This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week, and the Littleton Public Schools Volunteer Program, spearheaded by Melissa Lotz in Human Resources, serves a vital role for our district, turning community spirit into tangible support for our students, staff, and families. This year, our volunteers demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication, contributing 31,808 hours of service.
To put that generosity into perspective, this is the equivalent of employing 15 full-time staff members for an entire year. If the district were to fund these positions at a modest professional rate, it represents a cost savings of over $1 million dollars. This incredible gift of time allows our budget to go further while ensuring our students receive the personalized mentorship and care they deserve.
LPS Volunteers by the Numbers
The LPS volunteer program is powered by 5,955 individuals, including:
4,114 parents/guardians
714 community volunteers
501 Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) members
493 community partners
410 grandparents
185 senior citizens participating in the tax rebate program
From making quilts for students in need and assembling book bags for The Village for Early Childhood Education graduates to stuffing folders, spreading mulch, hosting events like After Prom, fundraising, reading with students, and coaching sports, our volunteers do it all!
Read nominations for some of our amazing volunteers
Each school in LPS nominated a volunteer for recognition at the April 23, 2026 Board of Education meeting:
Catherine and Stephen Bauer were nominated by Hopkins Elementary School and The Village for Early Childhood Education. "To the Hopkins “I Love to Read” Couple: The consistent support you have provided the Hopkins community over the last several years has been a true gift. By visiting us every week for the "I Love to Read" program, you have built wonderful relationships with our students and staff. It is heartwarming to see the children light up whenever they spot you at events like field days, talent shows, and music performances. While your grandchildren have moved on to middle school, please know that you remain an integral part of our community, and we truly hope to continue seeing your friendly faces in our halls! From The Village: Your hard work on the trout release garden and your generous support during our classroom events have made a lasting impact on our preschoolers. Thank you for being such an essential partner in creating these memorable learning experiences for our children."
Les Beecher was nominated by Lenski Elementary School. "Mr. Les and Francis provide a nurturing service that allows students to feel truly seen and connected. It is a genuine joy to work alongside Mr. Les, who is patient, dedicated, and a consistently delightful presence in our halls. He and Francis (his therapy dog) ask for nothing in return; instead, they generously give of their time and energy to help our children find peace in their minds, hearts, and bodies."
Dayle Blackwell was nominated by Heritage High School. "Dayle consistently dedicates two days each week to supporting the copy room, ensuring that teachers and staff have the materials they need to keep classrooms running smoothly. Their reliability and willingness to take on repetitive but essential tasks frees up staff time and reduces daily stress, allowing educators to focus more on students. Their quiet dedication, positive attitude, and behind-the-scenes contributions have a meaningful impact on the entire school community."
Debi Christensen was nominated by Centennial Academy, ESC, Powell Middle School, and Wilder Elementary School. "Debi is an absolutely remarkable asset to our LPS libraries, having dedicated an incredible 700 hours this year alone to transforming our spaces into efficient, welcoming havens for our students. Her tireless commitment, creative innovation, and expertise in collection management have modernized our libraries and directly enhanced the educational experience for countless children and staff across the district."
Betty Conley was nominated by Options Secondary Program. "At Options Secondary, we want to recognize the incredible individuals who generously give their time, energy, and heart to our students. Betty is a shining example of this dedication, lending her technical expertise to our FACS classes to teach the art of sewing. As students master this valuable life skill, they also benefit immensely from Betty’s kind and patient presence."
Ralph Dergance was nominated by EPIC Campus. "We truly appreciate Ralph's deep passion and commitment to the students of LPS. He continues to supervise the Shades of Blue program, exposing our students to the exciting career opportunities in the aerospace industry. He's been the steady driver for more than 15 years, and he keeps coming back using his extensive contacts to provide students with engaging sessions."
Chris and Stephen Forinash were nominated by Littleton High School. "Chris and Steve dedicate countless hours to supporting our LHS athletics programs, especially our swim team. They are active LSBC members who make a positive difference in our Lions community. Thank you!"
Michelle Freas was nominated by Newton Middle School. "Michelle has been with us for many years and is instrumental in prepping materials in our art class to help prepare our class. She is so wonderful to work with and she comes in and knows exactly what students need to be successful and helps to prepare that for our community! She helps out when we have subs in this class as well and it makes a big difference for our community!"
