LEAP - Leading Effective Academic Practice

Meet the Peer Observers

Get to know the DPS Peer Observers

Peer Observer Mission

Peer Observers will nurture excellent teaching through collaborative relationships and purposeful, honest reflection with teachers to ultimately increase student achievement. 

The Peer Observer team is looking forward to visiting pilot school classrooms this year and supporting the wonderful teachers we have here in DPS.  Get to know each of them individually by reading their biographies below (listed alphabetically by last name).

• Click to viewMeet Linda Alston

  

  Content Expertise: Early Education, Montessori
  Grade: ECE-K
  

  Linda Alston celebrates more than twenty years of service with Denver Public Schools in the pedagogy of Montessori Education, Early Childhood Education and in the resplendent company of children.  As an International Education Consultant she has conducted workshops and training for teachers in Denver and throughout the world.

  The triumphs and challenges of Linda’s teaching in the kindergarten classroom are chronicled in her first book,  Why We Teach:  Learning, Laughter, Love and the Power to Transform Lives. (Scholastic, 2008)

  She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Howard University in Washington, DC., an AMI (Association Montessori International) degree in Montessori Education from the Midwest Montessori Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a Master of Arts Degree in Language, Literacy and Culture from the University of Colorado at Denver.

  Linda’s professional awards include the Milken National Educator Award, Disney Teacher Award, NCNW National Excellence in Teaching Award, and 2008 Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.

   

• Click to viewMeet Sarah Bialek

  

  Content Expertise: Science
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Sarah Bialek began her teaching career delivering forced grammar lessons to her captive younger sister on the long afternoons of summer vacation.  She has been a formal educator for ten years at several interdisciplinary, project-based charter schools.  Her last teaching assignment was a seven-year stretch at P.S.1 Charter School.  She has taught biology, physics, and interdisciplinary science courses to 6th through 12th graders.  She has also led student science expeditions to Baja, Costa Rica, Honduras, and California.

  Sarah was certified in special education seven years into her career and was a case manager to students in the inclusive setting of P.S.1.  She also was lead teacher of the high school team, served as a member of the instructional leadership team, and the student support team.  She was awarded the Mile High Teacher award in 2007 by the City and County of Denver.

  Sarah was an assistant principal at P.S.1 for one year, before going to graduate school,where she was a principal intern at MATCH Public Charter High School in Boston.  In this role, she mainly facilitated professional development sessions for teachers focused on improved use of data and increasing classroom rigor.

  Sarah received her B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she also completed her diploma in secondary science education.  She recently completed her Ed. M. in Secondary School Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  As a resident of Denver, Sarah has come to appreciate the relaxed city atmosphere.  She and her husband love being close to the mountains where they enjoy rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, and more with their sweet mountain dog.

   

• Click to viewMeet Jennifer Biddlecom

  

  Content Expertise: Elementary
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Jennifer Biddlecom had many inspiring teachers from elementary through college. She studied at Universidad Blas Pascal in Cordoba, Argentina and graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in Spanish and Criminal Justice. After learning about the achievement gap she decided to join Teach for America (TFA) in hopes of inspiring students and helping diminish the gap. Jennifer relocated to Harlingen, Texas and started her teaching career as a sixth grade bilingual social studies teacher. During that time she received great support from TFA and had many reflective conversations that helped her improve her craft. Jennifer’s TFA commitment ended after two years, but she wasn’t ready to leave the classroom. However, she was ready for a change and decided to transition to elementary. She began teaching third grade and eventually became the bilingual fifth grade teacher. She really enjoyed working with younger students, and they achieved great success on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).  At the elementary level she found that she had a passion for teaching reading and science and working with ELL students.

  During her time in the Rio Grande Valley, Jennifer learned the importance of communication and collaboration and was blessed to work with great teams. Through TFA she helped design regional curriculum for 6th grade social studies and worked on a team that developed an end of the year assessment. Jennifer also served on her district’s science leadership committee and helped vertically align curriculum across grade levels.

  In her last few years teaching Jennifer felt something was lacking from her classroom experience. She yearned for more feedback and conversations that would help her truly reflect on her teaching. She became a Peer Observer to support teachers and help them reflect and grow in their profession.

   

• Click to viewMeet Bridgett Bird

  

  Content Expertise: English, ELA-T
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Bridgett Bird has been a classroom teacher since 2000, working primarily in Denver Public Schools at the high school level. She has taught an array of grades and levels: grades six through twelve, ELA and honors, and worked as an after school GED teacher. She served as a Peer Observer in the 2010-2011 LEAP pilot and is excited to return to this role.

  Bridgett has taken on many mentor and leadership roles throughout the years. She has hosted student teachers from the University of Denver and Metropolitan State College of Denver and mentored teachers new to her schools. She has been the Professional Learning Team leader and the department chairperson. Bridgett enjoys developing curriculum and assessments and has served as a Team Leader on the Secondary Teaching and Learning Project to redesign language arts curriculum as well as a school representative to the District Writing Cadre to align and grade writing assessments. Her training in AVID Critical Reading Strategies and AVID Pathways has been the most influential to her instruction because of the strategies AVID provides teachers and students for success. She has facilitated trainings on Unpacking Standards and Data Collection for Common Assessments.  In addition, Bridgett has participated in the College Board Advanced Placement and Springboard workshops.

  As a classroom teacher, Bridgett shared her love of literature by sponsoring a student-teacher book club and starting a school-wide literacy drive. She served as class sponsor for four years and has enjoyed getting to know students in other activities outside of the classroom. Bridgett earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, with a major in English and minor in history. Bridgett is ELA-T certified and her Master’s Degree is in Curriculum and Instruction.

   

• Click to viewMeet Gary Bloom

  

  Content Expertise: Art
  

  Gary Bloom’s journey into education began in 1979 as the middle and high school visual arts teacher in Dayton, Washington. He went on to earn his MFA at the University of Kansas. After graduate school Bloom worked as a studio artist and developed a national exhibition record. During this time he continued to teach in various workshop and class venues including artist-in-residence at the Bush Arts Center in Salem, Oregon.  He has collaborated on several large scale public art projects and has been published in exhibition catalogs, books and periodicals.

  Bloom returned to public education as a DPS parent classroom volunteer. This inspired a return to teaching.  In 2004, he joined the Lowry Elementary School staff as their first visual arts teacher.  Since joining DPS, Gary has worked on several Art Curriculum initiatives, his students have been recognized in district exhibitions, and he has developed a robust art program. Gary is most proud of the positive classroom culture in his art room. He builds strategic links between classroom culture, family, effective teaching, and student outcomes.  This past year Mr. Bloom was recognized by the DPS Board of Education for Exemplary Teaching and by the 2011 Denver Teacher Award for Inspiring Growth. 

