This week, as the nation celebrates American Education Week, Littleton Public Schools will take the time to celebrate the students, teachers, parents and community members who make excellence in LPS possible. In preparation for American Education Week, at the most recent Board of Education meeting, Littleton Public Schools honored Sylvia Opsahl and Marlin Day Cwach for their years of commitment and dedicated service to Littleton Public Schools.

Opsahl has a longstanding history with Littleton Public Schools. After moving to Littleton with her family in 1929, Opsahl attended grades 7 – 12 at Littleton High School. She began volunteering in the Human Resources Department in 1993 and has volunteered every week since. In addition to working for the YMCA for 31 years, Sylvia has served as a volunteer at Swedish Hospital, Buck Recreation Center and Denver Parks and Recreation.

With five children, six grandchildren and 10 great-grand children, LPS is fortunate to have been a recipient of Sylvia’s nurturing spirit and dedicated volunteerism for so many decades. More than seventy years since her high school graduation, Sylvia received this honor in the very room where her graduation was held—the Education Services Center Boardroom, formerly the LHS auditorium.

Cwach too has a longstanding history with LPS and was recently honored as a Channel 7 Everyday Hero. A member of the Denver Spellbinders, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing literacy, character and intergenerational communities through the art of oral storytelling, Marlin brought the Spellbinders to Littleton in 2004.

In its first year, Spellbinders volunteers served 11 LPS schools and captivated students with folktales, fairy tales and stories of history and science. Today, the Littleton chapter boasts 25 active volunteers who serve 17 LPS schools and several assisted living centers. Through her passion, persistence and art of story telling, Marlin was honored as a hero for the tremendous amount of happiness she has brought to the community.

“One of the most important functions of public education is to level the playing field and to help all children reach their potential regardless of the circumstances in their lives,” said Mike Jones, assistant superintendent of Human Resources. “It’s what makes this nation strong and ensures that strength in the future.”

Pictured from back-left: Superintendent Brian Ewert, Sylvia Opsahl, board member Kelly Perez, board member Mary Nichols, Marlin Cwach, board president Jack Reutzel and board member Lucie Stanish.