Hillary Hendrix was nominated by Gaskill Elementary School. "Hillary is passionate about Gaskill Elementary. She is always thinking about the next opportunity to impact staff, students, and community. She has endless energy and gives everything that she has."
Lauren Holbert was nominated by Runyon Elementary School. "At Runyon, we want to recognize the incredible individuals who generously give their time, energy, and heart to our school. As a dedicated PTO member, Lauren is a shining example of this commitment. Whether she is spearheading PTO initiatives, supporting school events, or working diligently behind the scenes, her efforts leave a lasting impact on both our students and staff. Lauren, thank you for being an essential part of our community. Your leadership and unwavering support truly make a difference in the lives of our students every day."
Renee “Pitou” Ireland was nominated by NOVA. "As a retired school social worker, Pitou jumped in at Nova requiring little instruction. She has build positive relationships with our students and students ask when she is coming. I appreciate her calm demeanor in busy moments!"
Jessica Jamell was nominated by Goddard Middle School. "Jessica excels at helping students at Goddard Library discover their next favorite book. She generously devotes her time and energy to the library's book fairs and is always the first to jump in on new projects. Above all, she is remarkably skilled at building meaningful connections with every student she meets."
Margaret Kirn was nominated by Euclid Middle School. "Margaret is an invaluable part of our school community, generously sharing her time, talents, and unwavering support with both staff and students. Her reliability and readiness to help with anything—whether assisting with instructional needs, preparing materials, or supporting music students—ease the daily workload and reduce stress for teachers, allowing them to better focus on their classrooms. Known for her endless patience, warm kindness, and ever-present smile, Margaret consistently goes above and beyond. We are deeply grateful for all she does—her contributions make a lasting impact on our entire Euclid team."
Dominic Mascia was nominated by Little Raven Elementary School. "Dominic’s work has a direct and meaningful impact on our entire school community. Because of his careful planning, attention to detail, and commitment to fiscal responsibility, our PTO is able to make thoughtful decisions that truly align with the needs of our students and staff. Resources are used wisely, allowing us to consistently support classrooms, enhance student experiences, and respond to school priorities with confidence."
Amy McCandless was nominated by Field Elementary School. "As the PTO President, Amy is a constant, supportive presence at the fields, always ready to cheer on the students and lend a hand wherever it’s needed. Her dedication to being visible and engaged at every event truly strengthens our school community and shows how much she cares about our kids' success."
Bob McVeigh was nominated by East Community Center and The Village for Early Childhood Education. "From the Family Learning Center: Bob is the definition of reliability. He arrives on the dot every Wednesday and Thursday to handle the heavy lifting of setting up, dismantling, and resetting our community room for every organization that uses it. His dedication makes him an absolute treasure to the Little Learners Lab at East Community Center, and we are so lucky to have him on our team! From The Village ECE: In addition to his hard work, we want to recognize Bob for his wonderful commitment to our classrooms. Through the Village ECE, he visits us weekly to read to the children, bringing so much joy and inspiration to our learners. We are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated volunteer supporting our mission!"
Patti Michel was nominated by Ford Elementary School. "Patti is so special as a Kinder volunteer. She goes the extra mile to make learning experiences for our youngest Ford Foxes fun and engaging; even dressing up as Zero the Hero to help students learn counting and math."
Dillon Miskimins was nominated by Littleton Academy. "Dillon has served for two years on our Governing Board and is our Board President this year. He is very attentive in our communication with District personnel, he is eager to find collaborative solutions, and keen to support teachers. He is also part of our strategic planning committee and actively involved in our finance committee. He demonstrates through quiet leadership how we can improve. Working with Dillon is a joy."
Betsy Rush was nominated by Sandburg Elementary School. "Betsy goes above and beyond for anyone and everyone in our building. She shines in the office greeting our staff and students. She stepped up in a big way when our office was short handed. She is so reliable, friendly and an important addition to our school! We are so grateful for her contributions."
Brenda Wingfield was nominated by Arapahoe High School. "Brenda is the definition of reliable and dependable; she possesses a deep understanding of our library's needs, and I can always count on her expertise. Her flexibility and willingness to jump in whenever needed make her an essential part of our community. Brenda, thank you for your years of service and for being someone I can always rely on."
LPS extends a truly sincere and heartfelt thank you to these and all of the volunteers who make such a difference in our schools and in our hearts. We appreciate the dedication, time, and talent you share with us.
