Ms. Mandy Sheets

Dear Sunrise Elementary School Community,

We are ready to R.I.S.E. Up Together again this year! At Sunrise Elementary School, we have made great strides to ensure that EVERY HUMAN that walks into our buidling feels welcome, seen and heard. From our youngest Eagles to the important adults making a difference in the lives of others. Our work continues as we strive to foster an elementary education experience that is focused on high academics achievement and a lot of joy! 

Our students have made so much growth and had opportunities to explore the world outside of the classroom. We offered clubs, had amazing field trips, celebrated sucesses as a school and individually in assembiles, had choir performances, leadership opportunities and found ourselves laughing a lot. At the same time, we all worked extremely hard on our academics. We raised the level of academic accountablity because we believe our students deserve the highest level of instruction and people who believe they can reach grade level expectations. Our Eagles stepped up and with the increase in academic achievement, came a significant decrease in undesireable behaviors from our students. When students feel confident, know what is expected, feel safe and know they matter, they show up ready to learn and take risks in uplifting ways! Our work is to continue the academic and social growth, always being responsive to the needs of our students! 

Similarly, our families are the foundation of our Sunrise community. Our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and neighbors hold our history and have helped us rise up! We strive to learn from our families and know that educating our young scholars takes time and intentionality. As the leader of Sunrise, I also want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to provide families with what they need to feel empowered to advocate for their children and valued enough to ask for supports to help their child/children grow beyond what they every believed possible. 

For those of you who are new to Sunrise Elementary, the 2024 - 2025 school year will be my second year serving our community. Before joining Sunrise, I had the privilege of serving the Cimarron Elementary School community for 5 years.  I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to support and learn alongside the incredible communities of Dakota Valley and Mission Viejo as their Assistant Principal.  No matter where I call home, my passion for working with elementary students and families drives my work.  I believe our young people have so much to offer our world, and my job as an educator is to help them develop the skills they need to blaze their own unique path.  One of my favorite things about being an educator is watching young learners gain confidence in themselves and grow as people. Our Sunrise staff is the most dedicated, student-centered professionals and I am excited to continue working alongside them as well as partner with you as we guide your amazing students into the future. I am grateful to be a part of a community that is willing to dig in, learn new ways of reaching every child and growing our skills together.

There is so much joy that happens in an elementary school and I am excited to continue to help foster that love of learning and in our incredible community. I look forward to welcoming new families and growing with our whole Sunrise community!

Your partner in education,

Mandy Sheets

asheets@cherrycreekschools.org

About Ms. Sheets

Years at Sunrise: SECOND year...I had a BLAST last year!!

Favorite Food: Pizza (I love Wednesday's at Sunrise)

Favorite Book: Wish Tree by Katherine Applegate.  It is all about community and being inclusive. So many lessons and so much wisdom from the perspective of a tree. Did you know that trees can hear you?! If you want a copy of this book to read...let me know! 

Favorite Place to Visit: Crested Butte, Colorado and Brainerd, Minnesota (I had incredible educators in my hometown of Brainerd!)

Favorite Tall Tale: Paul Bunyan

What I love best about Sunrise: The people! Of course, I love the people.  I continue to be filled with such joy and excitement every time I walk into our school!

Favorite Surnise Tradition: There are so many that we kicked off last year or rebooted...first week assemblies, our fun run, pies in the face, the carnival, 5th grade leadership and SO MANY OTHERS!!