About
Who we are.
OurTeam
Administrators & School Operations
Instructional Staff & Student Support
School Administration
About Kate Bergles
Kate Bergles is excited to join the SOAR team as principal. Prior to SOAR, Kate worked as a principal in a K-8 charter school, in a middle school and as an assistant principal in the high school setting. She has served in leadership roles in education for the past 25 years all across the metro Denver area. Kate graduated from Colorado State University with a Masters degree in German Language and Literature. She also graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Masters degree in Education Administration and Leadership. She earned a Director of Special Education certification from the University of Northern Colorado. Kate believes all learners deserve a guaranteed curriculum, effective teaching and a positive school culture that will give them a foundation in literacy, math, science, and critical thinking to prepare them for successful futures. Kate invites you to join the SOAR team on the education journey with your children. Please come in, sit down and talk with us. Attend our events, volunteer, participate and communicate with the team at your school. SOAR belongs to all of us -my door is always open.
About Sonia Sisneros
Sonia has been a part of the SOAR team since it was founded in 2010, starting as a community partner during the school’s planning year. Sonia has supported and led SOAR’s evolution from a small start-up to one of the highest performing community based elementary schools in far northeast Denver. Her work at SOAR has varied from supporting classroom teachers to managing the school’s budget, human resources and leadership in legal services. Sonia’s interest in education is based in child advocacy and comprehensive school operations. Sonia attended Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver earning her certification in Business Ethics and Financial Analytics. In 2015, Sonia earned her law degree from the University of Denver in Social Sciences, and later that year she was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children (CASA). Sonia went on to finish her Principal Residency Program with Catapult School Leadership (CSL Colorado) in 2016. Sonia has an incredible family! Her son is an architect, CU Boulder graduate and her daughter is a vibrant artist, currently CSU. Go Buffs! Go Rams! Sonia and her husband enjoy their time together as empty nesters, exploring the city’s art district, taking in the outdoors and traveling whenever possible.
About Christi Goetz
Christi has worked in education for over 14 years as a general education teacher, English Language Acquisition teacher leader and most recently assistant principal. Christi graduated with her B.A. from University of Nebraska and started her teaching career in Omaha before moving to Colorado in 2006. While teaching Christi continued her education to complete a Linguistically Diverse Endorsement at Concordia University and then Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, from the University of Colorado. Since moving to Colorado in 2006 Christi worked in Aurora as a teacher, coach and administrator. All of her educational experience has been at schools serving students from diverse backgrounds, passionate about ensuring an equitable education for all students. Christi is looking forward to getting back to coaching and working alongside teachers to develop their Language Acquisition understandings so that they can best support their Language Learners. She is very excited to be joining the SOAR community!
Office/Operations Staff
About Araceli Quezada-Rodriguez
Araceli has worked with SOAR since 2012, initially as the Office Manager at SOAR@Oakland. Araceli moved to SOAR@GVR in 2014 and immediately enjoyed her work with families, teachers and students. Araceli truly enjoys working at the front desk because it allows for her to support everyone and that is what is most important to her. Before working with SOAR, She worked in the Oakland Elementary School office and prior to that she was at the Montebello High School office. Living and working in our community has enabled her to get to know a lot of the families in our area. Araceli enjoy seeing students and their families when she is out with her own family. Araceli is from Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. While visiting Colorado 27 years ago she fell in love with the Mile High City and decided to make it her home. Araceli and her husband have two children and a grandson and they are very proud to call the Far Northeast area home. When Araceli is not at work you can find her going to the movies, traveling and once in while enjoying some time in the mountains.
About Derek Begun
Mr. Derek is back! Derek is a Colorado native who started with SOAR in 2013 as the director of the before and after school daycare and quickly was hired on to work at SOAR directly. He has had many different positions at SOAR, Recess Coach, Cheer Coach, Paraprofessional and even was the Theatre teacher for half a year. In 2017 Derek moved with his husband to Utah to be near family, but just after 2 years they were ready to move back. He is so excited to be back and in a new position as the Health Aide to our student community. In his down time, you will see Derek playing competitive Nintendo, camping, and is also a freelance makeup artist.