   

• Click to viewMeet Darby Brady

  

  Content Expertise: Highly Gifted & Talented (HGT), Literacy, Mathematics
  Grade: Elementary
  

  As the daughter of an elementary school teacher, Darby Brady grew up idolizing teachers and the profession. She has been a teacher for 8 years, 4 of those in Denver Public Schools at Carson Elementary. Darby has taught grades 3-5 in both traditional and HGT classrooms. Darby served as the Intermediate Lead Teacher at Carson Elementary planning professional development, facilitating data teams, and mentoring new teachers.  She received the Mile High Teacher award in 2009, an honor from the City and County of Denver recognizing excellence in teaching. Last year, Darby was a Peer Observer in the LEAP pilot, observing primarily in grades K-5 and HGT classrooms.

  Darby has served on numerous committees including School Leadership Team, Student Interventions Team, Personnel Committee, Collaborative School Committee, Science Fair co-chair, as well as participating in district-wide Benchmark Test norming and evaluation committees, piloting elementary science and social studies curriculum, and facilitating new teacher training in Language Arts.

  Darby attended Colorado College where she received her B.A. in English and French and Western State College where she received her Colorado Teaching License.  In her spare time she enjoys snowshoeing, music, and volunteering for Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue.

   

• Click to viewMeet Justina Carney

  

  Content Expertise: Elementary
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Justina Carney has been teaching elementary education for the past 12 years.  Her first 7 years were in a bilingual school in the Milwaukee Public School System.  This urban elementary school had 90% of its student population below the poverty level and was comprised of 90% students of ethnic diversity. The school had a SAGE program, which allowed for 2 teachers to team instruct 32 students.  The experience taught her the true meaning of collaboration and formed her teaching philosophies. 

  Justina then moved to Colorado, and a vastly different teaching environment.  For the last 5 years she has been teaching in the East Grand School district, which is small and rural.  Along with teaching 3rd grade, 1/2 split and 2nd grade, she was able to take on several leadership roles in her building and the East Grand School district. Justina chaired the CDDRE leadership team which was dedicated to analyzing causes for lack of student achievement/growth and improving instructional practices. Through training and planning, this team created a building-wide instructional walkthrough protocol, analyzed data, set learning targets, and provided in-services for the teaching staff.  She was appointed to the CTAG committee which helped train and create a protocol for curriculum mapping. Justina participated in Collaborative Problem Solving Team which bargained between the school board and union.  She has had training in International Baccalaureate, Data Analysis, National Literacy Coalition, and Curriculum Mapping. 

  Justina Carney received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Rebecca Castellanos

  

  Content Expertise: ELA-S/E
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Rebecca Castellanos has taught in Denver Public Schools for the last several years. She began her career in education teaching third grade ELA-S/E at Ford Elementary and then moved to fourth grade ELA-S/E at Cowell Elementary. Rebecca enjoys working with students in their transition from Spanish to English instruction where it is essential to teach English and content simultaneously as well as utilize native language instruction. Rebecca’s fourth grade students made high growth on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP).

  Rebecca has served on numerous committees including School Leadership Team, Core Matters, and Collaborative School Committee as well as facilitating new teacher training in Language Arts. Rebecca also participated in the Measures of Effective Teaching research project.

  Rebecca earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Minnesota, her teaching license from Metropolitan State College of Denver, and completed her Masters in Linguistically Diverse Education from the University of Colorado.

  Rebecca owes much gratitude to several professional mentors who gave her honest and critical feedback and helped her wrestle with tough questions. Rebecca looks forward to having reflective conversations with teachers as a Peer Observer. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys trying new restaurants, walking and running around Wash Park, and cooking with her husband.

   

• Click to viewMeet Silvia Curiel-Torres

  

  Content Expertise: Science, Spanish, ELA-S
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Silvia Curiel-Torres arrived to Colorado in 2000 in an exchange program for teachers between Mexico and Adams County. Before teaching in Denver Public Schools (DPS), Silvia taught in Mexico City 22 years and  2 years in Adams County School District #14. She has 33 years of experience and has had the opportunity to teach students from 1st to 12th grade.

  Silvia began her career with Denver Public Schools in 2002 as an ELA-S teacher.  She taught one year at Newlon Elementary, one year at Remington Elementary, three years at Lake Middle School and three years at North High School.  Recently, she was at Bryant Webster Dual Language K-8 School. Throughout her career, Silvia has taught different content areas for students who are native Spanish speakers. At the same time, she has provided them support in their transition of acquiring a second language.

  Silvia collaborated with  AmeriCorps to prepare youth volunteers in supporting DPS schools with student attendance, parent communication  and other projects. Also, she has participated in AVID trainings learning strategies for English Language Learners and Science Pathways. Likewise, she has hosted student teachers from the University of Denver and Metropolitan State College of Denver.

  Silvia received her academic instruction in Mexico, earning a B.A. in Elementary Education and a  B.S. in Dentistry from the Metropolitan University of Mexico.  Silvia earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the Pedagogical University in Mexico. In Colorado, she was interested in learning strategies for Second Language Instruction and earned a second Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

   

• Click to viewMeet Heather Curran

  

  Content Expertise: Elementary
  Grade: Upper
  

  Heather started her career as a bilingual elementary school teacher in Arizona.  Throughout the last eight years, she has had the opportunity to teach 2nd through 6th grades as well as design curriculum for 6th grade math, 4th grade ESL/language arts, and 2nd-3rd grades.   She served as the lead facilitator for her Professional Learning Committee and as a Curriculum Specialist at New Teacher Training Summer Institutes.

  Some of her more rewarding experiences include being a founding 5th grade teacher at a school designed specifically for students failing in one or more content areas on Arizona’s state standardized testing and teaching ESL to upper elementary school students in Veracruz, Mexico.  For the last two years, she taught middle school math at the Denver School of Science and Technology. During the 2010-2011 school year, Heather was a Recipient of New Leaders for New Schools 2011 EPIC (Effective Practice Incentive Community) Silver Gain Award for significant student achievement and growth gains in urban schools. Heather graduated from the University of Georgia with a double major in Political Science and Spanish.  She earned her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University.   

  Her varied experiences across grade levels and content areas have helped her to understand and appreciate the underlying instructional practices that connect all great teachers, regardless of their placement. Heather is a true believer in the power of constructive feedback among peers as she has experienced its significant impact on her teaching and, ultimately, her students’ growth.  She is incredibly excited to have the opportunity to offer her peers the same support and feedback that she’s benefited from within her own career.

