Ken Denning grew up in Lakewood, Co and went to Mullen H.S. where he played football and baseball. He chose to attend a small college in southwest Nebraska, Peru State College on a football and baseball scholarship. In 1980 he started teaching in Oshkosh, NE as a business teacher and assisted in football, head basketball coach, and head boys track coach for six years. He moved to Loveland, Co and started at Thompson Valley H.S. in 1986 again teaching business where he finished his last four years of his tenure as the department chair of the business department. He then helped build and open Mountain View H.S. in Loveland, serving on the start-up committee developing policy, and molding the future of MVHS where he was a business teacher, department chair, and head football coach for five years. He had an opportunity to become a dean of students, assistant principal, and then assistant principal and athletic director at MVHS before coming to FRHS.
His thoughts: Athletics provides balance to academic life and enhances the overall quality of the educational experience. I will encourage our student/athletics to serve as positive role models by demonstrating integrity, graciousness, dignity, and respect. Athletics are for student/athletes that are willing to work hard and to make sacrifices and represent our school and community with pride.

Julie Edler has been in Poudre School District since 2003. Julie came to Ridge Nation when Fossil Ridge opened in 2004. Julie was instrumental in developing the programs, course offerings and supports in our ESS department prior to becoming a dean. Julie was a teacher in the Moderate Cognitive Program and served as the department leader from 2007-2009. This year, Julie will be a Dean of Students, who will work with parents and students on attendance and behavioral issues. Julie will also be working with other building members on creating, implementing and tracking intervention systems for RtI. Julie believes that providing early interventions along with building quality relationships are the two key factors for student improvement, success and achievement. Julie has a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Northern Iowa and masters degree in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado.

Brad Nye,
Assistant Principal, West Wing

Brad Nye feels very fortunate to be a member of Ridge Nation and is proud to call himself a SaberCat! He has spent the last two years as an assistant principal in the Thompson School District and seven years prior to that as an art educator in the elementary, middle and high school levels. He has a passion for working with teenagers and brings four years of experience as a student council adviser to his role of activities director. Brad enjoys teaming with students, parents, teachers and community members to help create opportunities for students to experience success in and out of the classroom. He is a firm believer that every student should be involved in an activity, club, music program and /or sport to help make their experience in high school a positive one and is dedicated to providing opportunities for all students to get involved. Brad feels that the three biggest components to assuring high levels of student achievement in the classroom are Relationship, Relevance and Rigor…in that order.

Ryan Wulff comes to Fossil Ridge with a diverse background. After spending 10 years in sales and marketing, he realized his passion was teaching and learning. He received a Master’s in Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2001 and spent 7 years as a PSD teacher. He also advocated for public education as a lobbyist for 3 years at the state capitol.