Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2025/2026 school year at Gold Rush Elementary! My name is Heather Burggraff, and I’m so excited to be your child’s 5th grade teacher. I can’t wait to kick off a year filled with learning, growth, and lots of great memories.

A little about me—this will be my 20th year teaching upper elementary (grades 4–6) and my 7th year at Gold Rush. I also completed my Master’s in Education with a focus on Technology in Curriculum and Instruction.  I earned my Teaching Credential from California State University, Fresno and have had the opportunity to teach in both Monterey County, California and Fairfax County, Virginia before coming to Colorado.

Our family moved to Colorado in 2018, and we’re proud to call Parker our home.  My husband, David, retired from Uniformed Service after 27 years and now works as a civilian with the Department of the Navy. We have two sons—Dawson, who is starting 6th grade at Cimarron, and Davis, who will be in 4th grade at Gold Rush. We’re all excited for the year ahead!

I am truly passionate about teaching and learning. In our classroom, we focus on being thoughtful, collaborative, and creative. My goal is to help every student thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in an environment that is engaging, supportive, and fun. This is a special year—your child’s final one at Gold Rush—and I’m committed to making it a memorable and meaningful one. We’ll also focus on building independence and responsibility as they get ready for middle school.

I look forward to meeting you at Meet the Teacher on August 12th. Please click here to sign up for a time slot (password: digger). Don’t forget to bring school supplies and the Emergency Release Form with you to your appointment.

Before the school year begins, I’d love to learn more about your child. When you have a moment, please email me a short introduction that shares a bit about your child’s interests (in and out of school), strengths, learning style, motivators, and anything else you feel would help me support them best. I always value this insight and truly appreciate your partnership.

I can’t wait to connect with you in person and work together to make this an incredible year!

Warmly,

Heather Burggraff