   

• Click to viewMeet Melissa Curry

  

  Content Expertise: ELA-S/E
  Grade: Early Education/Elementary
  

  Melissa Curry began her career with Denver Public Schools in 2001.  She was initially a bilingual kindergarten teacher and later taught first grade in an ELA-S classroom.  She has served students through transitional native language instruction at the primary level and also as a literacy pullout support for third through fifth grade students learning English.  Prior to teaching with Denver Public Schools, Melissa worked in a preschool classroom for Headstart programs in two different metro area counties.  Her heart is in the classroom, and that is where she’s been.  Transitioning to the role of Peer Observer during the 2010-2011 school year provided Melissa with multiple opportunities to spend time in classrooms throughout the district.

  Melissa has participated as faculty representative in the Principals’ Institute focused on Data Teams.  She has experienced the revitalization process in an elementary school.  She has attended Collaborative School Committee meetings and helped make difficult decisions around programming and funding.  She has served as a student teacher advisor.

  Melissa earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Northern Arizona University where she focused her studies on child welfare and Spanish as a second language.  She obtained teacher licensure from Regis University and continued on to receive a Master’s degree in Education.  Her thesis was dedicated to transitional bilingual education and language acquisition.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Ethan Emery

  

  Content Expertise: Science, PE
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Ethan Emery is a returning Peer Observer and has been a science teacher in Greeley and Denver for the last nine years. He has piloted and taught numerous curricula including Interactions in Physical Science, EarthComm, Integrated Science 1 and 2, and Biology as well as various elective courses. Before becoming a Peer Observer Ethan was teaching at Martin Luther King Jr. Early College where he was a department chair, lead teacher, innovation team member, mentor teacher, technology committee member, and recipient of the Mile High Teacher award.

  In addition to his work with students in the classroom, Ethan has held a variety of district level leadership roles. He was a member of the Math/Science Leadership Cadre where he helped plan and facilitate curriculum training for new users. Ethan was also on the assessment development team for high school course assessments and in 2009 he was selected as a Jared Polis Teacher Recognition Award winner for the state of Colorado.

  Ethan has been a middle school and high school football coach as well as a head sponsor for school based clubs including Fitness & Weight Training and the MLK Fly Fishing Club. He is an ELA-E certified teacher and has been trained in AVID Science Pathways, Division Of Wildlife Outdoor Instruction, and the National Fly Fishing In Schools Program. Ethan earned his Bachelor’s in Biology with an emphasis in Secondary Education from the University of Northern Colorado where he was awarded with the Education Department Scholar Award in 2001.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Lara Gamberg

  

  Content Expertise: Social Studies
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Lara Gamberg has been a classroom teacher since 2005, working the majority of her years in Chicago Public Schools, teaching both 7th and 8th grade social studies curriculums for 5 years.  While in Chicago, she had the opportunity to lead her fellow teachers in creating a stair cased curriculum grades 1-8 in social studies; so that every grade builds on the next and supports the strategies taught before to create a curriculum that is cohesive. She also had the opportunity to work with the University of Illinois – Chicago Partnership Read program in which she became a literacy leader in her school, leading professional development activities in the use of literature circles, differentiation strategies, and the use of technology within the social studies classroom. With a focus on literacy, she also had the opportunity to lead the Social Studies team through the creation of units and lessons founded in literacy.  Lara was also fortunate enough to be involved in a program called Global ED II, in which students were put in an interactive community to solve a global issue with students from other schools over a web-program.  This program allowed students to think beyond what they were used to and to apply higher order thinking skills.  It encouraged students to work collaboratively with their peers, and to feel accomplished in solving a problem, as well. 

  This past year, Lara taught 8th grade Social Studies at Rachel B. Noel Middle School in the Far Northeast neighborhood of Denver.  While teaching, she served on the Student Intervention Team, worked collaboratively in a Professional Learning Community with fellow social studies teachers, as well as the 8th grade team to plan and develop programs to increase the student participation in the school.  Lara also tutored 7th grade remedial math after school. 

  Lara enjoys working with students to reach their full potential in all areas. Lara enjoys seeing students grow and enjoys watching students take ownership over their education.

  Lara attended Michigan State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Sciences and DePaul University where she earned a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education with a focus in Social Sciences.  In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, running, yoga, hiking, and skiing.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Jessica Garito

  

  Content Expertise: Social Studies and Language Arts
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Jessica was lucky enough to have more amazing teachers than not-so-amazing teachers in her academic career, so it isn’t really much of a surprise that she ended up teaching. Jessica still uses the lessons she learned as a student to inform her practices as a teacher. Nine years in the classroom have provided Jessica with a diverse foundation from which to provide support to teachers. She has taught every age group, from pre-K through high school, spending the majority of her career in English and Social Studies classrooms.

  Her inquiry and project-based approach to her curricula have led to her students’ successes; their reading scores on the New York State reading exams were all passing her final year in the New York City public school system.

  Jessica participated in several grant programs while working for the New York City Department in Education creating literature, guides, and templates to aid teachers using backwards design to craft engaging and effective lessons. She was also listed as a 2005-2006 National Honors Society Teacher of Excellence. Jessica completed her undergraduate degree in political science at Boston University and her master’s degree in education at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

  The opportunity to help other teachers remain passionate and innovative in their careers as a Peer Observer is what initially drew Jessica to the position. Improving the quality of public education in all schools, regardless of their current successes or failures is a longstanding goal of hers.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Travis Glatthar

  

  Content Expertise: Math, Technology
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Travis Glatthar taught the last five years at MLK early college and was the only math teacher in the high school when grade nine was added to the school.  Before working in Denver, Travis taught 8th grade math for three years in Jeffco.  Travis enjoys seeing the light bulbs light up in the math classroom and works hard at helping students understand that the brain is a muscle that performs better when exercised.

  Travis has accepted leadership positions which include, High School team lead, Innovation Proposal writing team, School Governance Board member and Personnel Committee chair.  He enjoyed the professional and challenging dialogs that arise out of these various responsibilities.

  Travis received his BA in Mathematics (2002) from Hastings College in Hastings Nebraska and received his Masters in Computer Science and Math Education (2003) from the same institution.  Travis also enjoyed spending much time in the college glass studio while there.

  Early in his career, Travis craved for professional conversations and opportunities to reflect on how to improve his craft of teaching.  Once found, Travis was amazed at the difference an effective instructional coach had on his practice in the classroom.  Travis looks forward to offering those positive experiences to secondary math teachers in DPS.

