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 Large

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. Large’s 21st year as an educator in Aurora Public Schools. She loves reading, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her two teenage children and her fiancé, Mehran.

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 10th year in APS and 8th at Aurora Hills. Mr. Buch loves to run, tinker/build, and spend time with his wife and two elementary 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.

Heather Albright

Teaching Partner

Jessica Moser

Reading Interventionist

Behavior Systems Support

Eric Ellsworth

Dean of Students

• BA English – UT- Rio Grande Valley
• MA Literature - Sam Houston State University

This is my 30th year in education. I enjoy connecting with people and hearing their stories.

Troy Tallmadge

Dean of Students

Joe Hill

Campus Monitor

Joshua Martinez Hernandez

Campus Monitor

6th Grade Team

Amy Coleman

6th Grade Math

TBD

6th Grade Math

TBD

6th Grade ELA

TBD

6th ELA

TBD

6th Grade Science

Jase Boyd

6th Grade Social Studies

• BA in Social Studies Education, University of Arkansas

This will be Mr. Boyd’s first 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!

6th / 7th Grade Team

Nini Riley

6th / 7th Grade Math

• BA in Social Studies Education, University of Arkansas

This will be Mr. Boyd’s first 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!

Noah Hendelman

6th / 7th Grade Math

Stephen Aldrich

6th / 7th Grade ELA

Tracie Jansen

6th / 7th Grade ELA

• BA English Secondary Education, Metropolitan State University

This will be Mrs. Jansen's 7th year working for Aurora Public Schools and 5th 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.

Amy Anderson

6th / 7th 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.

Darin Arnold

6th / 7th Grade Social Studies

7th Grade Team

Amone Alexandar

7th Grade Math

Regan Wilder

7th Grade Math

Kaitlin Carrick

7th Grade ELA

TBD

7th Grade ELA

Dr. Keeba Smith, Ed.D.

7th Grade Science

• AA Business Education from Jones College
• BA Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University;
• MA Teaching from THE Jackson State University
• Specialist and Doctoral degrees in Educational Leadership from Belhaven University
• US Army (1999-2008)

Rachel Deppe

7th Grade Social Studies

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

This will be Ms. Deppe’s 10th year as a teacher. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, playing video games, camping, traveling, and attempting to ski.

8th Grade Team

Cathy Theis

8th Grade Math

Chase Vervynck

8th Grade Math

Lynn Lafountain

8th Grade Math

TBD

8th Grade ELA

Jennifer Olsen

8th Grade ELA

Matt Dach

8th Grade ELA

Amanda Moore

8th Grade Science

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

This is Ms. Moore’s 2nd year working at Aurora Hills. She has a passion for science, reading, and making connections with people.

Michael Gregorich

8th Grade Science

Amy Nieves

8th Grade Social Studies

Alex Tucker-Hinojosa

8th Grade Social Studies

• BA Political Science, Texas Tech University

This will be Mr. Hinojosa's third year in education and his first year in Colorado. He loves video games, hiking, going to concerts, spending time with his husband and cats, collecting vinyl records, and is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur.

Exploratories

Allen Hagerman

STEM

Andrew Phelps

Choir

Beatrice Drew

Art

Benjamin Martens

P.E. / Health

Diana Polaski

P.E / Health

Doug Hoff

P.E. Health

Jeffrey Garnett

Music

Maria Brotherston

Band / Orchestra

Michelle Spikes

Creative Writing

Tina Bridgemohan

Financial Literacy

Victoria Dean

AVID

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE)

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 3rd 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!

Melissa Wesdyk

CLDE Teacher Leader

Darlenne Guerra

CLDE Teacher

Hannah Bolin

CLDE Teacher

Mark Braun

CLDE Teacher

Nancy Holmberg

CLDE Teacher

Exceptional Student Services (ESS)

Clea Kessner

8th Grade ESS

Lee Sturgis

8th Grade ESS

Hannah Evans

7th Grade ESS

Stefanie Pahler

7th Grade ESS

TBD

6th Grade ESS

TBD

6th Grade ESS

Daetona Stasheen

ASD Teacher

• BA Educational Ministries, Campbellsville University

This will be Miss. Dae’s 4th year working for Aurora Public Schools and 3rd 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

Jordana Reilly

Affective Needs Teacher

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

This will be Mrs. Reilly’s 14th year in education and 12th 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.

Vanessa Riggs

SSN Teacher

Amy Carpenter

SLP Teacher

Kristy Walker

SLP Teacher

Barbara Knutson

Occupational Therapist

Colleen Curto

Physical Therapist

Mental Health & Counseling

Autumn Martens

ESS Social Worker

Brittany McCrae

Counselor

Christy Thompson

Social Worker

Essance Cordova

Lead Counselor

Hannah Horn

ESS Social Worker

• MSW, Metropolitan State University of Denver

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

Kelly Batt

Counselor

Saleha Khatun

Counselor

Front Office Staff

Sara Tansey

Principal's Secretary

TBD

Bookkeeper

Dawn Grow

Registrar

Misty Cook

Nurse

Emma Hernandez

Family Liaison

Daisy Quezada

Front Desk

Yesenia Alvarez-Hernandez

Attendance Clerk

Support Staff

Mariah Williamson

Para

Felisha Boatwright

Para

Vanessa Herrera

Para

Ayana Rubio

Para

Damien Vega

Para

Erin Grow

Para

Keshone Lowe

Para

Nekell Lowe

Para