![In room 4101, Natalie Patterson ‘26, Ariana Magor ‘25 and Celina Salazar ‘25 create a poster in science teacher Kerry Reilly’s Chemistry Honors April 18. The three completed a worksheet and drawing to explain the implosion of a tank for their unit on gas laws. “At the start of class, we watched a video of the tank imploding,” Patterson said. “I think [making a drawing] is something new. I like more artsy activities.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_5019-1200x900.jpeg)
![The girls varsity soccer team walk back to their bench during halftime April 1. The Jags played against the Castle View Sabercats at the Douglas County Stadium and scored 3-0 W. “It felt really good [to beat Castle View]. I feel like that was a big win for us because knowing that we came together to beat a pretty good team has definitely given us some leverage for this season,” attacking midfielder Grace Rossner ‘24 said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_4906-1-1200x1057.jpg)
![English teacher Colleen Lamb grades College Prep English assignments during period two Nov. 10. Lamb, who has been teaching for 27 years, decorates her classroom with posters and handmade college flags from her senior students. Everything I enjoy about English happens primarily in the classroom, Lamb said. So, thankfully, the college [I worked at] had a teaching program, and I was able to do my post-grad work for free while I was working [there].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_1158-1200x900.jpeg)
While walking through the diverse hallways of the World Language Pod in the 8000s, one particular Spanish teacher may stand out.
You’ve most likely seen him before; he’s short, bald and bearded, with an unmistakable chuckle: Derek DeNileon, Spanish teacher by day and maximum shredder by night, has been educating students across the county for over 20 years, all while creating memories along the way.
It’s the early ‘90s: DeNileon is jamming to punk rock with long, strong hair down to his shoulders.
At this time, DeNileon hoped to find a career in computer science, as he studied computers and Spanish in college, but his career route quickly changed when he found an opportunity to teach Spanish.
“I found it better than [information technology] and I’d get two to three months off as well,” DeNileon said.
And so, on his first teaching gig, Sr. DeNileon walked into the Castle Rock Academy Charter, armed with notecards to present his detailed lesson plan.
“I realized that I didn’t need all these fancy notecards,” DeNileon said.
He put the notecards down on the table, and just taught.
DeNileon was motivated by the comradery and the culture of Spanish. He finds the alliance between himself and his students was—and still is—strong. Other avenues also arose, and, by 1995, DeNileon found himself shredding on bass guitar.
“I’ve been a one-man jam band ever since,” DeNileon said.
So, after traveling along his winding journey, DeNileon found himself becoming a Jag, where he remains today. Until now, he has taught every level of Spanish available except Spanish IV and AP Spanish.
DeNileon even got to experience playing Seminar Trivia Bowl against one of his former students, Grace Simms, who now teaches alongside him.
“There hasn’t been one particular favorite moment from teaching. Instead, I love the little nuggets that occur every day. It’s what makes me a happy man,” DeNileon said.
If you ever see a bold and bearded teacher with a contagious smile strolling through the 8000s, don’t forget to give him a fist bump and ask, “¿Cómo estás, señor?”