   

• Click to viewMeet Robert Gould

  

  Content Expertise: Special Education M/M
  Grade: All
  

  Prior to becoming a Special Education Teacher, Rob worked as a paraprofessional within Multi Intensive and Multi Intensive Severe classrooms. He then started his career as a teacher filling in as a long-term mild moderate substitute at North High School in 1998. That eye-opening experience prepared Rob for the first nine years of his career as an Affective Needs Intervention Teacher (formally known as self-contained ED) at Newlon Elementary School. In 2007, Rob moved to Lake International School to take on the role of a Mild/Moderate Special Education Teacher. During this time period, he taught several intervention curriculums, submerged himself in progress monitoring, and eventually took on the job of the Special Education Chairperson.

  To round out his experience, Rob has spent 11 of the last 13 years teaching Extended School Year. He usually takes on one of the district’s high-school Multi Intensive Autism classrooms.

  Rob earned his initial endorsement at Metro and his Master’s degree in Special Education from UNC.  In 2007, Rob earned his National Board Certification in Exceptional Needs.

   

• Click to viewMeet Sarah Grimm

  

  Content Expertise: Special Education M/M, Center Programs
  Grade: All
  

  Sarah Grimm began her career in Special Education in Toledo, Ohio.  Before beginning her education career, she worked in the healthcare field as a direct care worker for adults with severe disabilities living in nursing and group homes.  This experience made Sarah realize that her true passion was working with individuals who have special needs.  While she was pursuing her undergraduate degree in special education, Sarah worked as a paraprofessional in an Affective Needs middle school classroom.  

  After receiving her Bachelor of Education in the Special Education Intervention Specialist program at the University of Toledo, Sarah began teaching in a public charter school for children with severe autism.  This experience allowed her to train with the Carbone Clinic outreach services division (out of New York) which provided extensive training in applied behavior analysis principles and strategies.  Sarah moved to Denver in 2006 where she continued teaching in an elementary autism center program (MI-A) for students K-5.  For the last two years she has worked as a mild/moderate elementary special educator.

  Sarah has taken on many leadership roles in her building that include: working as both the special education staffing coordinator as well as the SIT chairperson, mentoring new teachers, and providing PD for her building on inclusion, differentiation, functional behavior assessments, and RtI.  Sarah has taught for the last four years in DPS’s Extended School Year (ESY) Program and has experience implementing LLI, Wilson, Voyager, Origo Math, and ELSB interventions in the classroom.  Sarah has been trained by Pyramid Educational Consultants on the use of the PECS protocol and has much experience in its implementation.

  Sarah is currently pursuing her Masters of Education in the TESOL program in order to be more resourceful in understanding how primary language, culture, and familial backgrounds interact with students’ exceptional conditions.  She has two toddlers at home that keep her very busy.  Sarah also currently serves as a Staff Sergeant in the Colorado Air National Guard, and has been a member of the Air Force since September of 2001.  Things that Sarah truly enjoys include her career as an educator, being outside and active, spending as much time as possible with her family, and traveling.

   

• Click to viewMeet Marianne Kenney

  

  Content Expertise: Social Studies
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Marianne taught high school social studies for seventeen years and served as department chair, the international studies coordinator, and the American Field Service advisor.  In addition to her work in the classroom, she worked on district curriculum committees and on the multicultural committee.  Marianne has held a variety of state-level roles, as the state Social Studies Specialist for more than seven years at CDE and subsequently worked at McREL, the region’s federally funded research laboratory training teachers on Bob Marzano’s “Instructional Strategies that Work.”  She was also the Social Studies methods instructor for the University of Denver.  Marianne spent many summers either on the staff or directing summer institutes supporting teachers in the development of standards-based units and assessments.

  Marianne served as the Secondary Social Studies Instructional Specialist for DPS for four years prior to becoming a Peer Observer.  She coached and mentored secondary social studies teachers and supported 200 teachers piloting the redesigned curriculum.  In addition, she served on district end-of-course assessments committees. Receiving the Distinguished Geography Educator Award from the National Geographic Society, the Distinguished Teaching Award from the National Council for Geographic Education, the Governor’s Excellence in Education Award, and the Teacher of the Year by the Colorado Council of the Social Studies have been compliment’s to Marianne career.

  Marianne has a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Government and a Master’s Degree in World History. Marianne is state coordinator of the Colorado Geographic Bee held every spring at the University of Denver.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Jim Kimbrough

  

  Content Expertise: Music/Drama/Dance
  Grade: All
  

  Jim Kimbrough has been an educator for 32 years, having served as an administrator, teacher, and a specialist in the arts for DPS and Mapleton Public Schools.  His experience includes classroom instruction in: elementary general music. band and orchestra, middle school choral and instrumental music, and high school choral music, theatre and stagecraft. The majority of Jim’s experience has been with Mapleton Public Schools, but he has also taught in Kansas and Nebraska.   The past three years Jim served as the principal for Samuels Elementary.  He previously was an Arts Instructional Specialist for DPS, working with 30 elementary school arts educators.  During the 1995-96 school year Jim served as a Teacher Leader Coordinator with Mapleton Public Schools facilitating the development of the Mapleton Content Standards for the Arts and Physical Education.  In 2004 Jim worked with the Mapleton music teachers to realign the standards and develop effective assessment tools to support instruction.

  In his spare time, Jim has been actively involved in community theatre throughout the Denver metro area, having been involved in more than 50 productions over the past 20 years.  For the past five years Jim has served as the Artistic Director for Theatre West Summer Repertory Theatre at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  This past summer he produced the musical RENT, and directed the Elvis musical All Shook Up.  Jim has also directed numerous children’s theatre productions, and was a staff member for Dreamstar School of the Arts for three summers.  This winter he will be directing an original musical production,  A Ride in Santa’s Sleigh, for Longmont Theatre Company.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Tonia Lopez

  

  Content Expertise: Social Studies, Tech, ELA
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Tonia Johnson-Lopez is a Colorado native and graduated from Adams City High School in Commerce City. She has spent her career working with young people who don't have the experiences to make them successful in a traditional school system. She is passionate to find ways for them to understand that their street address does not dictate who they are and what they are capable of.

  Her passion for community has fueled her own pursuits in higher education. She received her BA from Regis University and completed her student teaching at ACHS. During her student teaching, Tonia was hired for her first full-time teaching position in literacy. She quickly realized that there was a definite need for an ELA certification and returned to Regis for her Master’s degree in Linguistically Diverse Learners. Tonia completed her course work for her principal license from UCCS the same year. During that time, she taught American History and World History courses in a variety of settings at Adams City High School. In addition, she instructed IB Technology Courses and ESL courses. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at CSU.

  While teaching at ACHS, she took on the Science and Technology Academy Coordinator role and planned an integrated approach for STEM education in a small school setting. In this role she created partnerships with organizations like the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and Wild Life Refuge and received a WIRED grant to fund a renewable energy course in the academy. During this time she facilitated and coached teachers around the district’s expectations around effective instruction and strategies to ensure the learning of English Language Learners in each class. Tonia also coordinated the scheduling of ELA students and the CELA test. After leaving ACHS, she spent a year in a new K-8 school creating a framework and coaching teachers around the integration of instructional technology.

