OUR STAFF
We are very pleased to introduce our staff to our Merit Academy families. The members of this team are amazing, highly qualified, passionate about children and education, and share Merit Academy's vision and foundational principles.
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We strive to have the strongest and best educational team possible for not just this year, but in years to come. Get to know your staff! You will be so glad you did!
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Mrs. HENDRICKSON
Somnia magna agite in hoc
Dream big, then act on it!
DEAN OF
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
MA, CO Licensed: Early Education, READ Act
Specialist: Early Education
11 years teaching elementary
6 years teaching at the college level
11 years as an administrator
Dr. PEKRON
aut viam inveniam aut faciam
I will either find a way or make one
HEADMASTER
Founder
Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
26 years in Education/Higher Education
Professor, Counselor, Dissertation Chair, Consultant
Specialty: Education & Leadership, Change Management, Organizational Development, Communication, Leadership Development, Team Cohesion, & Performance
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Mrs. Bucher
Omnes Enim aliquid docere ac discere
We all have something to teach and learn
Assistant Dean
BA: Elementary Ed;
MA: Special Education;
CO License: Elementary Ed,
5-21 SPED, READ Act,
Principal License
22 years experience teaching
Ms. Faircloth
veritatem prosequimur
We pursue truth
Chief Financial Officer
BS: Accounting & Spanish
Accounting & Audit Professional with over
25 years in the corporate, public & school accounting sectors.
SCHOOL OF GRAMMAR
Mrs. Kinton
Magno animo opus est ad animos iuvenum docendos
It takes a big heart to teach little minds
KINDERGARTEN
BS: Elementary Education
M.Ed: Special Education; Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education
CO Licensed: ELEM ED, READ ACT
20 years teaching experience
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Mrs. Windish
Tu numquam vetulae ad alium metam
You are never too old to set another goal
KINDERGARTEN
BS: Elementary Education
4 years teacher & 6 years para experience in elementary education
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Mrs. Grubb
Auderet esse praeclarum
Dare to be Remarkable
1ST GRADE
MA: Early Elementary Education
BA: Geography
Read Act Certification
Early Childhood Education Certification
Mrs. Doyle
Signa alta pone, obviam surge, et nunquam respice.
Set your standards high, rise up to meet them, and never look back.
1ST GRADE
BA: Early Education
READ Act Certified
19 years teaching experience plus
Mrs. Whitlock
Non scholae sed vitae discimus
We learn not for school, but for life
1ST GRADE
BS: Outdoor Education
READ Act Certified,
3 years experience in elementary education
Served 9 yrs in the US Army as a UH-60 BlackHawk pilot
Mrs. Edgin
AMOR ET SECUNDUM
SEMPER EO ORDINE
Love and success, always in that order
2ND GRADE
BS: Early Education
CO License in K-6, READ Act
5 years teaching experience in Elementary Education
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Mrs. ballard
Tu Credis Fortior
You're braver than you believe
3rd GRADE
BS: Elementary Education:
Math/Science Emphasis
CO License, READ Act Certified,
19 years teaching experience​
Ms. Thoen
crescere et discere
To grow and to learn
3rd GRADE
BS: Elementary Ed & Early Child Ed
CO Licensed , READ Act Cert.
MD License: Early & Elementary Ed
6 years teaching experience
Mrs. Winters Lamont
semper pete veritatem
Always seek truth
4th Grade
MS: Education
University professor
15 years teaching: Education
5 years instruction: Corporations
Mrs. Brown
Mentes docens, futura fingens
Teaching minds, shaping futures
5th Grade
BS: Elementary Education
M.Ed: Educational Leadership
CO Licensed: K-6, Read Act
5 years teaching experience
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Mrs. Hogan
Gaudium ad fortitudinem ducit
Joy leads to strength
5th Grade
BS Computer Science
MS Education, Curriculum, Instruction
28 years elementary teaching experience
Ms. Morgan
Ad Meliora
Toward better things
5th Grade
BS: Education
M.S.: Reading Education
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20 years elementary teaching experience
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Mrs. Swinhart
Qui docere audet, semper discit
Who dares to teach must
never cease to learn.
K-1 Science
BS: Early Childhood Education
TX/OK License in Elementary Ed,
+ CO: READ Act
10 years education experience
10 years working with special needs
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Mrs. Oakley
Est Bonum vis Videre in Mundo
Be the change you wish to see in the world
2-4 Science
17 years educational experience
Colorado State WorKeys Proficiency Certificate for Teacher's Assistants
Animus risu novatur
The spirit is refreshed with laughter
5th & 6th Grade History
MA: Curriculum & Instruction
16 years teaching History and English
in public, private, and charter schools
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Mrs. Basnett
Per ministerium duc,
cum integritate vive
Lead through service,
live with integrity
K-5 Music, Music Department Chair
BS: Music Education
CO Licensed: Music K-12
SLP Coursework
15 years experience teaching Music
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Mr. Behr
Sed contra, beatitudo non est aliquid paratum. Ex propriis actionibus fit
Happiness is not something ready-made.
