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. 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! Meet Ms. Julie Ternus! This week we are so excited to share Ms. Julie with our families. She is bright, warm, talented and we are so grateful to have her as part of our crew at Renaissance. Julie grew up in Elizabeth, Colorado with her two siblings. Julie now lives with her husband Matthew who is a teacher also, teaching math at Castle View High School. They have a kitty, Artemis, and a pet toad. “Family is very important to me. My mom is my best friend, and I see my family at least once a week normally. Matthew’s family also lives in Elizabeth, we get to see them frequently as well.” When it came time to go to college, she chose to complete her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Governors University. She said that she chose this path as, “I am very passionate about working with children. I love to watch them learn and grow.” Why did she choose to teach at Renaissance? “Renaissance chose me, and I couldn’t be more thankful. I applied for an open EA position to have the opportunity to learn more about teaching in the classroom setting and I was picked for the position! I’m now in my second year of teaching 2nd grade. Even though we’ve done all types of learning (split schedule, remote, and in-person again), I know connecting with these kids is where I’m meant to be!” When asked what she loved about Renaissance, this is what she shared: “I love this school. I have worked in a variety of elementary schools, and none are like Renaissance. The sense of community here is unparalleled and I have felt welcome from the beginning. Working here has also sparked a love of hiking, and now that is my favorite hobby. Also, I appreciate how environmentally friendly we strive to be as a whole. I just love it here.” When Ms. Julie first came to Renaissance, she started out working with Mr. G as an Educational Assistant, which she felt was such a great introduction to all the things we do and also helped her become a better teacher today. “Mr. G is also such a great part of working here. He is an amazing teacher, and I learn so much from him all the time. He allowed me to try different things in the classroom which helps me build my skills as a teacher. I couldn't ask for a better co-worker.” Still today, Julie relies not only on her Primary team, but takes advantage of all the wisdom the educators in the building have to offer! “Dana helps out so much with the planning and curriculum, and I will still go to Mr. G to troubleshoot a problem. Even Mr. Doug has been so great with all his Love & Logic instruction. That’s been a huge inspiration to me. I also go to Erica and Mikaela all the time too. I know I can go to anyone in the building and ask, ‘Can I watch you teach math?’ or ‘Can I bounce this idea off of you?’ and they are always so helpful.” Don’t let Ms. Julie’s quiet fool you. She is very talented! She is a crafter and enjoys a wide variety of projects. Crochet, making soaps, making jewelry and papercrafts. “I do it all and I love it!” she said. When she isn’t making sweet gifts for fellow staff, friends and family, she loves to get outside and hike. It has become a new favorite hobby of hers. She and her husband Matthew love to visit Colorado State Parks and enjoy nature. Staff had some nice things to share about you, too, Julie – “Julie is so talented. Her gifts are beautiful creations, all handmade of course, and bring so much joy.” “Julie is thoughtful and kind! She is always looking for a way to brighten someone else’s day.” “Julie has been a true joy to work with every day. She is bright, talented, and always puts our kids’ needs first. She is a great teacher and I have enjoyed our time together as a team.” “Have you seen her smile? She is beautiful inside and out.” Julie, thank you for making Renaissance special. Thank you for sharing your talents with our families! We love and appreciate you so! Renaissance is thrilled to welcome Ms. Lauren Gunn back this year to the kindergarten team! While she may be a new face for many REMS parents, she’s back in our halls again after taking a few years off with her twins. “I have actually worked at Renaissance as a classroom teacher for 8 years, teaching 5th grade, 3rd grade, and kindergarten. Then for the past four years, I have been home with my twins. I am so thankful to have discovered Renaissance, and there is no other school I would rather teach at or have my kids attend! While my kids were young, it was an interesting experience to be a substitute teacher for a couple of days a week. I got to sub for over 25 elementary schools in Douglas County. It was eye-opening and gave me a stronger sense of appreciation for the model of teaching and learning at Renaissance. ‘There is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!’ Renaissance has such an incredible way of nurturing empathy, critical thinking, and curiosity to empower learners to be kind, active citizens who understand the meaning of CREW. Through expeditionary learning, students are encouraged to ask questions and dig deeper rather than be assigned generic memorization tasks. Through adventure education, kids become better versions of themselves through taking risks, stepping outside comfort zones, facing adversity with grace, and learning to work as a team. When listening to 6th graders and Renaissance alumni speak, I am always in awe of how deeply they know themselves, their heart for the world around them, and their rich sense of purpose. WOW. I truly believe that this is the BEST model of education, and it is a true honor to be part of these students’ journeys. They are going to change the world!!!” Ms. Lauren even credits her time here at Renaissance with helping transform her self-image and lifestyle. “When I think about the 22-year-old version of myself, I did not have a clear sense of my identity or purpose. I had never experienced belonging and the power of being surrounded by peers who believe in you. My coworkers at Renaissance changed that.” Whether being challenged to do a 39-mile breast cancer walk, a 200-mile relay race, or tackle a technical mountain bike trail for the first time, she says her coworkers pushed her to get outside her comfort zone, challenge her mindset, and do hard things together! “I remember the day Marci Murray asked me to join her in raising money for breast cancer and participating in a 39-mile walk. ‘What?!’ I thought, ‘I can’t do that. Well, maybe I can.’ And I did. I raised over $2,000 and walked 39 miles for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Then another year, Hanni Gilbert asked if I wanted to join a teacher team of runners. I told her that I don’t run and there is no way I could do that. Again, I switched my mindset, and I discovered that I was a pretty good runner. Renaissance had a team of 12 teachers and we ran a 200-mile relay race from Breckenridge to Aspen in 36 hours. I had to overcome fears of running alone at night, running unknown territory, and training hard enough to not let my team down. It was so empowering when we all crossed the finish line together! Around the same time, Lisa Johnson invited me to mountain bike with her. At that time, I could barely ride around the block, let alone on a technical dirt trail. Again- I learned so much about myself. I discovered a LOVE of mountain biking. It has become my favorite hobby. There is so much reward and growth when you step outside your comfort zone! So when Neil Reese said, ‘Well, you run and bike, why don’t you try swimming and do a triathlon?’ So I joined a local triathlon group, took swim lessons, and participated in a handful of Xterra triathlons, which include lake swimming, mountain biking, and trail running. If you would have asked me 15 years ago if I was an active person, I would have said ‘no.’ I would have told you that I would only run if a bear was chasing me. But, because others believed in me, I took a chance. Now being active is a strong part of my identity. I am a happier, healthier person because of it. I am thankful for how Crew lifts you up and stretches you in ways you never imagined.” While Renaissance helped shape Ms. Lauren’s love of outdoor sports, she knew early in her journey to becoming a teacher what kind of values she wanted to embody that make her such a good fit in our Teacher Crew. “I lived in a small ski resort town called Mammoth Lakes, California with my parents, both teachers, and two older brothers. Everyone knew everyone. There was not a lot of diversity, and certainly no one ever talked about diversity. So when I moved to Orange County and went to the University of California, Irvine, my world rapidly expanded. It was fascinating to learn about the multiple points of view and perspectives that made up each story. I discovered that in high school, I was taught that history was singular with everything laid out as black and white. In college, it blew my mind to learn about all the gray- that it is never black and white. I became passionate about learning about the untold stories and lesser-heard perspectives of history. I double-majored in Women’s Studies and Global Cultures, with an emphasis on Latino cultures. Also, I minored in Education. For me, college was the first place that I was asked what my opinion was or what I thought of something. How incredible that now I teach at a school that embraces diversity, multiple perspectives, and critical thinking. I truly admire the Renaissance’s model of learning and am wholeheartedly thankful to be part of it.” Today, Ms. Lauren is happy to be back in the kindergarten classroom, helping grow curious learners into the Crew that is ready to tackle their first overnight voyage in May. From her first interaction with each student, she loves to foster the connection and sense of belonging that become the heart of Crew. “It is such a highlight that the Kindergarten teachers do homevisits to get to know all the incoming kindies and their families. It is a treasured time where kids get to share with me their favorite toys, books, and things to do. And then parents can speak openly about their children highlighting strengths, sharing concerns, and asking questions. It is such a BIG STEP to send their child to kindergarten, and I am glad that I can help ease their minds with the comfort of having these conversations before school has even started. That relationship with students and with families is what I most look forward to when working at Renaissance. It sets the tone for a safe, positive, and fun learning environment. This relationship grows throughout the year, with the grand finale being the overnight voyage to Camp