Business Innovators Radio - The Inspired Impact Podcast with Judy Carlson-Interview with Lindsey Jaffe, Asst. Principal/Activities Director, Mountain Vista High School

Episode Date: April 1, 2025

Lindsey has worked at Mountain Vista high school for 20 years in a number of different roles. She taught in the Career Tech Ed world for 14 years, was the head volleyball coach, ran student leadership, and was on a building leadership team. She was also instrumental in the growth of their relationship with the “Make a Wish Foundation.” The partnership with the school community, along with local clothing brand, Be A Good Person, has raised almost 2 million dollars for the Foundation.Now Ms. Jaffe is an Assistant Principal and Activities Director, managing over 65 clubs within the school. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her 2 children, support their sports/activities, travel, and do yoga!https://mvhs.dcsdk12.org/*************************************************************Judy is the CEO & Founder of the Judy Carlson Financial Group. She helps her clients design, build, and implement fully integrated and coordinated financial plans from today through life expectancy and legacy.She is an Independent Fiduciary and Comprehensive Financial Planner who specializes in Wealth Decumulation Strategies. Judy is a CPA, Investment Advisor Representative, Life and Health Insurance Licensed, and Long-Term Care Certified.Judy’s mission is to educate and empower her clients with an all-inclusive financial plan that encourages and motivates them to pursue their lifetime financial goals and dreams.Learn More: https://judycarlson.com/Investment Adviser Representative of and advisory services offered through Royal Fund Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Adviser.The Inspired Impact Podcasthttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-inspired-impact-podcast/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-inspired-impact-podcast-with-judy-carlson-interview-with-lindsey-jaffe-asst-principal-activities-director-mountain-vista-high-school

Welcome to the Inspired Impact Podcast, where dedicated female professionals share how they inspire impact every day. Authentic stories, passionate commitment, lives transformed. I'm your host, Judy Carlson. Welcome to today's episode of the Inspired Impact Podcast. Today's guest is an assistant principal and the activities director at Mountain Vista High School. And she has got some kind of a story to tell. So I am so excited to welcome Lindsay Jaffe. Thank you. Hi, Judy. Thank you so much for having me. I'm honored that you asked me to come on your podcast. Well, I want to hear the full story. I've heard little bits and pieces here and there,

but I think it starts way back in your younger years. So fill us in. You know, it's ironic. I never. ever felt like I had a calling to be in education. I never really knew that was something that I wanted to do. To be honest, I had no idea what I wanted to do. When I was younger, if you asked me, I probably would have said famous actress or just someone that made a lot of money. And I do neither of us. So, you know, here we are. But, you know, when I was in kindergarten, I remember my principal at the time, she said something to my mom one time we were leaving. And, you know, I don't know. I probably got in trouble for being rowdy or along those lines. And my mom had to come get me. And, you know, I was like, I'm so sorry. And the principal's like, you know what, it's okay. Like I know that no matter if I'm here or if I'm at an offsite meeting, if Lindsay's here, then the school is in good hands. So, you know, that was all the way in catergarden. So I think, you know, it's interesting because sometimes you never know those gifts that you've been given until you're put in the situation to let them come out and thrive. So even in my job now, I feel like that's really my passion is to get kids out of

their comfort zone so that they understand things that they never knew they could do. So that's the best part of my job. And I wish someone would have done that for me when I was younger. So I really take that to heart because I do think that this whole profession just kind of fell on my lap. Wow. So you went from kindergarten. What about the rest of your years? And how did your current career start to unfold in those years? Yeah. So I played volleyball in high school. And then that just didn't pan out to where I wanted to go. And so there was a rep from Colorado State University that came to the school one day. And I went with a friend randomly. And we went to the interview. And back then, they would accept you on the spot. So I had the scores and the G.E. EPA and the extracurriculars. So they were like, yeah, if you want to go to CSU, let's go. This was like, okay. So, you know, I came from divorced parents and, you know, my mom now she's

