Welcome to Dry Creek Elementary, home of the Explorers! 

It is a pleasure to serve the Dry Creek community as principal and continue the legacy of excellence of our school.

At Dry Creek, students are presented with rigorous academic experiences within a collaborative open-concept environment. Our academic programming is paired with social-emotional learning, where students learn skills such as empathy, emotional regulation, collaboration, and problem-solving. Students are pushed to think critically, explore multiple perspectives, and validate information to maneuver the world in which we live. It is the combination of academic subjects, social-emotional learning, and inquiry that ensure a quality learning experience for all students at Dry Creek.
 
We value blazing a new TRAIL through, Teamwork, Respect, Acting Safely, Integrity, and Leadership. These values establish a positive culture of learning for all students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Dry Creek’s supportive community of educators, parents, and families makes it a positive and inclusive place for students to learn, grow, and thrive as learners and as people. Our staff strives to create and maintain strong community partnerships that prioritize students’ best interests.

To introduce myself a little more in detail, I am a Colorado native, born and raised in Littleton, Colorado. I attended Littleton Public Schools and then pursued my Elementary Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado. This year, I will begin my fourteenth year in education which began at Twain Elementary School where I taught 4th grade. As I moved into administrative roles, I have served as a Dean of Students at both the elementary and middle school levels. As well as serving as the Assistant Principal at Highline Community Elementary in Cherry Creek Schools. Educationally, I hold a Master’s degree in Educational Technology and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. Personally, I am married with two children, a two-year-old and a four-year-old. Outside of school, I love to play golf, go fishing, travel, and support the hometown teams namely the Rockies, Broncos, and Avalanche!

I am eager to partner with you to make your student’s experience the best it can be. Please feel free to contact me via email or phone or stop by anytime.

Go, Explorers!

Kevin Watanabe, Ed.S