Celebrating Our Remarkable Team: A Year of Growth and Milestones

As we wrap up another incredible school year, we pause to celebrate the heart of Aspen Academy, our dedicated faculty and staff. From professional achievements to beautiful personal milestones, our team has much to be proud of!

Personal Milestones: Growing Our Aspen Family

Life outside the classroom has been just as busy and joyful as life inside it! We are thrilled to celebrate several personal milestones within our community:

• New Arrivals: Congratulations to Olivia Pederson and Karen Leyva on the birth of their babies!  Welcome Rhett and David!
• Weddings & Engagements: Love is in the air! Madelaine Derby celebrated her wedding earlier this month in Spokane, Washington, and we are looking forward to two weddings this summer—congratulations to Sam Bloch and Molly Linn on their upcoming nuptials! We also congratulate our newly engaged team members: Maddie McCabe and Kylie Guthrie. 
• Achievements and Milestones: Congratulations to Michelle Grindle on the purchase of her new home! We are also excited to celebrate Brian Hostetler, who was one of only 15 teachers nationwide selected to win the National Disney Imagination Campus Award this May—what a fun and well-deserved honor! 

Professional Development: Fueling Excellence

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community through the Aspen Academy Annual Fund, our team has engaged in robust professional learning this year. These opportunities allow our educators to bring the very best practices back to our students.

National Conferences: Learning and Leading

Our faculty represented Aspen Academy on the national stage across the country this year. Whether attending to bring fresh insights back to our classrooms or being selected to lead sessions for a global audience, our team’s commitment to excellence was on full display.

• NCTM (Math) – Atlanta, GA: Jack Assaf and Katie Hamel
• NCTE (Literacy) – Denver, CO: Brooke Jenzano and Ashlie Cotton
• NCSS (Social Studies) – Washington, D.C.: Stephanie Musyj and Molly McVeigh
• NSTA (Science) – Minneapolis, MN: Kylie Guthrie and Tim Yeager
• NAGC (Gifted & Talented) – Pittsburgh, PA: Dana Kohls and Lauren Szczesny
• ISTE (Technology) – Orlando, FL: Chris Holtzem presented practical use cases for NotebookLM.
• ATLIS (Technology Leadership): Chris Holtzem presented on the topic of student digital health and the creation of automated checkout systems.
• NBOA (Business & Operations): Lynda Sailor presented on the impact of AI in school operations.

 

Administrative Leadership & Professional Growth Our administrative team also sought out high-level growth opportunities:

• Theresa Letman attended the INDEX Communications Conference to study best practices in crisis communications, storytelling and engagement.
• Kelly Thatcher participated in the NBOA Finance Fundamentals series to view auxiliary programs through a strategic financial lens.
• Tina Carr attended the NAIS-CASE Independent Schools Conference, focusing on alumni engagement and community-building.
• Diana Agostini completed the ACIS-Peter Baron Business Leaders Cohort, a five-part series dedicated to sustainable school models and strategy execution.

A Culture of Continuous Learning

Beyond our presence at national conferences, our staff pursued a wide variety of specialized training, advanced degrees, and immersive workshops to refine their craft. These opportunities, made possible by the Annual Fund, reflect our team's commitment to lifelong learning:

• Jamie Hatch graduated this May with a Master of Arts in Art & Design from the University of Northern Colorado. Her recognition as a finalist for UNC’s School of Art and Design Southard Award further highlights her exceptional artistic talent and dedication!
• Our Math Team has worked diligently this year with Dr. Amber Gardner of AMAJ. She is reinforcing the commitment to aligning instruction with how the brain constructs mathematical and spatial reasoning. Her work blends cognitive science, responsive teaching, and joyful learning to create lasting confidence and success as a powerful mathematical thinker. 
• Michelle Grindle also participated in the “Dunes, Dark Skies, and Diversity” natural history immersion in the San Luis Valley, bringing unique insights into Colorado’s ecology back to our science curriculum.
• Jenny White explored the future of education, focusing on engagement techniques like gamification, digital education, and the strategic integration of AI.
• Sarah Harris attended a workshop on Using Vocabulary and Writing Strategies to Enhance Math Learning, strengthening the bridge between literacy and mathematical communication.
• Chris Holtzem and Andrew Flynn completed a series of Makerspace trainings (specializing in XTool, Bambu, and Embroidery) to maximize our new creative technology.  Chris also met with ACIS Tech Directors to collaborate on AI support within school systems.
• Jessica Cho completed two specialized training programs, one in Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Teaching and another in Supporting Student Wellness, ensuring our classrooms remain inclusive, responsive, and grounded in the latest research.
• Rebecca Malick engaged in an NCTM book study on Teaching Mathematics Through Problem Solving, deepening her instructional strategies for mathematical inquiry in the classroom.
• Christina Baudis explored the intersection of technology and empathy in the workshop "Designing a Classroom Culture of Safety, Belonging, and Empathy with AI."  Christina also participated in the “Turning Tension Into Trust” leadership webinar, gaining practical tools for guiding meaningful and productive parent-teacher discussions.
• Bear’s Club Staff participated in a "Be Amazing" team-building and leadership development session to grow their collective skills in supporting our K-8 students.