   

• Click to viewMeet Jessica Lujan

  

  Content Expertise: ELA-S
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Jessica Lujan-Ladow joined Denver Public Schools (DPS) in 2003 after advocating for youth and families in the mental health field for nearly eight years.  Since coming to DPS she has worked collaboratively to ensure the success of students in both Elementary and Middle Schools.  In addition to being a teacher, Jessica has served in leadership roles on various school committees and has enjoyed hosting and mentoring new teachers.

  Jessica earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Spanish, her teaching license in Elementary Education and is currently working towards a Master’s Degree in Special Education with an endorsement in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Instruction.

  Jessica is grateful to have had mentors who helped her grow professionally through support, feedback, and reflection.  As a Peer Observer, Jessica is committed to giving back to the DPS learning community.

   

• Click to viewMeet Kim Manning

  

  Content Expertise: Science
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Kim Manning is highly devoted to educating young minds in science.  Kim taught in various roles throughout college for ages from kindergarten through college level in the areas of microbiology and anatomy.  After graduating from Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, she moved on to Metro state to earn her teaching license through the Teacher in Residence program.  Following the completion of her teaching license and her first 4 years of teaching, she moved on to earn her Master’s degree and Principals’ license from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

  Kim has been a member of Denver Public Schools for the past 7 years, serving as a middle school science teacher and as a student advisor.  Kim has been an AVID elective teacher and is trained in AVID for sciences as well as levels 1-3 of the International Baccalaureate program for the Middle Years Programme.  Kim has also been the sponsor for the Aviation Club and been a member of the Positive Behavior intervention Support team at Lake Middle School.  During her last two years in the classroom, Kim was the science department chair and a member of the school leadership committee.  Kim participated in the math/science leadership cadre, focusing on the pilot and implementation of the middle school science curriculum, leading professional development for the 7th grade curriculum and collaborating to develop the pacing and planning frameworks, as well as the assessments.  Kim has planned and facilitated professional development from the department level through the national level, co-facilitating sessions for the National Science Teachers Association Convention.
  
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Ernestina Masias

  

  Content Expertise: ELA-E
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Ernestina Masias has served in the field of education for sixteen years.  Prior to teaching for DPS, she enjoyed working in the Special Education Division of the Colorado Department of Education and as an ECE teacher at a private school.  In 2000, she became a DPS teacher, teaching first through fifth grades, has taught for the ELA Summer Academy, and had the wonderful opportunity of completing a Principal Internship for Summer Scholars.

  Throughout the years, Ernestina has taken on many leadership roles and served on several committees, including the Collaborative School Committee/Collaborative Decision Making, School Leadership Team, Personnel Sub-Committee, and Positive Behavior Support. She had the privilege of being a DPS mentor as well as an advisor to student teachers.  She was honored to receive the Mile High Teacher Award, the Vivian White Marbury Beacon of Light Award, and Exceeds CSAP Expectations in 2008 and 2009, which is awarded when at least half of the students attain the 55th percentile or higher for statewide growth.

  Ernestina earned her Bachelor’s in Behavioral Science with a Sociology focus and obtained her teaching licensure from Metropolitan State College, completed Masters level courses in Educational Technology from the University of Phoenix and is currently in a Master’s program in Administration and Leadership from the University of Colorado at Denver, to be completed in December, 2011.

  Ernestina is passionate about education and has found joy in building relationships with students and families.  She has been fortunate to learn and grow through her collaboration with a multitude of outstanding peers within Denver Public Schools.

   

• Click to viewMeet Katy Mattis

  

  Content Expertise: Montessori 1-6
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Katy Mattis grew up in Rhode Island and, after exploring 5 different states, settled in Colorado 10 years ago.  Katy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Child Development from Hampshire College as well as a Masters of Education from Loyola University.  Katy has also obtained her Colorado State Teaching License and Principal License from Western State.   Additionally, Katy is certified in Elementary Montessori (6-12 years) from The Washington Montessori Institute and Assistants to Infancy (birth to 3 years) from The Montessori Institute in Denver.  

  Katy has worked primarily in public Montessori education as a classroom teacher, facilitator and administrator.  Katy has worked as both a lower elementary teacher and upper elementary teacher for 9 years, including 5 years in the upper elementary at Denison Montessori School in DPS.  Following the birth of her son, she moved to a ½ time Humanities Facilitator position at Denison. Most recently, Katy has been on charter school leave from DPS and working at Compass Montessori School (a JeffCo Charter school) as the Assistant Head of School and following the birth of her daughter, the part-time Elementary Program Director.  

  Katy is excited to be returning to Denver Public Schools as a Peer Observer.   In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, reading, yoga, hiking, volunteering at The Children’s Hospital NICU, exploring Colorado with her son and daughter and spending time with her family. 
   
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Nicole Monet

  

  Content Expertise: Special Education M/M
  Grade: All
  

  After graduating with her law degree from Marquette University, Nicole Monet practiced tax law in Milwaukee for three years. Though she accomplished significant professional goals during this time, she felt increasingly unfulfilled by her work. Ultimately, she decided to return to school to complete her teaching license in special education. As a former struggling reader herself, Nicole recognized the absolute need for high quality special education teachers- particularly in urban settings.

  Following three years of service in Milwaukee Public Schools, Nicole came to Denver as part of the team that re-opened Manual High School in 2007.  In 2009, she joined the school's administrative team, transitioning from Special Education Dept Chair to Director of Student Services. Nicole’s work in this role included developing a tiered reading intervention continuum that all struggling readers attended until they reached proficiency. Within this program, Nicole directly coached and evaluated the special education reading instructors, ultimately leading them to become Manual's top interventionists- both achieved student gains in excess of two years.

  Nicole received a Bachelor in Science in History and History of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters in Exceptional Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  When she is not thinking about education reform, she enjoys traveling, reading, running, hiking, and sewing. 
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Breeanna Murphy

  

  Content Expertise: English, Drama, ELD
  Grade: Elementary and Secondary
  

  Breeanna Murphy has been working in education for the past nine years.  Prior to moving to Denver, she taught a sixth through twelfth grade English and drama.  She also worked as a researcher in the areas of K-12 English language development, reading intervention and the social positioning of students in educational discourse communities.

