Aurora Hills Middle School

AHMS Leadership

Marcella Garcia

Principal

• BA Social Science, University of Northern Colorado: Minor in History and Math
• MA Curriculum and Instruction, Colorado Christian University;
• Educational Leadership License, University of Phoenix

This will be Mrs. Garcia’s 25th year as an educator and her 15th year in Aurora Public Schools. She loves listening to her audio books, crafting, hiking, and spending time with her two adult children (Lilly 23 and Donie 21) and her husband, Jesus.

Lori Ahmed

Assistant Principal

• BA English, Metro State University;
• Effective ELL Instruction Certification, University of Denver;
• MA Teaching English as a Second Language, Grand Canyon University;
• MA Educational Leadership, Regis University

This will be Ms. Ahmed’s 22nd year as an educator in Aurora Public Schools. She loves reading, cooking, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. She has two teenage children, one who is a junior in high school and one who is a freshman in college. She got married this summer to her best friend!

John Buch

Assistant Principal

• BS Mathematics, Metro State University;
• MA Mathematics Education, University of Northern Colorado;
• Educational Leadership Certificate, Regis University

This will be Mr. Buch’s 11th year in APS and 8th at Aurora Hills. Mr. Buch loves to run, tinker/build, and spend time with his wife and two elementary-aged children. John leads with joy and believes in the potential of every student.

Jenny Morrell

Climate & Culture Coordinator

• BA English with Elementary Licensure and Endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education from Metro State University of Denver
• Masters in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University

This is Mrs.Morrell’s 12th year in APS and her 3rd year at Aurora Hills. When she is not working with students and teachers to help them become their best, she enjoys skiing or attending concerts and sports events with her family.

Hailey Fulwider

CLDE Teacher Leader

• BA English & Irish Lit.& Lang., University of Notre Dame
• Master of Education, University of Notre Dame
• English as a New Language Certificate, University of Notre Dame

This is Ms. Fulwider’s 4th year working at Aurora Hills, and during this time, she has loved welcoming newcomers to our wonderful school. Ms. Fulwider loves to read, bowl and play volleyball with her friends, practice her Spanish, and walk in Denver’s parks!

Heather Albright

Teaching Partner / Instructional Coach

• BA Elementary Education with an emphasis in Math, University of Northern Colorado;
• MA Curriculum and Instruction, University of Phoenix

Ms. Albright brings 18 years of experience in education, including the past 8 years with APS. She has taught students from Kindergarten through 12th grade across a wide range of subjects. Now in her second year at Aurora Hills, she is excited to continue supporting the growth and success of all our students. Outside of school, Ms. Albright enjoys spending time with her family and her three dogs, exploring creative outlets, and cheering on the Colorado Avalanche at every opportunity.

Jessica Moser

Reading Interventionist

• BA Elementary Education/Ethnic and Gender Studies, University of Northern Colorado;
• MA Instructional Technology, Jones International University;
• MA Reading, Reading Specialist Endorsement, Regis University

Ms. Moser is in her 22nd year of teaching, and her 12th at Aurora Hills. She loves to spend time husband and friends and can often be found reading books, playing games, and being crafty.

Behavior Systems Support

Johnnie Echer

Dean of Students

• BS Mass Communications - Colorado State University- Pueblo
• MA Educational Leadership - Colorado State University - Ft. Collins

This will be Mrs. Echer’s 22nd year in education and her 2nd year at Aurora Hills. She loves everything outdoors and spending time with her husband Ryan and 2 kids (Kurt 22, Jenna 17).

Rienne Ray

Dean of Students / Athletic Director

• BS K-12 Physical Education, MSU Denver

This will be Ms. Ray’s 6th year in education and 1st year at Aurora Hills. She spent the last 5 years teaching middle school PE and Health, and this will be her 1st year as a Dean. Ms. Ray will also be starting her 3rd year as a middle school Athletic Director. She has also coached Boys High School Basketball for 7 years. She loves all things sports, and hopes to continue to find new ways to bridge academics and athletics. Her other hobbies include painting, DIY projects, reading, yoga, and running.

