Hello Edgewater Families,
I am honored to return to Edgewater Elementary as the new principal, having been a member of the staff for nine years as assistant principal. I love our students, school community, and our staff. I have never worked with more dedicated people who truly put the needs of students first. I am excited to get the 22-23 school year started and I want to share a little information about myself.
This will be my 35th year in education, with 17 years in Denver Public Schools, before coming to Jeffco. I have taught Kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade, always in bilingual classrooms. I also was a reading interventionist for eleven years. In my eyes, there is nothing more rewarding than teaching a child to read. I also spent three years working at the district level in the English as a Second Language/Dual Language Department, where I worked primarily with our dual language schools, and I spent one other year working as Asst. Principal, all before coming to Edgewater Elementary. Now for my beliefs.
I believe in relationships and that it is important for all our students to connect with someone in school. They need connections with not only their peers, but also with adults who care for them, know them well, believe in them, make them feel safe, and empower them to reach their greatest potential. I love watching our kiddos learn in the classroom, and I love chatting with them in the cafeteria and watching them play at recess. Spending time in classrooms with our students is what brings me the greatest joy.
I believe that all students matter and they all deserve the opportunity to learn every day. I believe that as a staff we should plan learning opportunities that are rigorous and engaging to help students learn in creative ways that connect to their lives and to our greater world.
I believe in shared leadership and collaboration, and that our collective vision and focus on student growth is what guides our work. This belief includes growth in academics, as well as social emotional growth. School staff and families are partners who work to lead, learn, and grow together for the success of our school community. Together we are better! I will work hard to build trusting relationships with all our stakeholders from students, to families, to classified staff, to licensed staff, and to community volunteers. Trust will be gained through respectful interactions, and listening to ideas, concerns, and questions. I will model what it means to work together, to share ideas, to make decisions, and at times, to respectfully disagree.
I believe in using data to reflect on our initiatives and instruction. As a community, we will use data to monitor progress, make decisions, and guide learning for both students and teachers. We will use the data with students to set goals and support their needs. As adults, we will reflect on our practice, to keep what’s working and to change things that are not.
I feel honored and blessed to be the principal for the Edgewater School Community. Together we will learn, grow, and achieve great things.
Respectfully,
Marcella D’Orazio, Principal
[email protected]
303-982-5391