been sober for nine years, but in high school, she wasn't. So that was a struggle. I didn't really have that support to guide me into those things. So I really do think God just placed some of these opportunities in my hand because he really knew a bigger picture. So ended up at CSU. I didn't know my major. So I declared open option seeking business because again, I told you I wanted to make money. So I figured that was going to be the route with business, right? I'd never taken a business class a day in my life. And my first one was was microeconomics. And I remember getting my first C ever in my entire life. And, you know, I was a straight A student. So getting a C was like, what is this letter? And then I just decided maybe this is like someone telling me that I shouldn't do business. If I got to see an econ, you know, this is kind of the basis of all business, right? Like that was my first semester in college. So then I just took a bunch of classes that interested me.

I took psychology. I took child development. I did take other classes. And then it was my junior year and my advisor was like, hey, you probably need to decide what you want to do now. And at the time I was volunteer coaching at there was a local rec center and they had youth programs that were going on for underprivileged students. So I would go there and volunteer teaching sports and coaching and doing whatever.

And so she was like, have you ever thought about teaching? And I said no, but fun. I love hanging out with kids. I love working with them. I love mentoring and things. And she was like, well, why don't you just take a couple of teaching classes and see what you would want to do? Here is what lines up with your major.

So I said, okay. And I had never even heard of this major before. So I had my bachelor's in our bachelor's in science, excuse me, in family and consumer science, which I didn't know what that was. But she explained it to me. now we call it career tech ed but back in the day it was called home neck so um i was like i don't cook i don't so i don't do any of these things and she's like it's fine they'll teach you so i took a multitude of classes and really developed a love i did my practicum at rocky mountain high school up in

fort collins i did my student teaching at loveland okay and then as your student teaching um you start trying to find a job. So in the spring, when I was still student teaching, I went to a bunch of job fairs and one happened to be at Mountain Vista High School. They were a fairly new school at the time. They had only been open for a few years at that time. And I just went there. And as I'm sitting there, you know, you go around and you do interviews with different assistant principals or principals from all over. One of the principals, he was about to open Castleview High School. And he was like, I want you to work here. but I don't have the department that you have your degree. And what about Broadway dance?

And I was like, well, I'm sure I can figure it out. But we'll see. And so I didn't take that job. And then I go to the next room. And my seventh grade social studies teacher, Mr. Allen's worth, was in there. And he was like, Jaffe. I couldn't believe that he remembered me. I mean, this was, you know, a million years later.

And he was like, what are you applying for? You're hired. I don't even need to do an interview with you. Like, you know, I told you, I've been this personality since I was. Right. So you were in kindergarten, five years old. Right. So, you know, he said, what are you trying to apply for?

And I told him family consumer science. And he was like, look, we only have a part-time position in that field. So he's like, but just get in at the time. No, Douglas County still and was then a really premier district. And so I really wanted to be a part of Douglas County School District. So I took it. I took the part-time job. And one of my mentor, assistant principals, she said to me, because I said, how do I get this to be a full-time job?

Like, I can't afford to be doing this part-time forever. Right, right. And so she just said, you know what? Make yourself irreplaceable. Do things that make you feel like we have to have you here. and we have to find a space for you. So I did. I never said no to anything that was asked of me

as far as professionally what I would do at the school. So I coached volleyball there for a long time. I was on all sorts of leadership committees, volunteered after school, just really immersed myself in the culture and climate of the school. And then the next year, they did make me full time, but I was teaching half in the PE department and have in my apartment, which is great.

And then after a few years, I ended up getting a full-time position. And I've been there ever since. I love Mountain Vista High School. I love Douglas County. My children go to school in this county as well. So I take a lot of pride in being here. Yeah. So when you got your full-time position, was that in the family consumer science department?

It was. Yes. It's interesting because we grew the department from three to five people. So we were actually the biggest department and still are in the state of Colorado. Wow. That is not, you know, education is so interesting, you know, because it does constantly have to ebb and flow and change. But in the same sense, there are certain things that do need to stay the same.