"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today"
Malcom X
About Christopher Landis
Chris comes to us from Full Duplex, Inc. where he is a contracted IT Coordinator, and has been the IT Coordinator at SOAR since 2014. He has a passion for technology and education, and works tirelessly to ensure that students, teachers, and staff have access to the latest technology and support. A man of mystery, Chris is known for his exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to solve any technical issue with ease. In his free time, you might find Chris tinkering with his latest tech gadgets, playing video games, or spending time with his family and friends.
About Amy Twardowski
Amy Twardowski has been working in schools for 17 years. She has taught every grade from Kindergarten through 6th grade, and has also served in other roles including Instructional Coach and Interventionist. In addition, she spent one school year teaching in Africa where she supported young college students who were studying to become teachers. In July 2018, Amy moved to Denver from Chicago where she was born and raised. She loves hiking, camping, traveling, yoga, and reading. Amy is thrilled to be joining the SOAR community and is ready to get back into the adventure of a Kindergarten classroom!
About Catherine Erb
About Britany Valentine
Brittany moved here from New Hampshire, where she has been teaching for the past ten years. She graduated from Lyndon State College, in Vermont, with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Brittany has taught second, fourth, and fifth grade. She is excited to be teaching kindergarten this coming school year! When Brittany is not teaching, she spends her time traveling, hiking, and skiing. She is excited to explore Colorado with her boyfriend and dog, Maple.
About Alexandria Kehrberg
Hello! My name is Alexandria Kehrberg and I am so excited to join the 1st grade team at SOAR elementary. This is will be my fourth year teaching and all in first grade. I am originally from the Midwest where I attended North Dakota State University for my undergrad in Elementary Education and University of North Dakota for my graduate degree in Leadership and Curriculum. I recently moved to Denver with my 2-year-old goldendoodle, Maya May. We are big fans of being outside and staying active!
About Diane
Diane grew up on the beaches of North Carolina where she fell in love with the ocean and outdoor adventures. She has recently moved to the beautiful city of Denver and is enjoying the beauty of the mountains. Diane has always had a passion for helping people, which aligns perfectly with education. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. It was there in Charlotte where she began her teaching career. In her free time Diane is reading, cooking, doing yoga, at a local concert, or watching scary movies! Feel free to reach out and say hello.
About Renee Gillette
Renee was born and raised in Wisconsin. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She has been teaching for the past five years, spending three years in third grade and the last two years in first grade. Renee recently moved to Denver and is excited to explore all that Colorado has to offer. She is looking forward to joining the SOAR team!
About Jennifer Chacon
Jen was born in Southern California. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and her teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton. Her first job was in the Bay Area where she spent the last seven years teaching grades Kindergarten to Third Grade. After teaching in the Bay Area Jen made the move to Colorado is extremely excited to be teaching 1st grade at SOAR!
About Diane
Juliet Taylor received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Trinity University in May of 2012. She started her career in advertising and marketing and made the leap to a teaching job with Dallas Independent School District in 2014. Ms. Taylor has taught for 7 years and loves seeing children grow, learn and develop their own personal educational interests. Her teachers instilled a love of learning in her and she hopes to inspire the same love of learning in all of her students. Her career in education includes being part of an Innovative Teaching fellowship through which she collaborated with colleagues, studied blended learning strategies and visited schools in Washington D.C. She loves exploring the outdoors, yoga, reading about science, hiking, skiing, checking out new restaurants with friends and relaxing with her cat and partner in crime, Pinky.
About Susma Mishra
Susma Mishra will be joining SOAR's second-grade team this school year. Susma was born in Nepal and moved to Colorado when she was 9 years old. Susma has a Bachelor's degree in "STEM in Education" and a Master's degree in "Elementary Education and Literacy for K-6" grades. She attended the Metropolitan State University of Denver for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Susma received her Bachelor's degree at the age of 20 in 2019 and her Master's degree at 21 in 2020, which made her one of the youngest people to graduate from the program in 2020. In 2020, she also received her Real Estate license. In her two years of teaching, she has taught first grade and second grade in DPS. Being a bilingual and immigrant, Susma has a great passion for teaching and believes in the importance of education. Susma also believes that all children can learn when they are provided with the correct support and tools. In her spare time, Susma loves to ride her bike and travel. Susma loves new experiences and meeting new people so please don't forget to stop by!