  Breeanna was involved in many leadership positions in Denver Public Schools, including Humanities Facilitator at North High School and English Language Arts Instructional Specialist for the High School Network.  In these roles, she facilitated learning labs, instructional rounds, data cycles and department team planning.  She has mentored both new teachers and veteran teachers in the district.  Breeanna worked with the professional development department to design the analytical writing strand of the ECE-12th grade approach to college readiness PCK intensive.  This past year she worked as a Peer Observer during the initial pilot; she observed K-12 English, English language development, drama, AVID, ELD & reading intervention classrooms.

  Breeanna earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.  She earned her Master of Education with and emphasis in Literacy, Language and Culture from the University of San Diego where she was awarded Most Outstanding Graduate in 2005.

   

• Click to viewMeet Brenna Pertner

  

  Content Expertise: ESL, ELD
  

  Brenna Pertner has worked in education since 1998.  She fell in love with teaching while working in a special education classroom as a paraprofessional.  Brenna has taught ELA and elementary education on the Western Slope, in Anchorage as well as in a Native Alaskan village in Alaska, and most recently, in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

  Other roles that Brenna has filled include being an ELA coach, and serving as the district liaison between the ELA and special education departments.  As district liaison she was integral in ensuring the RtI process was followed for struggling English Language Learners.  Brenna also served on a district task force that was charged with making recommendations regarding universal level instruction and interventions for students.  She has served on numerous other committees including Instructional Leadership Team, Student Success Teams, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, and has led a school’s professional development committee.  Brenna also led a student leadership group focused on service projects in the school and in the greater community. 

  Brenna earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a Spanish minor from Ohio University.  She earned her teaching credentials, ELA endorsement, and Master’s in Reading from The University of Northern Colorado.   Her thesis focused on examining various factors involved in students dropping out of school. 

  Brenna is passionate about helping students connect their learning to real life and ensuring students become strong readers and writers.  She has always enjoyed being reflective about her own teaching practice and looks forward to supporting DPS teachers as they reflect on their teaching. 

   

• Click to viewMeet Meredith Richmond

  

  Content Expertise: World Languages, ELA-S
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Meredith Richmond has been a classroom teacher since 1987 where she started her career in Albuquerque, NM as an elementary bilingual teacher.  She has worked for the Denver Public Schools for the past 24 years.  She is ELA-S qualified and spent the first eleven years in the district working in elementary and middle school bilingual classrooms.  After a year at Balarat Outdoor Education center Meredith joined the staff at East High School as a Spanish World Language teacher.

  In addition to her work with students in the classroom, Meredith has served on several district committees.  She has presented/facilitated workshops throughout the country on reading strategies for the World Language classroom.  Meredith has worked as department chairperson and has co-authored numerous professional documents including the district language proficiency assessment.  She has received national recognition for the successful implementation of a multi-level Spanish class at the secondary level.

   

• Click to viewMeet Pam Rogers

  

  Content Expertise: Physical Education/Dance
  

  Pam Rogers has taught Physical Education for the past 27 years in Denver Public Schools.  During that time she’s had the privilege of developing strong comprehensive programs at Gilpin Extended Day School, Crofton Elementary and Asbury Elementary.   She has loved seeing her students gain confidence, character and physical skills.  Through a caring environment and with a good sense of humor, she has been able to see her regular education and her special needs students grow to become well rounded individuals.    In 1997, Pam received the DPS Distinguished Teacher Award and has continued to impact students year after year.  In 2005 she received a Mile High Teacher Award.  She has served on school, district and state committees such as SLT, PBIS, CSC, Physical Education Benchmark development, Physical Education Best Practices, and Colorado State Standards Assessment.  Over the years, she has led and hosted a variety of professional development workshops, and, works with future teachers from Metro State University. 

  Pam continues to coach at Denver South High School.  She is currently the Head Girls’ Tennis coach, but has also served as a coach for volleyball, girls’ golf and boys’ golf.  In 2007 she was voted Boys’ Golf Coach of the Year, and in 2011 Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year. 

  Pam holds a Bachelor of Science in General Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with a K-12 Physical Education endorsement.  She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Grand Canyon. 

  Married for 28 years, Pam and her husband Jim, live at Murphy Creek in Aurora.  They have a married son who leaves in Colorado Springs.  As a family they are often found walking, playing tennis, swimming, and playing a little bit of golf.  They enjoy entertaining friends and playing a round of cribbage.
  
  
  
  
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Marti Rosenberg

  

  Content Expertise: Upper Elementary
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Marti Rosenberg has been an upper elementary classroom teacher for the past 10 years. She began her career at P.S. 54 in Brooklyn, NY teaching 5th then 3rd grade. In 2006, she made the move west to Denver. She has spent the last 5 years teaching 4th grade at Powderhorn Elementary in Jefferson County.

  Marti earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Long Island University, in 2003.  In addition to her formal education, Marti has trained with Lucy Calkins’ team at Columbia University’s Teacher’s College, focusing on reading and writing instruction. Most recently, she has taken classes with the Rocky Mountain Middle School Math and Science Partnership to support her interest in Science education.

  Over the years, Marti’s classroom has served as the model room for Everyday Mathematics and Guided Reading. She has also taught after school test preparation classes, as well as tutored a handful of students. Marti was able to start and run a drama club for her NYC students and helped organize a fitness club for her Jeffco students. She was a member of the School Leadership Team in both of her former schools. This past year Marti had the pleasure of hosting and mentoring a student teacher, an experience that helped her reflect on her own role as a teacher.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Robert Russ

  

  Content Expertise: Math
  

  Robert Russ graduated from University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign in 2005 with a BS in Mathematics and BA in Economics.  He moved to Chicago, IL to pursue a career in teaching in the urban setting.  He taught mathematics for 3.5 years at Manley Career Academy on the west side of Chicago where the students faced social challenges outside of school.  While teaching in Chicago, Robert worked on completing two Masters Degrees while teaching.  The first Masters degree is Masters in Arts in Teaching with a concentration in teaching mathematics at a secondary school at National Louis University, and the second Masters degree is Masters in Arts of Mathematics Education at DePaul University. 

  Robert decided to move to Denver, CO because he wanted to be closer to his family who north of Denver.  He wanted to work in an urban setting in Denver, so he applied to Montbello High School where he taught for the last two years.  Robert has learned more about teaching mathematics at Montbello High School than he had previously.  Montbello High School gave him more opportunities to learn about teaching, and the administration encouraged him to change his perception about teaching.  When he learned S.I.O.P., it changed his practice to be more effective.

   

• Click to viewMeet Kelly Schokmiller

  

  Content Expertise: Language Arts/English
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Kelly Schokmiller has taught for the past four years. She began her career in education teaching sixth and seventh grade Language Arts at Busch AAA Middle School in St. Louis Public Schools. She then moved to Denver to create the seventh grade Reading and Writing curriculum, standards, and benchmark assessments for the Denver School of Science and Technology’s very first seventh grade class.  In addition, she developed a reading seminar support class curriculum, which served the needs of IEP and ELL students, as well as struggling readers. 