It comes from your own actions
K-5 PE
BA+30: Education/Special Education
Prior MT/IA licenses
20 years teaching & coaching K-College
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Ms. Carver
Gratias agere et nihil praesumpseram
Give thanks and take
nothing for granted
Preschool Director
Early Childhood Teacher for 20 years
Early Childhood Director for 8 Years
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Mrs. Rohman
Ubi amor est vita est
Where there is love, there is life
Preschool Teacher
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Mrs. Starr
Usu temere beneficiis gratuiti actus pulchritudinis
Practice random acts of kindness & selfless acts of beauty
Teacher's Aide
4 years as a SPED paraeducator
7 years as an Asst PreK Teacher
Mrs. Weece
Acta, no verba
Deeds(actions), not words
Teacher's Aide
15 years in education: Athletic Director, Coach, Front Office, Library, Special Education
UPPER SCHOOL: SCHOOLS OF LOGIC & RHETORIC
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Mr. Baade
Vita magna, si non debilitant
Life is great if you don't weaken
School of Rhetoric History
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Mrs. Cole
Sapientia Incipti Admirari
Wisdom begins in wonder
School of Rhetoric HISTORY
MA: History, Emphasis in Education
CO Teaching License;
College Instructor: History
17 years teaching experience
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Mr. Dalton
Fortuna Eruditis Favet
Fortune Favors the Prepared Mind
Upper School Science, Academic Advisor
Certified High School Teacher for Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, & Biology
6 Years Educational Experience
Mrs. Flickinger
Memento vivere
Remember to Live
Upper School English
LANGUAGE ARTS,
BA: Elementary Education
M.Ed: Literacy
CO Licensed: ESL, Language Arts, &
Social Science
5 years teaching at college level
6 years teaching at secondary level
Ms. Gray
Ars gratia artis
Art for the sake of art
Upper School Art
BA in Communications
Graphic Design Certificate
8 years of teaching in Elementary School
3 years Reading and Math Intervention
READ Act Certified
7 years teaching group art classes
Mrs. Halcomb
HODIE MATERIA FAC
Make Today Matter
UPPER SCHOOL
Learning Coach, french & german
4 years experience in education instruction
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Mr. Lundt
scientia sit potentia
Knowledge is Power
UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE
Science Olympiad Coach
BS: Science, Avian Science + 120 hrs
CO Licensed: Secondary Science, Biological
35 years experience teaching Science
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Mrs. Mancha
Tene Veritatem et Quaere Sapientiam
Hold to truth and seek wisdom
School of Rhetoric English Language Arts
BA: English & Sign Language
MFA: Creative Writing/Screenplay
MA: Rhetoric & Gothic Lit.
6 years teaching at the college & secondary levels.
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Ms. Millar
Ut Nostra Admiratio Numquam Marcescet.
May our sense of wonder never fade.
School of Logic English Language Arts
BA: English Literature
7 years experience in Secondary Education
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Mr. Pekron
Nil Difficile Volenti
Nothing is difficult for the willing.
UPPER SCHOOL SPANISH, Athletic Director
BS: PHYSICAL EDUCATION
MA: SPORTS ADMINISTRATION
CO Licensed:
K-12 World Languages, PE
27 years teaching Spanish & PE
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MRS. PETTY
OMNE AURUM NON FULGET
All that is gold does not glitter
Upper School: Engineering/Math
BS: Electrical Engineering
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MRS. PRIEST
COGITO ERGO SUM
Do All Things With Your Best Effort
School of Logic Math. Department Chair STEM
BS: Elementary Education
CO Licensed: Math 6-8, Read Act
9 years experience: teaching
Middle School Math, Team Lead,
MTSS Coach/Interventionist
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Ms. Richardson
Amor et humor sunt lumina quae lectionem consilia illustrant
Love and humor are the lights that illuminate the lesson plan
6th & 7th Grade Science
Math
BA: Teaching
Certified Teacher
25+ Graduate school hours
5 years educational experience
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Mr. Schaefer
Si Furturum est, mihi agendum est
If it's to be, it's up to me!
