Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Ducos.
Hi Charlotte, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated with a teaching degree and gave birth to my oldest daughter a week later. For the next 17 years, I chose to stay at home with my children. I volunteered in their classrooms and was part of the PTA.
I have always been politically active, so I also worked with the City to organize Meet the Candidate events, and when my children were being moved to a new school due to boundary adjustments, I got involved with the school district to advocate for students in my area of town. This led to a volunteer position with the District Community Council as well as on a couple of different School Community Councils. I also, during these years, started writing faith-based songs and worked to develop my craft as a songwriter. Some other activities include gardening, building things in my home and on our property, and just making things organized and beautiful.
As my children got older, my oldest daughter joined the Marching Band at Westlake High School, and over time I became more and more involved with the parent organization there, eventually becoming the Booster President for a number of years, organizing volunteers and logistics through our seasons and numerous traveling opportunities such as the Pearl Harbor Day Parade in Hawaii, Bands of America Regionals in California, Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, and The Rose Parade in Pasadena California.
When my youngest entered 2nd grade, I took a part-time teaching position at Black Ridge Elementary, where my two youngest attended school. I taught the Computer specialty class. Even though it was not a full-time position, taking this job required me to renew my teaching credentials, and this started me on my current path. I taught computers at Black Ridge for 5 fantastic years. When I found out that Cedar Valley High School was opening in the Fall of the year and that my youngest would graduate from 6th grade, I decided to graduate with her and I made the move to Cedar Valley High School.
In the fall of 2019, Cedar Valley High School opened and I took a position teaching Government & Citizenship, Current Issues, and Leadership. That year was interrupted by Covid, but we powered through and made some amazing memories trying to make sure our students had opportunities to learn and grow despite the circumstances. In the fall of 2020, I added Student Council Advisor to my list of classes and responsibilities. I am now the lead advisor and love the work I do with Student Council. In the Fall of 2021, I also started my journey as an AP teacher, adding AP US Government and Politics and AP Comparative Government and Politics to my list of classes.
My younger children, who attend Cedar Valley High School with me, also participate in Band, so I am also the head of the parent organization at Cedar Valley. Our band program has grown so quickly, so helping with the logistics of a band that started with 69 students and will have right around or just over 200 this coming year has been an awesome challenge. I love working with the Band!
My latest journey is getting my Master’s Degree. I recently was awarded the James Madison Fellowship, which is a Congressional award for teachers who plan to teach about the Constitution and Founding Principles. They choose one Madison Fellow per state per year. I applied in 2022 and was the alternate, and then reapplied in 2023 and was awarded the Fellowship. I am taking classes through Ashland University in Ohio, working towards my Master of Arts in American History and Government.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Most roads are not smooth, and there are always struggles, but it’s not really what I focus on.
There were classes to take, lots of busy days, stressful situations, lots of reading and work to do for my classes–both those I take and those I teach, and many other things that make life stressful at the moment, but in the grand scheme of things, I have been incredibly blessed to work with amazing people, doing amazing things, and I really wouldn’t change anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a teacher, but I am also an organizer and a leader. I feel most at home when I am helping others, and keeping things running smoothly and efficiently. I am a problem solver–which is beneficial both in the classroom and in my work with Student Council and my volunteer work with the band.
I already talked about a lot of the things I am involved in and how I got involved in them, so you can refer to my previous answer for those. I think I am most known for being involved in so many different things. I try to be there for my own kids, which keeps me involved with band and music-related activities.
I care about government and politics, which keeps me volunteering in those capacities, and I love my school and my students, so I keep myself pretty busy trying to build great experiences for my students and the school community as well. It keeps me hopping but I love to feel like I am making a difference for people, so that is just what I do.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
As a teacher–just support the teaching profession!
There is a lot out there right now that makes teaching harder than it should be. Most teachers just want to help their students learn and are working hard to do that. We need the tools to do that, smaller classes so we can reach every student, and we need students and families that recognize the importance of coming to school and doing the work to learn.
As far as volunteer work with Band–support the Arts! Band has been such a positive experience for my children and for me and it is such a great environment and learning opportunity for my kids. I just wouldn’t trade it for anything. Support your local Band programs!
As far as my music, it is a hobby that I love. If you like faith-based music, check it out at charlotteducosmusic.com. It has been a while since I have had the time to go to the studio with my newer songs, but there is a lot there.
As far as collaboration, I am pretty easy to get in touch with and/or work with, so…just ask!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.charlotteducosmusic.com/
- Music Website: cducos@alpinedistrict.org
