Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, English teacher Christopher Pegg, came to Grandview High School in search of a new experience. From socioeconomic backgrounds to weather, everything about this school is different.  

“I wanted to try something new. It seemed like a good time to move out of the South, and Colorado [is] awesome. I love skiing. I’ve been out here and gone to Breckenridge a few times. I was very interested in the Denver area and in mixing things up by moving to a bigger city and a new place,” said Pegg.

The stark difference between his old teaching opportunity at Fultondale and Grandview drew Pegg to the district. 

“I was in a different type of school in Alabama—lower performing, lower income. Grandview is a really impressive school, and there are a ton of differences. A lot of students here have tremendous support; many are reading and writing on grade-level and have the background knowledge needed to walk into an English 9 class and perform well,” Pegg said.

This switch hasn’t changed Pegg’s priorities. He is still focusing on building relationships with each and every one of his students. 

“My strengths have always been student relationships—getting to know students and building rapport. Working in Birmingham gave me strong classroom management techniques and helped me maintain a healthy, safe classroom environment. Bringing that here has been great,” Pegg said. “Joining my PLC [a student performance analysis program] and focusing on well-planned lessons has blended my past experience with my new goals.”

By moving to Colorado, Pegg is able to focus more on teaching and student analysis rather than behavioral monitoring. 

“Student freedom at Grandview is insane compared to my old school. In Alabama, if you walked out of class you needed a special blue pass or you’d be taken to detention. Here, students have a lot more responsible freedom,” Pegg said. “Teachers aren’t acting like police officers, and students are trusted to conduct themselves responsibly, which I think is a really positive expectation.”

Mr. Pegg has a willingness to stay open-minded, pushing him to meet students where they are rather than where he expects them to be.

“Be open to whatever comes your way and try to appreciate differences without judging them too much. Don’t go in with too many expectations. On my first day here, I had no idea what the students or teachers would be like. Being open-minded makes the transition much smoother,” Pegg said. 

That openness also reflects Pegg’s broader philosophy as an educator. He believes that simple acts of kindness can go a long way, especially in a school environment.

“I think caring and positivity are universal. I try to make sure I care about the people I work with and the students I teach, and that goes a long way anywhere. That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve brought with me,” Pegg said.