July 30, 2019
Dear CSS Community,
I hope this finds you and your family enjoying a relaxing and fun summer. Although we still have a great deal of summer to enjoy before the Ice Cream Social and the first day of school, we are ready to make the 2019-2020 school year our best year yet. Please read on to familiarize yourself with the newest members of our fantastic faculty and staff, who will begin in early August.New Hires
Children’s School Division Director: As previously announced, Jody Bliss will succeed Maggie Beltrami as Children’s School Divisional Director. A graduate of Connecticut College, Mrs. Bliss holds a Master’s in the Art in Teaching from Manhattanville College and holds a Master’s of Science in Education and Human Development from the University of Denver. She is also a graduate of the internationally recognized Boulder Journey School Teacher Education Program. A product of an independent school herself, Mrs. Bliss has taught 3rd and 4th grades and early childhood in addition to administrative roles at three independent schools, including a 25-year career at Indian Mountain School. We are proud to bring her leadership to The Colorado Springs School.
Director of College Counseling: Also previously announced, Katrina Tijerina will join CSS as our Director of College Counseling. Ms. Tijerina possesses deep knowledge in the field most recently serving as the Assistant Director of Admission at Denison University, a highly selective liberal arts college (of which she is a graduate). She has also served as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the top public research universities in the country, in addition to her work as an Admissions Counselor and Coordinator of Intercultural Recruitment at Beloit College. Additionally, Ms. Tijerina spent a year as a corps member with City Year teaching High School English students in San Antonio, Texas.
Kindergarten: Kim Jarolimek, will join Jolly Cunha in our kindergarten class next year. Mrs. Jarolimek holds a B.A. from Concordia College in Elementary Education. She is an experienced teacher with eight years at the kindergarten level and recent professional development training in early childhood literacy and Kagan Structures, designed to increase student engagement and cooperation.
Director of College Counseling: Also previously announced, Katrina Tijerina will join CSS as our Director of College Counseling. Ms. Tijerina possesses deep knowledge in the field most recently serving as the Assistant Director of Admission at Denison University, a highly selective liberal arts college (of which she is a graduate). She has also served as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the top public research universities in the country, in addition to her work as an Admissions Counselor and Coordinator of Intercultural Recruitment at Beloit College. Additionally, Ms. Tijerina spent a year as a corps member with City Year teaching High School English students in San Antonio, Texas.
Kindergarten: Kim Jarolimek, will join Jolly Cunha in our kindergarten class next year. Mrs. Jarolimek holds a B.A. from Concordia College in Elementary Education. She is an experienced teacher with eight years at the kindergarten level and recent professional development training in early childhood literacy and Kagan Structures, designed to increase student engagement and cooperation.
First Grade: Caren Goldberg will join Ellen Crow in 1st grade next year. An experienced educator, Ms. Goldberg joins us most recently from Trevor Day School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She’s also worked in several capacities in the New York City Public School system. Ms. Goldberg holds an M.S. in Childhood Education from CUNY - Hunter and a B.A. from SUNY - New Paltz.
Middle School and Upper School Spanish: Laura Laucella joins us as our Middle School and Upper School Spanish teacher. Ms. Laucella has been teaching Spanish at Spruce Street School in Manhattan. She holds a B.A. in political science from CUNY Queens College and an M.A. in teaching Spanish as a foreign language from the University of Oviedo in Spain.
Upper School Math: Jeff “J.J.” Calhoun joins us in the Upper School Mathematics Department. Mr. Calhoun is a veteran who has served in several capacities in the United States Air Force. Mr. Calhoun holds a B.A. in Math from Colorado College and has earned an endorsement from Colorado College’s teacher prep program. Additionally, he has worked at Palmer High School in D11 and served as a research assistant in the education department and as a math tutor at Colorado College.
Upper School Math, Economics, and History: Joining us most recently from Shanghai, China, where he served as the national director of ENREACH Education, Dr. Joshua Gillon will teach AP Micro and Macro Economics, AP Statistics, and World History. Dr. Gillon has taught at Susquehanna University, Siena College, Temple University and New York University in addition to his Graduate Assistant work at Princeton University (where he earned his Ph.D. in Symbolic Logic and Philosophy) and his fellowship work in Princeton’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.
Science and Computer Science: Shanie Holman joins The Colorado Springs School community from Kirkland, Washington. As a new member of the science department, Shanie will teach AP Computer Science, 8th Grade Science, and Computer Science for grades 3-5. Plus, she will be a welcomed addition to the Tech Team, contributing to tech integration and STEM programming. Shanie earned her B.S. from the University of Oregon in General Science and holds a Master’s degree in Biology from Boise State University. Her professional career as an educator has led Shanie around the world teaching in Takungu, Kenya and Pohnpei, a Federated State of Micronesia.
Librarian and Children’s School Computer Science: Susan Gaebler will be our new Librarian and Children’s School Computer Science teacher. An experienced elementary school educator and Librarian, Susan earned her undergraduate degree from Colorado State University in Art History and holds a teaching endorsement in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State College and an M.S. in Library Science from Denver University.
Children’s School Spanish and K-2 Art: Sandy Cox, is an experienced elementary and middle school general education and Spanish teacher. She earned a B.A. in Education and Art from Western State College and an M.A. from Colorado College’s Southwest Studies program. She is also an accomplished artist.
Physical Education: Joining us from Future Leadership Academy in Hainan, China, Andrew Collins will be our new PE teacher. Andrew holds a M.A.T in Physical Education from Teachers College at Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of Miami. Andrew brings extensive experience in designing and implementing comprehensive K-12 health and physical education curriculum.
Children’s School Administrative Assistant: Holly Hannum will join us as our Children’s School Administrative Assistant and Extended Care support. Holly has been with us as a PreK support and Extended Care teacher and was formerly Nursery Director at Waynesville United Methodist Church.
Registrar: An experienced independent school administrator, Elena Hall, will serve as our registrar. She has previously worked as registrar and admissions assistant at Villanova Preparatory School and at Oak Grove School in Ojai, California where she also served as a Spanish teacher and boarding school co-director.
Supporting the good work of our educators, please also welcome Hendrika Layton as an Admission Officer and Hunter Hall as the part-time Communications and Fundraising Assistant.
Board of Trustees
As always, we will continue to update the Faculty/Staff Directory on the website as our Administrative Team prepares for the start of the 2019-2020 school year. We are eager for students to return to campus and to welcome more than sixty-five new students and their families.
Board of Trustees: As you know, The Colorado Springs School is governed by a hard-working, volunteer Board of Trustees. I would like to offer my special thanks to an extraordinary trustee who completed her term of service on July 1, 2019. Morane Kerek P’20, P’22, has served with distinction as our treasurer for the last six years. CFO of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Ms. Kerek has been a key leader in the strategic and financial planning of the school and a thoughtful mentor and coach for me during my five years as Head of School. Please join me in thanking her for her service to The Colorado Springs School.
Dr. Pio Hocate P’16, P’20, P’27 will continue to serve as Board President, Jon Marple P’15, P’17, P’23 will join the CSS Board as Treasurer, and Kevin Patterson P’21 will continue to serve as Secretary. New trustees include Kevin Penn P26, P’24, and Carrie McKee. They will join the dedicated parents, alumni, past parents, grandparents, and community members who comprise the school’s governing body.
Upcoming Events
I invite you to meet all of our teachers and staff at the back-to-school events and the Ice Cream Social on Friday, August 16! Parents/Guardians are welcome to meet the CSS Board of Trustees at the Board/Parent Reception on September 10, 2019. Until then, enjoy the summer!
All the best,
Aaron Schubach
Head of School
