Honoring Excellence in Teaching

At Aspen Country Day School, there are certain people whose impact extends far beyond their job description. They shape the feeling of a division, the rhythm of a school day, and the experience our students and families carry with them long after they leave campus.

Anyone who has spent time in the Lower School knows exactly who keeps the train on the tracks. She is the calm in the storm, the keeper of schedules and logistics, the welcoming smile each morning, and often the first hug a child receives when they walk through the doors. She knows every child by name. She knows every family. She somehow manages a thousand moving pieces at once while making everyone around her feel seen and cared for.

This spring, especially, she stepped up in an extra way as Adam moved upstairs and the needs of the division evolved. She handled it all with grace, positivity, flexibility, and love for the community.

Students adore her. Parents trust her. Teachers rely on her. Everyone loves Cec.

This year’s Stanley Sanger Award is presented to Cec Martin.

In schools, there are people who make others feel safe, supported, and cared for. This year’s second recipient of the Sanger Award does all of that and more.

She brings warmth, empathy, patience, and an extraordinary level of care to our Middle School community every single day. Students seek her out because they know they will be listened to without judgment. Teachers turn to her for her thoughts, advice, and steadiness. She has the ability to help navigate the joyful and challenging moments that are part of working in a school community.

In many ways, when the words “support” or “SEL” are mentioned in the Middle School, everyone instinctively looks to Morgan.

But what makes Morgan so special is that the work goes far beyond a role or a title. Morgan is a community builder and a community enhancer. She elevates the culture of the division simply through her presence, kindness, and care for others. Everyone notices if Morgan is around, and she is sorely missed when she isn’t..

Morgan helps students become better friends and better classmates. She also helps adults feel supported and connected. We are all incredibly lucky to have Morgan as part of the ACDS community.

This year’s Stanley Sanger Award is presented to Morgan Atkins.

Some teachers stand out because of their talent in the classroom. Some stand out because of their commitment to students. Some because they are incredible teammates. And then there are the rare few who somehow do all of it, every single day, with humility, positivity, and unwavering professionalism.

That is this year’s winner.

He gives 100% in everything, he can’t even jog across campus, he flat out runs. He is an outstanding teacher, and while he may be known for numbers and formulas, what truly sets him apart is the way he educates the whole child.

Students know he cares about them. Colleagues know he will always step up. And in a profession where stress and challenges are unavoidable, no one has has ever heard him complain. He shows up each day positive, professional, prepared, and never has a bad day.

He is also the kind of teacher who makes school feel joyful. On Outdoor Education trips, he is known for carrying his guitar alongside the rest of his gear, helping create the sense of connection and community that defines those experiences. And if you have ever started your morning on the Blue bus with him, you know it begins with a smile.

This year, he once again answered the call when the school needed him. He took on a section of Sixth Grade math — a new course, a new teaching team, and a different schedule — and handled it with the same flexibility, and excellence that define everything he does.

Quite simply, Brett gives and gives and gives to this school community, and Aspen Country Day School is incredibly lucky to have him.

This year’s Wesner Award is presented to Brett Nelson.