Flagstaff Academy Awarded with John Irwin School of Excellence Award

Flagstaff Academy in Longmont received its first John J. Irwin School of Excellence this year. The charter school hosted a celebration today for all five of the public schools in the St.Vrain Valley School District earning this state award.

John J. Irwin's oldest child, Elizabeth, spoke about her father at the ceremony. She said that after he retired from the Eastman Kodak plant in Windsor, at age 60, he served three terms in the state House of Representatives. Elizabeth said her father had always encouraged his five children to get a good education and read to them often, especially on family trips. John Irwin served on the state accountability committee, the House Education committee and was the 1992 sponsor of a charter school bill that did not become law. It was carried the next year by then-Senator Bill Owens, after the death of John Irwin.

Flagstaff Academy's principal is Jere Pearcy and the assistant principal is Bess Kuzma. Both of these incredible women have taught my children and I have a very high regard for their capabilities. Mrs. Pearcy was the original third grade teacher at Jefferson Academy in 1994. She later became the principal at Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen before moving to Flagstaff. She also led RMAE to its first School of Excellence award. Mrs. Kuzma taught junior high humanities at Jefferson Academy.