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CCSD Heroes Profile: Melissa Pearlman
Melissa Pearlman adjusts to the unique needs of every one of her students.
Pearlman, a teacher at High Plains Elementary, doesn’t expect her students to conform to any single academic mold or expectation. Instead, she adjusts her instruction to meet the passions, the strengths and the individual learning styles of everyone who enters her classroom.
In other words, Pearlman’s classroom is a place where innovation finds plenty of space to grow.
“She teaches both from the head and the heart, and makes sure each child is protected and safe, both emotionally and physically, throughout the day. She makes sure no child has to learn while hungry,” a High Plains parent recently wrote of Pearlman. “And she tends not only to academic needs, but also looks out for the emotional and mental health of her students.”
Cherry Creek School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Siegfried recited this tribute to Pearlman during a surprise online ceremony earlier this week, when Pearlman was formally recognized as a Cherry Creek Hero. This award honors those across CCSD who commit extraordinary actions on behalf of the community.
In this case, the honor recognizes Pearlman’s longtime commitment to excellence, learning and the success of all of her students. It’s a commitment that’s persisted during Pearlman’s many years in the district, and one that’s weathered the storms of a year full of challenges.
As the High Plains staff worked to meet the demands of switching between Remote and In-Person learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pearlman helped ensure that the transitions took place effectively and smoothly.
Pearlman’s nomination letter illustrated her key role in ensuring the school’s success over the past year: “I believe the students’ trust in her, which she had cultivated through the first eight weeks of In-Person learning, made this transition possible. During this time of crisis, I am grateful I had the opportunity to listen to bits and pieces of her online classroom … Mrs. Pearlman is an outstanding academic teacher. But she is so much more than that. I hope her hard work, love of teaching, ability to motivate and inspire and her big heart are recognized, as she is a true Cherry Creek Hero.”
Siegfried and High Plains Principal Unique Cooper both praised Pearlman’s commitment, and both noted how big of a difference she’s made for the entire community.
“What you do matters,” Siegfried said. “We all appreciate what you bring to High Plains and our entire district.”
For her part, Pearlman was sure to offer credit to the her peers at High Plains. Excellence doesn’t thrive in a vacuum, she said, and Pearlman spoke to her colleagues’ hard work in making success possible.
“I’ve been in Cherry Creek Schools a long time, and I can tell you that teaching has always been a collaborative effort,” she said. “I believe in what we’re doing, and this recognition means a lot.”
-- Posted 1/29/21 at 2:30 PM