Think back to when you were a student, back-to-school shopping, finding your classroom, and the exciting lessons that would soon fill your day. The first day of school jitters that were calmed by the friendly, welcoming face, and celebrating the “ah ha” moments when you finally figured out how to solve the problem. Then there was the time in kindergarten, when you went to the restroom but couldn’t remember the way back to your classroom. As panic set in, that friendly face walked around the corner and they knew exactly where your classroom was. These champions make math exciting and words come to life through reading and writing, they stood beside you and cheered as you mastered kickball, that difficult note, or the masterpiece that needed a little finesse. Although everyone’s school experience was different, teachers are the common thread throughout classrooms and schools. They are the first to welcome you to a new class, they spend extra time working through a challenging problem, and they give you a high five when you accomplish your goals.
St. Vrain is the proud home to nearly 2,000 teachers who spend their days preparing our students for the future. Join us in celebrating our teachers and learn what they enjoy about teaching, why they became teacher and what their favorite memory is from the days they spent as a student in the classroom.
Thank you to all of our teachers.
Getting to know:
Julie Lyddan
Social Studies
Coal Ridge Middle School
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
There are SO many parts of my job that I love, but if I had to pick what I enjoy most, I guess I would say that I really love watching a student who is grappling with a difficult concept and then witnessing their a-ha moment. Sometimes you can actually see the gears turning in their minds and the joy on their face when they realize they achieved success is so rewarding for both of us.
Briefly tell us about the path you took to becoming a teacher?
That path I took to becoming a teacher was very direct. I knew that I wanted to be a U.S. History teacher when I was in 8th grade history class and that’s what I did!
What is your favorite memory from when you were a student?
Only one? Ok, one of my favorite memories as a student would have to be participating in a really engaging lesson about the brain in Mr. Bergamo’s high school psychology class. He used a bunch of tactile objects (like cold spaghetti noodles) to describe each part of the brain.