PUEBLO, CO, November 09, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Shaynee L. Jesik, MA, has been recognized for achievement in education services.

Ms. Jesik's distinguished career in education spans nearly three decades, marked by a steadfast commitment to student achievement and systemic improvement within Pueblo School District No. 60. Since 2018, Ms. Jesik has served as an educator, instructional coach and curriculum specialist at Pueblo Central High School. As a teacher, she instructs ninth through 12th grade literature and composition, as well as concurrent enrollment courses in technical writing, composition, introduction to literature, and race, ethnicity and culture in U.S. literature.

In addition to teaching, Ms. Jesik coaches teachers and administrators in best instructional practices, facilitates data-driven feedback through observation walkthroughs, and leads curriculum development for the language arts department while supporting other content areas. She has also collaborated closely with department chairs to enhance professional learning communities, has taken on leadership of the peer mentor group CAT Crew, which is trained through the nationally recognized Boomerang Project Link Crew Program, and serves as a chapter advisor for the National Honor Society.

Nearly a decade ago, Ms. Jesik joined Pueblo Central High School during a period of significant challenge when the school faced potential state takeover or closure due to its low performance rating of 32%. Partnering with the Relay Graduate School of Education and the Colorado Department of Education, she and her principal implemented comprehensive systems aligned with the multi-tier system of student support and teacher evaluation processes. Their efforts resulted in a steady rise in performance, culminating in a 57.4% rating in 2026, making Central High School the only performance-level high school in Pueblo School District No. 60.

Before her current role, Ms. Jesik was the district's literacy curriculum specialist for English and social studies from 2010 to 2018. She developed K-12 curricula, designed assessments, and conducted professional development workshops focused on literacy instruction and educational strategies. One of her most impactful contributions was leading the transition from a traditional class rank system to a laudatory honors system that recognizes all students who graduate with distinction, including those with special needs. This initiative eliminated valedictorian and salutatorian distinctions in favor of honoring top scholars based on SAT scores, grade point average and college coursework, thereby promoting equity across the student body.

Between 2000 and 2010, Ms. Jesik taught high school English at Pueblo South High School within Pueblo School District No. 60, where she inspired students both inside and outside the classroom for a decade. Her earlier experience included serving as an adjunct professor of English at Colorado State University Pueblo in 2010 and teaching English Language Arts and Spanish to middle and high school students at Cripple Creek-Victor School District in Cripple Creek, Colorado, from 1998 to 2000.

Ms. Jesik's academic credentials include a bachelor's degree in English with a focus on language arts teacher education from Colorado State University Pueblo in 1998 and a master's degree in English with an emphasis in writing, rhetoric and literature from Colorado State University in 2012. In addition to her degrees, Ms. Jesik holds certification as a secondary school teacher from the Colorado Department of Education.

Apart from her professional affiliation as a member of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented, Ms. Jesik has been recognized for advancing instructional rigor and literacy across content areas through presentations at conferences such as the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented ("Strengthening Instructional Rigor") and the Colorado Council International Reading Association ("Refreshing Instructional Rigor," "Fueling Up Discourse: Who Gets Heard, Who Gets Believed," and "Tuning Up Student Thinking: Fueling Literacy Through Communication Across Content Areas"). She is also the author of "Closing the Achievement Gap: From Teacher Education to Student Learning."

Civically, Ms. Jesik has been serving as the secretary of the board for the Pueblo Central High School Foundation since 2018. She also sponsors the National Honor Society at Central High School, volunteers with Rake Up Pueblo through SRDA, participates in supply drives for PAWS Animal Shelter, supports children's advocacy initiatives by making blankets and organizing donation drives, and interviews students for scholarships.

Ms. Jesik's dedication has earned her recognition as an Educator of Distinction from the National Society of High School Scholars, a feature in the magazine and online platform Influential Women, and teacher recognition from the Pueblo Central Class of '59. She has been highlighted during Teacher Appreciation Week by Pueblo School District No. 60, as well as receiving numerous letters of appreciation from students over 25 years. Among her proudest achievements is witnessing her daughter's growth into a high school biology teacher following graduation from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.

The foundation for Ms. Jesik's success is deeply rooted in her upbringing by parents who were both educators and military veterans. Their dedication to teaching and service provided her with invaluable guidance throughout her life. She was also greatly influenced by her 10th grade honors English teacher Judy Wodishek. Mrs. Wodishek held Ms. Jesik accountable and pushed her to think critically about literature. Ms. Jesik also credits her husband, whom she met at the outset of her career, for his unwavering support over nearly three decades together. The encouragement from her family has been instrumental in fueling her drive to ensure every student finds their own path to success.

Ms. Jesik's legacy is defined by unwavering advocacy for equitable student recognition systems, transformative leadership during periods of institutional crisis and an enduring commitment to fostering educational excellence throughout Pueblo District 60. Looking ahead, she plans to retire after a long career dedicated to education so she can spend more time with family. She also envisions teaching at the university level within teacher education programs to better prepare future educators for classroom realities. Additionally, Ms. Jesik aspires to write a book sharing practical advice for high school teachers based on her extensive experience, aiming to provide insight into supporting students' transitions through secondary education.

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