Kevin Riley

Dean of Students

• BA, Grambling State University;
• MA Secondary Education, Clark Atlanta University;
• Principal Certification, Lamar University

Mr. Riley is in his second year at Aurora Hills, where he began as the 6th–7th grade Special Education teacher and is now the Dean of Students. He brings more than a decade of ESS and teaching experience; he has been a paraprofessional, a department chair with the Houston Independent School District, and a Special Education Instructional Specialist with Denver Public Schools (DPS). In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors, with activities such as skiing, biking, running, and other outdoor pursuits.

Maria Gonzalez

Student Engagement Advocate

• BS Human Services UOP
• MS School Counseling UOP

Maria brings 16 years of experience supporting families across Denver Public Schools, DSST charter schools, and Aurora Public Schools. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advocating for, supporting, and empowering families to help them thrive.

Maria's passion for family engagement and her deep knowledge of our local school communities make her a wonderful addition to our team. She is genuinely excited to meet and work with all of you as we build an even stronger AHMS community together.

6th Grade Team

Tiffany Gadlin

6th Grade ELA

• Bachelors Degree, Metropolitan State College/University of Phoenix

Ms. Gadlin enjoys spending time with family and helping in the community.

Darin Arnold

6th Grade Social Studies

• University of Colorado - Denver, Master of Arts degree, Administration Leadership & Policy Studies.
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Master of Arts degree, Curriculum and Instruction, Bachelor of Arts degree, History.
• Western Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts degree, Communications.

This is Mr. Arnold’s third year at Aurora Hills Middle School and twenty second year in education. He enjoys spending time with his family, going to the gym, fishing, skiing, and traveling.

Nini Riley

6th Grade Math

• BS Education/ Minor in Mathematics, Western Illinois University;
• MA Education Administration, Western Governors State University

Ms. Riley is in her 28th year of teaching Middle School Mathematics. Out of her 28 years, she has spent 18 years at Aurora Hills MS. Ms. Riley enjoys her time traveling and dancing.

Amy Anderson

6th Grade Science

• B.S. Biology/ Veterinary Medicine, Kent State University;
• M.A. Secondary Science Education, Kent State University
• M.A. Biochemistry, The Ohio State University

This will be Ms. Anderson’s 22nd year teaching middle school science and her 3rd year at Aurora Hills. Ms. Anderson enjoys spending time with her three children. She enjoys playing pool, making art, and creating new ways to help students love science.

Susannah Rasbid

6th ELA

• BA in English (Writing) from CU Boulder (sko Buffs!)

This will be Mrs. R’s second year at Aurora Hills. She is passionate about students feeling seen and known in her classroom while growing an appreciation for reading that goes beyond the standard. In her free time, she loves playing video games, snuggling with her dog and cat, and sitting by creeks. She is a proud nerd, and loves to share the joy of being one with her students.

Victoria Dean

6th Grade ELA

• BA History and BA French; Trinity College, Hartford, CT

This will be Ms. Dean’s 9th year at Aurora Hills Middle School and her 19th year teaching. She enjoys cooking, reading, traveling and spending time with family. She believes that the keys to success are curiosity, enthusiasm and joy!

Amy Coleman

6th Grade Math

• BA Elementary Education & Special Education from Doane University; MA Curriculum and Instruction from CCU

This is Mrs. Coleman’s 29th year teaching and 9th at Aurora Hills. She and her husband have 1 daughter and 1 Labradoodle. They enjoy golfing together (playing or watching), watching the Rockies, and the KC Chiefs. Mrs. Coleman’s idea of self-care is going to concerts.

Ashley Rankin

6th Grade Science

• M.S. Biotechnology

Ashley played college soccer, and she likes to remain active through yoga, running, and reading.

Stephen Aldrich

6th Grade ELA

• BA in English Literature, Metropolitan State University of Denver
• MA in Medieval Studies, University of Glasgow, Scotland
• Special Certificate in Arthurian Literature, University of London, Birkbeck

Mr. Aldrich has fourteen years in education, ten of those with APS and six at Aurora Hills as both an English teacher and a technology/computer programming teacher. Given that he grew up moving all over Europe with his military family, it makes sense that he enjoys really old things like castles, chivalry, antique books and newer things like video games and military aviation.