Elim. To see their transformation from beginning to end of the year is always my biggest joy. I am so proud and have such a heart for each of my students. And I love that our relationship always begins with a shy hello when opening their front door on the day of homevisits.” The kindergarten Crew is so lucky to have Ms. Lauren, and we’re grateful for her sense of adventure (and patience) she brings to each day! “Morning Meeting and Closing Circle are my favorite parts of the day: when we all check-in and feel a sense of belonging. There is so much laughter, silliness, and heartfelt conversations that come during our circle time. There is nothing more precious than seeing a group of students become Crew and feeling that deep sense of belonging.” Thanks for making Renaissance your home, Ms. Lauren! Meet Ms. Carmen, our Discovery 4th Grade Teacher! Ms. Carmen grew up on a horse farm in Kentucky with her parents and four siblings. She graduated from Union College in Lincoln NE, with a degree in Elementary Education. She and her husband of six years, Jamie Roberts, recently moved from Orlando, Florida, and have enjoyed exploring Colorado this past year. They also enjoy visiting and spending time with extended family from Kentucky & Tennessee. In her free time, Ms. Carmen enjoys all outdoor activities; yoga, campfires, paddle boarding, kayaking, biking, camping, horses etc. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling abroad - places including Peru, Dominican, Puerto Rico, and Europe! Authentic tacos and pizza are two of her favorite foods, and she loves coffee and tea. While Ms. Carmen is just finishing up her first year at Renaissance, this is her third year of teaching. Her teaching career began at Orlando Science Elementary School (OSES), a STEM based school. It was at OSES where Ms. Carmen’s love for a hands-on and student centered approach to learning grew, as this approach aligned with her personal teaching philosophy. “I absolutely love kids and have a passion for growing/learning each day. One thing I love about teaching is connecting with students, family and staff. For me, connection gives opportunities to practice kindness, commitment, and growth every day! Another aspect I enjoy about teaching is that I can foster a love for learning in my students. Being in a learning environment has helped me to practice a growth mindset and I model this with my students every day. I believe the heart of teaching is all about learning that our mistakes help us to grow. Being able to share a growth mindset with my students is what makes teaching meaningful to me! Expedition Learning, at its core, is a lifelong mindset of contributing to a better world. This means exploring questions like 'how can I be an ethical human,' 'what is my purpose and how can I feel a sense of belonging,' and, 'what does it mean to me to be an effective learner?' As students explore various units in science and social studies with the mindset of contributing to a better world, they will make deeper connections with and take ownership of their learning. As I’ve grown personally and professionally, I have found that teaching and learning is most meaningful when there is emotion involved! Pulling together educational resources on a topic I am passionate about has a spark that easily transfers over to the students. Throughout my formal education, I used the principle of Learning Expedition. When I had the opportunity to to write on, study, or explore a topic that was meaningful to me, I did! I understood that when I was invested emotionally, I was able to be authentically engaged in my work.” Ms. Carmen’s philosophy of teaching has three parts: “I believe teachers should establish a positive and productive learning environment and should expect great things from all of their students. Teachers should engage with students personally as well as academically help build that connection that is so vital to learning. Every student is an individual and learns in a different way and it’s a teacher’s job to meet their needs and make sure they have the tools they need to be successful! Finally, I believe that learning is a lifelong process and I want my students to have a growth mindset and be as passionate about learning as I am.” Looking ahead, Ms. Carmen plans to adopt a puppy from our local animal shelter and continue sharing adventures with family, friends and their future fur-baby! Additionally, she’s thoroughly enjoyed this year's voyages and is looking forward to next year's outdoor adventures! Ms. Staci has always considered herself an artist and a free spirit. Growing up in rural Texas, she was continually surrounded by nature, horses, and lots of inspiration and support from her parents. As she grew, she knew she wanted to follow her passion, first pursuing fashion design, then interior design, and finally settling on graphic design. After graduating from Texas State University, Staci and her husband, Patrick, moved to Dallas, where she started working at a design firm. They soon relocated to Denver, where Staci put her artistic skills to work at an advertising agency and then another graphic design firm, all while growing their family with two daughters: Riley, now 18 and Liberty, almost 16. When their youngest son Blake (12) was born, Staci decided to ‘do the mom thing’ for a while, but continued