Superintendent highlights competency‑based visits, Wish Week and state wrestling champion
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Summary
Superintendent Jenny Gatto told the board visiting educators observed Westminster Public Schools' competency‑based system; students and staff also discussed Wish Week fundraisers and senior Dakota Hole's state wrestling title.
Superintendent Jenny Gatto told the Board of Education on Feb. 25 that about 75 educators from other districts visited Westminster Public Schools this week to study the district’s competency‑based education (CBE) system and observe classroom implementations.
Gatto said visitors met at the Landgraf Center to hear the district’s transition story and visited five schools — Westie High Campus, Hodgkin’s, Sunset, Sherwood and Flynn — to meet principals, teachers and students. The visits were a pre‑conference event ahead of a two‑day Marzano Academies workshop in Centennial, she said.
Gatto highlighted her work with principals who helped the district achieve “level 5 high reliability” status, listing Brian Casina, Brenda Martin, Claudette Trujillo, Roger Vadine, Cindy Davis, Nancy Mills and Janelle Stasney as contributors to district playbooks intended to sustain high‑reliability practices.
The superintendent also previewed Westie High’s fourth annual Wish Week, a student fundraiser for Make‑A‑Wish Colorado. Students are raising money for a wish recipient named Edwin with a goal of $8,500; planned events included a dodgeball tournament, a pep rally and a 5K run/walk. Student ambassador Anna Lopez and other students described outreach activities and encouraged participation.
Gatto recognized student and staff achievements in athletics and arts. She introduced senior Dakota Hole, who described winning a state wrestling championship Feb. 15 and said competing against boys helped prepare her physically and mentally. Dakota said, “When I realized I won, I…was just in tears. I was so incredibly happy.” The superintendent noted Dakota plans to pursue aerospace engineering and that student photographer Axel Ventura provided images shown during the meeting.
Gatto closed by noting the district’s role in regional civic engagement — she and Dr. McCoy attended the City of Westminster State of the City luncheon — and thanked staff and students for hosting visiting educators. No formal board action followed the superintendent’s report.