7th Grade Team

Erin Dodge

7th Grade ELA

• BA in Secondary Education and English from Lesley University;
• MA in English from CU Boulder

This is Mx. Dodge’s 12th year in teaching; they are an avid crafter, reader, language learner, and co-op gamer. They value a growth mindset and mindfulness in the classroom.

Jase Boyd

7th Grade Social Studies

• BA in Social Studies Education, University of Arkansas

This will be Mr. Boyd’s second year teaching. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Boyd enjoys being outside, spending time in the mountains, rock climbing, and camping. He believes he has a little knowledge about everything, enabling him to strike a conversation with almost everyone!

Regan Wilder

7th Grade Math

• BA in Hospitality Management, Virginia Tech University

With 10 years of teaching experience, this is now Mrs. Wilders’ fourth year with APS, and she couldn’t be happier to be part of the community. At home, she enjoys a lively household with her husband, their energetic 4-year-old son, and her wonderful 21-year-old stepdaughter, who will graduate from CSU next year. Outside the classroom, she loves heading out for a good long run, diving into DIY projects, and spending time with her spirited Belgian Malinois.

TBD

7th Grade Science

Tracie Jansen

7th Grade ELA

• BA English Secondary Education, Metropolitan State University
• MS Educational Leadership, Western Governors University

This will be Mrs. Jansen's 15th year in Education, 8th year working for Aurora Public Schools, and 6th at Aurora Hills Middle School. Mrs. Jansen loves being authentically herself, donuts with pink frosting, running, writing stories, watching classic movies, going on adventures, and spending time with her husband, two kids, and dog, Charlie Christmas. Tracie loves connecting relatable issues to content and bringing joy to every part of learning.

Rachel Deppe

7th Grade Social Studies

• BA in Education & English from GVSU
• Masters in Educational Psychology from UNC

Ms. Deppe has been teaching since 2016. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, playing video games, camping, traveling, and attempting to ski.

Noah Hendelman

7th Grade Math

• BA in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics) from Claremont McKenna College; Minor in Data Science

This is Mr. Hendelman's second year at Aurora Hills. As a math teacher, he aims to help students see how the ideas they learn connect to real life — whether it’s understanding shooting percentages, spotting geometry in architecture, or internalizing data’s role in advancing science. Outside of school, he enjoys playing guitar and piano, playing basketball and soccer, and perfecting his oven-baked salmon recipe.

Amone Alexandar

7th Grade Math

• BS Business Management, Western Governors University
• MS Business Management and Leadership, Western Governors University
• MS Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Texas Health and Science University
• United States Marine Corps Veteran

Mr. Alexandar has 9 years in education all in Aurora Public Schools and 8 of those years at Aurora Hills Middle School teaching students in Science, Math, and Business Education. Mr. Alexandar’s interests outside of giving students the best math education are spending time with my life partner Heather and trusty dog sidekick Marley. We like nature activities and to stay healthy, so we hike, paddleboard, jog, and do yoga. I also like just enjoying living here in Colorado, so much to do!

8th Grade Team

Kaitlin Carrick

8th Grade ELA

• BA from the University of Northern Colorado
• MA from the University of Phoenix in Academic Supervision and Administration

This is Mrs. Carrick’s second year at Aurora Hills teaching Language Arts and her 16th year as a teacher. In her free time she enjoys reading and traveling.

Amy Nieves

8th Grade Social Studies

• Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder
• Master of Education, Regis University, Denver

Mrs. Nieves has been teaching for 22 years, and this is her 10th year at Aurora Hills. Mrs. Nieves loves to spend time with her husband and 2 sons. Her family enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, swimming, and all things nature!

Lynn Lafountain

8th Grade Math

• BA Business Management/Sports Management - Southern New Hampshire University/University of Tampa. (NH and Florida)
• MA in Education - Southern New Hampshire University - Manchester, NH

This will be Ms. LaFountain’s 17th year of teaching, and 5th at Aurora Hills. Ms. LaFountain also taught in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places, any outdoor activity, listening to live music, and watching sporting events.

