First Round of Grow Your Own Educator Fund Awards to Strengthen Local Education Workforce

Bill Felton, a full-time building substitute teacher at Sleeping Giant School, is one of several Steamboat Springs School District staff members working to further their careers in education through the Grow Your Own Educator (GYOE) program. After years in the tech start-up world, Felton discovered his passion for education while volunteering in his daughter’s classroom at Soda Creek Elementary.

“The experience reminded me how rewarding it is to be part of students’ learning,” he said. “I wanted to be more closely connected to the community and to my daughter’s school.”

Felton holds degrees in mass communication and speech and language pathology and is now working toward a master’s in curriculum development, with plans to complete his teacher licensure in Spring 2027. He says the GYOE program made the transition into education more accessible for mid-career professionals like him. 

“It relieves a lot of the tension that comes with returning to school,” he said. “I feel really supported by the principals and staff—it’s motivating to know the district values people who want to grow into education.”

After raising her children and working in local schools, JoEllen Heydon discovered her passion for helping students find their voice—literally. A longtime Steamboat resident, she now works as a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant at Steamboat Springs Middle School.

“It was a friend who first suggested speech therapy,” Heydon said. “Once I learned more about it, I realized how much I loved the small, focused nature of the work. It was exactly what I was looking for.”

Heydon recently enrolled at St. Bonaventure University to earn her master’s degree and become a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. “As an SLPA, I can deliver therapy, but I can’t diagnose or communicate directly with parents,” she said. “Becoming an SLP allows me to take that next step—to really understand what’s going on with each child and how I can help.”

She says the Grow Your Own Educator Fund has made that dream attainable. 

“It’s a huge undertaking—about 60 credit hours—and this support means everything,” Heydon said. “It tells me that people believe in me. At 54, to have that kind of backing is significant. My journey is definitely not done. 

Heydon added, “The passion of the community to even have this fund is really amazing.  You don’t find this very often. Steamboat always pulls through.”

Two decades in the culinary world, a series of layoffs and long hours away from his family led Scott Przymus to rethink his career plan. 

After everything he went through, he asked myself, “How can I be the person I needed when I was going through my hard stuff?” 

Przymus said. “That question changed everything.”

Przymus has found a new calling in education. Today, Przymus serves as a school counselor and head football coach at Steamboat Springs High School. 

Encouraged by friends, his wife Jenny, and their three children—Rowan, Ethan, and Ryker—he enrolled in a dual master’s program in mental health and psychology through Walden University. His goal: to become a school counselor and help young people navigate life’s challenges.

He says the Grow Your Own Educator Fund has eased the financial stress of changing careers and allowed him to focus fully on his students. 

“This support gives me peace of mind,” he said. “It lets me pour into these kids, love them, and hold them accountable.”

Przymus believes his unique background helps him connect with students—especially young men who may struggle to open up. 

“There’s a lot of stigma around males showing vulnerability,” he said. “I want kids to see that you can be strong and caring at the same time.”

Originally from Minnesota, Haley Reding has always known she wanted to be a teacher. After spending seven years working with students in after-school programs at both the elementary and high school levels, she discovered her passion for helping kids learn and grow. 

“They’re so fun and see the world in such a unique way, every day is different,” she says.

Now in her first year teaching physical education and health at North Routt Community Charter School, Haley is thriving in an environment that embraces outdoor and experiential learning. Every other Friday, her students head out on field trips to explore the beautiful Clark area—biking, hiking, and connecting with local ranches. 

“Getting to know students on a hike is the best way to connect with them,” she says.

Haley is earning her teaching license through the NW BOCES Alternative Licensure Program while teaching full-time. Reding already has student loans from her undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota; the Grow Your Own Educator Fund made it possible for her to confidently pursue her dream of being a teacher. 

“It truly allowed me to be a teacher,” Haley says. “The support gave me peace of mind and lets me focus on what matters most—my students.”

Maddy Rodriguez has always loved working with kids with disabilities — a passion that began with her older brother, who has Down syndrome. 

“I’ve always loved working with him,” she said. “That’s really what got me interested in helping other kids, too.”

Rodriguez has lived in Steamboat Springs for five years and earned her bachelor’s degree in human services from Colorado Mountain College. During an internship in college, she became a paraprofessional and immediately knew she’d found her path. 

“I thought it was so cool,” she said. “That experience really made me want to make a career out of it.”

Now working as the District’s behavior technician at all the schools, Rodriguez plans to pursue a master’s degree in special education with a concentration in behavioral analysis, aiming to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). 

“There’s a huge need for this in our town,” she said. “We don’t have anyone in the district in that role anymore, and I want to help fill that gap.”

Rodriguez will begin her fully online program this spring and is excited to gain hands-on experience while continuing her work in the schools. She says the Grow Your Own Educator Fund will make that possible. 

“Tuition is my biggest concern, so this funding is a huge help,” she said. “It takes a lot of stress off my chest. It’s hard to continue your education as a young adult in Steamboat, and I’m really thankful for the support.”

Isabel Siemon-Carome is in her first year teaching English at Soroco High School in the South Routt School District. Before entering the classroom, she spent five years leading high school students on outdoor education expeditions across five continents and later worked in curriculum development for tech companies. While living in Oak Creek and working remotely, she was missing a sense of community. 

When she saw the English position open at Soroco, she immediately jumped at the opportunity to return to working with high school students and to make a more direct impact on the community. Now, through support from the Grow Your Own Educator Fund, Siemon-Carome is earning her alternative teaching license through NW CO BOCES.

“It’s definitely been a game-changer in making this transition,” she said. “I already had a master’s degree, so affording a pathway into education would have been difficult without this program.”

Returning to work with high school students feels natural for Siemon-Carome. 

“The camaraderie and energy of this age group feel familiar,” she said. “It’s rewarding to be back with students every day and see them grow.” 

Just three months into teaching at Soroco High School, she already feels more rooted in her community than ever before. She also owes her sense of community to coaching mountain biking through the Cycle Effect, where a supportive network of teachers is encouraging her during this transition.

Anna is pursuing a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling to enable her to practice as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and as a licensed school counselor.

Britta, a math teacher at SSHS, is working on credentialing as a dual enrollment math teacher so her AP students can get college credits in addition to AP credits.

Dan, a science and CTE teacher, is working on a Masters of Education in STEM Education, to help support his role as lead teacher for the Engineering Pathway.

Garrett is completing a Master of Arts in Spanish to increase his abilities, knowledge, and practices in the classroom as well as be able to offer concurrent enrollment Spanish classes to SSHS students.

Kelly is getting her Master of Special Education to enhance her teaching skills, equipping her with new strategies to engage and support diverse learners, and will allow her to take on leadership roles, mentor colleagues, and collaborate on initiatives that foster a positive learning environment.

Brandy is working toward completing a rural school psychology program in order to obtain her EdS: School Psychologist degree.

Katherine, MTSS Coordinator, is working toward obtaining an EdD of Educational Studies with a Doctoral Minor in Applied Statistics and Research Methods to advance her skills in administrative leadership and innovation in the Hayden School District.

Mandy is a local educator who has taught English at Soroco High School and is currently a Special Education Paraprofessional at SSMS. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in English with a focus on literacy attainment.

Emmy, gifted education teacher at SSMS, is completing a Gifted Education Core Endorsement program to meet enhanced Colorado guidelines.