibit their amazing work. We hope our school and community members will support our student artists by showing up for the opening,” Trahon said. 

Donations can be made to the AHS Visual Art Department by “adopting” one or more pieces of AHS art from the show (75% of each $25 adoption goes to the art department).

Aspen Family Connections wins 5-year grant to support Coalition

The Aspen-Pitkin Healthy Futures Coalition is delighted to announce the appointment of Kayla Bailey as its Director.

Kayla, most recently the Program Director of the Mind Springs Health office in Aspen, has wide ranging leadership experience in behavioral health, advocacy, policy development, grant management, strategic planning and community building to support mental health.

The Aspen-Pitkin Healthy Futures Coalition, Chaired by Sheriff Michael Buglione, is a new, federally and locally funded community project that brings together twelve sectors (including youth, families, business, healthcare, schools, religious and fraternal organizations) to work together to address youth substance use and improve the long-term wellbeing of young people in the upper Roaring Fork Valley.

The Drug Free Coalitions (DFC) grant is for 5-years, awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Aspen’s award was one of only two new awards made in Colorado in 2024.

Sheriff Buglione said: “Having Kayla Bailey at the helm of the Aspen-Pitkin Healthy Futures Coalition’ is a game-changer for our efforts to address youth substance use in this community in a collaborative, proactive and locally-informed way.

She combines incredible personal skills with a wealth of leadership experience in prevention, mental health and grant management and I'm totally confident that she will harness the goodwill and support of our community to support this essential work.”

Katherine Sand, Director of Aspen Family Connections in the Aspen School District (the successful applicant organization) said:

“We know from the data that our local levels of substance use by young people and their families in our community has historically - and still is — an issue of huge concern, creating life-long problems.

Our children deserve better and healthier futures and having someone of Kayla’s stature to direct the work is a huge boost to our efforts. She is relatable, authoritative and the perfect person to build a serious Coalition that will make a true difference in our own lives and in children’s futures”

Aspen High School (AHS) is proud to announce that a group of its students are among very few in the country to earn the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Certificate. 

In Aspen School District, all students participate in the IB program, and every tenth-grade student completes a required IB Personal Project, exploring a unique area of interest. Additionally, tenth-graders at AHS can choose to pursue the official IB MYP Certificate, which entails a rigorous evaluation process.

"We are incredibly proud of our first cohort of MYP Certificate students,” said AHS Principal Sarah Strassburger. “These students embody the IB Learner Profile trait of being risk takers.  They challenged themselves outside of their core classes, embraced learning for learning's sake, and have come out successful."

To earn the IB MYP Certificate, students must achieve successful scores on six two-hour digital exams across various subjects, including math, science, social studies, language arts, interdisciplinary studies, and Spanish or French. They also complete a portfolio in visual arts, music, physical health, or design.

“The MYP program was so beneficial to me heading into DP my junior year,” said AHS student Sydney Klausmann. “I felt like I had a good sense of what IB was expecting out of my work and the command terms on questions and rubrics. This knowledge made the transition into the IB diploma program a lot less stressful and overwhelming.”

Director of IB and Student Learning Harpreet Mehta said this accomplishment highlights the commitment of ASD students to rigorous academic and personal growth, as well as the dedication of ASD educators in supporting them every step of the way. 

“These students exemplify the values of the IB Learner Profile, paving the way for a lifetime of curiosity, resilience, and success,” Mehta said.

This year, AHS celebrates the achievements of Eleanor Carroll, Eli Foster, Sydney Klausmann, Carter Kuhlman, Cody Lewis, Marley Rich, Asher Smith, and Aurelia Tunte Stuck, who have earned this distinguished international certification. Additionally, students who were unable to complete an assessment in the spring due to sports conflicts recently made up their exams, with more names anticipated to join this list in February. Aspen High School and the district commend these students for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence.#

• Thought Exchange Results and Next Steps

• 5 Things to Know about ASD's Finances

• ASD Employee Housing Program FAQ

• ASD By the Numbers

• Find all results and updates here.

Mark you calendars for the Tuesday back from holiday break: AHS Spring Musical Auditions.

Scan the code for details!

Aspen Middle School Principal Amy Kendziorski has announced she will retire at the end of this school year.

She has led AMS for the past four years. There was COVID, there was a new curriculum and there was a need for special attention to getting students resettled into school after home learning and a pandemic.

Now, Amy is sailing into her second act. In her first post-public education adventure, she will sail for two weeks in the waters off Croatia.

"After 35 years of dedicated service to education, Amy Kendziorski is embarking on a well-deserved retirement—both figuratively and literally,” stated Tharyn Mulberry, Superintendent of the Aspen School District. “Her remarkable career has exemplified passion, perseverance, and purpose. From championing inclusivity to leading students through some of the most challenging periods in modern history, her impact has been profound and enduring.

"As she transitions into this new chapter of her life, we hope the serene waters off Croatia serve as a fitting symbol of freedom, exploration, and fulfillment. We extend our heartfelt congratulations on her retirement and profound gratitude for her unwavering commitment to making school 'right for every kid.' May this next journey bring her boundless joy and well-earned relaxation," Mulberry said.

Amy said her team was likely not surprised by her announcement.

“I’ve been thinking about it: Is it this year, is it next year? This year it is.”

Amy wraps up an impressive 35-year career in public education. She majored in Special Education at the University of Wisconsin.

Her motivation: Make things right for kids with disabilities.

She taught special education for 11 years at elementary, middle and high school levels in Hawaii, California, Wyoming and Colorado.

“I’m kinda an inclusion freak when it comes to educating kids with disabilities and kids without disabilities,” she said. “School can be right for every kid.”

She attended San Diego State for her administrator’s licence and then went on to become assistant principal, principal and Director of Exceptional Student Services in both Hawaii and Colorado.

What is the biggest change for the better that you have seen in education in the past 35 years?

The biggest change for the better is student center learning as opposed to one system for all kids. That has been a good change – recognizing the individual strengths and talents of each kid and finding those strengths and talents has been fun from a middle school perspective. 

What are some of your favorite moments at AMS?

Outdoor Education. When I first got here, I thought people were crazy and then I went on my first outdoor trip two weeks into the school year. I thought this is the most crazy thing I've ever experienced at a school level. And it was also the most joyous experience. I hiked with kids and camped. That is amazing.

**What advice do you have for your successor?**AMS, and Aspen as a town, is a very unique place. There are some things that are so easy and so wonderful and some things that are so hard and challenging. But that whole picture of that amazing community support, family support, and school expertise is something to celebrate.

What will you miss the most?

Kids.

The amount of change that has happened post COVID  – taking the district from the COVID crazy time back to new normal has been amazing. But I will always remember outstanding moments with kids - the trauma and tragedy to fun and lightheartedness to adventures in outdoor ed – they've overcome challenges that really makes them believe in themselves in a bigger way.That part is amazing.

What’s next?

I look forward to travel and flexibility and playing not on a school schedule, but on my schedule. I like to vacation and I think I do it well.“Something I’m looking forward to in August – many of my colleagues and friends have retired, and they have a retirement breakfast. So I will finally have earned the right to join the retirement breakfast in Durango. That will be fun.

Happy Sailing Amy!