Amanda Moore

8th Grade Science

• BA Middle Grades Education, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

This is Ms. Moore’s 3rd year working at Aurora Hills. She has a passion for science, reading, and making connections with people. In her free time, she likes spending time with her dog and two cats, live music, or going on a hike to enjoy the outdoors. Her favorite science topics are biology, space, and genetics.

Jennifer Olsen

8th Grade ELA

• BA from Colorado State University - Pueblo in English/Secondary Education
• MA in Reading from Grand Canyon University

Mrs. Olsen has been teaching for over 25 years; this is her 16th year at Aurora Hills Middle School. She earned her BA from Colorado State University - Pueblo in English/Secondary Education and earned her MA in Reading from Grand Canyon University. When not teaching, she loves to spend time with her family and her three chihuahuas, Harley Quinn, Joker, and Poison Ivy. She enjoys reading, hiking, taking her dogs for walks and working out. Her favorite place to be is the ocean and dreams of one day living by the ocean.

Marko Vrtikapa

8th Grade Social Studies

• BA Public Affairs, Indiana University
• BA Education, Indiana University
• Majors in: US History, Political Science, Economics, and Criminal Justice

Mr. Vrtikapa is of Serbian descent, and he is an empty nester. He enjoys being outside (especially in water) and spending time with his children and wife.

Chase Vervynck

8th Grade Math

Adam Williams

8th Grade Science

• BS Zoology, Ohio State University

2026-27 will be Adam’s first year teaching! Adam enjoys petting his cat, reading, biking to find treats, playing video games, trying to keep his plants alive, and much more.

Daily Electives

Andrew Phelps

Choir

• BA Music Education, Illinois State University

Andrew is currently in his third year at Aurora Hills, marking his tenth year of teaching overall. When he’s not teaching, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife and daughter. Whether they're visiting the zoo, going to the pool, or just enjoying a fun day out together.

Maria Brotherston

Band / Orchestra

• B.A. & Teacher Licensure, Metropolitan State University of Denver
• B.M. Lynn University (formerly The Harid Conservatory of Music)
• M.M. in Music Performance, University of Miami

This will be Mrs. Brotherston 9th year at Aurora Hills and 25 in education. She holds a CTE initial certification alongside a Spanish endorsement. Recently celebrated her daughter's college graduation. Outside the classroom, she loves spending her free time gardening, walking her dog Chiqui, traveling, and playing ping pong. She was born and raised in Colombia, South America.

Doug Hoff

P.E. Health

This is Mr. Hoff’s 7th year teaching at Aurora Hills Middle School and his 16th in education. He enjoys being active, watching sports, and everything under the sun as long as he is with his friends. Fun fact: He was raised by wolves.

Garrett Jacobson

Advanced Social Studies

Weekly Exploratories

Allen Hagerman

STEM

Beatrice Drew

Art

• Art Education BFA with a concentration in Ceramics and Photography, Metropolitan State University

This is Mrs. Drew’s 5th year teaching at Aurora Hills! She is a practicing artist in Photography, ceramics, and drawing / painting. She has a beloved dog named Chicle with her husband, who also works in APS. She values exploring and creation in her art classroom as well as accessible, collaborative learning for all students.

Benjamin Martens

P.E. / Health

• BA of Science, Indiana Wesleyan University Dual degree in Athletic Training and Pre-Physical Therapy.
• University of Colorado Denver ASPIRE (transition to teaching program): Teaching License

This will be Mr. Marten's 6th year teaching, all of which have been at Aurora Hills. He loves spending time with his family. His wife Autumn works at the school. He enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, snowboarding, and camping. He likes building things and is currently renovating his entire house. He loves investing in kids and the community, which is why he chose this career. He is the head coach of the boys' and girls' soccer teams and works with the assistant regional manager.