creating various visual and textile arts in her spare time. She often went to art and craft shows to sell her work, and even decided to open a coffee shop with a friend as a showcase for her art! Even though it didn’t work out exactly as Staci had hoped, she already had found a new outlet for her artistic passion: teaching. Staci still recalls her first time walking through the doors at Renaissance for their tour and being blown away. “They make real art here!” she remembers excitedly. She knew immediately this was the school for their family. “It was clear that they teach to the whole child, not just the academics.” Once Blake was enrolled as a 2nd grader, Staci made herself available to Ms. Pam as her Crew Parent whenever she needed anything. “I made myself her full-time volunteer, and she was a great mentor.” And as Staci was finishing up her teaching certification and student teaching at Renaissance, Ms. Pam decided she was ready to retire, making a seamless transition for Staci into her new role as the Visual Arts teacher! Despite all the challenges that this year has shown, Staci is excited to keep moving forward with all the projects in her curriculum plan, and new ideas that students have brought to her. She says one of the hardest things was during remote learning, coming up with interesting projects that required minimal supplies. But now that the kids are back, the halls are looking alive again with so many great pieces! Staci is also looking forward to getting settled in her teaching groove as we move forward into next year and beyond. Ms. Staci, we are so thankful to have your passion and experience to lead our young learners in Visual Arts! The path to Renaissance looks different for every staff member who is a part of the REMS community, but for many, the path to REMS is deliberate and focused because of our known core values of educating the whole child. Our principal, Trena Hand, sought out a leadership position at Renaissance specifically because of those core values and how much they align with her ultimate goal of being a school leader who helps facilitate a strong school community where every child feels a safe sense of belonging and an inherent value as an individual. Trena gew up splitting her time between her mom in Indiana and her dad in Colorado. Graduating early from high school in Indiana allowed Trena the opportunity to move out to Colorado permanently to live with her dad and step-mom and to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder (Go Buffs!) With aspirations to be a cultural anthropologist like Margaret Mead or Jane Goodell, Trena studied abroad in the rainforests of Panama and in Paris, France, and graduated with a degree in Cultural Anthropology with an emphasis on human rights. It was with this love of fostering equity for all people that motivated Trena to dive into the world of education. After receiving her secondary education license in English and Language Arts, Trena wore many hats for many different schools around the district at various secondary levels. In the meantime, Trena married her husband Matt and eventually they moved to various states around the country for Matt’s job and welcomed her son, Sullivan before they came back to Colorado where Trena wanted to settle down and pursue her goals in administration. “I love learning and improving who I am in a leadership capacity. I love continuing to foster my own education, so school leadership was my next step. Getting into the professional development side was a way I could impact students in the classroom on a more global level. I had great mentors ... I had inspiring principals along the way and I learned from the best. I really wanted to give back to my community.” Trena’s administrative experience consisted of numerous roles at Douglas County High School and then at Mountain Ridge Middle School, but Trena was drawn to elementary school, specifically to Renaissance where she saw an alignment of our core values as a community and her dedicated passion as an advocate for individual acceptance and human rights. Trena lost her father unexpectedly when she was 26 years old. It was this experience, along with her helping to raise her younger brother who is transgendered, when she vowed to always put the social and emotional wellbeing of students at the forefront of her passion as an educator. Helping create environments where students feel a sense of agency and support is a driving force for her each and every day. “Being able to advocate for equal rights for everyone and accepting and understanding everyone for who they are is personal for me.” Trena found those values within our REMS community. “The core values of Renaissance were the first and foremost most important aspect that drew me to this community. The way that we foster student growth and curiosity in a different, non-traditional way is inspiring. We march to our own beat! We offer kids a lot of voice and choice in the learning experience that they want to have and they’re involved in the process. We aspire to have them achieve in academics, but we really foster their growth as human beings in global experiences.” It is with this willingness to give students a voice where we find a supportive environment that offers students a deeper sense of belonging; a deeper sense of CREW. “I never knew that I’d fall in