Karen Aron, Lunch Clerk

Sonya Dixon, Librarian

Michael Espinoza, Paraprofessional

Jean Geller, Teacher, 8-10 Year Olds

Hello!

I'm Jean Geller and this is my second year of teaching at the Lab School for Creative Learning. Two reasons drew me here. First, the concept of your child exploring the Three I's: their identity or how they see themselves; their Interaction with others and the world about them; and Inquiry, or what motivates them and makes them want to learn in addition to what it is that they would love to explore. The second draw for me was Teaming. Here at the Lab School we truly work together as a team to provide the best possible educational experience for your child.

I graduated from the Univeristy of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Elementary Education and an emphasis in Language Arts. I've spent 24 years in a classroom setting so I feel that I can bring a great deal of experience to the Lab School.

My husband, Jon is a veterinarion and we enjoy spending time with our two doughters. Josey is 18 and just left for CU as a freshman. We are not sure whether we want to cry or not because at least her room is cleaned up! Alex is 16 and a junior at Poudre High School.

I look forward to another year here at the Lab School and I know that we can make your child's learning experience the best possible.

Denise Gusinde, Teacher, 6-8 Year Olds

Hi! My name is Denise Gusinde and I am so excited to be teaching 1st and 2nd grades at the Lab School this coming school year. I live in a beautiful, little house which my children and I built with Habitat for Humanity six years ago. I have a son who is 14 and a daughter who is 15 and we love spending time together. One of my favorite places in town is the public library! I love reading, knitting, and playing tennis. I grew up in Germany and speak, read, and write German fluently.

I have taught children and adults all of my life in some capacity, but my official teaching experience began several years ago. I student taught in Kindergarten at Bennett Elementary and taught 2nd grade at Lopez Elementary. I have had many wonderful learning opportunities and have discovered that teaching is even more fun than I ever thought possible. My teaching experiences, raising two children, and writing my masters thesis on motivational strategies have helped me develop a philosophy of education that is very similar to that of the Lab School. I believe that small class sizes, hands-on learning, portfolio assessments, and reflecting on learning are wonderful ways to motivate students to love reading, writing, and learning. Most of all, I believe it is important to make connections with all students, and recognize that each child is unique and individual and learns at his/her own pace. I enjoy being a member of the Lab School team!

Brittany Hapner, Teacher, 6-8 Year Olds

My name has just changed! I got married in paradise this summer - Manuel Antonia, Costa Rica. My new husband's name is Scott Hapner. We are newlyweds on cloud 9! We met here two years ago, but we are both from Georgia. We both talk funny when we go home, love eating grits, and do not miss the humidity. In our free time we hike in the mountains, do projects around the house/yard, and ride bikes. We just live on the other side of City Park with our dog Bonnie, so the Lab School is in our neighborhood. We love it in Old Town Fort Collins.

I have been a teacher for twelve years, six years in Poudre School District and three years at the Lab School. I have taught kindergarten through third grade during my career. My experience prior to PSD was at an independent school outside of Atlanta with a similar philosophy as the Lab School. Since the best practices and beliefs were the same, I knew I had to be a part of the Lab School. The Lab School's multiage, differentiated instruction, integrated curriculum, and discovery learning are practices that are best for children and for me. The educational setting here is perfect!

My undergraduate degree is in elementary education and mathematics from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Last year, I graduated from UNC with my Master's in Reading Instruction. I very interested in the development of beginning readers. Some day I want to be a literacy teacher, so I can help struggling readers "get it." Reading is now my thing!

Joyce Hart, Office Manager

I've lived in Fort Collins since 1989, but I'm a native of Omaha. My husband and I have strong ties to Kansas, where we ranched for 14 years.

I have a long history with Poudre Schools, having started at Fullana in 1989, moved to Putnam, and now I'm at home at the Lab School.

I have two grown children -- Clint and Jessica. My husband, Chuck, and I have been married for 30 years.

I have a BSBA degree from Creighton University with a major in accounting plus a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Emporia State University. I have a cat named "Squint" (who really rules the house). I'm active in several volunteer activities in Fort Collins.

Custodian

Karen Koski, Teacher, 8-10 Year Olds

Mikole grew up in Pennsylvania and after a short stint in Washington D.C. (she decided she didn’t like living in huge cities), moved to Oregon. Mikole enjoyed 7 years on the West Coast as a teacher and student. After working with preschoolers for 4 years in Oregon, she earned her masters degree in teaching from Southern Oregon University. She has taught 2nd through 8th grade and in both traditional and alternative schools.

Mikole joined the Lab School in the fall of 2003 because of the school’s experiential model. She loves teaching through authentic experiences and is excited about messy art projects, digging in the dirt, simulations and service learning. Mikole believes that connecting hands-on activities to curriculum allows the subjects come alive and take on real meaning and purpose.

Traveling is one of Mikole’s favorite hobbies. She has explored Europe, West Africa and Guatemala and incorporates these experiences, along with the experiences of working with Native American students and native Spanish speakers, into her classroom. Her goal is to travel back to Latin America and improve her Spanish.

When she is closer to home, Mikole enjoys gardening, yoga, snowboarding and backpacking with her dog, Sheeba.

Tom Noel, Teacher, 10-12 Year Olds

Tom grew up in Colorado Springs at the base of Cheyenne Mountain. He attended University of Northern Colorado and studied French and International Trade Relations: French because he loves language (he took four years of Latin in high school and counts those classes among the best learning experiences he's ever had), and International Trade Relations because he loves travel and learning about other cultures. Tom discovered a love for teaching through volunteer work in the late eighties. He headed back to the Springs to get a master's degree in teaching from Colorado College. Upon returning to Fort Collins, Tom taught from kindergarten through sixth grade during his nine years at Rivendell.
Tom joined the Lab School for Creative Learning in the fall of 2000 because of LSCL's commitment to experiential, child-centered education. A true believer in constructivist learning, Tom loves the integrated multidisciplinary nature of the school. He plays his guitar, teaches painting or printmaking, and organizes fitness activities ranging from lacrosse to juggling. In every instance, he searches for methods to tie these activities to the additional academics of math, reading, and writing. The result is standards-based education with a kick. Tom approaches teaching with a scientific outlook tempered by artistic sensibilities. Joining the two disciplines of art and science is a driving force in his teaching.

Tom considers himself a lifelong learner, and so spent many hours last summer exploring carpentry and archeology. Among his pastimes are astronomy, backcountry and downhill skiing, volleyball, biking, reading, and spending time with his family and his dog.

Julie Siddens, Teacher, Kindergarten

Hello, my name is Julie Siddens and this my fourth year at the Lab School for Creative Learning. I am a Colorado native and even though my husband and I have taken many opportunities to work and travel abroad, we always seem to end up back in Colorado.

We love it here. I have had the privilege of teaching in several diverse situations including in the Peace Corps in Morocco, on the Navajo Reservation and prior to the Lab School I was the Kindergarten teacher at the International School in Belgrade Serbia. When not in my classroom you might find me skiing with my two amazing children or out for a run with my treasured Dog Obi.

Jennifer Sunderland, Teacher 8-10 Year Olds