About Danny Thornton
After spending six years in Minnesota, Danny Thornton is returning to his home state of Colorado to teach third grade at SOAR Elementary. Danny comes to us with three years of teaching experience, working as a math specialist in the Minneapolis Public School District and teaching fourth grade at a public charter school in the St. Paul Public School District. He graduated from Colorado State University in 2009 with a degree in history and continued his education by completing a teacher licensure program at Hamline University in St. Paul in 2014. Outside of the classroom, Danny enjoys taking walks with his wife and their dog Judge, playing soccer, and cheering for the Denver Broncos. Danny is a pizza enthusiast and is known for his colorful bow ties. A former student once said, “Mr. Thornton has the coolest voice – it’s deep and echoey and melodious – he’s going to be great!” Danny is excited to be a part of the SOAR family!
About Jessica Metzler
Jessica is a proud graduate of Denver Public Schools and is very excited to continue teaching at a great school like SOAR in her hometown. She attended the University of Colorado, Boulder where she earned a degree in Political Science and will be receiving her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in August 2020. Before joining SOAR, she taught preschool and kindergarten at a school in southwest Denver. When she is not teaching, she can be found spending time with her family, playing outside with her son Charlie, and spending time with her dogs.
About Tracy Coleman
Tracy was born and raised in a suburb just north of Chicago and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from The University of Illinois. She moved to Denver 19 years ago and fell in love with the mountains and all that Colorado has to offer. After working as a paraprofessional for nine years and discovering a passion for teaching, Tracy went back to school to earn a teaching license and Masters in Education degree. In her free time, Tracy enjoys reading, exploring the great outdoors, and spending time with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and cat named Fred. This is Tracy’s third year teaching third grade at SOAR.
About Marsha
About Courtney
Courtney has been an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas for the past 5 years. She is originally from Kansas City, Missouri, but moved to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas and received a Bachelor's degree in Pre-Childhood Education. While in college, Courtney was also a member of the dance team there all four years of schooling for all sports. Courtney has one younger brother who is also attending the University of Arkansas for a degree in Accounting. Some of Courtney's interests are taking her two dogs to the park, traveling with her family, anything regarding Disney, and exploring new places. With that being said, she's very excited to move to Denver and be a fourth grade teacher this year.
About Katie
About Banner
About Lindsay Burns
I am a California native, but have been in Colorado for six years. I have been teaching for over ten years and I have been in education for twenty. I am a mother of two boys, but I also have two cats and a dog. When I’m not working and taking care of my boys I am hiking in the mountains or reading my favorite fantasy novel. I love inspiring students to think critically and work through academic challenges when the learning gets hard.
About Emili Goodson
About Nancy Cruse
Nancy was born and raised in Indiana where she attended Ball State University and earned a degree in Elementary Education. There she confirmed her passion for teaching and went on to pursue her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. Considering herself a life-long learner, she went on to pursue her Ed.D in Educational Leadership from Northcentral University. Nancy began her teaching career in Indiana for 15 years before relocating to Denver to experience the great outdoors and beautiful scenery. This will be her first year at SOAR and she is ecstatic to be part of such a stellar school community family. When she is not teaching, Nancy relishes small moments with family and friends. She has five sons that she is very proud of and dotes upon. A long-time passion for music, laughter and learning have encompassed Nancy’s passion for teaching and students. “Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”(Rita Pierson)
About Kristin Hahn
Beginning at a young age, Kristin knew she wanted to be a teacher just like her mom. Some of her favorite memories from childhood include helping in her classroom. Kristin grew up in Texas, Iowa, and Utah. She graduated college from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction where she pursued her education degree. After graduation, she moved to Denver to begin her teaching career and has been here for the past eleven years. She has her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado Denver and completed her Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Endorsement this summer. She has a passion for helping young students develop a love for literacy. Her husband and two kids keep her busy at the park, swimming, playing soccer, and of course reading lots of books! Kristin enjoys cooking, dancing, working out, trying new restaurants, and traveling.