love so quickly with elementary students. When you walk into the building, despite COVID and the hardships that families and teachers are facing, the energy and excitement to come to school is apparent. The joy and laughter you hear in the hallways and in the classrooms ... Students are having fun, and our teachers are taking such good care of them. Everyone is showing up to be a part of the crew.” While the transition into a new role has had its challenges during this unprecedented school year and the restrictions that COVID has placed on Renaissance, Trena has been overwhelmed with gratitude with the entire REMS community being “gracious, welcoming, and kind.” Even though we have seen the changes this school year has brought us, inside the school day the students are working and laughing and playing and the work has continued on. As principal, Trena notes that every day is different and it’s this variety that makes her role so exciting. “I learned a very important lesson early on … try to fill your daily calendar with the activities you love first. There are always going to be items that need your attention, but my focus each day is to get into the classrooms, connect with kids, and connect with and coach our teachers.” You have probably seen Trena outside in the mornings and in the afternoons at pick up and our children see her each day in the lunchroom, she does her best to carve this time out each day to continue to interact with students in different environments to continue to build those relationships. “We always want to make sure that everyone is safe and that everyone feels like they have a sense of belonging and in doing so we are continuing to promote what makes Renaissance unique … this sense that We Are Crew.” Trena is excited for what the future holds at Renaissance and to see our valued traditions. When Trena is not at school you can find her and her family either cheering on their favorite sports teams (the Buffalo Bills, the CU Buffaloes, or the New York Yankees) or finding an outdoor activity to pass the time. Trena’s family are avid outdoor enthusiasts when it comes to golf, snowboarding and skiing, paddleboarding, and traveling to new places! Experiencing new cultures together has been a family favorite. Regardless if it’s an outdoor activity or an inside night of playing games, Trena enjoys spending quality time with Matt, Sully, and their dog, Lola! We have been fortunate to have Trena’s enthusiasm and passion as we have navigated through a challenging calendar year and we look forward to continuing to share with her the values and traditions of Renaissance! Let’s get to know our wonderful new Learning Specialist, Ms. Ashley! From gymnastics, to firefighting, to a house full of pets, you’ll soon understand why she’s such a great addition to our Crew. Ashley was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs. She and her sister were raised by their dad, and in Ashley’s high school years, he remarried, and she now has two older step siblings. As a youth, she played t-ball moving up to softball as she got older. Even now, she enjoys playing on a softball team in the summer. She shares, “While I enjoyed playing ball, I always wanted to learn how to tumble. I signed up for classes at a local gymnastics’ gym. A few months later, they started a competitive cheerleading team and asked me to join. I immediately fell in love with competing, making new friendships, performing, and learning new skills. From ages 8-18, I traveled the country to compete and placed 7th in the world for my division. My team and I even made it on ESPN a few times! When cheer wasn't consuming my life (which was rare, ha!), my family enjoyed traveling and going on cruises to explore new countries.” When it was time to head off to college, she attended Illinois State University where she received a Bachelor’s in Special Education, Learning and Behavior Specialist. “I knew I wanted to attend ISU because of their reputation to produce high-quality educators throughout the Midwest. With their SPED major program, I would be able to student teach for two full years within various settings. Prior to earning my degree, I had experience with elementary reading, middle school social/emotional disabilities, elementary co-teaching, early childhood disability diagnosis/intervention, and high school severe needs.” “Prior to attending ISU, my first degree was fire science because I wanted to be a firefighter like my dad. I always enjoyed ride alongs with him and loved the adrenaline rush when the bell goes off. Once I started taking classes and completing clinical hours, I realized that it wasn't my true passion. For the final five years of my cheer career, I volunteered to coach our cheerleading team of athletes with disabilities. While it was a new world filled with new experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed watching these athletes grow and come out of their shells. Most athletes initially came into the gym extremely shy and timid with minimal participation. Each and every competition, I would fight back tears watching these cheerleaders perform their hearts out as if they were a completely different athlete than when we first started practicing. That's when I found my purpose.” Five years ago, Ashley started working in the Douglas County School District. Needing a change