And I think creating these opportunities for kids with life skills and those career tech ed skills are essential, you know, for a long time. time it was stem, stem, stem, which which is also essential and amazing and, you know, putting us into, you know, these categories nationwide, worldwide that we have to be in. But I do think also these basic life skills of how to function and, you know, I taught interior design. That was one of the classes that I taught. So, you know, I commented on your beautiful painting behind you, you know, those small things. I taught fashion design talking about, you know, how we wear what we, what represents us. We talk, I also taught catering class, you know, such the basics of cooking and preparing meals for other people and yourself.

And then Judy, you'll love this. I also, my baby, my class that was my baby was personal finance. So I taught personal finance a really long time. I grew that program from one class to six classes. So it was really important to me for those kids to get those essentials. And although the basics of the curriculum developed or was already developed, I really poured my heart and soul into developing it based on what I thought that kids needed to know. So yes, so then I taught in that department for 14 years. Wow. Okay. Yeah. And then coincidentally, I was just, again, I'm telling you, I don't know, God always points me in the right direction at the right time. I was getting itchy. I was getting itchy and I needed a change. And I was like, so I went to my

principal and you know I just said I have my admin license I have my master's I'm ready to do something different and if there's not something here then I might have to start looking but I don't want to leave here and coincidentally there was a dean position that was open so I got that role and then it was 2020 so I only taught you know at the end of you know right in the beginning when when COVID the craziness really happened I only had a teacher for a couple of months online. Okay. And then I was doing administration online for a year, which was interesting.

So the dean position isn't an assistant principal. So how is that different or how is that a stepping stone? Yeah. So it is in admin. It's basically a different assignment for teachers. At every school, they do it different. Okay. Some schools, they make their deans.

in charge of attendance and discipline strictly. At some schools, they're similar to the assistant principals. You basically get paid a higher teacher salary because you're working longer days. You are expected to go do things and engage in after school activities and extracurricular activities in sports. So it basically is the same thing, except the only other thing is you're not evaluating as many teachers just because you don't have that specific title. So, yeah.

So I did that. for a couple of years. Okay. With COVID, it was the first year really wasn't doing anything. It was hybrid and I don't really feel like I got the full experience. So I wanted another year to see. And then after that, an assistant principal position became available because our principal retired.

And so one of our assistant principals took over. And so that transition has been amazing. And I took over his spot as the. the activities director and assistant principal. So are there, you said there's five assistant principals? Correct. And yes. So when you took that assistant principal job, were the duties specific to that one?

Or how do they, how do they balance the duties of the assistant principals? Good question. You know, it varies from school to school. To be honest, everyone has their own way of doing things. The way that we do it, I think, is based on strengths and weaknesses. Oh, wonderful. That's great. We have another assistant principal. He's in charge of our career tech ed because he also taught in the business department. That's kind of, you know, he's very data driven. He does our technology stuff.

We have another assistant principal. She's very focused. She loves numbers. She's highly organized type A. So she does our master schedule. So puts everything together, what? kids, classes are taking and what classes teachers are taking. It's this huge puzzle. We have another assistant principal. She has a special ed background. So she was our area director and special ed. And so that's a big focus of hers is counseling special ed, RTI. She does a lot of that. Another assistant principal, he's, he's our athletic director. So that's his primary role. He doesn't deal with as many other things as we do. And then we have a dean who, uh, I don't know if this is his specialty or he just got handed it to him, but he's in charge of parking and security.

Student parking is definitely not something you want to be good at. So, yeah. And then my job primarily focuses on culture climate. So before I was a dean or assistant principal, I also was in charge of our student leadership groups or student council, student government, whatever you want to call it at different schools. and that was my baby for a really long time, which was all about culture, climates and things like that. So I still kind of rolls into what I do on a daily basis.