About Erinjean Patrick
Erinjean Jewell Patrick began her career by following her passion for the performing arts and teaching theatre from a young age. She received her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University in Music Performance. After performing nationally, her love for teaching began to grow as she became a resident teaching artist in schools all over New York City. Ej then graduated from The City College of New York with a Masters in Educational Theatre. After moving to Denver in 2013, she joined Teach for America to obtain her license in Special Education. Ej has been a teacher at SOAR since 2013. Recently, she received her certification as a Arts Integration Specialist. She is excited to be continuing her journey at SOAR supporting students and teachers integrate the arts and bring joy to each students learning.
About Beth Davenport
Hello and greetings from the east coast. I grew up in the Appalachian Mts of Maine and am ready for the Rockies! I've been in education for over 15 yrs and continue the love of learning! I've been a classroom teacher for grades 3, 4, and 5 and for the last five years I have been a Title 1 Reading Specialist for grades K-5 in Northern Virginia. I am thrilled to be joining the SOAR team and am very excited to be a part of SOAR's growing community!
About Madelline Gebhardt
I have been teaching for the past 7 years, with experience in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms. I am originally from Missouri, and moved to Denver about 4 years ago to work in Denver Public Schools. I have my Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction, with an action research focus on Math Education. I am passionate about teaching math, and am thrilled to work with the teachers and students at SOAR surrounding mathematics instruction! I can't wait to get started and to meet all of you in person this fall! I hope you have a great end to your school year and a relaxing summer vacation! -Madelline Gebhardt
About Tova Sarrow
I am thrilled to join your team at Soar Elementary School. I began my educational career as a classroom teacher, and advanced into a hybrid ESL teaching and coaching role. Most recently, I obtained my Principal License and worked as the Dean of Instruction at Green Valley Elementary School, in DPS. My passions include cultural inclusivity and positive school culture. I enjoy collaborating with others, inspiring students, and making learning fun. I live downtown with my 2 cats (Edward and Wyatt) and my Bichpoo, Comet. On my time off, I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, hanging out with friends, and relaxing at home. I’m excited to meet and work with each of you!
About Maggie McCaffrey
Maggie is thrilled to be joining the SOAR team this year! She has lived in Austin and taught Special Education there for 6 years before relocating to Denver in June.
Exploring the area with her dog, Gatsby, and her three year old niece has kept her busy since arriving. Maggie received her Bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Oswego, known for its stellar education program. After attending college, Maggie taught 4th grade in Gastonia, NC, a suburb of Charlotte. This is where she developed her passion for working with students with special needs. Maggie is surrounded by her friends and family in Denver and is excited to see what else the city has to offer!
About Carmen
About Jessica Brouillettte
My name is Jessica Brouillette and I have lived in Colorado for almost 3 years. Before moving to Colorado I lived in New England where I graduated from Bradford Christian Academy in 2012 and am currently finishing up my Bachelor of Arts in Children and Family ministry at Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill, Massachusetts. I have been working in special needs for a little over 4 years with a lot of knowledge in ABA. I’m so excited to be an employee at SOAR and get to know all the amazing staff and kids
About Buseje Jackson
Buseje joined our team on January 9th. Her time is split between the center program, SPED and general education. Buseje brings several years of experience in supporting students with disabilities, providing direct instruction, as well as assisting case managers in the development of students goals and the IEP writing process.