  Kelly’s seventh grade Reading and Writing students made the highest growth in Denver Public Schools on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP).  Based on her student’s data during the 2009-2010 school year, she received the EPIC Spotlight Teacher Award for the highest academic growth at DSST. 

  Kelly earned her Bachelors of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism in 2003, and her Masters of Middle School Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction in 2009 from the University of Missouri.  She has a passion for teaching and is looking forward to working with educators throughout Denver Public Schools. 
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Melanie Schultz

  

  Content Expertise: Math
  Grade: Secondary
  

  For the last several years, Melanie Schultz taught high school math in New York City, including Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and AP Calculus.  She most recently taught at Vanguard High School in Manhattan, a member of the Coalition for Essential Schools and New York Performance Standards Consortium.  She helped produce a Calculus curriculum for the school, creating Understanding Goals, units, weekly assessments, and Performance Based Assessments.  She served as her math department’s representative to the Special Education department and co-taught in integrated classrooms.  As a member of Vanguard’s Inquiry Team, Melanie collected and analyzed data on the progress of students with IEPs in co-taught classes, and presented her findings to a group of visiting educators from Denmark.  With Vanguard’s Teacher Leadership Team, Melanie planned and ran professional development for the faculty and helped to create a new school-wide discipline policy.

  Melanie was a Newton Fellow with Math for America, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of math education in New York City public schools.  Melanie led professional development for MfA on Performance Based Assessments with her coworkers at Vanguard High School, sharing the work they did in creating assessments for seniors and running and facilitating PBAs throughout the school.

  Melanie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Tufts University and her Masters in Math Education from New York University.  She has always loved mathematics, and has felt privileged to have the opportunity to share that love and enthusiasm with her students.

   

• Click to viewMeet Priscilla Shaw

  

  Content Expertise: Music
  Grade: All
  

  Priscilla Shaw is beginning her 18th year in public education; 10 of them in DPS.  She has taught both vocal and instrumental music at both the elementary and high school levels.  Her choir students have performed at the Sydney Opera House, The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China and all throughout Denver for dignitaries and special events.  Priscilla's music students have also won awards in Barbershop, participated in professional recordings and have earned music scholarships at their respective colleges.

  She has worked as a Principal of a K-12 Yu'pik Eskimo school in Bush Alaska where she lead the school to meeting AYP for the first time and as Assistant Principal of a High School in the Kenai Peninsula. After returning to Colorado, she worked an additional year as an AP of an Elementary School in Brighton.

  Priscilla has a rich upbringing, having been raised in a Bi-lingual home (Korean & English) and where she traveled and attended several schools due to the fact that her father was in the Army.  Priscilla attended Texas Christian University where she earned her BME in Music Education with an emphasis in classical piano and an MA in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix. 

  In 2002, Priscilla became Colorado's first National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent/Young Adult Music.  She has also served as a mentor for National Board Teacher Candidates and Assessor for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

  Priscilla is very active in the district and DCTA.  She is a USPTA certified professional and has coached HS tennis and volleyball.  She is the Chair for the DPS Asian Education Advisory Council and is Interim Denver Citywide Marching Band Director.  In her spare time she is Director for the Denver MountainAires chorus, an adult community Barbershop Chorus. 

   

• Click to viewMeet Lisa Simms

  

  Content Expertise: Language Arts/English, ELA-E
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Lisa has been teaching for twelve years, mostly in Denver’s North Metro community. Most recently, she taught at Skinner Middle School where she had the opportunity to be a part of many progressive changes, such as collaborating in the development of Skinner’s honors program. She also took part in creating a school-wide data analysis system to make it easier for teachers to use data to inform instruction, and for students to set academic and personal goals more independently. At Skinner, Lisa was a mentor for Denver Metro State College education students, and took part in yearly team-inquiry research and PEBC-supported internal labs.

  Before Skinner, Lisa had the opportunity to be a founding staff member of Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts where she served on the Strategic Planning Committee. She collaborated in the development of a grades 6-12 literacy continuum for reading and writing skills, and a grades 7-12 literacy map with a focus on differentiated instruction and arts integration. She became adept at creating humanities curriculum based on Expeditionary Learning inquiry-based methodology.

  Lisa has planned and facilitated many outdoor education experiences for students, coached a variety of girls’ sports, and promoted the arts through teaching guitar and facilitating Skinner’s talent shows. A few years ago, Lisa lived in Mexico for a year, teaching English as a foreign language in Morelia and Guadalajara. This was an experience that enhanced her skill-set as an ELA-E teacher, and improved her Spanish fluency. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Language Arts from Colorado State University, and her Masters of Education from Regis University with a focus on adult-learning, arts integration, and outdoor education.  

   

• Click to viewMeet Shirley Smith

  

  Content Expertise: Special Ed Center Program
  

  Shirley Smith has been teaching for the past eleven years. She began her career teaching in Tampa, Florida in 2000, teaching Severely Emotional Disturbed 6th grade students.  Through this assignment, her love for teaching expanded by helping students with emotional or behavior disorder to do well in school.  She led her students to academic success with the motto of becoming ”Strong Educated and Determined to Succeed in Life.”   She always encourages her students to lift their heads up and to overcome their own personal challenges. 

  After five great years of teaching in one of the largest urban districts in United States, she decided to move back to Denver and join the Denver Public Schools district.  This opportunity led her to teach a wide range of special education classes which include, Mild Moderate, Multi Intensive, Affective Needs and Multi-Intensive-Severe.  Her love for teaching inspired her to share her love and knowledge of education by teaching classes in higher education.

  Shirley spent the remainder of her 11 years at Martin Luther King Jr. Early College, co-teaching inclusion Connected Math Program, resource Connected Math Program and Intervention Number Worlds for all students. This tenure led her to attend training and workshops that helped her enhance her skills in innovative lesson strategies that deal with technology and AVID strategies.  Along with learning new strategies she co–facilitated teaching in best practices such as Connected Math for the district. 

  Shirley received her undergraduate degree from Metropolitan State College in Psychology and received her master’s at Walden University in Educational Leadership.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Karen Taylor

  

  Content Expertise: Career and Technical Education
  Grade: Secondary
  

  Karen Taylor began her career in education in 1994, attending Regis University’s MA plus teacher licensure program for adults. She served as a substitute in both DPS and Jefferson County schools during this time. In 1997 she began teaching students with special needs at Abraham Lincoln High School. Karen went on to get her vocational credential in ACE and Computer Information Systems, transferring to Kennedy High School where she had the opportunity to serve as an ACE teacher in the Special Education Department for six years. During this time, Karen served as Co-President of the Special Needs Division of the Colorado Association of Career and Technical Education (CACTE).