And then you add the athletic direct, or no, you add the activities director. So tell me about the activities director piece of your job. Yeah. So, you know, it ebbs and flows,

but right now we have about 68 clubs and activities that I oversee. It sounds, daunting, but we hire well. So I don't have to do as much because we really have as amazing teachers and sponsors that do what they need to do and we trust them. So everything from our CTSOs, our career tech student associations, those are the things like DECA, FCCLA, FBLA, you know, our competitive TSA, our competitive clubs, HOSA. They're all acronyms. Everything is an acronym, acronym in education to our community service. clubs to our diversity clubs to our performing arts. We also have a ton of our national honor

societies and also just clubs for kids to hang out and find a place. These are kids are there for four years and we always tell them that if you don't find your people it makes it harder. It doesn't mean you can't achieve it. It just makes it harder. Right. So find your people, find your place, try new things and find where you, again, like I was talking about earlier, where you really feel like you feel confident and that your strengths are being utilized and getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things. So how do you bring that message to an individual student? So I also run our club called Link Crew.

So that is our freshman transition program. So at the very beginning of the school year, all the freshmen come in. And then the day before school starts, I have about three to 400 upper classmen that take their day off and come in. And they do a training with me. And we basically get the freshmen ready for their first day of school. So that is where we really push these things, where we really talk about the importance of getting involved, the importance of finding your place, the importance of being a golden eagle. Does everyone listen? No, that's okay. But out of 2,200 kids, we have about 1,400 kids that are involved in activities alone. And then, but they, a lot overlap. But then we also have probably about 1,500 plus-ish kids. Sorry, Jim, that's my athletic director. I don't know the exact number, but about that number involved in athletics. So I would say a huge majority of our students are involved in something. Wow. And maybe not early on, but eventually,

eventually they get there. Well, like one of the students talked about the cosmetology program, and that wouldn't peak an interest in a freshman year, right? But maybe a junior year? Yeah, those programs, those are specific programs that wouldn't even be available to them until they're juniors and seniors. So that's the coolest thing about Douglas County. I really do think they're so forward thinking and getting kids ready and available to be in the real world. So it's not just that everyone's going to college right away. It's not that everyone needs to have the same degree. I really think with now the inception of the legacy campus where they're offering these classes, they also have welding at Thunder Ridge. They have the cosmetology at Highlands Ranch.

Now with the mill and bond and all of those passing, they're going to add an auto program over at Highlands Ranch High School, which is fantastic. You know, and then Legacy has a million catering options and architecture, engineering. Mountain Vista, we're kind of more of the engineering hub for those classes. Okay. Yeah, I've been in the Legacy Campus and they've got those banners that list the programs. So if a student was interested in one of those, that happens while they're in high school? It does. So they actually, depending on when they start and then how invested they are in the programs, they could end with a multitude of different certificates, associates, degrees, things like that. Now we have so many concurrent enrollment classes. So those are classes, those are dual enrollment enrollment classes where you can also get a college credit and a high school credit simultaneously. So I do the tours for our school for prospective families.

do. Yeah, right. And so one of the things we talk about is, you know, you can get the college level credit for the high school price. I mean, it's a win-win, right? So we have students like Tevia, she'll leave school with her cosmetology degree. And so she won't have to do that outside of this. Now she can go on if she wants to do aesthetician school or other things or nursing school, you know, to hone that craft. But she'll get that. We have kids that, you know, are graduating, with welding certificates that can just go right into the workforce. So that workforce readiness is essential. We also have kids because of those dual enrollment classes,

not the CTE side, the Career Tech Ed side, but just in English, math history, they're taking these classes with ACC and then they're graduating. And some of them are done with their sophomore year of college before they even step foot onto a college campus. So the amount of money that we save our families is incredible. So it's really awesome. So if they do the ACC classes, like do they drive to ACC?

Obviously, if they do the legacy campus, do they drive to the legacy campus or Highlands Ranch or Thunder Ridge, how does the circulation of the students work for these programs? These are such great questions. I'm glad that I get to be here to answer them for you. So with the legacy program and those outside programs, they do have transportation. they offer. Really? They do have a shuttle that takes them. And if not, a lot of kids also drive their juniors and seniors. So a lot of them are driving on their own. And then they're not going to ACC. So we have certified teachers that go through a training with ACC. They have to have a master's in that specific area to be able to teach it. They have ACC professors that come in and

ensure that the curriculum coincides with what they're teaching with what they are teaching. And then our teachers teach it. So that's the other cool thing is that we get to be with our teachers. Now, the other great thing is that with all of our high schools, we went on the same schedule. So all of us are literally on the same exact schedule. So say we have kids that are coming to Mountain Vista because we offer a really high-level math class. That's not offered anywhere else in the district. So we have kids that come to our school to take some of those classes.