About Jamie Wieck
My name is Jamie Wieck and I am moving from Chicago, Illinois to the beautiful city of Denver
this summer. I have been an educator and a school counselor for the past 15 years and truly
love what I do! I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana where I received my Bachelor’s in Education at
Indiana University Fort Wayne and my Masters in School Counseling from University of Saint
Francis. I have always had a passion and drive to help all students succeed. My goal as a
school counselor is to help all students discover themselves as learners, advocate for self and
others, and become leaders at school and in their communities. I was excited to be given this
opportunity at SOAR because their mission and values align greatly with my own. I’m very
excited to be a part of this amazing team and build a counseling program that we will all be
proud of. I am currently a mom to two girls, ages 15 months and 4 years old. I’m excited to
show them the amazing places of Colorado and help them with their educational journey in
Denver as well. In my spare time, I love spending time with my family and going on little
adventures locally and across the globe. I can’t wait to explore more of what Colorado has to
offer!
About Megan Marulli
Hi all! My name is Megan Marulli and I am beyond excited to be the School Social Worker at SOAR! To tell you a little about myself, I was born in Rochester, New York where I lived with my mother, father and three siblings. After high school, I longed for independence (classic teenager) and attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh for my bachelor’s degree and then down to the SUNY Albany where I earned my master’s degree in social work. After graduate school I relocated to Vermont, where I worked for two years as a school based Clinician for a trauma informed therapeutic program for students in kindergarten through six grade. On July 2nd, 2019, my partner and I relocated to Denver, Colorado for another great adventure! In case you were wondering, there is more traffic here than the country roads in Vermont! In my free time you can find me traveling to new states, national parks, and whipping up some food in the kitchen. I look forward to meeting the SOAR family, let the fun begin! Happy 2019-2020 school year!
About Brooke
Hello, my name is Brooke Ware. I am a Colorado native. My son just turned 1 years old in January, so my life is pretty busy! I am currently attending GCU getting my BS in Sociology. It’s been my dream to become a School Social Worker but things have changed. After working in education for 6 years both public and residential, I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to work towards my teaching license. I am excited to expand my experience with working one on one with a student but also getting to know all the students. This is my first year working in DPS, can’t wait to see the culture and education it provides for the families and community.
About Katie Swenson
Katie Swenson is a Colorado native with a bachelors degree in performing arts from Colorado State University. She began working with SOAR in January 2018, teaching dance to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, by way of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Educational Outreach Program. Dance has been an integral part of her life for 28 years, during which she trained and performed with Rennie Harris Grass Roots Project, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Moraporvida Contemporary Dance, and Impact Dance Company. Katie has always enjoyed utilizing dance and its methods as malleable tools used for holistic wellness, and in 2014 she co-produced and co-directed BlackListed, a project focused on transforming perceptions of personal deficits into growth-geared mentality. More recently, as a co-founder of In the House, she hosted workshops taught by prominent hip hop and house dance educators, contributing to the edification of the Denver dance community. Katie is very excited to continue teaching dance through her partnership with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and SOAR.
About Kathleen Weber
Kathleen Weber is thrilled to return to Colorado to teach at SOAR Elementary! Previously, Kathleen taught high school P.E. & Wellness at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL, from 2007-2022. In addition, she taught at Manhattan Middle School in Boulder, CO, from 2005-2007, and Wilmette Junior High School from 2004-2005 in Wilmette, IL. She loves to create meaningful connections with her students and share her passions of movement, well-being, and health.
Kathleen's education background consists of a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Teaching P.E. & Health from Concordia University- River Forest. She is also a Certified Strength Coach (NSCA-CSCS) and Yoga Instructor (RYT-200). This past December, Kathleen finished her Precision Nutrition Coaching Certification.
In her free time, Kathleen loves exercising, traveling, spending time outside, attending sporting events, going to concerts, and learning Spanish. Miss Kathleen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her 5 nephews and 2 nieces!
About Jennifer Russo
Originally from upstate New York, Jennifer has lived in the Denver area for the last several years. She knew at an early age that being an art educator was the career for her. She has taught in varied environments, including enrichment, traditional, parochial, and year-round. She has a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, which enhances her work with her students. She has two children of her own, both teenagers, and in her free time, she enjoys creating art, shopping and hiking. She is excited to continue her work at SOAR, providing students with a well-rounded and rich art education, encompassing varied media, art history, multiple applications and instilling a lifelong knowledge and appreciation of Art.
