Meet The Principal

Katie Lawson, Principal

My educational experience spans from being a second-grade teacher, third-grade teacher, a second/third grades combo teacher of high achieving and gifted students, a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)/Intervention Strategist, a Gifted/Talented coordinator, a Student Assessment Coordinator, a new teacher mentor, and an assistant principal. I have worked with several center-based special education programs and have dealt with a wide variety of behavioral challenges.

I live in Highlands Ranch with my husband, Adam, and our two daughters, Maggie and Emmi. We love our Highlands Ranch community! My husband is a computer engineer and my very best friend. We are coming up on our 20th wedding anniversary! Maggie is currently a ninth-grader at Highlands Ranch High School and Emmi is an eighth-grader at Cresthill Middle School. They are both so excited to be in the same school again next year at HRHS! In my family’s free time we love to visit National Parks, play music together, do paint by numbers, go jeeping in the mountains (Adam likes to and we humor him!), play games (I like to and they humor me!), and watch Marvel movies.

I believe in joyful learning. This starts with our teachers. If we support and encourage their joy, that trickles down to our students. I believe school should be a place where both students and staff feel safe, heard and valued. Relationships are the best part of the job and I love the connections I make with staff, students and families! You will often find me walking the halls of the building, checking in with students and staff, joining a classroom circle, facilitating restorative conversations, covering recess and lunch duty, and just being visible.

I am humbled by this opportunity and will dedicate myself to Heritage Elementary’s staff, students and community. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts you may have. I am always happy to listen!

In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).

Meet The Principal

Heritage Elementary School