from the typical public-school scene, she started looking into other job opportunities in the district and saw Renaissance’s need for a Learning Specialist. Ashley shared, “From the beginning of my professional career, I've always heard amazing things about REMS. One of the reasons why I moved to Colorado is to explore and go on adventures all around this beautiful state. When I heard that REMS had an outdoor adventure emphasis, I fell in love and knew it would be exactly the change I needed. From day one, I could immediately sense the difference in culture and the feeling of being part of the Crew. My husband and I recently purchased a house in Castle Rock, and I enjoy teaching in the community I call home.” When I asked her, what are you most interested in being a part of, or learning more about while at Renaissance? “Going on backpacking trips and learning survival skills! I'm also interested in encouraging students to find their passions and use their strengths to build upon those passions,” she said. What is the purpose of a learning specialists’ role at Renaissance? Ashley explained, “I recognize that each student's brain is unique and learns differently. My role is to dive deeper into how each student learns best, and to provide them the tools/resources to be successful both inside and outside of the school setting. This might include providing assessments and collecting data, to provide individualized programming for students. Once a student is on my caseload, I might pull him/her to work with me in a small group or on an individual basis to provide instruction. I might also push into his/her general education classroom to provide support with the curriculum. Each of the students on my caseload has goals that are monitored for progress frequently to keep track of growth.” Ashley also shared that one of her professional goals is to try to make a difference in her students’ lives. “I thrive on building connections with my kids and helping them understand that I'm a person they can trust.” Beyond all that, she is married to a wonderful man named Charlie, who has lived in Douglas County, going to school in Franktown, as well as other Douglas County schools. She says, “Charlie is the wittiest and most kindhearted person I've ever met. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, cooking, being an uncle, and spending time with his friends.” How did they meet you might ask? Well, match.com worked in their story! “We both had started our professional careers and didn't enjoy the Denver dating scene! Charlie has the coolest job ever! He is an innovative chef for a mozzarella cheese company based in Denver. He travels the world to find new food trends that he can use to create new concepts for his company. We always have cheese in our house!! Together, we enjoy traveling and share a love of animals. Each year we've been together, we've adopted a new pet. Currently, we have one Doberman and two cats. We plan to add another Doberman puppy to our family this December!” What a fun way of sharing their love of animals! As a very driven person, Ashley has goals for herself on a personal level, too. “Personally, I enjoy setting short- and long-term goals for myself to work towards. Currently, I'm working on learning new lifts and gymnastics skills at a local CrossFit gym. Spending that hour during my day to shut my brain off and focus on myself has been extremely beneficial to my mental and physical health.” Maybe she can show us some of her gymnastics skills soon! How many of our REMS students want to see that?? Ashley also loves to travel. “My family is full of pilots and flight attendants! My first airplane ride was at 9 months old, and we went to Hawaii! One of my hobbies is looking for travel deals and planning trips with my friends and family. Once COVID restrictions are lifted, Switzerland is next on my list!” And as a fun fact from Ashley, “I am the first educator in my family... so I thought. When my dad was a toddler, his birth mom passed away in a car accident. As years passed, my dad lost contact with his birth mom's family. Over the last few years, I've connected with these family members. Turns out... many of them are special education teachers!” Ashley, we wish you the warmest welcome to Renaissance. We are grateful to have you as a part of our Crew! You are a fun, exciting addition to our community and we look forward to knowing you more as the years pass! We are kicking off staff spotlights for this year! We can’t wait for you to get to know first grade teacher, Ms. Madi Pavey! If you are lucky enough to have her this year, you know what a gem Ms. Madi is. In her first-year teaching, she is all the things you expect in a new teacher: she is bright, welcoming, warm, and excited to teach. Her enthusiasm in the classroom shines through her students each day. She is a wonderful new addition to our staff this year and we are so excited to have her as part of our REMS family. Madi grew up in Highlands Ranch with her parents and two brothers. Her mom was a stay at home mom and always was there to provide support for her kids. “I am very close to my mom and was grateful to have her there when I needed her,” she said. Her dad just retired from a big airline where he was a pilot for over 30 years. As for her two big brothers, one living in Cincinnati and is working