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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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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

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aut viam inveniam aut faciam

I will  either find a way or make one

HEADMASTER

Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

25 years in Education/Higher Education

Specialty: Change Management, Organizational Development, Communication, Leadership Development, Team Cohesion, & Performance

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Quod consumit animum tuum dominatur vita tua

What consumes your mind controls your life

DEAN OF UPPER SCHOOL & 4TH GRADE  TEACHER

M.Ed. Special Education

CO license: K-12 SPED, Elementary Ed

READ Act, Principal's license

17 years experience: teacher/principal

SCHOOL OF GRAMMAR
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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

16 years teaching experience

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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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Surgimus elevando alios

We rise by lifting others

1ST GRADE & Teacher Mentor

BS: Early Education

CO License in K-6, READ Act

30 years teaching experience in elementary education

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Ludere non desinimus quod senescere senescit quia ludere desinimus

We don't stop playing because we grow old.

We grow old because we stop playing

1ST GRADE

BA: Elementary Ed;

MA: Special Education;

CO License: Elementary Ed,

K-12 Sped, READ Act

21 years experience teaching

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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

2 years teaching experience in elementary education

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2nd GRADE

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3Rd GRADE

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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Frui agimus

Enjoy the ride

3rd GRADE

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CO License in K-6, READ Act

12 years teaching experience in K-5 elementary education

Qui docere audet, semper discit

Who dares to teach must

never cease to learn.

5TH GRADE

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K-9 MUSIC

BS:Music Education

CO Licensed: Music K-12

11 years experience teaching Music

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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

Vacate et cognoscite

Be Still and Know

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Nutrimentum creativity et integritas

Nurture creativity and integrity

ART

BA: Liberal Arts & Elementary Education

CO Licensed: K-6, Reading

Writing, Communication

*PD  for Art Endorsement

15 years teaching experience

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Ubi amor est vita est

Where there is love, there is life

PARAEDUCATOR, PRIMARILY K-2

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Numquam numquam

numquam desistas

Never, never, never give up

PARAEDUCATOR, PRIMARILY 3-5

BA: Theology

BA: Elementary Education

Prior License (AZ) Elementary Ed

7 years teaching elementary

UPPER SCHOOL: SCHOOLS OF LOGIC & RHETORIC
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confortare et esto robustus

Be strong and courageous

UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY

BA: Elementary Education

MA: History, Emphasis in Education

CO Teaching License;

College Level Eligible

17 years teaching experience

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Si non paras, reparabis

If you don't prepare, you will repair

UPPER SCHOOL & CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT (COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES)

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS

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Memento vivere

Remember to Live

UPPER SCHOOL

LANGUAGE ARTS

BA: Elementary Education

M.Ed: Literacy

CO Licensed: ESL, Language Arts, &

Social Science

5 years teaching experience at college level

6 years teaching experience secondary level

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scientia sit potentia

Knowledge is Power

UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE

BS: Science, Avian Science + 120 hrs

CO LIcensed: Secondary Science, Biological

32 years experience teaching Science

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Nil Difficile Volenti

Nothing is difficult for the willing.

UPPER SCHOOL SPANISH

ACTIVITIES/ATHLETICS

BS: PHYSICAL EDUCATION

MS: SPORTS ADMINISTRATION

CO Licensed: K-12 World Languages,

Physical Education

26 years teaching grades 6-12

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COGITO ERGO SUM

Do All Things With Your Best Effort

UPPER SCHOOL MATH

BS: Elementary Education

CO Licensed: Math 6-8, Read Act

8 years experience: teaching

Middle School Math, PLC, Team Lead,

MTSS Coach/Interventionist

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nisi in veritate possit esse bonitas

Only in truth can there be goodness

UPPER SCHOOL

INSTRUCTIONAL COACH

CO Substitute License

Passed PRAXIS Teacher's Exam: Math

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Possunt quia posse videntur.

They can because they think they can.

UPPER SCHOOL LATIN (REMOTE)

MA: Latin

Prior Education License: CO & VA

17 years teaching K-12

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Vide cor tuum,

non oculos tuos

See with your heart, not your eyes

READING COACH

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Passed CO Reading PRAXIS,

CO READ Act

UPPER SCHOOL

CHOIR DIRECTOR

MRS. HARPER

VOCAL COACH

MRS. KJELDSEN

UPPER SCHOOL:

BAND DIRECTOR & 

INTRO TO LOGIC

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MRS. PETERSON-HIRSCH

SENTIO ME RUGIRE

I feel I'm going to roar

UPPER SCHOOL & HOMESCHOOL (3RD-9TH):

PERFORMING ARTS

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MRS. HALCOMB

HODIE MATERIA FAC

Make Today Matter

UPPER SCHOOL:

LANGUAGE LAB PARAPROFESSIONAL

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Vivite et vivite abundanter

Have life and live it abundantly

PE/SCIENCE

BS: Elementary Education

OK License K-8

7 years teaching & coaching experience

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OMNE AURUM NON FULGET

All that is gold does not glitter

LEARNING COACH:

UPPER SCHOOL STEM

BS: Electrical Engineering

STUDENT & ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT STAFF
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beatius est magis dare

quam accipere

It is more blessed to give than receive

director of student support

special education

BA: Communication & Theater, emphasis in Secondary Education

M.Ed.: Special Education

CO LIcensed: Special Education IModerate Needs, 5-21, ELA 7-12th

11 years teaching experience

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Ego tamen discendi

I am still learning

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

MS: Family Studies

CO LIcensed: Special Education 5-21, ELA 7-12th , ELL

28 years teaching experience

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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

16 years teaching PK-6th grade

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MRS. CRAMER

MOTUS FACIT COGNITA

Movement Facilitates Learning

LEARNING COACH

MA: Counseling

Certified Teacher in

Education through Movement

Trained Consultant: Math in Movement

22 years teaching experience k-12

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MRS. MONTGOMERY

Rei benignitas

Kindness Matters

BEHAVIOR/KINDNESS COACH

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Laetare in itinere

Find Joy in the Journey

BEHAVIORAL COACH

MRS. DALTON

SCIENCE: TA

MS. FRYE

STUDENT SUPPORT

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LAETITIA

JOY

STUDENT SUPPORT

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Numquam ne quis te coruscent hebes

Never let anyone dull your sparkle

LIBRARY/LEARNING COACH

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MRS. WHITE

Da hilari corde

Give with a cheerful heart

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

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virtus, cor meum

Courage, Dear Heart

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

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Risus contagiosus

Laughter is contagious

HEALTH AIDE

MR. TOM

BELOVED FACILITIES MANAGER

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MR. HUNTER

CAMPUS MONITOR

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