I am an Aspen native and have worked at Aspen School District since 1999. I started my career here doing exactly what I have been entrusted to do once again: develop the Mentor/Challenge Program. As the program coordinator, I have the chance to support students who want to pursue interest-based learning opportunities through community partnerships and deep dives with local experts in their fields. I will also support students who have advanced learning plans (ALP's) to make sure that they are receiving the kind of academic and social/emotional support to thrive here at AMS.  I particularly love it when I can integrate social emotional development and real world problem solving into traditional academic topics. With this in mind, I will support the FLL (Lego Robotics) program and other events that help students make connections between what they are learning inside these walls and our surrounding community.  This was the basis of my PhD dissertation back in 2010, so I am excited to implement these practices into the IB framework we are building here at AMS.

I am also a mom (to boys at AMS and AHS) and a wife. I love to camp and explore local and faraway places (with or without students) and am particularly drawn to anywhere that has water.  I also love to get outdoors and see the beauty of this valley from other people’s eyes who haven’t had the benefit of enjoying it as long as I have. This is how I hope to get to know my students and their families...Seeing everyone enjoying this special community and learning how to become active members in it.

Check out the Mentor/Challenge Page here for more information.