Diana Polaski

P.E / Health

Jeffrey Garnett

General Music

• BA in Music/ BA Music Composition & Performance (Wichita State University/ University of Minnesota)
• Masters in Curriculum Instruction & Education Administration (Grand Canyon University)

This will be Mr. Garnett's 12th year in education. He started as a high school and elementary (K-8) school band teacher in Phoenix, Arizona traveling to multiple schools. He also had a short-lived VP position, Mr. Garnett decided he loved teaching more. He moved to Denver CO, and started teaching at Aurora Hills Middle school in 2022 as a music teacher. He enjoys traveling, sight seeing, and teaching students of all ages. He also enjoys composing music for orchestra and concert band.

Michelle Spikes

Creative Writing

• BA African-American History with a Minor in Economics, Colgate University
• K-6 Teaching Certification, University of Colorado at Denver
• MA Education Administration, University of Colorado at Denver

Ms. Spikes is a retired teacher after 32 years of service. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family, friends, and my dog.

Tina Bridgemohan

Financial Literacy

Mrs. Bridgemohan is a bilingual (French) Financial Literacy educator with over ten years of experience in Finance and Technology. She is a newcomer to the USA, originally from Montreal, Canada, also known as the “Great White North.” Her grandmother's wisdom, unfailing love, and presence left an indelible mark on her path, which is why her core motivation is helping people, building community ties, and supporting diverse groups. She enjoys traveling, music/dancing, and spending quality time with my incredible husband, family, and close friends.

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE)

TBD

ELD Teacher

TBD

ELD Teacher

Hannah Bolin

ELD Teacher

• BA from University of Colorado Colorado Springs in History and Secondary Education

This is Ms.Bolin’s 6th year teaching at Aurora Hills Middle school. She started as a social studies teacher here and is now teaching ELD. She loves hiking, cooking, reading, traveling, hosting trivia, and swing dancing!

Exceptional Student Services (ESS)

Clea Kessner

Cross-Cetegorical Teacher

• BS Psychology at UC San Diego, minor in Biology
• Elementary Teaching License San Diego State University
• Special Education Teaching License San Jose State University

Ms. Kessner has been an educator for over 25 years. She has lived in the metro Denver area since 1998. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two adult children and her dog, Lola. She loves to read, cook, hike, craft and camp.

Lee Sturgis

Cross-Categorical Teacher

• B.S.- Business Management in 1990 from Hampton University
• M.S.- Special Education focus, Transitional Service from Portland State University

Mr. Sturgis has stayed in Colorado for two years with his son, Parker. His hobbies are running, swimming, and playing golf. He tries to live life to the fullest, but sometimes obligations tend to prevent it!

Hannah Evans

Cross-Categorical Teacher

• BA Sociology, Colorado State University;
• MA Special Education–Visual Impairment, University of Northern Colorado

This will be Ms. Evans’s 3rd year as an educator at Aurora Hills Middle School. She has a 7-year-old son, Lane, who was born completely blind, the driving force in her pursuit for equitable opportunities in education for all students. Outside of school, she enjoys concerts, yoga, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Stefanie Pahler

Cross-Categorical Teacher

• Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA), University of Denver
• Special Education Masters of Education (M.Ed), University of Colorado of Denver

Ms. Pahler is in her 15th year of teaching in the Aurora Public School district. This is her fourth year teaching at Aurora Hills Middle School. Ms. Pahler likes listening to music and cooking with a variety of spices.

TBD

Cross-Categorical Teacher

Daetona Stasheen

ASD Teacher

• BA Educational Ministries, Campbellsville University

This will be Miss Dae’s 5th year working for Aurora Public Schools and 4th as a Teacher at Aurora Hills Middle School. Miss Dae loves spending time in nature, as well as being active through participating in Spartan Races, paddleboarding, and playing volleyball with her close friends. Daetona has a passion for disability rights and promoting inclusion within her school and community.

Oscar Ostendorf

ASD Teacher

• University of Colorado - Denver, Bachelor of special education and psychology.

This is Oscar’s third year of teaching. He enjoys hiking, watching sports and cooking. He loves working with colleagues and students alike.

Jordana Reilly

Affective Needs Teacher

• BA Communication, CU Denver
• MA Teaching, Special Education, Metropolitan State University

This will be Mrs. Reilly’s 15th year in education and 13th year with Aurora Public Schools. She loves to read, paddle board, and spend time with the people she loves. She is passionate about supporting students' social, emotional and behavioral needs as well as preparing them with the tools for a successful transition to high school and young adulthood.