School of Logic History
Mr. Snelus
Quid sit Optimum ad Bigas
Do what's best for the team
Upper School Construction, Smithing, Woodworking & Welding
Mrs. Stabenow
Arte instrue te misericordia moveare
Be equipped with skill and moved with compassion
Upper School Health Science
BS: Nursing, BS: Biology
Licensed Registered Nurse
25 years: critical care, emergency & occupational health
Teaching experience, CPR, ACLS
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Mrs. Strole
Questae Rectae omina mutare possunt
Having the right mindset can change everything
Upper School
Latin Coach/Vet Sci Instructor
AAS Degree
11 years educational experience
Ms. Trude
UPPER SCHOOL Science, English, intervention
Nosce te ipsum
Know thyself
MS in Education
14 years teaching over 10 different subjects across 6 grades
Licensed in 3 states, including CO
Leadership Development Cert
Certified Assoc in Project Mgt
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Mrs. Viele
Difficultates eadem manent, intellectus tuus crescit
Problems don't change — your understanding does
UPPER SCHOOL Math
4th year at Merit, BS in Engineering, Project Management Certifications. More than 20 years as systems engineer & Project manager for imaging and workflow solutions
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Ms. Wilson
Tu numquam vetulae discere aliquid novi
You are never too old to learn something new
Upper School Math
BS Business Entrepreneurship
MA Curriculum & Instruction: 05/26
2 years experience teaching Mathematics
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Mr. Wilson
Musicam discere per disciplinam et gaudium
Learning music through discipline and fun
Upper School Band
BA Miusic
20 years teaching music
12 years as college adjunct professor
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Mr. Demuth
Capto Vitea Der Furca
Grab Life by the Fork
Upper School Culinary Arts
AA OS/Culinary Arts from from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Le Cordon Bleu
20 years experience in culinary arts, including catering weddings and large-scale fine dining
Mr. Kinton
Nihil ausum, nihil adeptum
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
UPPER SCHOOL Outdoor Education,
Cross Country/Track Coach
BS Computer Science
MBA
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MRS. PETERSON-HIRSCH
Totus mundus agit histrionem
All the world plays the actor
UPPER SCHOOL Theater
MA: Teaching, Literature & Communications
BA: Media Studies
A.A.S. Music & VisualTechnology
37 years educational experience
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM
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Ms. Martin
& Chief
Illic 'aliquid in mundo necessitates unique in te
There's something unique within you the world needs
Behavior & Character Coach
Family Development Credential, Registered Behavior Trainer (RBT) Certification, Certified Cognitive Behavioral Life Coach, Emotional Intelligence Life Coach Certification, Certified National Alliance on Mental Illness Instructor for NAMI
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MRS. Kaufmann
Fiat lux
Let there be light
Quality Assurance Officer
MA: Education & Distance Learning
CO Licensed: K-6, Elementary Ed Endorsement, ELL Endorsement
21 years in Education & Higher Education
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Mrs. Lockette
Parum Magna Caritate
Do little things with great love
Department Chair Special Services, MTSS, UIP, ALP, READ Plans, SAC
BA: Elementary Education
MS: Curriculum & Instruction
Principal Endorsement
Certified Elementary Teacher
6-12 Science Teacher
K-12 Reading Interventionist & School Principal
Science CMAS Developer 2017- 2019
23 years education experience
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Mrs. Montgomery
Cursum Manere
Stay the course
Testing & Technology Coordinator
BS: Human Development
4 years educational experience
Mrs. Smith
Per severantiam progredimur
Through perseverance, we progress
Upper School
Academic Advisor
BA: Biology, MS: Education
7+ years teaching Special Education, Adult, & Alternative Education
Over 2 years in college/career advising
2 years wildlife rehab experience
Ms. Johanneck
Upper School Special Education Teacher
BA: Elementary Education
CO License, READ Act, SPED Certified
30 years Veterinary Medicine
7 years teaching Upper School levels
Ms. McFarland
Ego elige gaudium
I choose joy
School of Grammar Special Education Teacher
BA: Liberal Arts
CO License Early Elementary Education, READ Act, SPED Certified
25 years experience in education
PK Director Certification
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Ms. Winn
Numquam numquam
numquam desistas
Never, never, never give up
Homeschool Coordinator, Intervention
BA: Theology
BA: Elementary Education
Prior License (AZ) Elementary Ed
17 years experience in Public/Private/Charter/Homeschool
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Ms. Meyers
Hodie, i eligere gaudium
Today, I choose joy!
School of Grammar
Interventionist
BS: Interdisciplinary Studies- Elementary Education
Minor: Early Childhood Education
MRS. RACZKOWSKI
Fruere quod hodie adfert
Enjoy what today brings you.
READING SPECIALIST
MS: Education; Take Flight Certification
CO Licensed Elementary Ed, READ Act
PK Director Certificate
Certified Academic Language Practitioner
17 years teaching PK-6th grade
MRS. CRAMER
MOTUS FACIT COGNITA
Movement Facilitates Learning
Math & Movement Teacher
BA: Theater Arts
MA: Counseling
Colorado READ Act
Certified Teacher in
Education through Movement
Trained Consultant: Math in Movement
25 years teaching experience K-12
Administrative & Building Support Staff
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MRS. ROTH
Risus contagiosus
Laughter is contagious
Front Office & Attendance Secretary
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Mrs. Elzas
Esto Lux
Be the light
Front Office Secretary
Girls Basketball Coach
Woodland Park resident for 33 yrs Coaching with the Parks/Rec, club teams, and local church camps for many years has helped me build relationships with families.
Mrs. Fry
Fruere te ipsum, serius quam putas
Enjoy yourself,
its later than you think
NURSE
Registered Nurse
BS: Nursing
16 years Nursing Experience
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Mrs. Tally
Esto Robustus: Amare, Credere, Perseverare
Be Courageous: Love, Believe, Perservere
Accounts Payable
Finance Consultant
BS: Business Administration
MA: Accoutning
Licensed CPA
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MR. HUNTER
Credo to Fortes
Believe you are brave
Monitor School of Grammar/Logic/Rhetoric
16 years experience with youth
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MR. TOM
Maintenance & Custodian
5 years School Custodian
15 years Construction
Electrical apprentice
5 years security & surveillance
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