MRMS Theatre Teacher Receives National Award

Mountain Ridge MS Theatre Teacher One of Eight to Receive National Award
Posted on 10/03/2017

HIGHLANDS RANCH -

Confidence can be hard to come by in middle school. “It was a struggle for me and I know it is for a lot of people. Just to know that you’re amazing,” explains Highlands Ranch High School Freshman Gracyn Trautmann. That’s part of the reason she is taking time to come back to middle school. She’s lending a hand at Mountain Ridge as a Production Assistant in their rendition of Bugsy Malone. 

Laurilea McDaniel smiles during rehearsal

The other reason is the play’s director - Laurilea McDaniel. “I can’t put it in words how much she helps kids.” McDaniel loves the middle school crowd because it reminds her a bit of herself. “I was that kid!” she says laughing. “We as theater teachers hide the fact that we’re not always super confident human beings.” This likely would come as a surprise to her students. They describe her as a mentor, tough, no nonsense.

The truth is her confidence has grown over time. Her expectations are high because she has experienced big dreams in the world of theater. Last spring she was one of only eight teachers to be honored with the Freddie G award. The award came with a trip to New York for master classes taught by industry professionals. She also led a trip to Sacramento for the Junior Theater Festival with seven of her students. To top it off she was given a $5000 grant for the school’s theater program. She plans on using the money to build a technical theater learning lab with the help of her students.

She has taken the experience and brought it back to her students. “It’s given me the confidence I need to jump out and try things that maybe I was too scared to try in the past.” You’ll now find her jumping in to help out with choreography just as quickly as she will help the lighting and sound crew. The confidence is contagious. “I just started acting a couple years back and I never knew I could actually do a lead. Like this was a big step for me,” says 8th Grader Zane Zakroff - known here as Bugsy Malone. 

students rehearsing

The infusion of confidence has transformed the program into one of the best in the state. “We have the administrators that say ‘yes, try this.’ They empower us so we in turn get to empower our kids,” McDaniel says. The high school assistant Trautman agrees. “She teaches you valuable lessons about theater and just life in general that will help you throughout your entire life.”

As McDaniel oversees the energy coming off the stage and spilling into her classroom she takes a certain satisfaction. “If I can give confidence to kids at this age so that they don’t get to be 36 and have less confidence than they should have…it’s been a good day.”





Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.

In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).