  After attending the DPS Leadership Academy and receiving her principal license, Karen moved into both Jefferson County and later Adams 12 Public Schools to serve as an instructional coach and an administrator overseeing Curriculum and Instruction at Wheat Ridge High School, and Curriculum and Scheduling at Northglenn High School. In both school districts she worked closely with the Career and Technical Education Departments.

  In 2009 Karen graduated from the University of Denver with a PhD in Education Leadership and Policy Studies. Her research was completed in the area of effective teaching and she knows first hand how important the role of a teacher is to student success. Karen is happy to be back in Denver Public Schools and believes her new role, as a peer observer, is a perfect fit. She looks forward to working with the teachers in the Career and Technical Education Departments leading effective academic practice.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Linda Washington

  

  Content Expertise: Early Education
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Linda has taught in Douglas County for 9 years; 7 in Kindergarten and 2 in preschool classrooms.  She has a passion for designing hands-on, differentiated instruction within a universal topic for a wide range of learners.  Her experience includes teaching in Expeditionary Learning for three years, working with students who are deaf and hard of hearing, English language learners, and children identified as gifted.  In addition, Linda piloted an intensive summer school literacy program for struggling readers and writers.  She also conducted adult classes giving specific instruction on how to support emergent readers.

  Beyond classroom instruction, Linda has worked as a peer observer, teacher-mentor, grade-level team leader, and student intervention team leader.  She has enjoyed roles on the Critical Thinking Cadre, Lesson Study Teams and Crises Teams.  Linda was also the staff representative in creating the school’s new parent-teacher organization.  At the district level, Linda represented Early Education teachers on the K-12 math and science essential learning curriculum teams and dedicated 2 years to help redesign progress reports to match new state Grade Level Expectations.

  Linda earned her bachelor’s degree in Russian Language and Culture with a minor in Business from the University of Texas, Arlington.  After working in the business sector for several years, she followed her calling to teach and earned her Elementary Teaching License from University of Colorado, Denver.  In 2006 Linda completed her Masters in Education Administration.  She has begun her PhD studies with a focus on designing developmentally appropriate curriculum.

   

• Click to viewMeet Jazmin Weiler

  

  Content Expertise: Elementary
  Grade: Elementary
  

  Ever since Jazmin was a little girl, she always dreamed of becoming a teacher with a classroom full of teddy bears, barbies, ken dolls, and her dad.  Her teaching career began in 2005 as a fifth grade teacher in Aurora Public Schools.  While teaching fifth grade in APS, she fell in love with working in a Title I school with minority students and challenging herself in overcoming the barriers of working with students learning a second language.  Working with her ESL students and building relationships with their parents, she knew that she wanted to become a Culturally Responsive Urban Educator.  After teaching for APS,  she began working as a part-time ESL teacher in Douglas County School District.  She co-taught  and co-planned with teachers in implementing linguistically responsive teaching practices within the classroom.  Later, she moved to Rapid City, South Dakota and taught first grade.

  In 2005 she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Regis University with her BA in Liberal Arts with an Elementary Teaching License along with a Literacy Certificate.  In 2007 she began working towards a Liguistically Diverse Education Certification through Aurora Public Schools.  After completing her LDE certification, she decided to continue on with her graduate work and work towards a MA in Lingustically Diverse Education through the Univeristy of Colorado at Denver.  In addition to her teaching, she has served on leadership teams, curriculum committees, and written grants.

  She is so excited to be a Peer Observer with Denver Public schools.  As the Latin Proverb says, “By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn”.  Working as a Peer Observer, she hopes to collaborate with colleagues and  build upon her repitoir of best practices and improve her craft of teaching.
   

   

• Click to viewMeet Megan Weinstein

  

  Content Expertise: Elementary
  Grade: Elementary
  

  For the last six years, Megan Weinstein taught second grade in a culturally and economically diverse school just outside of Chicago.  Megan served as the team leader for her grade level for the past four years.  Megan has a great deal of experience working with ELL students.  Students at the school where she taught spoke over 30 different languages.  Megan also spent her summers teaching remedial math and reading classes varying from first through sixth grade.

  Megan has served on numerous committees in her district including an ELL Learning Team, SmartBoard Implementation Team, Learning Standards Team, Writing Curriculum Team, and Professional Growth/Tuition Reimbursement Committee.  Megan also worked to pilot a new district wide Social Studies Curriculum.  Megan enjoys mentoring/coaching and has hosted college student observers as well as a student teacher in her classroom.

  Megan attended DePaul University for both her Bachelor and Master’s degrees.  Megan received her B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Psychology.  Megan received her Master’s of Education in Language, Literacy, and Specialized Instruction which led her to also earn a Reading Specialist Teaching Certificate.  In her spare time, Megan enjoys being active.  She enjoys running, biking, and skiing, and she’s excited to be able to participate in all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer.

   

• Click to viewMeet Anne Williamson

  

  Content Expertise: ELA-S, ESL, Intervention, Reading Recovery
  Grade: Elementary
  

  As far back as she can remember, Anne has had an ardent desire to teach.  As a young girl, she created her own classroom in the basement of her childhood home, complete with chalkboards, desks, books, report cards, and an array of stuffed animals that sat in the place of her imaginary students.

  She has enjoyed working for the last ten years in the field of education, mainly for Denver Public Schools.  Anne has served as an ELA-S and ELA-E classroom teacher, an ESL Resource, and as a Reading Recovery teacher.   As a classroom teacher, she participated in the Literacy Squared research project by implementing literacy-based ESL in the classroom, teaching language in each content area, and supporting literacy instruction in both languages.  She worked collaboratively with other teachers to enhance the English language instruction in their classrooms and partook in approximately 80 hours of Kagan Cooperative Learning training for English Language Learners and Multiple Intelligences.

  Anne mentored beginning teachers by guiding and helping them adjust to their new roles.  She organized and planned professional development in Oracy for colleagues.  She has held several leadership positions on school committees, including CELA primary contact and ISA team leader.

  Most recently, Anne has worked as a Reading Recovery teacher.  She initiated the implementation of the Reading Recovery program at Farrell B. Howell School.  It was her honor to work with first grade students, who were struggling to read, to raise their instructional text levels by approximately 10-12 levels in 15-20 weeks.  She felt privileged to serve as a model classroom teacher for other Reading Recovery teachers.

  After returning from Spain, where she taught English to children and adults, she attained a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish from Loyola College.  She also earned a Master’s degree in Education, Equity, and Cultural Diversity as well as additional credits for a Reading Recovery certification from the University of Colorado.