towards his doctorate in piano performance, and one who lives in Boulder and is a computer electrical engineer for a firmware company. Madi shares that she is extremely close to her family and loves them dearly. She attended Douglas County Schools growing up, was a lacrosse player, and sang in the Colorado Children’s Chorale!! Six years in the Children’s Chorale gave her the opportunity to sing at a multitude of events and even allowed her to travel to Europe on tour! How cool is that? Maybe we will be lucky enough to hear her perform one of the days! “I decided to continue my education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Boulder was my home for the past four years and one of my very favorite places to be. I chose CU so I could be close to home and my family. While at CU I spent a lot of time outside and enjoying nature as a great way to relax. I have a love of hiking, paddle boarding, swimming, and traveling! I even was lucky enough to spend last summer studying abroad in Rome! I love Europe and can’t wait to go back!” Madi shared. Madi received her BA in Psychology because she liked to study and learn why we do the things we do. “I loved to learn about the brain and any social aspects that go along with that. I found the classes extremely interesting and am so glad I did it,” she said. During her work in the psychology program, she also applied for the Elementary Education Licensure Program as she felt that the two went hand in hand. “Psychology and education really go well together because I was able to learn so much about the development and social aspects of children. It was very applicable when I started working in schools and I could see a lot of things I learned about happening right before me!” Madi said. She also had plenty of encouragement from those around her sharing what a great teacher she would be. As part of the program curriculum, she was placed in the actual classroom to complete practicums. During that time, she discovered that teaching was a passion and decide that she needed to become a teacher. A wonderful mentor full experience helped to prepare Madi for taking on her first classroom this year! So what brought Ms. Madi to Renaissance? She was looking for a job near home and decided to interview for the open first-grade position after Ms. Jill decided to retire. From the moment she walked into the interview, she felt like she was speaking with friends. “I felt valued and welcomed from that moment and knew I wanted to be Crew! With a love of the outdoors and education, having a school where she could do hands-on learning and outdoor education seemed like the perfect fit. “I can’t wait to delve into all things REMS,” she shares, “drumming, expeditions, voyages, and being crew! I was paired with Mr. G and Ms. Mikaela as my mentors this year and I can’t say enough good things about them. They always help me, answer my questions, provide support, and help me become a better teacher! I love listening to them as they share their passion for learning with me. I can’t wait to be on Voyage with my kids and to create those lasting memories and relationships with each one of them after hearing the experiences both of my mentors have had out there. I am truly so grateful and honored to be working with Mr. G and Ms. Mikaela this year!” Madi shared. What do you think of teaching during a pandemic? “It is not the first thing I thought I would be doing as I had graduation on the horizon, but I was so lucky to have my student teaching under a mentor during the last part of last school year. I was able to pick up on all the things that worked well for her class and implemented them in mine this year. While I can’t wait to have my whole crew together, I have really enjoyed getting to know each one of my students on a deep level and start an early connection with them all. I have been able to get to know their needs right off the bat, and value that dearly,” she said. Goals for herself in the upcoming year: “Move out of my parents,” she laughed as she shared. “Right now I am saving money, hoping to be able to start traveling again during my summers and really excited to spend time becoming a great teacher!” “For my students, I want them to know that they are loved and they can do anything they want to do!” Madi, we are so grateful to have you and wish you the very best first year teaching! Welcome to Renaissance! Meet Ms. Mikaela! Mikaela was born in Minnesota. She moved around quite a bit as a child calling Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Maryland her home at various points. Growing up, Mikaela always enjoyed being around children and teaching others. She babysat often and completed a work-study program during her senior year of high school where she worked in a daycare center. It was during this same year, that Mikaela really started to ponder her career path. Mikaela found great support from two amazing teachers that were a positive influence on her learning. She credits them with getting her through high school; they created enjoyable learning experiences and provided real-life applications. They valued her as an individual and helped her to reach her potential. By the end of her senior year, she knew that was something she wanted to do for other children and make that difference as well. After high school, Mikaela attended Towson