Faces of DCSD

He helped open the doors of Legend High School and worked tirelessly to build a community amongst the staff, students and their families. Jason Jacob reflects on what makes this high school a legendary place to learn and grow.

He helped open two high schools in Parker, has won multiple awards and dedicated the last 26 years of his life leading students to success one note at a time. Orlando Otis’s career as a band director in Douglas County School District is coming to an end, but the impact he has had on musicians at both Chaparral and Legend high schools will be remembered for years to come.

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been drawn to helping others, whether through teaching or coaching. Throughout my life I’ve found joy in working with people and making a difference in their lives. During college I took an adaptive physical education class, which included a volunteer component at a local Cerebral Palsy Center.  It was there that I met Jamie, a young girl who would change the course of my career. 

My decision to become a teacher was influenced by the summers I spent with my grandparents, who dedicated their lives to education. My grandmother worked as an attendance secretary in an at-risk high school and her compassion and determination impacted my decision greatly. I grew up hearing her stories about going above and beyond for her students - driving them to school, making countless phone calls to colleges and universities on their behalf, and ensuring they had opportunities for a better future.

I'm very proud of the work we have done at Sierra because it has taken our entire staff, student body and community working together to move our school forward - one step at a time. Seeing progress at a middle school can be a test of patience. Every day our SMS community demonstrates that we can be the best in the business, in big ways and subtle ways. 

I love working in public education because I have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on diverse students' lives, helping them grow academically and personally while promoting a sense of community and inclusivity.

Ponderosa High's theater teacher Kayla Diaz grew up in Colorado and has been with Douglas County School District the entirety of her 13 year career. During that time, she has been guiding and directing some of Douglas County's most impressive thespians.

DCSD roots run deep for Julie Crawford. She attended Northeast Elementary School as a child and graduated from Ponderosa High School, and her own children are Chaparral High School graduates.