Felicia Boatwright

SSN Center-Based Teacher

• BS Digital Media Design, Colorado Technical University

Mrs. B is beginning her fourth year with Aurora Public Schools and her second year at Aurora Hills Middle School, where she is passionate about creating a classroom rooted in curiosity, dignity, and student autonomy. Outside of school, she enjoys D&D, MtG, creating music and art, video games, cosplay, and spending time on adventures with her family and friends.

Noah Price

SLP Teacher

Jonathan Robbins

SLP Teacher

Barbara Knutson

Occupational Therapist

Moriah Weir

Physical Therapist

Mental Health & Counseling

Christyn Thompson

Social Worker

• BA- Connecticut College
• Master’s of Social Work- Boston College

Ms. Thompson has spent over 20 years as a social worker and this is her fifth year at Aurora Hills. She loves yoga, being outside in nature, hanging out and laughing with friends and family, reading, identifying birds, and watching the sun sparkling on water. She also loves getting to know students who teach her all sorts of things.

Autumn Martens

ESS Social Worker

• BA in Addictions Counseling, BA in Spanish, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Masters of Social Work, The Ohio State University

This will be Ms. Martens 8th year at Aurora Hills Middle School as a ESS School Social Worker. She enjoys crafting, reading, and spending time with her husband and toddler.

Hannah Horn

ESS Social Worker

• BSSW, MSW, Metropolitan State University of Denver

This will be Ms. Horn’s third year at Aurora Hills Middle School. She loves swimming, camping, playing board games, watching movies, and spending time with her siblings. She is passionate about mental health and enjoys helping students find tools that work for them in order to lead fulfilling, comfortable lives.

Essance Lavelette (formerly Cordova)

Counselor

• BA Psychology, with a minor in Criminal Justice, University of Colorado Colorado Springs;
• MA School Counseling, Denver University

Ms. Lavalette has over 4 years of experience with middle and high school students. She enjoys reading, gaming (video or board), working out and spending time with family. Fun fact: She often has a good dad joke if you want a nice laugh.

Benjamin Danecki

Counselor

• BS in Psychology, University of Northern Colorado
• MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Denver Seminary
• MA in Sport Coaching, University of Denver

This is Mr. Danecki’s 9th year as a school counselor, second year in APS. Mr. Danecki also coaches a variety of sports and spends his free time with his wife and their two dogs.

Saleha Khatun

Counselor

• BA in Psychology at City College of the City University of New York.
• MA in School Counseling at Lehman College, also part of the City University of New York.

Ms. Saleha has six years of experience in education, all within Aurora Public Schools, and this is her third year at Aurora Hills. She enjoys spending time outdoors chasing sunsets and sunrises, exploring new trails, and immersing herself in nature, rivers, creeks, waterfalls, beaches, and wildflowers. She also loves being with her husband and 2 daughters. In her free time, she enjoys trying new sports like tennis, pickleball, biking, and swimming. A lifelong learner, Ms. Saleha believes there's always something new to discover each day, and she especially values learning from her students.

Office Support Staff

Sara Tansey

Principal's Secretary

Dawn Grow

Registrar

Misty Cook

Nurse

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Colorado Christian University

This is Mrs. Cook’s 2nd year as a school nurse and her 2nd year at Aurora HIlls. She has previously worked in post surgical care and infectious disease, specifically HIV treatment and prevention. Outside of school, Mrs. Cook loves spending time with family, paddleboarding, and horseback riding. Mrs. Cook has 1 horse (Falken), 2 dogs (Remi and Bubblegum), and 2 cats (Lulu and Spiderman). Mrs. Cook loves a good roadtrip, especially when it’s traveling for the various sports her kids are playing.

Ra'shay Austin

Bookkeeper

Daisy Quezada

Attendance Clerk

Marisa Carmona

Front Desk

Instructional Support Staff

Vanessa Herrera

Para

Ayana Rubio

Para

Mariah Williamson

Para

Damien Vega

Para

Erin Grow

Para

Keshone Lowe

Para

Nekell Lowe

Para