Faculty & Staff Directory

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I started college as a music major with no interest in math. After taking my first college math class with a very inspirational professor, I fell in love with it and switched majors.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?
Definitely being able to fly. Mostly for the view and areal perspective.

What is one thing you've learned from students?
I have learned never to take myself too seriously. I will make mistakes from time to time, and I always encourage students to call me out on them. I think it would be hard to teach and be overly worried about self-image.

What did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to be a music teacher or join the coastguard.

What draws you to working with students?
I have always been a teacher in some form or another. I think I enjoy teaching math because it's fun in a way that people often don't see. It's a subject where I feel I can make a difference and pass along some of my enthusiasm.

What is your favorite spot in the world?
My airplane. I have no favorite geographical place but I always feel at home in the air.


John Paul received his BS in mathematics from Pacific University where he also studied education and music. During this time, he completed and graduated from the Spacial Dynamics five-year training in movement and movement analysis, which has been a great aid to him in the classroom. In addition to teaching Math and Physics during the school year, he flies competition aerobatics in the summer. This is a sport that he believes has shaped him as a person and something that drives him to pursue new learning opportunities and push himself to the edges of his comfort zone.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I love camping and kayaking.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?
To make people laugh

What is one thing you've learned from students?
To see the humor in things.

What did you want to be growing up?
An oceanographer. I was going to marry Jacque Cousteau and live on the Calypso.

What draws you to working with students?
It is never boring! I live for the ah-ha moments and seeing kids excited about their learning.

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS?
Everyone's positive attitudes and dedication.

What is your favorite spot in the world?
The beach! Some of my best memories are of vacations near the shore.

Gina began teaching in 1988 at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown, Mass., as the director/lead teacher of the preschool, kindergarten, and after-care program. She then taught at Williamstown Elementary as the kindergarten/first-grade teacher, where she also directed their inclusive summer camp. Gina and her family moved to Colorado in 1997, and she was the general manager of Jack Quinn's Irish Restaurant and Pub for almost seven years before working as a real estate agent. In 2011, she was back to teaching at KinderCare as the Kindergarten Readiness teacher, and then in 2016, began as the Pre-3 teacher at the children's center at Colorado College before joining CSS in 2022.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?
If I were a superhero, I’d choose the power of flight. The ability to fly above the world would allow me to travel effortlessly, try new foods, and connect with people from all walks of life. It would be an ongoing adventure, offering both freedom and the chance to learn and grow constantly!

What draws you to working with students?
I’m passionate about working with students because it allows me to be part of their personal and academic growth. I find it rewarding to build strong, supportive relationships with students, helping them discover their unique strengths and navigate their challenges. Watching students gain confidence and find their voice is what makes this work so fulfilling.

What is your favorite spot in the world and why?
One of my favorite places in the world is Letchworth State Park in Upstate New York. The park’s beauty holds a special place in my heart, as it’s where I’ve shared many memorable moments with my family. Whether it’s hiking the trails, enjoying the waterfalls, or simply spending time together, it’s a place that brings me comfort and joy!

Emily is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a specialization in child and adolescent mental health. She brings experience from a range of settings including schools, outpatient clinics, private practice, and primary care. She has developed a person-centered approach to care, focusing on meeting each student where they are, and creating a safe space for students to explore challenges and build resilience. Originally from Rochester, NY, Emily moved to beautiful Colorado Springs last year.

What is your role at CSS?⁣ I am a Middle School history teacher (World Geography, American History, and Ancient Civilizations), and the head coach for the boys’ and girls’ Middle School soccer programs.

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS? There are many things I love about working at CSS, but the thing I have loved best is the chance to work with students in a variety of settings, whether teaching in the classroom, leading overseas trips, paddling on rivers, squirming through caves, skiing on Colorado’s slopes, coaching on Boddington Field, or logging countless hours in CSS vans. This has allowed me to get to know students’ personalities, strengths, and areas of challenge in a way that would not have been possible in a traditional school setting.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have? This isn’t a typical answer, so I run the risk of being accused of being a lame superhero; however, I have said for years that if I could have any power, I would love to have the ability to never sleep. Imagine what one could accomplish and experience with all that extra time!

What did you want to be growing up? Growing up, I was all in on being a professional soccer player. Although I didn’t quite make it, soccer has been a huge part of my life for almost 40 years. As a coach, I have really enjoyed trying to kindle a love for soccer in young people and helping them achieve their goals.

What would people be surprised to learn about you? Despite loving to joke around and being energetic with groups of students, I am actually pretty shy and an introvert.

What draws you to working with students? I love the fact that students have their whole lives ahead of them with so many exciting possibilities. It is energizing to see young people find and develop their passions. When it happens in a class, seminar, or sport I am teaching, it is particularly gratifying.

What is one thing you’ve learned from students? I have learned not to take myself too seriously. It is a lot more fun that way.

What is your favorite spot in the world? My favorite spot in the world is Moraine Lake in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks with jagged peaks surrounding it, Moraine Lake’s otherworldly turquoise-blue water is something I will never forget.

What is a favorite memory at CSS? This is a tough question, as I have had so many great experiences at CSS. One of my favorites was an 18-day trip to Peru I took with 15 Middle and Upper school students in June 2002. Experiencing Cusco, hiking the Inca Trail for four days to Machu Picchu, and then completing a high Andean trek that took us through remote villages while circumnavigating 21,000 ft. Mt. Ausangate were all amazing. Seeing first-hand the joy of these discoveries through the eyes of the students made it even more memorable.

What did you want to be growing up?
An Astronaut! Space is awesome, and I love Sci-Fi. It seemed like a logical conclusion.

What draws you to working with students?
Students always have a different point of view than what adults tend to consider. They look at problems in a completely different way and solve them in methods we often overlook. They see the world from a genuine place of exploration.

Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in the information technology industry, with areas of excellence in business intelligence, technical project management, and research. As the IT Coordinator, she is responsible for resolving technical issues for students and staff, as well as maintaining and upgrading the technical environment for The Colorado Springs School.