Pomona High School senior Jade Montoya is pictured near the entryway of her school. Montoya, who choiced-in as a Panther, making the daily trip to PHS from her home in Denver, is the first in her family to attend college.
The Jeffco Schools Foundation has honored heroes in Jeffco Public Schools for the past 13 years. This long-standing tradition recognizes outstanding teachers and high school seniors who demonstrate extraordinary character, leadership, and strength. Students and teachers are nominated by their principals, and the final honorees are chosen by a volunteer selection committee comprised of community representatives and the Jeffco Schools Foundation Board members. Meet 2015 honoree Jade Montoya.
Of the adjectives used to describe Jade Montoya, “motivated” is one her principal and her counselor almost always use. Montoya, a senior at Pomona High School, voluntarily travels from her home in Denver to school at Pomona in Arvada each day to seek better opportunities for herself. Paul Oser, counselor at Pomona, admires Montoya not only for her success in school, but also for her determination and humility in the face of adversity.
Just one month after she was born, Jade lost her mother to an aneurism. Jade and her siblings were placed in the care of their grandmother, who raised the girls while paying two mortgages. Unfortunately, Montoya’s father was not a constant presence in his daughters’ lives due to his struggle with alcoholism.
“She raised the kids along with her grandma,” said Oser. “Her father came in and out of their lives. He left other kids behind. Jade was summoned around just to take care of them… she was there to stabilize not only them, but herself [and] grandma.”
Growing up, Montoya’s grandmother surrounded the children with books and people with experience in education. Montoya took advantage of every learning opportunity and refused to let her past or present situation dictate the path of her education. Principal Andy Geise immediately noticed Montoya’s unique leadership qualities and work ethic when she arrived at Pomona.
“The leadership and the amazing academic abilities that she has brought to us have been very rewarding,” said Geise. “She currently has six AP classes going in her schedule, and she keeps up with it and thrives on it. She thrives on being a leader – thrives on taking the challenges in the classroom, all the while being graceful and humble and very quiet about her success. It’s amazing.”
Next fall, Montoya will become the first member of her family to attend college.
“My motivation is pretty strong… not necessarily to prove to people what I can do; it’s more to prove to myself that I am worth it and I can do a lot,” said Montoya. “I kind of wanted to show my little cousins and the younger generation that anything was possible.”
Montoya has set an example for her siblings and friends, and has been an inspiration to all who know her. Her teachers and counselors are thrilled to share in her journey.
“She has always been an amazing force in her own small world,” said Oser. “She cares for people with that same kind of sense of wisdom and kindness and compassion and innate intelligence. I’m just honored to be in her life for a short while. She is going to go to great places.”
See the JPS-TV version of this story here.