Educator of the Year is an award given to teachers who have shown commitment to their students, school, and community. This year two people were chosen for the award. Congratulations to Learning Specialist Stephanie Jones and English teacher Ace Eggleston.

“Every year when a colleague of mine is chosen, you’re so excited for them because it is so well deserved,” Jones said. “Everybody who has won this award has worked so hard and are really, really good teachers so it was really sweet to be considered a part of that crew.” 

Eggleston has feelings similar to Jones’, highlighting that the feeling of winning Educator of the Year was surreal.

“I still feel like I’m really early in my career to have won it. I’m really feeling grateful for that,” Eggleston said. 

Eggleston started working at Grandview six years ago and experienced other jobs before getting his master’s to teach English. 

“I was training new people to get them ready to do the same job that I was doing and so I found that there was a pattern there of wanting to make sure people had the right information and could do the job or really well,” Eggleston said. “I decided ‘Let’s go do what I am clearly good at doing and become an educator.”

Jones had a different introduction to education than Eggelston. She started working at Grandview in 2007 right after graduating college. She worked as an ILC teacher until she became a learning specialist.

“It [teaching in the ILC] was the most incredible job, and I worked with the most incredible team who supported me and really grew me as a teacher and as a human,” Jones said. “That allowed me to try some things that have not been tried yet, particularly for kids who have unique needs or disabilities.”

When Jones was in school, she wasn’t fond of it. While she was in high school, she worked with kids in the ILC and she wanted to continue the passion she built. She decided her career based on those two factors.

“I got into college, I studied hard and I was really successful in college because I was so passionate about what I was learning,” Jones said. “I really wanted to be a teacher to make it good for kids who traditionally may not have amazing experiences at school.”

Eggleston graduated from Grandview in 2006 and is giving back to the school as both an educator and a sponsor of clubs like Writers Den and Asian Unity Club.

“I really try to find ways to give space back to students to make sure that they are being seen, heard and felt because Grandview is meant for the students,” Eggleston said.

Throughout their careers, both Educators of the Year have learned and contributed to Grandview. For Jones, she is proud of her involvement in bringing unified sports to Colorado high schools.

“I loved the idea that our students, particularly our ILC students, were at the top of the social ladder and everybody wanted to go and volunteer in ILC and everybody wanted to be a part of unified, because it really is so special,” Jones said. “When my career is over, I hope that unified remains a big piece of my legacy.”

When Unified Sports was brought into Grandview, the school got a feature in the New York Times and a video featured on Oprah.

“We got to partner with the Nuggets and do stuff with the Nuggets and I think it was so cool because every other school’s eyes opened and they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, yes, this is amazing. Let’s all do it,’ and now, just about every Colorado high school has a unified program,” Jones said.

Although Eggleston has not worked for Grandview for as long as Jones has, he still has had experiences that have formed him as a teacher. 

“Covid really taught me a lot, and that you’ve gotta be ready to pivot for anything. You’ve gotta be able to adapt and adjust to what your students need, no matter what’s going on in the world and in their lives,” Eggleston said. 

Eggleston has also had the new experience of having seniors in his advisory. He has gotten to see his students grow and become the young adults they are.

“May’s gonna hit really hard, and I’m already feeling that,” Eggleston said. “Being able to see people become the best versions of themselves. And watching them grow and become just good humans that’s my favortive part.”

Jones’ favorite part of Grandview is working with students and bringing their ideas to life. She believes her job would be less exciting without the students.

“We are in the business of kids. It’s the kids that bring the energy, the sunshine, the happiness, and the sparkle to this place. Otherwise, this is an office building. 
It’s not fun, it’s not exciting,” Jones said.

Eggleston agrees that his interactions are what makes Grandview a great place.

“No two days or ever the same. You cannot predict what’s gonna happen in this building,” Eggleston said. “You got so many great opportunities to have good interactions and, you know, cause good things to happen.”

Both agree that the community is what makes Grandview.

“Grandview is my home,” Jones said.