Did you know that every
Aurora Public Schools (APS) Board of Education regular meeting kicks off with inspiring student and staff recognitions?
Before tackling Board business, Superintendent Mike sets the tone with a feel-good “Recognizing Excellence” segment. Honorees, nominated by leaders across the district for breaking barriers and embodying APS’ vision and values, take center stage to bask in the kind words included in their heartfelt nominations.
Below, we share two recent honorees’ recognitions and invite you to tune into future Board meetings in person or online! Visit aurorak12.org/boe for more info.
Young Barrier Breaker Garang Garang Sets the Standard at Arkansas Elementary
It is a true honor to recognize
Arkansas Elementary School kindergartener Garang Garang, whose growth and character stand out in remarkable ways. Throughout this school year, Garang has shown tremendous progress—not only in his participation in class discussions and his improved handwriting, but also in his social development.
Garang leads by example, always demonstrating kindness, respect and thoughtfulness toward others. His peers look to him as a model of how to behave in the classroom, on the playground and beyond. Despite the many responsibilities he proudly carries at home, coming from a large and hardworking family, Garang brings a sense of calm, dedication and positivity to everything he does. His family’s strength and close bond play a huge role in shaping his character, and it's easy to see that with such a strong foundation, Garang will succeed in whatever he sets his mind to.
APS is grateful to have such a bright, compassionate student like Garang in our community. We are confident that he will continue to succeed and can’t wait to hear all about it!
Aurora Central High School Nurse Sharon Neiburh Recognized on State Level
It is also our great honor to recognize
Aurora Central High School’s nurse, Sharon Niebuhr, in light of her nomination for the Colorado Association of School Nurses' “School Nurse of the Year” award. Sharon has more than 50 years of nursing experience with a background as impressive as it is diverse.
From managing hospital labor and delivery units to instructing students in a nursing school, supervising healthcare in a prison system and starting her own clinic, Sharon is invaluable. Here in APS, she breaks barriers and sets new standards, particularly through her advocacy for our most vulnerable students. Sharon’s dedication shines through her ability to collaborate with staff, engage with families and ensure students receive the care and support they need to thrive. Whether she is connecting families to critical community resources, educating students about their health or providing in-depth assessments with our special education teams, Sharon’s work is nothing short of extraordinary.
Sharon’s dedication to quality nursing and the well-being of our students is remarkable and we thank her for being a champion for health and equity in APS.