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Sharon Collins » Staff Profile

Staff Profile

“There is a goldmine of hidden creativity in each one of these children, which can blossom into spiritual, emotional, creative and scientific growth. We need to build bridges between the inner world of the individual and the outer world of society, so that knowledge, thoughts and emotions can flow freely between them. To contribute to the accomplishment of this great goal continues to drive my life passionately.”
-Annemarie Roeper
 
These words so eloquently written by the late gifted education visionary, Annemarie Roeper, resonate at the core of my beliefs about children and about gifted education.
 
I am Sharon Collins and am the Executive Director of the school. I continue to be thrilled to be at Westgate supporting the students, families and staff in the wonderful mission and vision of WCS. I am honored to work in an environment that truly “gets” what so many gifted children need – a place where they can express their inner worlds freely and confidently. I am inspired each and every day by the students Westgate serves.

Before coming to Westgate in 2013, I was a District  Gifted Program Coordinator for students ECC (Early Childhood Center) – 8th grade near Chicago. I regularly present at local, state and national gifted conferences where I lead sessions highlighting the wit and wisdom of gifted seniors, Mindfulness and Executive Functioning and various aspects of the innovative programming at Westgate Community School. In 2020, I was featured as an expert in the IndieFlix Documentary about Bully prevention, The Upstanders.
 
In 2018, Colorado League of Charter Schools named me Leader of the Year. I was a Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar in 2003 and traveled to Japan to study the K-12 school system with a focus on Yatsushiro City. In 2000, I earned an M.A. in Teaching and Learning from DePaul University where I graduated with Honors and my thesis was awarded Distinction. 
 

Posts

Phase II Environmental Campus Development

Dear Westgate Families,
 
 
I am thrilled to announce that on Wednesday, 9/26, Westgate was awarded $805,000 by the Adams County Open Spaces Advisory Board to complete the Environmental Education Campus.
 
Phase II will include:
Walking & Biking Trails
Amphitheater
Community Gardens, an Orchard, Hügelkultur and Pollinator Garden
Two Outdoor Classrooms – 1 solar and 1 environmental
Grassy areas for picnics, gathering and play
Drainage Infrastructure
Refreshed Chicken Coop and new Goat Pen (yes, goats!)
 
The Grant Committee couldn’t be more grateful to the ACOS for their support of Westgate Community School and of Open Spaces throughout Adams County!  Their work is critical to the enduring beauty and connectivity of our community.
 
Over Fall Break, you will notice some work being done to complete Phase I of the project. 
 
These additions include:
Shade structure
Picnic Tables
Additional Bike Racks
Bike Repair Station
Portable Toilet – ADA accessible
 
Each of these improvements support the education and outreach that are central to the vision of Westgate.  Keep an eye out as we grow into the Dream of what a Community School can be for its students, families and community-at-large.
 
I am so excited to see it all come together!  Enjoy Fall Break!
Respectfully,
Sharon Collins 
 

Westgate Receives 5 Year Charter Renewal from Adams 12

Hello Westgate Families,
It gives me great pleasure to announce the Adams 12 Board of Education unanimously approved a 5-year charter extension for Westgate Community School on January 17.  I am proud of the growth our school has achieved over our last charter period of three years.
 
 
Since our last charter renewal, Westgate:
 
-  Improved State Achievement Scores by 15 points  
-  Rated as a Performance School each year
-  Is currently the Top Achieving Charter School in Adams 12
-  Is in the top 13 schools in Colorado for Achievement Growth
-  Increased our General Fund to make the school more fiscally sound
-  Increased enrollment from 452 students in 2015 to 512 in 2017
-  Graduated two classes from the high school
-  One third of HS graduates earned an Associates Degree or Advanced Certificate while attending Westgate.
-  Built Phase I of the Westgate Environmental Campus which includes our AMAZING play ground
-  Remained faithful to our founding Mission and Vision to provide innovative Whole Child education to students K-12
 
A huge thank you goes out to our amazing teachers and staff!  Their commitment to inclusive gifted education with social-emotional learning at its core is at the heart of our school’s success.  Their passion for Westgate is visible in the work they do each day with our students.  Their uncommon kindness, courage and dedication is to be commended.
 
Thank you for being a part of our community!  I can't wait to see what we achieve together over the next five years!
 
Respectfully,
Sharon Collins
Executive Director

Annual Campaign!

Dear Westgate Families,

Each year, Westgate holds a Fundraising campaign in which our entire community pitches in to help out!  I am asking you to support our school through donations to this Annual Campaign.  Any amount helps us to reach our goal!

Westgate is a Community built to support the needs of gifted and creative learners.   The Annual Campaign helps us to continue to engage our gifted learners and include the things that make Westgate unique.  These funds allow us to enhance our programming with opportunities like the all-school field trip to the Denver Symphony Orchestra, ongoing and innovative professional development for teachers and matching funds for the grants we continue to win.

Fundraising provides Westgate with improvement items each year that are not a part of the overall budget.  These improvements are essential to growing our kids and our community. We look forward to the amazing future that is in store for Westgate, our kids and our community.

 Thank you for your generosity.  Together, we make a difference in the lives of our kids!

With much appreciation,

Sharon Collins

Welcome Back!

Hello Families and Students,
I love the beginning of the year!  I am thrilled to welcome our new students and families while welcoming back our returning families.  I have missed hearing the joyful noise of our students in the hallways this Summer.  I can't until we are all back together.
 
There has been much work happening at Westgate over the break.  The roof and parking lot repairs have been completed.  Mr. Moe fabricated a wonderful Westgate sign which you can see at the entrance of our park.  You might also notice we've added a flag pole to the entrance of our building.  
 
New security cameras have been added to the building, campus and entrances. Remember, the front doors will now remain locked to create a more secure environment for the students and staff.  As visitors enter the school, driver's licenses will now be scanned through the Raptor system at the front desk.  All guests will need to be scanned before entering the building further.
 
New student and teacher laptops are being delivered!  Our IT folks are installing new network drives, switches and access points throughout the building - thanks also to the Adams 12 Bond Funds!  We know this updated technology means much to our community of learners!
 
Teachers will be at Westgate from July 31 - August 4 preparing for the start of the year and participating in Professional Development.  We are always proud to support the professional growth of all staff members.  Training this year will focus around Depth and Complexity, Classroom Management Tools and Gifted & Talented, as well as, ongoing Anti-Bullying and Advocacy training.
 
I hope everyone will join us for the Community Picnic on Back to School Night on August 4 beginning at 4:30 PM in the Westgate Park.  Meet new friends and catch up with former classmates!  Catch a bite to eat from one of the Food Trucks.  Play.  Laugh.  Enjoy one another's company.  I can't wait to see all of you there!
 
It is an exciting time to be at Westgate Community School!
It's going to be an AMAZING year!
 
See you soon,
Sharon Collins