And vice versa, we have kids going to other schools. but that are still considered mountain vista students that they go and they take these classes elsewhere. So really, the opportunities are endless, which is a less thing that occurs sometimes because what they can choose from is overwhelming. Yeah, what a great day to be a high school student in Douglas County, right? I know, absolutely, absolutely. So we feel the same way. Yeah.

So I did interview Tevia. you mentioned her because I heard her speak at a rotary meeting. And she was, was she in charge of? I'd like you to share more about the Mountain Vista Make a Wish program. Oh, yeah, sure. She shared a bit about that and not sure she was in charge of it or how that works, but it's under your activity director role, right? Sure.

So kind of crazy talk about a blessing at curse. So 10 years ago when I took over the student leadership program, they had kind of already been in the works with Make a Wish. Okay. And so Make a Wish for those of you that don't know, it is a charitable organization that raises money to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. So not necessarily terminal, but life-threatening illnesses. It's been so... special and it's been so, I'm trying to think of the word to even use. It's been so life-changing for so many families and kids that doctors now are actually using wishes as a part of the

treatment plan. So they're prescribing wishes to families just because it's had such a life-changing impact on the progress of their other treatment plans. So it's pretty special. I took it over years ago that we had, you know, our school had been doing it for a couple of years prior. But, you know, I think when I took it was like $5,000 they had made the year before, which is fantastic. Rock Canyon really was the one that I would say brought it to Douglas County. At the time, they raised like 65,000. And I had some kids in the class. And I was like, I don't know if you know this about me, Judy, but I'm a little competitive.

I was like, that's what we're going to do. Like, we're going to raise that much money or more. And so everyone looked at me like I was crazy. And then that first year, we raised $62,000. And then it just kids really bought in. And then the next year we have a student, her name was Marley. And she really changed everything for us. We partnered with a local clothing company called Be a Good Person.

They're based out of Denver. And they also actually just opened a store in Park Meadows. But we loved their mission. We loved their vision and just the simplicity of just being a good person and doing something bigger than yourself. So we partnered with them and bought T-shirts. Everyone bought T-shirts for the whole school. And we had Marley and her wish was to give.

So most students, or most children, excuse me, they want to, you know, go to Hawaii or meet a celebrity or go to Disney, which are great, which are amazing, amazing things. And they're so deserving. But she wanted to give. So she wanted to create build a bears for kids in the hospital and donate them. So that for some reason just really changed everything for us. as a school, our culture climate.

We really bought into the message. And then after that, it's just been this great train of craziness. So the year after, I decided that we weren't just going to write a check anymore and just stand there and hand the check after all of our community and our kids really bought in. I wanted them to feel it as well. So we started granting wishes live or creating a wish enhancement. So the next year was Kenyon. His wish was to be a superhero.

So that's what we did. I partnered with our theater kids and our theater teacher, and they created this whole scenario and this whole acting situation with dancing and flips and sword fights and stole the principal and did all these things in the middle of our assembly. And then it was grandad live. And then that year, I think we raised $90,000. So I was like, oh, man, this is getting crazy.

crazy. So we then got all of our feeder schools involved, our middle school, our six elementary schools to really encompass what it means to be a Mountain Vista Golden Eagle and not be a good person motto. So then the next year it was Gabby. She wanted to be famous. And so we did kind of like a live talk show, kind of like a Jimmy Fallon vibe with her. And then our friends would be a good person knew these friends that run this huge, crazy, like, concert company. And so they're nexus. And so they came and they set up a concert style stage. And we had like this crazy party in the gym. So ever since then it's kind of been that. And then that year we raised, I think, 120,000 and 150,000. And then it just kept going up and up and up. And this year,

we, we had Carter. She's five. And she wanted to. to be a volcano scientist in Hawaii. So we made a volcano in the gym and had it explode with confetti and brought in hula dancers. And if anyone's interested, they can always go on Vista now and watch it on YouTube. They're pretty amazing. And then be a good person. If you type and be a good person, make a wish, Mountain Vista High School. They also do like many versions of the assembly.

