Right before Thanksgiving, Vail Resorts revealed the 2015 grant recipients of their EpicPromise Program. According to the EpicPromise website, "At Vail Resorts, everything we do is built upon the promise of bringing together the mountains, our communities, employees and guests to ignite a passion for the outdoors, conserve the natural environment and support our local communities for a bright, sustainable future.

 

Through EpicPromise, PCMR and Canyons will be a Red Apple Gala sponsor, a major supporter of Preschool, and a Presenting Sponsor of Running with Ed! We thank Vail for their tremendous support and are thrilled they are continuing their Golden Apple Sponsor partnership with PCEF.

 

Scholar Circle is PCEF's membership program comprised of individuals who invest  $1,000 or more annually into Park City's Schools.  Scholar Circle members enjoy a variety of benefits throughout the year including invitations to PCEF events and exclusive Scholar Circle parties. Your membership directly funds innovative and unique programing in Park City's schools.  It's the smartest investment you will ever make!

Lesley Rockwood teaches 2nd grade at Trailside Elementary School. She was an English Literature major at the University of Redlands, and, after graduating, started teaching at a Montessori school. "I wish I had know how much I loved teaching before I went to college! My husband and I came out to Utah 19 years ago, and I taught kindergarten in the Davis School District. Two years later we moved to Park City and after commuting three years I got a job teaching at Jeremy Ranch. Then, when my twin daughters started school at Trailside, I switched to be near them. I've been teaching 2nd grade here ever since."

 

"There is a big difference teaching here vs other districts. The parent support is huge! Plus, the resources teachers and students have here is incredible. There were no counselors or nurses, or specialists in music, PE, reading, and speech in my old district. I was so excited to have all of that for my students! Of course the technology is amazing. I've seen it with my 8th grade daughters, and it's unbelievable."

 

"The best part of my day is first thing in the morning. My students come in, and we shake hands or high five or give a hug. I make sure they feel important. They are so happy to see me, and so happy to be in school, and I try to make sure that feeling goes all day."

 

When asked about the difference PCEF makes, Lesley states, "It's so nice to have this widespread community support. To have this organization that promotes our profession and puts teaching in the spotlight. PCEF brings recognition and focus on teachers and students, and what's most important in the classroom."

 

Outside of school, Lesley likes to do anything athletic. For the past eight years, her passion has been triathlons.  And she loves to ski, read, and fix up houses. Her number one love is to be with her family.

 

Pete Stoughton is in his third year teaching Alternative Education at TMJH. "I was a YoungLife leader in college, and loved working with kids. I graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a triple major in geography, classics, and philosophy, and thought I would teach geography. While getting my education license, I found I really enjoyed working with special ed or at-risk children. I was doing a lot of alternative learning with them, like doing gardening to study biology, or rock climbing to study geography."

 

Pete, originally from New Jersey, moved to Utah and knew he had found home. "I taught in the Granite School District for four years, then became a vice-principal for two years. I found I really missed teaching. I had a connection up here, and got the job at Treasure. Last year we moved up here from Salt Lake, and we love it."

 

"There's a big difference teaching in Park City vs other districts. The culture of the teachers here is amazing - they help each other, watch out for each other, help each others students, and love to hang out together! There is no babysitting here, which happens sometimes in other districts. There's also this incredible culture of innovation. If you have an idea, it's like 'Try it!' I feel empowered to be creative because of the Ed Foundation and our administration. There are resources to raise money."

 

The best part of Pete's day? "I work with kids who are really struggling. When they do their homework for the first time, when they are proud to show their mom and dad their work, when I can take them back to their elementary days when they liked school and felt good about their work - that's the best."

 

Pete is an avid runner (he blogs about it!) and mountain biker (he coaches the champion PCHS Mountain Bike Team) and loves spending time with his wife and two young children.