ALAMOSA — The 11th Annual Adams State University Educators Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place on June 6 to honor the 2023 class of graduates.

elementary school educator

1980 graduate Eileen Johnson and 1981 graduate Parley Johnson III have contributed to education for 27 years. Eileen Johnson taught and worked as co-principal at a Lutheran kindergarten in Aurora, Colorado, and Parley Johnson taught and coached at a public middle school. After earning a spoken language degree from Concordia University in 1995, they teamed up and worked in Lutheran schools in various communities in Colorado and Nebraska. Parley Johnson was the principal, for four years she taught grades 3 through her 8th grade, and Eileen Johnson taught kindergarten through her senior year.

Sally Schultz began teaching in the Jefferson County School District in 1970 and retired in 2003. She promoted the Study Buddy program for peer tutors. She has mentored new teachers in Jefferson County Kindergarten guidelines and has authored the Second Grade Language Arts Guide for Poetry for Jefferson County Schools. Schultz introduced a “Make and Take” program that allows parents to use the materials at home. Honors include: Distinguished within the University. A great teacher with great potential. Principal’s Award for Continuing Excellence in Education. And Schultz received recognition from Lakewood mayor and Colorado senator for her role in her education.

Kathy Soden, a class of 1989 from Alamosa, has dedicated 30 years as a kindergarten teacher in Rocky Ford School District. She had an open door policy towards her parents. She charmed her students by dressing up as characters and writing songs. School administration sent a future teacher to Soden to ensure her a positive teaching experience. She coached volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She was a sophomore music program assistant director for the Storytellers program. Presented at the conference. She belongs to the Balanced Writing Development Team / Santa Fe Trails BOCES. She was also a Featured Teacher at Chalkbeat.org 2020. And I volunteered in the Rocky Ford community.

secondary educator

1979 and 1987 graduates James LeJean worked as an educator for 30 years. His awards and honors include: 1997 American Educator’s Fellowship Scholarship to Bled Loaf School of English. He was Arizona High School Cross-Country Coach of the Year five times from 1993-1999. Finalist for 1999 Cross Country Best National High School Coach. 1997-1999 Regional Games Coordinator for the Navajo/Hope Special Olympics. As Advisor/Coach for the Earth Circle Foundation/Wings of American Project from 1991-2000, he promoted healthy living through sports to Native American youth. 1993 U.S. Men’s Junior Cross Country Champion. From 1980 until 2008 he coached over 30 high school cross country champions on his team in track and cross country. He coached five champion high school cross-country teams in Arizona.

In addition, as an elementary school lab coordinator, Lejan oversaw a 30 percent increase in literacy scores after three years. During his eight years, he taught students with special needs and home-based students. Lujan volunteered with a mental health community in Pueblo, Colorado. And a Vietnam veteran.

Aurora Public Schools teacher and coach, Jerry Shroffman (class of 1965 and 1970) has worked as an educator for 30 years. Schloffman coached wrestling for 16 years, going 100-49, and also coached soccer. Mr. Schroffman has taught in the business sector and has served as chairman and FBLA sponsor. He was in the Counseling Department before becoming a vice-principal.

Donald Smolin, a class of 1970, received his master’s degree in 1976 from Keene University. He has worked as an educator for his fifty years. He began his career as a teacher and football coach at his Brook High School in Green, New Jersey in 1971. In 1976 he started his 45-year career at Valley High School in Lenape, New Jersey. Awards received include: 2003 Rutgers University Dr. John Bateman Lifetime Award recipient. 2021 American Football Coach Influence Award; 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Coach. 14-time Football Coach of the Year award winner. 7 State Football Championships. Hall of Fame members include: New Jersey Football Coach. Lenape Valley Athletic. Sussex County Coaches; Johnson High School; and NJSIAA. Smolin spoke at the American Football Coaches Annual Convention. New Jersey Football Coaches Association. New Jersey Strength Coaches Association; Glazier Football Clinic; American Football; Southeast Wing T Football Clinic; National Wing T Camp. Merrill Lynch. and the Department of Homeland Security.

