Think back to when you were a student, back-to-school shopping, finding your classroom, and the exciting lessons that would soon fill your day. The first day of school jitters that were calmed by the friendly, welcoming face, and celebrating the “ah ha” moments when you finally figured out how to solve the problem. Then there was the time in kindergarten, when you went to the restroom but couldn’t remember the way back to your classroom. As panic set in, that friendly face walked around the corner and they knew exactly where your classroom was. These champions make math exciting and words come to life through reading and writing, they stood beside you and cheered as you mastered kickball, that difficult note, or the masterpiece that needed a little finesse. Although everyone’s school experience was different, teachers are the common thread throughout classrooms and schools. They are the first to welcome you to a new class, they spend extra time working through a challenging problem, and they give you a high five when you accomplish your goals.

St. Vrain is the proud home to nearly 2,000 teachers who spend their days preparing our students for the future. Join us in celebrating our teachers and learn what they enjoy about teaching, why they became teacher and what their favorite memory is from the days they spent as a student in the classroom.

Thank you to all of our teachers.

Getting to know:
Pete Juergensen
Physical Education
Blue Mountain Elementary

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The best part of teaching for me is making a positive impact in countless student’s lives. With teaching Physical Education, I have the pleasure of motivating, inspiring and making learning fun through a wide variety of movements. It is extremely gratifying knowing that I am educating students about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.

Briefly tell us about the path you took to becoming a teacher?
My dad was a Physical Education for 38 years. I grew up knowing that I was going to be a PE teacher because I admired him and what he did with his life. Therefore, I graduated high school and attended the University of Northern Colorado and headed right into my major which was Kinesiology with an emphasis on teaching Physical Education. The rest is history. Been happily teaching for 17 years now.

What is your favorite memory from when you were a student?
Honestly, my favorite memories as a student were taking PE classes. I loved my PE teachers (one of which was my dad). That was it for me. I remember getting so excited to have the opportunity to take PE. Because I loved taking PE classes and saw what the class did for me, I decided to make it my goal to be a PE teacher…and here I am, hopefully making the same impact on the students that come through my room.