4 Pueblo D70 teachers honored by Denver Broncos

James Bartolo, The Pueblo Chieftain
·3 min read
Four teachers were honored as Touchdowns for Teachers recipients by the Denver Broncos and Delta Dental of Colorado: clockwise from top left: Ethan Beeman, Katherine Dodge, Stacie Snell and Connor Pigg.
Four teachers were honored as Touchdowns for Teachers recipients by the Denver Broncos and Delta Dental of Colorado: clockwise from top left: Ethan Beeman, Katherine Dodge, Stacie Snell and Connor Pigg.

Four Pueblo County School District 70 teachers made the fall 2022 roster of "Touchdowns for Teachers" recipients recognized by the Denver Broncos and Delta Dental of Colorado. The Pueblo D70 teachers comprise four of the 10 recipients selected statewide.

Teachers Ethan Beeman, Katherine Dodge, Connor Pigg and Stacie Snell are being recognized for their community involvement, efforts to inspire students and positive contributions to their respective schools. Beeman, Dodge and Pigg are teachers at Rye High School. Snell teaches first grade at South Mesa Elementary School.

Honorees will receive two complimentary tickets to watch the Broncos play the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 8. Teachers also will receive a commemorative certificate, swag bag with prizes and recognition on the Denver Broncos website at denverbroncos.com/community/teachers.

Beeman is an agriculture teacher and adviser for Future Farmers of America at Rye. Under Beeman's instruction, Rye students learn about ag business, plant science, food science, animal science, mechanics and welding. He has taught at Rye for 10 years and was nominated for the Touchdowns for Teachers award by Principal Michelle Madril and Craver Middle School teacher Ashley Tremain.

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"I was really flattered," Beeman said. "I told everybody, 'I don't think I deserve it, but it sure means the world to me.'"

Dodge teaches chemistry, anatomy, AP Biology and AP Environmental Science courses at Rye. She also is a National Honors Society co-sponsor, a Sources of Strength adviser and a sponsor for Link Crew, a freshman and new student mentorship program. She is in her 10th year teaching at Rye and was nominated by Rye student Ameila Burbidge.

"(Burbidge) is a top-notch student ... when teaching, you dream of teaching those students who really go above and beyond with the material inside and outside of the classroom," Dodge said. "For her to hold me in that high regard, that was quite an honor just for her to take the time to do that."

Pigg also was nominated by Burbidge. He teaches AP U.S. history, AP European History, government, economics and world history courses. He also is the school's head football coach, head boys track coach and a student council sponsor.

"I kind of see (Touchdowns for Teachers) as an award for the whole staff," Pigg said. "Going through COVID and all that with the staff⁠, there's a lot of really exceptional teachers at Rye High School ... I'm just really representative of a great bunch of teachers."

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Snell has given math curriculum training to new teachers throughout Pueblo D70 for five years. This year, she took on an additional role as an instructional coach for South Mesa Elementary teachers at each grade level. As an instructional coach, she leads professional learning community meetings at least once a month. She was nominated by teaching partner Crystal Maez.

"It's an honor to just have your work recognized," Snell said. "Every teacher I know does it just because we love our kids, we love our students and we love our community. I feel pretty humbled and a bit unworthy because so many teachers I know are just amazing."

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo D70 teachers get Denver Broncos' Touchdowns for Teachers honor