Ashley Rojas Carbajal, a graduate of St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Pathways to Teaching (P-TEACH) program, will be joining Spark! Discovery Preschool as a preschool teacher this fall.
Rojas Carbajal knew she wanted to become a preschool teacher because of her love for seeing children’s curiosity and joy in learning. “That is what truly sparked my interest in becoming a preschool teacher and making a positive impact on their early development,” she shared.
P-TEACH provided Rojas Carbajal with deep and meaningful experiences, equipping her with effective teaching strategies through hands-on experience and mentorship. This preparation has given her valuable skills in fostering a supportive learning environment and building strong relationships with students and families.
“I am very excited to have my own classroom and build a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for my students to learn and grow,” Rojas Carbajal said, looking forward to the 2024-2025 school year.
Rojas Carbajal graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She also served as a long-term substitute teacher for first grade at Grand View Elementary during the 2023-2024 school year.
Spark! Discovery Preschool Principal Paige Gordon expressed her enthusiasm about Rojas Carbajal joining the team. “I’m excited about Ashley joining our team because she has a personal connection to the community, as a graduate of Frederick High School. She is also a positive role model for our community and understands the culture, values, and needs of our school.”
Principal Gordon also highlighted the significance of the P-TEACH program partnership, which nurtures a pipeline of talented educators deeply connected to the community and schools they serve.
Nicole Rudman and Monica Moreno-Martinez, both St. Vrain instructors and coordinators for the P-TEACH program, are thrilled to see another graduate hired at a St. Vrain school. “We are beyond ecstatic that Ashley has been hired as a preschool teacher at Spark! Preschool. From the beginning, this was Ashley’s dream, and we are honored to have been a part of her journey,” they said.
During her time in P-TEACH, Rojas Carbajal worked as an apprentice alongside a mentor teacher in both preschool and special education classrooms.
Rojas Carbajal’s unique perspective as a first-generation bilingual student and graduate of St. Vrain, combined with her experiences as a teacher apprentice and coursework in special education and culturally responsive teaching, has prepared her to be a bridge between students of diverse backgrounds.
Spark! Discovery Preschool looks forward to welcoming Ashley Rojas Carbajal and seeing the positive impact she will make in the coming school year.