Mr. Kurtz has been a teacher for 15 years. In that time, he’s taught and coached hundreds of students. Many of them stand out in his memory, but perhaps none more so than Danny.
“It’s hard to say what made Danny so special, he just has so many extraordinary traits,” says Mr. Kurtz, who taught Danny’s science class and coached him in baseball at Lake Middle School. “He just has a great presence; he is so full of love. He’s also driven and determined. Danny is the kind of kid who you know will reach his goals. His focus and his drive will get him anywhere he wants to go.”
Gala Keynote Speaker Danny & Mr. Kurtz in 2010 at Lake International’s Middle School continuation.
Now a teacher at Grant Beacon Middle School, Mr. Kurtz recently learned that Danny, now a senior at North High School, cited him as a key inspiration in his education. In fact, Danny says Mr. Kurtz is one of the chief contributors to his decision to pursue a career as a doctor.
“It was his passion for science, he loved teaching it and he got all of the students so excited about it,” says Danny. “But also, it was his commitment to us kids. We knew that he cared. He expected a lot of us – in the classroom, on the field, even outside of school and we knew we couldn’t let him down.”
Danny will take the stage on April 22nd as the keynote student speaker for the DPS Foundation’s 12th annual Achieve Gala, and Mr. Kurtz will be in the audience to proudly cheer him on.
“Honestly, in all my 15 years of teaching, hearing that Danny remembers me in this way has been one of the most inspirational moments,” says Mr. Kurtz. “I don’t teach for me, I do it for the kids. To see that Danny has been so successful, and that he traces even an ounce of that back to my classroom – that’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for.”
High Expectations. No Excuses.
What makes a teacher like Mr. Kurtz so memorable to his students? According to Alex Magaña, Principal at Grant Beacon and Mr. Kurtz’s longtime DPS colleague, it’s his unique gift for bringing the subject matter to life, and engaging even the most reserved students in the act of learning.
“He doesn’t just teach a lesson from the book, he puts it in context and makes sure the students know how the principles they are learning in the classroom connect back to their daily life,” says Principal Magaña. “He makes it relatable and applicable to these kids. Let’s be honest, some of us have probably sat through some downright boring science lessons in our lives. Not in Mr. Kurtz’s classroom. He asks the kids to roll up their sleeves and be hands-on about the concepts. Then he challenges them to see those concepts happening in the world around them. The kids buy into it wholeheartedly. It’s amazing to watch.”
Mr. Kurtz says there’s another key to his teaching style: setting high expectations and refusing to accept excuses.
“I believe kids in this country are pretty lucky compared to their peers across the world,” says Mr. Kurtz. “In America, if you don’t succeed, the only thing that got in your way was YOU. I tell my students that and make sure they know they can accomplish anything they want to, the only barrier to that is themselves.”
One manifestation of this approach is the portfolios that all of Mr. Kurtz’s students are required to assemble and present at the end of the year.
“It’s a really important part of the year for my students,” says Mr. Kurtz. “Their portfolio is a collection of the work they are most proud of. I tell them to treat it like a portfolio they’d present for a job interview – to focus on what makes them stand out and shine above the rest. They take this really seriously, let me tell you. And it leaves them with tangible and concrete evidence of their accomplishments, which they present at their Parent Teacher Conferences.”
“I’ve watched Mr. Kurtz’s students complete their portfolios for years,” says Principal Magaña. “The key is that the project forces them to own their accomplishments, to take pride in their best work. I’ve seen kids come in crying if they are behind on the portfolio project because they know what Mr. Kurtz expects of them and what he believes they can do. You watch the kids who have struggled in the past rise to the occasion. It’s just… amazing.”
Building a Foundation for the Future
Mr. Kurtz says he’s particularly excited to hear Danny speak at an event hosted by the DPS Foundation – an organization he says is a great value to teachers like himself.
“Everyone should be doing their part to strengthen our schools,” he says. “Plain and simple, that’s where our focus needs to be. Whether you can give your time, or write a check, or however you want to do it – we’ve all got to help our kids build the foundation for their lives with their education. I tell my students that all the time. I say ‘build a strong foundation in school now. If you have that, everything else you build for the rest of your life will have that strong root.’ If we all pitch in as a community to put the resources where they need to be, our kids will get that strong foundation. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of anything more important.”
The DPS Foundation’s Achieve Gala the Achieve Gala raises nearly $1 million each year to support proven programs in Denver Public Schools. The event draws 1,200 attendees and features DPS student speakers and performers. Tickets and sponsorships are available now – learn more at www.dpsfoundation.org/achieve. Proceeds benefit initiatives including literacy, STEM education, after-school, athletics and classroom grants to help teachers like Mr. Kurtz do even more for their students. Read about the impact of our funding here.
About the DPS Foundation
The DPS Foundation is Denver Public Schools’ fundraising partner. We generate resources, build relationships and champion public education to impact system-wide achievement and help every child succeed. We believe every child deserves an excellent education. With your help and support for teachers like Mr. Kurtz and students like Danny, we will make that happen. We are all DPS. Learn more at www.dpsfoundation.org.