Celebrating Leadership: EvolvED Teacher-Leaders and Domain Chairs

Innovation and leadership are at the core of what we do. We want to specifically celebrate the faculty members who stepped into vital leadership roles this year, sharing their expertise and passion to advance our mission and elevate our entire team.

EvolvED Teacher-Leaders: We celebrate Jamie Hatch and Jack Assaf for their participation in our EvolvED Teacher-Leader program, an initiative born from our team's desire for increased opportunities to evolve their leadership competency and instructional practices. This program allows our educators to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education at Aspen while advancing their own professional growth to drive student success. 

EvolvED Domain Chairs: We also recognize the exceptional growth and leadership of our Domain Chairs, who ensure our academic programs remain world-class through their expert guidance and collaborative spirit:

• Rebecca Malick & Katie Hamel: Math
• Rachel Sachs: Communications and Literacy
• Michelle Grindle: Social Studies and Science
• Jamie Hatch: Essentials

SEED Mentors: Finally, a special thank you to Jenny White and Mike Brunstetter for their work as SEED Mentors to our new-to-Aspen Teachers. Their support and guidance have been instrumental in welcoming our newest colleagues and fostering a culture of success from day one.

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, we are thrilled to announce the next cohort of our EvolvED program:

• Brooke Jenzano: Teacher-Leader & Communication and Literacy Domain Chair
• Molly Linn: Teacher-Leader & Math Domain Chair
• Stephanie Musyj: Teacher-Leader & Science and Social Studies Domain Chair
• Jamie Hatch: Essentials Domain Chair
• Rebecca Malick: Data & Assessment Lead
• Sadie Dahlman: Teacher-Leader

 

Team Transitions and New Faces

Growth often brings change, and we want to recognize the exciting transitions within our staff.

Promotions and New Roles

We are proud to see our team members step into new positions that reflect their dedication and expertise:

• Rachel Sachs, LiFE Director: We are so proud of Rachel as she transitions into this critical leadership role. Her deep commitment to our students and the community makes her the perfect choice to lead the LiFE program into its next chapter of growth and impact.
• Maria Groeschl, Interim Director of Programs & Compliance: Maria continues to demonstrate incredible versatility and vision as she steps into this interim role. We are excited to see her bring her signature organization and leadership to our school-wide programs.
• Lee Ann Scherlong, Dean of Students K-8: Lee Ann’s passion for student culture and community is unparalleled. In her new role as Dean of Students, she will continue to be a champion for our students, fostering an environment where every child feels seen, supported, and challenged.
• Alyssa Saucedo, Theater Teacher K-8: Please join us in celebrating Alyssa as she becomes our new Theater Teacher. We are thrilled to see her bring her passion for the arts and her background in creative, hands-on learning to the stage, inspiring the next generation of Aspen performers.

Warm Welcomes

Please join us in giving a very warm welcome to our newest faculty and staff members: Andrea Johnston, Sandra Hwang, Clay Muench, Rich Erixon, Nina Kelty, McKenna White, Diane Tarantino, Jim Mann, Pari Bradley, Karen Garcia, and Ashley Relic.

Fond Farewells

As the year ends, we say a heartfelt goodbye to several colleagues: Brian Fleck, Jack Assaf, Ashlie Cotton, Sam Bloch, Christina Baudis, Ronan Sullivan, Ruth Herrlinger, Dana Kohls, Lauren Platt, Ben Sothmann, and Andrew Flynn. We are grateful for their contributions to our community and wish them the very best in their next chapters!

Thank you to our entire community for supporting the growth and well-being of the people who make Aspen Academy such a special place to learn and work. We look forward to another year of "making the world better" together!