Welcoming New Hires for 2018-2019

I hope this finds you and your family well and enjoying a relaxing and fun summer. Although we still have some time before the back-to-school Ice Cream Social and the first day of school, we are ready to make the 2018-2019 school year our best year yet. Please read on to familiarize yourself with the newest members of our fantastic faculty and staff.

Associate Head of School: As previously announced, Sam Gaudet (pronounced Gaw-det) will join us as our new Associate Head of School next year. His duties (similar in nature to Mr. Gaylord’s previous duties) include oversight of all academic policy and student programs and support for the division Directors and faculty. Mr. Gaudet is a graduate of an independent school, earned his undergraduate degree in Geology from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, and his M.Ed. from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Mr. Gaudet has served in the senior administration of Waterside School and St. Luke’s School, two distinguished independent schools in Connecticut and has experience teaching and coaching at several other schools. He joins us most recently from Strive Prep in Denver, where he was the Assistant Principal of Operations. Sam will begin his work at CSS this summer and host several events at CSS next fall to get to know all students and parents.

Middle School and Upper School Director: Nicole Goyette, formerly the Director of Student Programs at CSS, will serve as the Middle School and Upper School Director next year. Ms. Goyette earned her master’s degree in educational leadership and organization from UC Santa Barbara and an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College. Nicole has distinguished herself during her first three years at CSS by enhancing both the safety and intentionality of our seminars, community service, and international student programs. In her new role as Middle School and Upper School Division Director, she will serve as the administrator directly responsible for students, parents, and faculty in our Middle School and Upper School. Unlike the Division Lead teacher model previously in place, Ms. Goyette will not have teaching responsibilities. This new structure will allow us to increase academic and programmatic connectivity between our Middle School and our top-ranked, college preparatory Upper School.

Director of Student Programs: Ann Petit, joining us most recently from Vista Mar School in Los Angeles, CA, will join CSS as our new Director of Student Programs. Ms. Petit earned her undergraduate degree from Babson College and her master’s degree from the University of New Mexico. She has a great deal of experience in local, regional and international experiential programming, community service and seminars including professional work with day and international students at United World College and leading wilderness excursions with Outward Bound.

Middle School Spanish Teacher: Sean O’Connell will be joining us as our new Middle School Spanish teacher. Mr. O’Connell earned undergraduate degrees in both Music and Spanish from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Spanish from Middlebury College. He’s an experienced Middle School and Upper School teacher who joins us most recently from Western Reserve Academy in Ohio.

School Counselor: Caitlin Risk will be joining us as our new full-time, school-wide school counselor. This full-time position represents a combination of responsibilities formerly held by part-time Middle School & Upper School counselor, Jon Cleckler and part-time Children’s School counselor, Krista Bridgmon. Ms. Risk holds an undergraduate degree from Whitworth University and a master’s degree in counseling from DePaul University. She has an established track record of working with students of multiple age levels in several district and charter schools in Denver, Colorado.

Media Specialist: Kimberly Nielsen is our new media specialist, filling the position formerly held by Bette Anterra. Ms. Nielsen is an experienced educator with a strong skill set in technological tools which facilitate student-centered learning. She earned a master’s degree in student affairs from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree in English writing from Slippery Rock University.

First Grade: Ellen Crow will join Mrs. Hamilton in 1st grade next year. An experienced educator, Ms. Crow joins us from District 8 right here in Colorado Springs. She holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in reading and a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Northern Colorado.

Second Grade: Katie Vincent, an experienced 2nd-grade teacher, will join Mrs. de Juan in Second grade next year. Ms. Vincent has experience as both a classroom teacher and as a district-wide instructional coach for mathematics implementation in Pagosa Springs, CO. A native of Colorado Springs, Ms. Vincent earned a master’s degree in teacher education from Eastern Oregon University and an undergraduate degree from Colorado State University.

Fifth Grade: Kathyrn Sieminski, a part-time faculty member at CSS for the 2017-2018 school, will join Alex Schilperoort full-time in 5th grade. Ms. Sieminski earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton and a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Simmons College.

Music Teacher: Deanna Kirkham will join us on a part-time basis to teach vocal music in Children’s School and vocal ensemble in Upper School. Deanna is an experienced vocal performer, choir teacher, and vocal coach. She earned her undergraduate degree in Visual and Performing Arts and Vocal Performance from UCCS.

Facilities: We are pleased to announce a new partnership with Advanced Facilities Services (AFS), a company specializing in school facilities that will take over stewardship of our campus on July 1, 2018. The AFS employees (which include several CSS facility members making the transition), will be led by our new Facilities Director, David LaGrande. This new partnership will build upon the great work done by Mr. Gil Vasquez and his team to care for our 28-acre campus and 8 buildings over the past 16 years.

Click here for a full Faculty/Staff Directory.

Board of Trustees: CSS is governed by a hard-working, volunteer Board of Trustees. I would like to offer my thanks to two trustees who will complete their terms of service July 1, 2018. Thank you to Mr. Chris Franklin P’17 and Mr. Dean Boschert P’07 and P’11.

Dr. Pio Hocate P’16, P’20, P’27 will continue to serve as Board President, Morane Kerek P’20 and P’22 will continue to serve as Treasurer of the Board and Kevin Patterson P’21 will serve as Secretary. New trustees include Heather Kelly P’27 and P’30, Lorie Malone P’19, P’22, and P’27 and Jill Richardi P’18 and P’21. They will join 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 at the Ice Cream Social on Friday, August 18! All families are welcome to meet the CSS Board of Trustees at the New Parent Reception on September 11, 2018.

In early August, I will communicate some of our recent upgrades to CSS programs and facilities.

Until then, enjoy summer!