About Lakisha Wortham
Hello, my name is Lakisha Wortham. I was born in Jackson, TN but move to Colorado 11 years ago with my family. My career in childcare has led me to work with children of all ages for 15 years. During my career I have worked as a lead teacher, assistant teacher and bus driver in a childcare setting. I enjoy doing photography, making hair bows, and DIY projects during my spare time. I’m excited to be working with the students in my community.
About Dulce Salazar
Hello! My name is Dulce Salazar. I enjoy working here at SOAR Elementary school. I have been working in early education for about 8 years and two years in special education. I enjoy working with children of all ages. In my free time I enjoy dancing and going out with my family
About Angela Vallejos
My name is Angela and I am elated to be coming back to SOAR this school year! I’ve been working with children for about five years and it is absolutely my passion to help the children in my community to expand their knowledge. I graduated from Montbello high school in 2012, and have lived in Colorado all my adult life. I am so excited to work with not only my students but all of you in the community. In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with my family, friends and my two kitties (Koda and Nani). I can’t wait to begin the year with you all!
About Paola Reyes-Badillo
Hola! My name is Paola. I was born in Mexico but raised in Denver, Colorado. I graduated from Montbello High School. My passion for working with kids started about 4 years ago when I was working at a school at their afterschool program. I love working with children of my community. In my free time I like to eat, spend time with my family, try new restaurants, being outdoors, and enjoy life.
About Kiara Griffin
My name is Kiara Griffin. I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I am currently a junior at MSU Denver working to get my bachelor’s degree in biology. This is my first year working in education, and I am excited to learn how to be a great teacher and improve my skills as a paraprofessional. Working in an environment with children has always been something I knew I would like to do, and since I am finally here I promise to work as hard as possible to help your child receive the best education.
About Keeshawn
About Jake Myers
Jake comes to SOAR with several years of experience as a special education paraprofessional. Jake has his bachelor’s degree in psychology and is new to Denver, coming from Cheyenne, WY.
About Dannia Herrera
Hi everyone, my name is Dannia Herrera. You may know me as Ms. D from the before and after school program. I worked in the B&A care field for 6 years. My Goal is to be an Elementary Teacher in the next two years! I enjoy spending time in the mountains, there are so many beautiful places to visit. I love spending time with my family and friends. My favorite animals are horses, they are intelligent and self-spirited. This is my first year with SOAR as a Paraprofessional, and I am excited to be part of the team!
About Tabitha Conner
Hello, my name is Tabitha Conner. I was born in Kentucky, but raised in Virginia. I have a BA in musical theatre and dance, but have been working with children for 13 years. This will be my first year in a school environment and I am so excited to join the SOAR family. Working with children has been a passion my entire life and I promise to give my best to yours everyday.
About Marquita Hall
Marquita is a native of Colorado who served the NNE community at Clayton Early Learning for 7.5 years. Those final 2.5 years Marquita completed her B.A in Early Childhood Education at Colorado Christian University. With degree in hand she felt it was time to make the shift to public school, to bring her love for serving children and families in an whole child whole family capacity. 2022-2023 will be her second year here at SOAR. When Marquita is not at work you can find her enjoying her time with her daughter and cat, her 3 younger siblings and niece and nephews. Her favorite past time when she is not with her family is taking Bachata lessons.
About Samuel Thomas
Greetings! My name is Sam Thomas and I am very excited to be joining the SOAR Elementary family this school year! I am from Washington, DC and I have worked in education primarily in the Autism community for many years now. Crazy how time flies! I am so excited to join this great team of educators and I look forward to learning and growing with you.
Some of my favorite things to do are running, camping and listening to music. My all time favorite musician is Kid Cudi. I also really enjoy reading. My choice for my favorite book is always changing so currently my favorite book is The Dude and the Zen Master by Jeff Bridges and Bernie Glassman.
Thank you so much for welcoming me to SOAR and I look forward to working with and learning more about this great community.
Thanks!