Alumnus of 1986 and 1991, Anne Stanford, has been a volunteer at the San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair since college and has been involved in educational activities for 31 years. She began her teaching career at her Upward Her Bound program at Adams State. She has also worked in the Sanford School District throughout her science teaching career. Good Shepherd Middle School; Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy; and Alamosa High School. After her retirement, she was an Adjunct Lecturer in her GED program at Trinidad State University. Stanford University has taken students to contests at regional and state science fairs. In 1991, she was named Science Teacher of the Year and took two Creed High School students to an international science fair in Oklahoma. Other awards and honors include: 1991 SLV Science Teacher of the Year. In 1995, he attended the Cold Spring Harbor DNA and Forensic Seminar at the University of Denver.

Sheri Tierpak Class of 1978 and Class of 1981 have been dedicated to the field of education at Del Norte School District for 34 years. She began her career teaching her 7th grade and her 8th grade language arts, and she was selected as an attendee for the Colorado Department of Education’s School Environment Improvement Conference, which led to teaching an enrichment mini-course. I was. After earning her graduate degree, she began counseling. In addition to teaching psychology, peer counseling and journalism, she started a gifted program. Tierpak received special recognition from her ASVAB exam administrators who appreciated the respect of her students. She taught Title 1 Language Arts and Mathematics and was an Accelerated Reading Coordinator and Librarian.

administrator

In 2003, Tammy DeWolf graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership. She accepted a position as principal of the Lincoln School in Canon City, Colorado, where she spent the next 29 years as both an educator and administrator. After earning her bachelor’s degree from her Western State University (then a college), DeWolfe began her career at her school in Lincoln. Her special honors include her 1986 Who’s Who Among Junior Colleges. In 1990 she graduated with honors from Western State University. In 1993 she received the Colorado Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Association Young Professional Award. Finalist for 2017 Colorado All-American Elementary School Principal.

During her 45 years in education, Dr. Emma Ray Martinez has served as an elementary teacher, gifted teacher, school counselor, vice-principal, principal and superintendent. The culmination of her career was when she served as Superintendent of the Southern Connehos School District in Antonito, Colorado. Dr. Martinez received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Adams State University in 1977 and she in 1978. In 1991 she graduated from the University of the Nazarene with a degree in education from Point She Roma. During her six years at the South Connejos School District, Dr. Martinez established practices that supported curriculum and instruction and helped the district out of financial trouble. She and she grew into a strong team.

post-secondary educators

Dr. Patricia Robbins, Professor Emeritus of Business at Adams State University, is also a 1993 and 1996 graduate. She received her bachelor’s degree from Kennedy in 1999 at Western University. She has dedicated her 26 years to the education profession.

In the fall of 2008, Robbins achieved his dream of teaching at Adams State University. She served as Dean of the Business School for her four and a half years and Phi Beta as her Lambda advisor for three years. Dr. Robbins founded Sigma Delta, an international honors association for business and management students, where she served as an advisor for eight years.

Honors and awards include the 1994 National Business Education Association Lifetime Achievement Award. 1997 Trinidad State Junior College Teacher of the Year Award. From 2011 until 2015 she served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Business He Educators and from 2014 until 2015 he served as president. 213 Colorado Business Educator of the Year; 202 and 2006 Phi Theta Kappa Colorado Regional Special Chapter Advisor. 2015 Mountain Plains Business Education Association College Teacher of the Year Award.

professional staff

For decades, future educators at Adams State University appreciated Lois Widarm’s support and guidance. She took her job in the Ministry of Education in 1969 and retired after 30 years. Widarm worked with students seeking careers as public education teachers and administrators. She was responsible for the student-teacher interviewing and placement process in local and Colorado-wide public schools. She worked closely with deans, deans, and faculty to prepare for accreditation visits by the National Academic Teacher Education Council and the Colorado Department of Education. After her retirement in 1999, she was appointed Interim Treasurer and Public Director of Alamosa County, a position she was elected to in 2006, a position she has served for 13 years. She continued her relationship with Adams State University and accepted a business education intern at the office.