DSST is proud to introduce the Blue Breakthrough Award, a new network-wide recognition honoring teachers whose students demonstrated exceptional academic growth on eligible statewide measures. Specifically, the award recognizes teachers whose students achieved a Median Growth Percentile, or MGP, of 65 or higher on eligible CMAS ELA/Math or P/SAT Reading and Writing/Math assessments. An MGP of 65 or higher aligns with the Blue performance level on Colorado's School Performance Framework and reflects the progress students made over the course of the year, not simply where they began.
Excellent teaching takes many forms, and DSST has always known that. The Blue Breakthrough Award is not a ranking, and it is not a comprehensive definition of what it means to be an exceptional educator. Comparable statewide growth data are not available for every grade, subject, or teacher, and meaningful student impact happens in classrooms across the entire network, every day.
What this award does is celebrate one specific, credible and meaningful expression of instructional impact. It makes visible the hard work of students and the thoughtful educators who helped them grow.
We are excited to congratulate the following staff members on their achievements and for becoming the inaugural cohort of the Blue Breakthrough Award recipients.
Elizabeth Harty
Tracey Shipman
Jeff Tissue
Lara Neher
Gibson White
Madison Neher
Enrique Barraza
Jen McConnell
Vicky Rosa
Victoria Twining
Christine Kennelly
Carlos de Oyague Estuat
Judy Gutang
Daniel Dressel
Giselle Garcia-Gonzalez
Jacob Haughton
Michael Whiting
Joseph Pyle
Gracie Grant
Amy Sheren
Amy Boatright
Paola Asturias
Alex Karrer
Sylvia Castro
Andrew Pryshlak
Elisa Gruwell
Ryan Pfau
Dylan Jensen
Gretchen Pearson
Dallas Jones
Caleb Williams
Rachel Urenda
Erin Shaheen
Nallely Robles-Velasquez
Kevin Coyne
Marissa Kast
Amanda Bardes
Anne Cherniss Sulsky
Leonardo Leyva Jimenez
This recognition also creates an opportunity for something beyond celebration. When DSST shares the practices and stories behind exceptional student growth, the whole network learns. The teachers honored have built classrooms where students feel challenged and supported enough to make real progress.
To this year's inaugural Blue Breakthrough Award recipients: your work is seen. Your students grew because of you, because of the lessons you planned and replanned, the relationships you built and the moments you chose to push a little harder or meet a student exactly where they were. DSST is proud to celebrate you, and proud to make this recognition a permanent part of how the network honors the educators who bring its mission to life.