And so, yeah, so we did that for her and it was crazy. And that was Tevia's huge involvement. her and I, and along with their other teachers and Mr. Wood, Ms. Lamb, Mr. Byers, and the 60 other student leadership kids, we all just worked together. They worked so hard throughout the whole week and really for months preparing for it. And Tavia being a student body president really just led the way. And they created this really special bond and it was really awesome to see. And then at the end, they ended up raising $225,000. So. Oh my gosh, Lindsay. Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, it's, I don't know how it happens. We call it Wish Magic. I don't. I have no idea.

But it keeps getting bigger and it keeps happening. So we are Mountain Vista High School and our feeder. I don't want to disclude Ben either as a group. We are the largest fundraising entity for Make a Wish Colorado. So there is no company. There is no individual. There is no anything in the state of Colorado. that has donated more money to make a wish than Mountain Bista High School.

Wow. Congratulations. So yeah. So we're really proud of it. No kidding. So for next year, it's in February. Thanks, Judy. No, I'm just like trying to figure out like you're going to have a new student body president.

You'll have, is that person always in charge of the make a wish week or is it someone else? Kind of. Yeah, yeah, it just depends. You know, typically I'll work with the student body president. on that Friday assembly. Yeah, but, you know, there are some kids that that's not their strength. Right. So I've had to work with the vice president or things like that.

Yeah. Where we work as a team. But yeah, it just depends on who it is. Yeah, so school starts in what, August. And then when is the person that you're going to do the make a wish for? What's the timeline of all of that? We typically, so they always, already start planning in August for small things. So they start planning sponsors and, you know,

what they're doing for restaurant nights and things like that, just larger community things. Right. But we will usually pick our Wish kid around November. Okay. So we'll work with Make a Wish. The advisors, you know, we'll all get together and the representatives from Make a Wish, Sarah is gross. She's the one that we work with. She's amazing. And so we just figure out who's going to be the best fit because it really is a lot for those kids. So it does take a special personality. Not everyone could be our wish kid. So yeah, so we'll go through that process.

And then we meet them and their family. We go to the Be Good Person headquarters in Denver and help them design the shirt. So every year we get a custom be a good person shirt. Okay. So based on the wish, so this year the color. the color was sand because she wanted to go to Hawaii. Oh, sure. And then there were three hibiscus flowers in blue because that was her favorite color.

And then within it was really cool. There were scientific elements in each one of the insides of the hibiscus flower. So it was really cool. Yeah, Keri, she designs it. She's an amazing artist. Working with Be a Good Person is incredible. They've been working with us next year will be 10 years. So, you know, to have these relationships with these people for this long,

is a lot. You know, I think most relationships in general don't last this long. No, that's right. I was thinking, I was thinking when you were talking about how many kids are involved in activities and athletics and how could a student at Mountain Vista not know that it's make a wish week and be part of it some way, right? Go to an assembly or get a T-shirt or. So that's got to, you know, after four years ago into those, you know, that's got to be quite a, make quite an impact on them.

Yeah, I do. I think so. You know, we have silly dress up days throughout the week that we get our highest amount of participation. Our events are exploding with people, not only our own kids, but the parent community comes. Our feeder kids come. It's really remarkable what ends up happening. And we talk about it, you know, it's hard sometimes with high school and they're high school kids you know they're still high school kids they don't always want status quo but yet they're all following each other and you know sometimes rebelling and whatever but which is great i'm all about that independence but this week i really do feel like most kids take a minute to engage in something i had um one student that i was talking to another teacher about and she said that he doesn't go to anything he goes to zero games zero plays

zero anything, no dances, no nothing. But he goes to this one wish week event every single year. And so to me, that that's it. That matters. You know, not everyone has to go to everything, but if they go to one and they feel somewhat connected to the school, then we did our job. So they're listening, even though they pretend like they're not.

