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Aspen Elementary expands interventions, launches community programs and secures food support, staff tell board
Summary
Aspen Elementary staff told trustees on Jan. 27 that the school has expanded to serve preschool through grade 4 and is increasing targeted interventions, paraprofessional training, family outreach and food supports.
Aspen Elementary staff told Fremont County School District #25 trustees on Jan. 27 that the school has reorganized to serve preschool through fourth grade and is expanding interventions, professional development and community supports, including a food pantry now stocked after a Thanksgiving drive and a state "B for Backpacks" donation.
Why it matters: The school’s expanded grade configuration and new supports aim to close skill gaps early, provide tiered interventions and connect families to local resources.
What staff reported Miss Esposito opened the presentation and introduced the Aspen team: Carrie Ozergray (Title I specialist), Amber Williams (Title I specialist), Shelly (Shelley) Chance (federal case manager and preschool liaison) and Megan Richardson (school social worker). The presenters outlined professional development, intervention programs and family outreach activities.
Instruction and interventions - Math: Aspen has completed training for Do the Math (targeting Tier 2 needs) and introduced Ready, Set, Math (aligned with AVMR/math recovery strategies). Staff plan further online training for paraprofessionals and continued PLC support for implementation. - Reading: Staff completed Sound Sensible (phonics focus) and are preparing to train paraprofessionals on SPIRE (levels 1–4) and other interventions (SIPs). Teachers and paras have had LETRS and IMSE Orton-Gillingham exposure for structured literacy supports. - Coaching and PLCs: Amber Williams and a colleague are serving as instructional coaches, working with paraprofessionals and grade-level PLCs to implement district strategy rubrics and support data-driven instruction.
Family outreach and food security - Learning with Littles: Amber Williams described an outreach program for caregivers and children (birth to ~5 years) that runs twice monthly and provides development-focused activities, resources and a family calendar of activities. - Food pantry and "B for Backpacks": Megan Richardson reported Aspen is the only school in Fremont County receiving contributions through the governor’s wife’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative "B for Backpacks" program. Aspen also held a Thanksgiving food drive that collected more than 4,000 items; the pantry now supports roughly 10 families per week and includes meat donations from local fair-sale proceeds.
Preschool liaison role and transitions Shelley Chance described her role as preschool liaison and communication facilitator between preschools, families and the district; she works on transition planning and aligning preschool curricula with district kindergarten standards and the state early-learning standards.
Board discussion Board members praised the integration of services, noted the school's approach to using student-work data for targeted instruction, and asked about addressing gaps between high-performing and struggling students. Staff emphasized the district’s focus on differentiated instruction and data-tracking to move students along the district’s WIN continuum.
Ending Administrators and staff asked for continued support and said they will return with updates as interventions and coaching scale through higher grades; board members thanked Aspen staff for the presentation and community programs.