University just outside of Baltimore, MD. She took a few detours along the way and even pursued restaurant management for some time. It didn’t take her long to realize sometimes managing adults can be much harder than managing kids! Recognizing the restaurant life wasn’t what she wanted long term, she returned to school to follow her dream and become a teacher! Upon graduating from college in 2001, Mikaela taught in Baltimore County Public Schools where she taught first, fourth, and fifth grades. In 2006, Mikaela and her husband, Will, welcomed their son, Mason, into their family. In 2008, she accepted a position at Friends School of Baltimore, a private school close to their home in Baltimore and a school they had at the top of their list for Mason. During her six year tenure at Friends, she taught first and fifth grades. Mikaela and her husband knew they didn’t want to stay in Baltimore forever and felt they should probably move before Mason became too much older. They had visited Colorado in recent years and had friends who had recently moved as well. Their love for the outdoors drew them to Colorado and in 2014 they landed in Castle Rock. School choice was new to Mikaela and she didn’t become aware of Renaissance until just a few weeks prior to their move. At that time, enrollment had closed. However, the more she read about Renaissance the more it felt similar to the private school they were coming from. They were barely unpacked in their new home when Mikaela attended the first parent orientation of the year. Bummed that they couldn’t get their son in, Mason attended two other elementary schools during their first few years in Castle Rock. After taking a couple years to get settled in their new environment, Mikaela returned to teaching at one of these schools where she taught second grade and worked as a literacy interventionist working with students in kindergarten through eighth grades. It wasn’t until Mason was in fifth grade that he was granted a spot at REMS. During Mason’s first year, Mikaela volunteered as a Crew Parent and realized first hand what a special place our school is. Mikaela knew she wanted to teach at Renaissance, but also recognized that she needed her space and Mason needed his. In 2019, Mason matriculated to Renaissance Secondary School and Mikaela joined the staff at Renaissance Elementary as a third grade teacher. The transition from being a parent at our school to being a teacher has been seamless for Mikaela. Upon talking with her you can tell how passionate she is about our school, her Crew, and about teaching. “I think it’s necessary to see the good in all of our students. It’s important to know them as individuals and to honor the unique gifts they offer to our Crew.” She also shared that she often asks herself if she would want to be a student in her crew. “I want to instill a love of learning, a desire to explore and take risks, and curiosity in all of my students.” The 2019-2020 school year marked her 16th year teaching but her first time teaching third grade. Mikaela said, “Third grade is really enjoyable to teach; actually every grade is wonderful in its unique way. However, third graders generally enjoy school, are much more independent, and they appreciate almost anything and everything I do…. And they still think I’m funny when I do silly things!” When asked what she likes most about working at REMS she said, “There are so many things! This job is very fulfilling and I appreciate the supportive community of students, parents, and staff. I value the autonomy we are given; we are encouraged to take risks, and there is a trust in us that we will all do what is best for kids. I enjoy getting to learn alongside my students and sharing experiences together; especially on our voyages. The bonding and learning that takes place on our overnight voyages is so valuable. It’s neat to have those shared experiences, that often push us, to reflect back on when things are challenging in the classroom. Overall, this is just such an amazing community and I feel lucky to be a part of it.” Ms. Billie had this to say about Mikaela, “She is very knowledgeable, organized, and has a wealth of knowledge to share with our staff. And, she is the mother of one of my former students. I feel we were so lucky to add her to our staff! It has been fun to work with her.” A parent in Mikaela’s crew shared this, “Mikaela goes above and beyond to get to know and connect with her students and families. This has been such a wonderful year for our child and our family.” Outside of school, Mikaela enjoys spending time with her family and their two dogs, Disco and Olive. They like to play games, cook, and travel. Mikaela also enjoys reading and can often be found with a book she’s reading professionally and one she’s reading for fun. Finally, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, or just relaxing on her deck. It is always wonderful seeing a parent move into a teaching role at our school! Thank you, Mikaela, for sharing your passion for teaching and learning with our third graders. The 2021-2022 school year will be Mikaela’s 18th year of teaching and her third year teaching third grade at REMS. |
Details
We are crewWe love to celebrate all of the ways our Parent & Staff Crews make Renaissance a great place to grow and learn! Archives
February 2024
Categories |