Josh teaches shop and manages an extensive physical technology program. He also coaches wrestling.
Teachers of the Month
Since 1996, the Rotary Club of Fort Collins has recognized a Teacher of the Month, selected by the Poudre School District and honored by the Club as an outstanding representative of the profession and member of the community.
Casey McGowan is our March Teacher of the Month!
Jen Pustilnik is our February Teacher of the Month!
Maria Castillejo is Teacher of the Month of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins for February, 2024. Maria teaches Spanish at Poudre High School. A native of Spain who speaks five languages, she uses language instruction to expand international understanding.
Hank Kirwan is the December Teacher of the Month. Hank is the technology teacher at Cache La Poudre Middle school. He is a many talented individual who teaches five classes in different areas, manages an after-school technology club, and coaches a Lego team.
The November 2023 Teacher of the Month is Enrique Mejia. Enrique is a Language Arts/English teacher at Webber Middle School. He is an outstanding classroom instructor who gets the most from his students. He also coaches athletics, and he started and advises a popular Dungeons and Dragons club.
Our first PSD teacher recognition took place last week. Jim Cooper visited Rocky Mountain HS last Thursday to meet Renee Perry and her assistant principal, Ian Wells. Renee is a special education teacher . She had robust support - her principal and 2 assistant principals were at the meeting indicating how much they appreciate her long service at Rocky.
The Rotary Club of Fort Collins Teacher of the Month for May, 2023 is Laura Beese. Laura is a devoted music teacher at Shepardson Elementary. She keeps the school filled with music through a large multi-class choir and upper-grade rock bands and special attention to her autistic students.
Liz Farrell is Teacher of the Month for Rotary Club of Fort Collins for March, 2023. Liz is an Integrative Services (Special Education) teacher at the Cache La Poudre Elementary School. Among her many responsibilities, she manages a caseload of individual students, is the I.S. Department head, and 6th grade team leader.
Lori Eberle is the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Teacher of the Month for February 2023. Lori, who teaches fifth grade at Zach Elementary, is a dedicated, experienced professsional. She recently successfully planned and implemented an overnight Ecoweek for her students.
Chanda Burd is the Teacher of the Month of January 2023 for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins. Chanda is a teacher of mathematics at Preston Middle School. She is master teacher at several grade levels up to and including algebra II, and she works well with both individuals and small groups.
The December Teacher of the Month is Kelly Matsuda. Kelly is a fourth grade teacher at Eyestone Elementary in Wellington. She has many years of exemplary service in the Poudre School District including sixth grade at Johnson Elementary. She has been described as dedicated, enthusiastic, engaging, and a person who makes everyone around her better.
Clarissa Hernandez is the November, 2022 Teacher of the Month. She has several years experience teaching fifth graders, and she currently teaches kindergarten students at Irish Elementary Escuela Bilingue. Irish is a bilingual school, and Clarissa does all her work in two languages. She is a respected leader in innovative, culturally responsive pedagogy for the diverse staff and students at Irish.
Josh Moore is the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Teacher of the Month for May, 2022. Josh teaches 5th graders at Olander Elementary. He personifies the values required for excellences in education and the relationships necessary with students, parents, and colleagues. He was particularly skilled at developing the technological requirements of instruction during the Covid pandemic and assisting other teachers in their use.
Ben Berry is recognized as Teacher of the Month for March by the Rotary Club of Fort Collins. Ben has distinguished himself as a teacher of mathematics at the Lincoln Middle School, as the schools debate coach, and debate coach at Rocky Mountain High School.
Sarah Filkowski is the February Teacher of the Month for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins. Sarah is a second grade teacher at Linton Elementary. She is proficient at using all of the resources and tools available to meet the needs of each student. She leads the schools literacy committee and also serves on the district committee.
The January, 2022 Teacher of the Month is Bethke Elementary School teacher Kambri Luna. After teaching 5th grade and 2nd grade students, Bri earned a masters degree in reading. Now she is an accomplished literacy interventionist and instructional coach who works with struggling students and also supports the reading and literacy efforts of other teachers.
Denny Bain of Poudre High School was honored as Teacher of the Month in December. Denny teaches U.S. Government and Economics classes. He has implemented at Poudre “No Backpack Day” for incoming students to ease them into the Poudre culture and its sense of community. He leads a month long food drive in Northern Colorado called Feed our Families. And his family runs a non-profit in Haiti called Love for Haiti. His family includes two adopted children from Haiti.
Jim Cooper introduced Kirk Samples, principal of Kruse Elementary, who then introduced Rebecca Kates, RCFC's Teacher of the Month. Highly regarded by her colleagues, Becca’s philosophy is “ it takes a village to make a teacher”. She expressed thanks to and respect for, the students, parents, administration, counselors, and extended family who make up the Kruse 'Village'.
This month, January of 2020, our honored teacher was Marge Couget, who has been a kindergarten teacher at Beattie Elementary School for nine years Her career spans 28 years of teaching. She was introduced by her principal, Dave Patterson. Presenting Couget with a check for $250 from RCFC was Committee Member, Marty Bachman.