About Celene
Hello, my name is Celene Salazar, I’m so excited to join the SOAR family. I was born in Los Angeles, CA but moved to Colorado 1 year ago with my family. I enjoy working with children of my community. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and going on adventures.
About Yaeslin Meran
Yas subbed for SOAR and joined SOAR on January 3rd as instructional assistant. she is supporting phonics for reading in 3rd grade as well as recess.
About Katherine Martin
Hello! My name is Katherine Martin but please, call me Kat! I am a native to Colorado, having been born in the mountains of Aspen Colorado and growing up in the surrounding area of Snowmass Village and Glenwood Springs. I grew up riding horses and competing at local shows until I moved to Denver in 2008. I attended Colorado Mesa University (formally Mesa State College), and then transferred to MSU Denver where I received my Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. My love for teaching started when I was an assistant riding instructor while in high school. I taught children as young as five years and adults far older than myself to safely ride horses. I didn’t start teaching in the classroom until I started substitute teaching in 2018. I was also a 5th and 6th grade paraprofessional at another charter school for the last year and a half.
During my free time I enjoy hanging out with my husband and our two cats. I also enjoy learning to cook new recipes, going to the movies, hanging out with close friends, and reading! I hope to one day have a horse again. I am very excited to be a apart of the SOAR family!
About Iwona
About Marissa Salas
I am a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver studying Special Education. I have worked with children for roughly 5 years and am so excited to be joining the SOAR team in the Autism Center Program!
In my free time I enjoy hiking, cooking and spending time with my family. I look forward to working with you all!
About Nancy Retes
I am very excited to be part of the SOAR family this year. I attended Cal State Dominguez Hills University and received my bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Spanish. I worked in the Special Education field for 18 years. I have training in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and implemented it in schools, clinics, and home settings. I've been an instructional assistant in a Special Education Autism Center for ten years between preschool and high school, a behavior interventionist, a Resource Specialist Assistant, Special Education clerk, and Special Education case manager teacher for elementary, middle, and high school. I was in charge of the schools' compliance with LAUSD ( Los Angeles Unified School District) guidelines and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Finally, I worked as a behavior therapist for home and clinic settings. Currently, I am working on my Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis and hope to become a Behavior Analyst and services families and schools.
I am originally from California and moved to Colorado in July 2020 with my husband, three girls, my parrot Kikko and my dog Chavo. My passion is to travel, road trips to unexpected Ted places with my family, karaoke, and drawing.
About Mika
My name is Shamika Jhagroo but I go by my nickname Mika. I am originally from Jamaica but grew up in New York City. I moved to Denver, CO right at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Some favorites I have are eating chocolate and pizza, traveling and experiencing all the world has to offer, fall as a season, the color electric blue (which is the same color of my car), and cheerleading as a sport and hobby. I have completed by Associate and Bachelors in Psychology from Morrisville State College. I am looking forward to starting my Masters in Clinical Mental Health. I have a passion to work with kids and I am beyond excited to work in the Center Program and continue my journey in this field. I have been in this field with numerous roles for 5 years. Starting my 6th year with SOAR’s Center program and I can’t wait to continue learning and growing.
Download our family handbook.
OurBoard
Rona
Wilensky
Rona Wilensky, Board Vice President
Rona was principal and founder of New Vista High School in Boulder, Colorado from 1992-2009. Previously, she worked as an education policy analyst for the Governor of Colorado, the Education Commission of the States, and various education reform initiatives in Colorado. From 2014 – 2020 Rona was Director of Mindfulness Programs at Passageworks Institute and a member of the Equity faculty. Currently she is coordinating and teaching a variety of live online mindfulness and equity offerings for PassageWorks. Rona holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University and taught that subject at Williams College and the University of Denver in the early 1980’s. She has been a member of the SOAR Board of Directors since 2012.
Marisela Toscano
Marisela Toscano, Board Member
Marisela Toscano, came to the United States at the age of 4 from Chihuahua, Mexico. She first moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and a year after that she moved to Denver, Colorado.
Marisela is happily married. She has 3 kids, an 8th grader, 5th and 1st grader. She also has 2 Sphynx cats named Puma and Chloe. She loves spending time with her family, and always making sure she lets them know that she will always support and cheer for them in every step of the way.
