12310 E. Parkview Drive
Aurora, CO 80011
Principal: Yvonne Davis, ybdavis@aps.k12.co.us
Assistant Principal: Rob Feeler,RJfeeler@aps.k12.co.us
Site Professor: John Paull, john.paull@ucdenver.edu
Welcome to South Middle School!
We are delighted that you may be joining us soon as a teacher candidate in the University of Colorado Denver’s Urban Community Teacher Education Program.
Your school/classroom experience at South will prepare you to teach in a diverse setting (75% Hispanic, 20% African American, and students from Somalia, Nepal, The Congo, and Ethiopia) in a middle school (grades 6-8) with well over 600 students -- to reach out and inspire students who often have many challenges in their lives. Nineteen percent of the school’s students have I.E.Ps, and nearly every site-based Special Education program that Aurora offers exists at South.
Our highly-qualified teachers are attuned to our students' social, cultural and academic needs and work well with each other to ensure that the students acquire strong English language, literacy, science and math skills.
South offers after-school programs that meet the academic, physical and social well-being of students.
From the beginning of this academic year, school is transitioning to an Expeditionary Learning model - a way of working with students that involves significant investment in building an effective community of learners.
During your internship, you will get lots of teaching experience right away! We have monthly grade level meetings where our teachers meet to look at student work, and plan appropriate whole class/group and small group lessons.
Site seminars are always held on Wednesdays, usually from 12:00 until 1:15, led by the Site Professor. It is expected that you also attend other school meetings being held on the days you are here, such as professional development meetings, in-service meetings, and content-area planning meetings.
If you decide to come to South, be prepared, enthusiastic and energetic. With your positive
attitude and high level of motivation, you will be on your way to becoming a successful teacher and an integral part of the professional learning community here at South Middle School.
Again, we would like to welcome you to South. Hope to see you soon!
Yvonne Davis, Principal
Rob Feeler, Assistant Principal
John Paull, Site Professor