Press secretary learned to think outside the box

Lawrence Pacheco remembers a time when students and teachers weren't obsessed with standardized tests. When he was growing up, classes he took encouraged students toward original thinking.

"Today, there's a lot of emphasis on teaching toward standardized testing; back then, there was more of an opportunity to think outside the box," he said.

That kind of thinking he learned in Greeley-Evans School District 6 helped lead him toward a successful career in politics. He is now press secretary for Boulder Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo.

After attending Vassar College in New York, Pacheco started working for former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer. He has also worked for several political campaigns.

Looking back on his education, Pacheco still remembers all of his favorite teachers. They were the ones who were so excited about their subjects that it rubbed off on him. Depending on the teacher, science, history or English could be his favorite subjects.

"You can tell those are the ones that make an impact on you and they affect you throughout your life," he said. "It comes down to the teacher the district hires and the quality of education they provide."

He hopes the district still has those kind of teachers.

"You need to push the students to think outside the box," he said. "They need to have a greater understanding of the larger global issues other than Weld County or Colorado."