She is a former Early Childhood Educator, and has been an active parent volunteer for the past 10 years in 3 different schools in DPS. Her passion has always been working with children and families in the community. Marisela is looking to pursue a B.A. in Special Education, which will give her an opportunity to be able to work closely with children and families and to be able to impact those children’s lives at an early age.
Jamita Horton
Jamita Hortont, Board Secretary
For the last 10 years, Jamita has worked as an educator, advocate, and leader. Most recently, she worked as an assistant principal in Southwest Denver. Prior to that, she taught third grade and kindergarten. Jamita holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Women studies with an Education Policy Certificate from the University of Wisconsin. After graduating, she worked as a Teach for America corp member, while she earned her masters degree at Cardinal Stritch University. Currently, she’s a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Denver. She also works for Public Education & Business Coalition. She became a member of the SOAR Board of Directors in 2023.
Liane
Morrison
Liane Morrison, Treasurer
Liane Morrison is a nonprofit entrepreneur, economist and advocacy expert. She co-founded the grassroots nonprofit organization – Great Education Colorado (greateducation.org) 11 years ago, to harness the power of grassroots activism to advocate for permanent change in how our state invests in its schools and children. She left the Executive Director role in 2015 and now works on a new initiative at Mile High United Way called United Neighborhoods, currently focused on the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea communities of north Denver.
Liane is a graduate of Colorado College and has a Master’s Degree in economics from George Washington University. Her focus on the public sector has included developing new international markets for environmental technology, serving as an international economist at the U.S. Department of Treasury, and working as a bank analyst for the Federal Reserve. Liane’s concerns about Colorado public education and its impact on the economy and local communities resulted in her co-founding Great Education Colorado. She lives in central Denver and enjoys Colorado’s outdoor treasures on a bicycle or skies.
Samm Donelson
Board Meeting Information
The SOAR Board of Directors meetings are held at the school, Building 4 on the Evie Dennis Campus, and via Zoom Conference Call. Please check specific meeting date for details.
Meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted at SOAR in the vestibule of the entrance. Members of the public who want to address the Board by do so by emailing the SOAR Board of Directors at soar.board.of.directors@gmail.com by noon the previous day, giving their name and indicating the topic.
August 18th, Board Work Session from 3:00 PM to 6:15 PM; This meeting will be held in person.
September 9th, Board Meeting from 8:45 AM to 11:00 PM; This meeting will be held in person.
October 12th, Board Meeting from 4:00 PM to 6:15 PM; This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call
November 4, Board Executive Committee Meeting at 11:10 AM; This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call
December 8th, Board Meeting from 4:00 PM to 6:15 PM; This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call
January 6th, Board Meeting from 8:45 AM to 11:00 AM & Board Work Session from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM; These meetings will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call
February 9th, Board Meeting from 4:00 PM to 6:15 PM; This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call
March 10th, Board Meeting from 8:45 AM to 11:00 PM; This meeting will be held in person.
April 6th, Board Meeting at 12:00 PM; This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call.
April 19th , Board Executive Committee Meeting at 4:00 PM; This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call.
May 11th, Board Meeting from 4:00 PM to 6:15 PM; This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call
June 6th, Board Executive Committee Meeting at 11:00 AM: This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference Call
June 9th, Board work session from 8:45 AM to 11:00 AM: This meeting will be held in person.
SOAR is a Kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school in far northeast Denver, serving students from the Green Valley Ranch and Montbello subdivisions in addition to Aurora . The school has one school building, and anticipates an enrollment of 454 students each year. SOAR currently rents 41,990 square feet of building space from Denver Public Schools. The school employs close to 50 staff as well as provides community resources for the families that we serve.
Contact information for SOAR: Sonia Sisneros, Director of Operations, (303) 895-5305
Contact information for the Colorado Department of Education: https://www.cde.state.co.us
Contact information for Financial Transparency for Colorado Schools: https://coloradok12financialtransparency.com