Stacey Howell, a computer teacher at French Elementary School, has won the state DARE Educator of the Year award presented by the Colorado Association of DARE Officers.

She received the honor Thursday at a meeting of Widefield District 3 school board. She was nominate by El Paso County Sheriff Deputy Don Roycraft who presents the program in local schools. 

Howell was instrumental in helping raise money to keep the DARE program alive in District 3, said Elimina Tilley, local advisory committee member.The DARE program was destined to close this year in D-3  because of cutbacks in county funding. Howell and other volunteers raised more than $35,000.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program teaches students personal responsibility and how to to avoid drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, bullying and Internet dangers.

Madison Loucks, 4, checks out the surroundings during a briefing for Santa at Peterson Air Force Base Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009. NORAD has been tracking Santa’s route since 1955 when a Colorado Springs, Colo., girl called the center by accident wanting to know whereabouts of Santa. This year was the first time children attended the briefing. Loucks took advantage of the briefing to ask Santa for a pink camera for Christmas. To track Santa on Christmas Eve visit: www.noradsanta.org. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) Photo by CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

Christian murdock