Teaching and Learning CoLab 2024

CDE Kickoff
CDE leadership welcomes attendees to kickoff the day.

Welcome from Northeastern Junior College
President Rear Admiral White

Keynote Session
Our keynote speaker is Landan Schaffert. Landan grew up on his family’s farm and ranch operation south of Otis, Colorado where he developed a love for agriculture. In 2008, he was awarded the full-ride Boettcher Scholarship, a prestigious, merit-based scholarship and academic award which paid for his college education. Landan graduated summa cum laude in the spring of 2015 from Colorado State University with two bachelor’s degrees, one in Political Science and the other in Agricultural Business. He was named one of the nine Shining Stars of CSU’s Graduating Class of 2015. He then went on to earn his alternative teaching license and taught math, science, and social studies at his hometown high school in Otis for eight years before becoming the school counselor there, a role he now holds. Landan is currently completing a dual master’s degree in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling from Adams State University. He is also legally blind and can only see shapes, shadows, and shades and is passionate about empowering others while demonstrating what it looks like to persevere through adversity!

Lighting of the Torch
Join CDE and NE BOCES staff for this inspirational kickoff embracing the Olympic spirit! 

Logistics from CDE Team
Conference logistics, FAQs

Lunch in Hays Student Center Ballroom.

During this time, participants will have the opportunity to engage in guided reflection as well as complete the closing survey for professional learning hours OR credit hours through NJC.

Jessica May was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota and moved to Colorado in 1977. She began teaching in 1997 in the Thompson School District at the middle school level, from English Language Arts and social studies, to math, science, life skills, and her current position at Turner Middle School in Berthoud as the Family and Consumer Science teacher.
Jessica May has the expertise in creating solid relationships with even the most difficult of students, those from generational poverty and the at-risk population, all the way up to affluent students. She has learned the basic human tendencies of secondary students, along with brain research, she patiently figured out the best ways to connect with each of her students. Patterns of behavior in adolescence, as well as becoming comfortable being vulnerable, honest, and respectful both in and out of her classroom, Jessica has come up with and emphasizes strategies that truly help her bond with students of all issues for life, not just for the school year.
Having won Teacher of the Year three times in the last 7 years in her district, and now the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year, she uses the feedback from her students’ end of year surveys in order to fine tune her craft to become a better person and teacher. Jessica also coaches other teachers on classroom management, Social Emotional Learning lessons, and reading in the real world through the lens of every content area.