Project Description
Andrew Schutz, Fellow
Place Bridge Academy
Denver, CO
Andrew "Drew" Schutz has served in public education with Denver Public Schools for almost 20 years. The bulk of his teaching career was spent at McMeen Elementary, where he helped the school receive a multi-year Distinguished rating on the district School Performance Framework. After a three year stint as an assistant principal, Drew became the principal at Valverde Elementary. At Valverde, Drew led a successful turnaround effort in which the school moved from red to green on the district SPF and was recognized as a Top Mover two years in a row. During this time, Drew was a member of Cohort 13 in the University of Virginia Partners for Leadership in Education Program. Currently, Drew is the principal at Place Bridge Academy. PBA houses the district’s K-8 Newcomer Center, which provides specialized programming for the city’s refugee students. This coming year, it will also serve as a regional Community Outreach Hub, providing various wrap-around services, adult education, and health care for families. In addition to an Undergraduate Degree from the University of Colorado, Drew has a Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Denver and was a member of Cohort 10 in the school’s Ritchie Program for School Leaders. Drew has spent his entire career serving in schools with an FRL percentage over 90, and the majority of students being English Language Learners. He aspires to always lead with a focus on building a strong school culture through the development of meaningful relationships and authentic community connections.
Esther Mathoka, Ally
Assistant Principal
Place Bridge Academy
Denver, CO
Esther Mathoka has been in public education for 19 years. She has served in both high and elementary schools in Denver Public School in Colorado. After one year at Manual High School, she moved to McGlone elementary school, where she had 80% of students' growth in state assessments for multiple years. Esther then transferred to Place Bridge Academy, a magnet school for newcomer students new to the country. The school has more than 40 languages spoken. She taught Newcomer and ELA-E classrooms and has had multiple Distinguished ratings according to Denver Public School Leading Effective Academic Practice. She has served as a Senior Team Lead for three years. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Principal at the same school, where she has supported the planning and implementation of instructional practices. Having a Bachelor's in Education and a Master's Degree in Linguistically and Diverse Education, Esther is currently working on a Doctorate in Leadership for Educational Equity at the University of Colorado in Denver. She has also won the Denver Public Schools Asian Education 2021-2022 Administrator Award. Esther believes education is a fundamental human right because every student is entitled to high-quality education. She ensures students have access to effective instruction, engage in grade-level work, and that educators set high expectations for all students in a conducive learning environment. She continues to advocate for equitable education for all students because it reshapes their lives and can break the cycle of poverty. She believes all students can learn with equal opportunities and resources.