Right. I think, too, just the, you know, the volunteer spirit that it invokes, even though they may not, super participate. They're going to carry that with them the rest of their lives. Totally. Totally. Even if they pretend like they're jaded and, you know, mumble under their breath and whatnot, they still feel it. They still know. And they still, you know, in an assembly, they might not go all the way in, but they're peeking in or they're watching online or they do. They still, they still know.

And in their 20s or 30s when they're talking with their kids, they're going to tell them, Yeah, this amazing thing we did in high school when I was in high school. Totally. It'll be so cool. Wow. Our alumni still, we have, we have kids that, you know, graduated years ago. Oh. You know, that still reach out.

Can I buy a T-shirt? Oh. That was my favorite part of, you know, being in high school. Those are the memories I have. And so, you know, those are, those are important because, you know, it's a hard time. High school is not easy. It isn't. You know, being an adult isn't easy.

But, you know, you're a quick. in different ways. But being high school kid, you're learning a lot. You are transitioning a lot. A lot thrown at you, lots of decisions about are you going to go on to any kind of schooling? If so, what will that be? Where will that be? How far away from home will you be?

I mean, there's so many things. And like, you know, you said you came from a divorce family and how many kids there are also experiencing that. And everybody's family situation is different. and the things that they're that they're dealing with away from school. And I know I interviewed June Everett who runs Backpack Society, and they deliver food every Friday to kids in, I don't know, 58 different schools. And then so you know that there's kids that are hungry on the weekends.

And, man. Well, you don't think it, right? because we live in such a beautiful area. Kids are dressed well. They're at school. I will say that's the one thing that being in admin has really opened my eyes. I had no idea because you don't know these things as a teacher. You do.

You understand that kids have gone through hard things or, you know, kids will tell you bits and pieces about their lives that they want to share. But that doesn't mean that you know the whole thing. But in admin, we know the whole thing. And it's really hard. And, you know, there are some kids that that really do walk in every single day with a thousand things against them and still figure it out. So it's really impressive. And kids also that don't, you know, that even if things are good, it's still hard.

So I love our school community. And I really do think, you know, our school leadership is great. Our teachers are amazing. And that makes a big difference. So, which is why I've been there for 20 years. I know. I just think bless you for your passion and for your involvement and for your personality that never wavers and your care and concern for the kids from the joys to the challenges and everything in between. I mean, at some point, you're probably your heart's breaking.

The tears are coming. And at other times, it's such celebratory feelings and times. and everything in between, it's a lot. But you have been so delightful to the time. So thank you. I'm so glad. This was so great. I feel honored that you wanted to talk to me.

It was fantastic. Yeah, no, I just knew that there was something special about you when we met. Oh, I appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah, it happened. So, yeah, I don't know if there's listeners who want to learn more about Mountain Vista or you or your programs, what should they do if they, if they're interested in learning more? Sure, sure. If they have any questions about Douglas County as a school district, what we're doing,

you know, with the Mill Bond money and the legacy programs, things like that, Mountain Vista High School, they make a wish foundation, whatever they're interested in. They can always email me, LNJAFFFE, the number one at DCSDK12.org. And I would be glad to, talk with them and answer any questions. And then I'll be at the rotary at the end of this month. So I'll be there on the 27th. Yes. Oh, wonderful. That'll be great. I look forward to seeing you again. All right. Yes, absolutely. Well, thanks again for your time. And I'm sure listeners will just delight in our conversation. So thank you, Lindsay. It was a pleasure. Thank you, Judy. If you ever want me to come back on again and talk other things, let me know. Okay. I sure will.

All right. Have a great day. Yep, you too. Thanks so much for joining us for the Inspired Impact Podcast. To listen to past episodes, please visit theinspiredimpactpodcast.com.