Two Academy District 20 (ASD20) educators scored big at this weekend’s U.S. Air Force Academy’s football game, where they were awarded with the Extra Yard for Teachers award.
The Extra Yard for Teachers award recognizes educators who make a lasting impact on their students and the broader community. This year, the honor goes to Melanie Cruz, a third-grade teacher at Douglass Valley Elementary School, and Mat Pace, a physical education teacher at Encompass Heights Elementary School, for their exceptional contributions to student learning and school life.
Cruz and Pace are two of just nine teachers in the Pikes Peak Region to receive this year’s award, which also includes a $1,000 grant to enhance their classrooms.
In Pace’s nomination application parents said, “Mat makes an impact on the children through fun filled activities. In these days of high pressure, high stress testing Mat provides a balance so students can still enjoy school.”
Cruz, coined as this year’s “Big Day Winner” received several nominations winning extra grant money for her classroom, and a surprise visit by with the Air Force Spirit Squad and the “The Bird.”
Parents wrote Cruz, “models’ perseverance, kindness and responsibility, not only in her classroom but in the community.” Others echoed, “Melanie Cruz has the ability to make sure every child feels seen. She goes the extra mile for each and every student. Her ability to connect with each and every student strengthens not only her classroom, school and district, but the community as well.”
The U.S. Air Force Academy’s Extra Yard for Teachers program is part of a nationwide initiative led by the College Football Playoff Foundation to support and uplift teachers. By recognizing educators who make a lasting impact, the program aims to shine a spotlight on the crucial role teachers play in building a brighter future.
