I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, and tell you a story about Mr. Cody.
 
He moved to Highlands Ranch with his family when he was in 4th grade. In the hood of Douglas County is where he spent most of his days, chillin out, maxin, relaxin all cool and playing ice hockey outside of school. Then a couple of guys who were up to no good - started making trouble in his neighborhood… so along came an opportunity to teach victim empathy to juvenile offenders as a mentoring case manager for a nonprofit called PARTNERS. He thought a week long curriculum about how the offenders actions affected the community, and what restorative practices they could employ to start to make things right with their victims. 

This sparked Mr. Cody’s passion for teaching and with the help of a great mentor during his student teaching  - Mr. Cody learned learning in the classroom is difficult without established relationships. His mentor was a perfect balance of confidence and empathy and role model for Mr. Cody. 

Mr. Cody went to college at Colorado Mesa University. He received a Masters in Education with endorsements in Elementary Education and 7-12 English Language Arts. He then went on to Colorado State University - Pueblo and received an endorsement in Special Education. 

Mr. Cody’s roommate is a bearded dragon that has been with him for the last 5yrs. And he and  wife celebrated their 1st Anniversary this summer (Congrats guys! ) 

Mr. Cody says that working in the juvenile justice system opened his eyes to the possible future of our youth, and motivated him to help that demographic avoid that path. 

He student taught 5th grade, was a 4th grade teacher for two years and spent the last three years in special education at the elementary level. He got into expeditionary learning at his last school which inspired him to seek out REMS. Crew is what drew him to REMS. Relationship building and taking school past just academics is what he personally identify with as a professional.

Outside of teaching, Mr. Cody enjoys cooking, yoga, board games, being in nature, meditation, every type of sport, reading all sorts of genres, taking road trips, astronomy, fast cars, and gardening. He was also a raft guide for several summers in college and fell in love with the river and camping.

Mr. Cody is looking forward to developing relationships with the students and staff. He also really enjoys English/Language Arts.

And that is the story of how he became the Fresh Prince of 6th grade.

We are thrilled to introduce Peggy Bryson, our new 6th grade teacher at Renaissance!

This is my first year as a teacher! I am so excited to begin my career in teaching, and I am so fortunate to be teaching sixth grade at Renaissance.

I grew up in Springville, Utah with my five older sisters and parents. Growing up my best friend and I loved playing school. When she got an overhead projector for Christmas and wow, it was amazing! Later in high school, I was able to volunteer at a local elementary school and that is when I realized that I wanted to be a teacher. As I continued through college, I knew for sure that my career would be in teaching.

I graduated from Utah State University with my bachelor's in Elementary Education. I absolutely loved my classes and the different opportunities I had to be part of classrooms during my time at University.  I did my student teaching with a sixth-grade class, and I absolutely loved it.

A friend introduced me to REMS, and as I learned more about the programs at Renaissance, I became increasingly excited about it. I love the idea of adventure and expeditionary learning. I couldn’t wait to go on voyages with the students, and plan expeditions that really give students hands-on opportunities to experience and learn about the world around them. As soon as I met the staff, I quickly knew that this school was going to be amazing and that I would love being a part of this community.

My husband, Connor, and I have been married for two years at the end of August. We just recently moved to Colorado and we are LOVING it. We do not have any fur-babies yet, but we are hoping to adopt a furry friend in the near future. Growing up, my family never did anything outdoors... I had never been camping until I was in college! When I started dating my husband, he introduced me to all of the fun things that can be experienced outside. Now, we go on outdoor adventures all the time. I have come to love backpacking, camping, hiking, and mountain biking because he introduced me to all of the fun outdoor experiences. Having spent most of my life missing out on outdoor activities, I have learned how important and special it is to connect with nature. When I learned more about REMS, I was amazed that there was a school that would include adventure learning!

Some of my other interests are graphic design, road biking, mountain biking, hiking, paddle boarding, running, pickleball, spike ball, and shopping. My favorite place to travel right now is Moab, Utah. My favorite mountain biking trails are there, so my husband and I try to go as much as possible. I also love Disney movies and series (I can watch Disney all day long).

I have been enjoying connecting with the entire community at REMS, including the staff, parents, and students. I'm so excited about the different learning experiences that the students and I will have together. It's going to be an amazing year!

We're so excited to have you joining us, Ms. Peggy! Welcome to Renaissance!

Renaissance is excited to welcome Ms. Sami as our new Fourth Grade Teacher!

I grew up in Cody, Wyoming with my parents and older brother. I loved growing up in a small, country town. I learned lots of hands-on skills and excelled in sports. Throughout high school, I helped out with mentor programs and sports camps. These extracurricular activities sparked my interest in working with kids and going into education. I started off my college experience at a community college close to home playing soccer and studying education. My sophomore year of college I did Semester at Sea, traveling around the world on a ship studying different cultures and learning new ways of life. The remainder of my bachelors degree I went to Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. I continued to play soccer and study elementary education and reading. I completed my student teaching in Auckland, New Zealand teaching first grade. The school was an amazing opportunity to teach hands on skills and diverse learning styles.
My parents still live in Cody, Wyoming where I grew up, but I now live in Aurora, Colorado with a few friends. I am single, but plan to eventually settle down in Colorado. My favorite activities consist of skiing, rafting, camping, and fishing. My favorite sports are soccer and ski racing and I can’t wait to get on the slopes this season. I love to travel and explore new areas especially in Colorado. I love trying new foods but my go to food is Mexican food.
One of the most influential people in my life has always been my brother. He always pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me skills I would not usually try. After my brother passed away a few years back, I have centered my life around being the best that I can be for him. I always admired his drive to challenge and teach others. He pushed me to love trying new things, and seek adventure through traveling and new experiences.
Another adventure that pushed my limits physically and mentally was walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain with my mom.  That experience, which is a religious pilgrimage, taught me that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
I was very interested in REMS after I met Amanda and Lauren. I was so excited about the outdoor education side of REMS. Growing up camping, fishing, and being outside, I thought REMS would be a perfect fit for me. This year my plan was to sub, ski, explore, and travel; however, after seeing that REMS was in need of a fourth grade teacher, I was more than excited to apply for the job. I've always been excited to try new things, so I thought the school would be a perfect fit and a great learning opportunity to better my experience and change the lives of my students.
I am looking forward to creating relationships that will last forever and create bonds with students through our voyages.

We're so excited to have you joining our crew, Ms. Sami!