At East High School, personalized education means truly seeing each student — celebrating their stories, recognizing their identities and championing their dreams. For Andy Bucher, an educator at East High School, teaching is about building community, embracing culture and fostering authentic relationships that help every learner thrive.
Learning Through Connection
Andy’s “Wilderness Literature” class goes beyond reading and writing; it connects students to Colorado’s outdoors and to themselves. Inspired by a colleague who teaches “Film as Literature,” Andy designed the course to help every student, regardless of background, discover joy and resilience through new experiences.
“I wanted students to know that adventures in the wilderness are for everyone,” Andy said.
Honoring Every Story
Personalized education at East means welcoming the unique backgrounds each student brings. In Andy’s classroom, belonging is built intentionally. Each day begins with a slow clap, a chant, or sometimes a poem, uniting everyone in a shared ritual.
A map on the wall invites students to pin their birthplace, and a routine influenced by Sandra Cisneros’ “The House on Mango Street” encourages students to share the story of their name.
“When students share their names, they naturally share their cultures,” Andy explained. “These moments build trust and spark curiosity and respect for each other’s backgrounds.”
Celebrating Multilingualism
Andy and a dedicated team of colleagues champion multilingual learners through “Bilingualism is My Superpower” events. After completing the ACCESS language assessment, students celebrate with music, food and stories from bilingual staff. These events transform standardized testing into a moment of pride.
“It’s about taking an asset-based approach to second language speaking,” Andy explained. “We want students to see their language skills as strengths, not deficits.”
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Field trips to mountain trails, visits to historic sites and guest speakers who share their lived experiences help students see themselves in the curriculum and the real world.
“When students visit the places they read about or hear from someone who’s lived the history, it personalizes the content,” Andy said. “It shows them that their own stories matter, too.”
A Home for Every Student
By celebrating culture, building connection and amplifying every voice, educators like Andy help students discover who they are and what they can achieve. With personalized support and a commitment to equity, Andy ensures every student’s journey is valued and every dream is within reach.