Category: City Park

VIDEO, Meet East High’s Principal, Terita Walker, January 4, 2022

A woman in black jacket smiling for the camera.


City Park Friends and Neighbors’ January 4 Zoom program featuring East High Principal, Terita Walker was informative and enjoyable. Click Read More below to watch the video. Ms. Walker spoke eloquently about the deep connection between East High School and neighboring City Park and her desire to promote more student engagement in the park.  Participants on the call learned a lot and felt they really had a welcoming and engaging contact at East with our new Principal. CPFAN Board member and Community Outreach chair, Kelly Crosby hosted the program. Kelly’s son and East High student, Gage Crosby provided fresh perspective on the East High experience in City Park. Click Read More below to view the video.

 

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/2f-kQF3PREvb7LTFQP5pwmvt5__3bZZxFPBMmPNEayAMAUeOYZOsnAVfPtqA6IAj.FYz7mM6i78GCwAcP Passcode: x4t!!^i3

Meet East High School Principal, Terita Walker

A woman in black jacket smiling for the camera.


 

 

Terita Walker is a dynamo with a vision, and the East High School community feels lucky to have her as their new principal. Equipped with multiple degrees and years of teaching experience in many different fields, Ms. Walker comes to her new position with confidence, drive and compassion. She is committed to celebrating the diverse community at East and to bringing students, parents, teachers and staff together in a caring, supportive and vibrant environment where all students are expected to excel.

Walker arrived in Denver fifteen years ago from Chicago. She has been at East since 2008. With a Bachelor’s in Public Relations and Marketing, a Master of Arts degree, a Masters degree in Counseling and a principal licensure while participating in the Ritchie Leadership Adminstrator Licensure Program at the University of Denver, Walker was well prepared for her many different roles at East. She has served as English/Language Arts Teacher, guidance counsellor, department chairperson, track and field and cheerleading/dance coach and Assistant Principal (since 2017). Besides presenting on national platforms for college and career readiness, the former Bronco’s cheerleader coached the East High cheerleaders to a national platform with performances at the 2011 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. “East and I have grown up together,” says Walker, “and there’s no stopping us now!”

 

Remembering John Van Sciver

A man and woman sitting at a table with drinks.


John Wesley Van Sciver, beloved by many, passed away in May of this year. Since his birthday was December 21, 1945, this seems a fitting opportunity to celebrate his life once again. Among his many achievements, John was the first President of City Park Friends and Neighbors (CPFAN). He was the steadying and visionary voice that set the fledgling City Park advocacy group (founded in 2014) in motion.

John loved adventure and the outdoors from an early age. His wife, Carolyn remembers one story he told often. When John was 16 and standing night watch on his father’s sailboat anchored in the Bahamas, he was drinking in the star-filled sky above him and the school of dolphins jumping around the boat when the radio played “Sherry can you come out tonight (Why don’t you come on, come out) To my twist party, (Come out) Where the bright moon shines (Come out) We’ll dance the night away, I’m gonna make you mine.†These were the words to The Four Seasons’ newly released single, Sherry and this was John Van Sciver’s kind of night.

Adventure followed him as John began his working life. He served in the USAF, first on an isolated island at the western tip of the Aleutian Islands that was just south of the Arctic Circle and within sight of Russia and next in Aviano, Italy, an air base near Yugoslavia. In both places he used his engineering skills to surveil missile activity. After the Air Force, John worked as a Senior Engineer for Martin Marietta Aeorspace Corporation. Because he wanted to have more access to the outdoors, he next took a job in Denver as a dam safety inspector for the Colorado State Engineer’s Office. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Credit Union of Colorado for 36 years.
John met Carolyn Barr at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources where she drew geologic maps and he was a water engineer. Reflecting their mutual passion for the adventurous life, John and Carolyn married in 1999 at the top of the Loveland Ski Area. Their life together included plenty of skiing, hiking, traveling and back packing. They celebrated their happy marriage and renewed their vows back on the top of Loveland 20 years later.

The couple made their home in the Denver neighborhood of Congress Park where John became a passionate spokesperson for neighborhood conservation issues. As a  member of Congress Park Neighborhood Association, he led successful efforts to protect his neighborhood through effective zoning. Because of his affection for City Park where he and Carolyn walked and cross country skied, John also lead efforts to oppose the implementation of the City Park Loop Playground in 2013-14. Known for his concise, science-based speaking style, John made many presentations questioning the need for a detention pond in the City Park Golf Course, the excavation of the 39th St. Ditch and the Globeville Landing Outfall, all projects stemming from the expansion of the I-70 Highway through the GES neighborhoods. His voice, backed by his experience as a water engineer was widely respected.

John Van Sciver is survived by his wife, Carolyn and daughters, Rebecca and Sarah. He is remembered fondly by his many friends. Park and neighborhood activist, Tom Morris says, “John was there. When things needed to be done, John was ALWAYS there.†Chair of Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation’s Parc Committee, Maggie Price adds: “John was always willing to share his engineering knowledge and expertise and did so with his RNO Congress Park Neighbors when questions started arising during the I-70 expansion and as a panelist for INC’s forum Platte To Park Hill Storm Water Diversion and the 1-70 Expansion.†CPFAN member, Phil Hainline remembers “a gracious, thoughtful man. He was a great communicator and he understood group dynamics.†We were all lucky to know John and he will be remembered well and often.

Enjoy this video of John delivering introductory remarks at the INC Panel Forum, Platte to Park Hill Storm Water Diversion and the 1-70 Expansion. This is Quintessential John Van Sciver!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3AXBTr3cBs&list=UUd9nLOqSyWj3BBun1-kYzBg&index=21&t=2129s

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