https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About An educational consultant who concentrates on promoting racial sensitivity and healthy school culture, Kandy Steel has served as a mentor and liaison with the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) since 2016. Working through UNC’s Center for Urban Education, she helps foster values of cultural diversity and equality among undergraduate education students. Kandy Steel is also an accomplished school administrator who served four years as a deputy superintendent in Adams County District 14 in Commerce City, Colorado, and 12 years as a principal of the Cherry Creek School District in the greater Denver area. As the head of Cherry Creek’s Prairie Middle School, Kandy Steel served an extremely diverse student body that included young people from 60 countries who spoke over 45 languages. Ms. Steel’s accomplishments at Prairie Middle School earned her recognition as Cherry Creek’s Principal of the Year and led the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform to name Prairie Middle School a “School to Watch.” en-us 2017-03-17 09:33:50 UTC 2026-03-09 03:37:03 UTC hello@padlet.com KandySteel https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323080 2017-05-06 18:34:57 UTC https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323080 KandySteel https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323097 2017-05-06 18:35:17 UTC https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323097 KandySteel https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323109 2017-05-06 18:35:36 UTC https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323109 KandySteel https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323119 2017-05-06 18:35:57 UTC https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/170323119 KandySteel https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/173832830 Currently serving as a university mentor and liaison for the University of Northern Colorado Center for Urban Education, Kandy Steel has more than 25 years of experience working in the field of education. Kandy Steel also spent time as a principal in the Cherry Creek school district at Prairie Middle School, where she won the Wright Way Principal of the Year award, in part for her work addressing the achievement gap between White students and students of color.

In 2011, Prairie Middle School and Overland High School welcomed the neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson to speak to the students about overcoming obstacles and the importance of academic success. The talk was one of many in a speakers series designed to bring attention to the significant achievement gap that existed between Asian and White students when compared to Hispanic and Black students. The school’s, Success for Every Student Conference, began as an initiative called, Building Leadership in the African-American Community for Kids (BLAACK), and was designed to inspire, educate and bring attention to the academic achievement gap that existed in schools. 

Dr. Carson spoke to almost 1,500 students and adults about his journey towards becoming a neurosurgeon. He grew up in poverty in Detroit, and his mother, who had only been educated up to the third grade, couldn’t read. She insisted that her two sons excel academically, demanding that they spend every night sitting a the kitchen table reading and studying. Dr. Carson was admitted to Yale University after high school. He pursued psychology at Yale and then psychiatry before shifting to neurosurgery at the University of Michigan Medical School. With hard work and the encouragement of his family, Dr. Carson went on to great success in his career. 

In addition to Dr. Ben Carson, the ongoing conference series has invited authors, actors, educators, and other inspirational speakers of diverse backgrounds to encourage kids to see their potential beyond the limitations that might be imposed on them due to factors like race and class.]]> 2017-05-25 14:32:48 UTC https://padlet.com/KandySteel/About/wish/173832830