- Jessica Childs - is so excited to be joining the crew at Centennial! This will be my second year teaching kindergarten and fifth year in DPS. I graduated from the Stanley British Teacher Preparation Program in May 2015 and am working towards my Masters in Human Learning and Development with a concentration in Early Literacy at UCD. My undergraduate focus was in environmental science. I worked as an environmental educator for six years and continue to teach outdoors in the summer months. I love teaching because I am able to help instill a love of learning, and sense of curiosity and wonder in children. Hands-on, expeditionary learning is my passion!! My hobbies include exploring the outdoors with my fiancé and two dogs, backpacking, fishing, cooking, gardening, and yoga!
- Lisa VanDerAa - earned her undergraduate for education at Regis University and her Masters Degree in Linguistically Diverse Education at the University of Colorado Denver. Lisa has taught first grade for six years and is thrilled to be teaching first grade again at Centennial A School For Expeditionary Learning. She is excited to make learning engaging and meaningful for her students. She loves how enthused the children get when they learn something new. When Lisa is not teaching, she loves being around her friends, family, and animals!
- Hannah Simon (M/M K-2) - Hannah is trilled to be returning to Centennial for a fourth year. Born and raised in North Carolina, Hannah’s love for experiential education and adventure learning was instilled in her from a young age by both of her parents who were Outward Bound instructors in the 70s. In college, Hannah worked as a wilderness trip leader at summer camp. She has also developed a love for traveling and foreign languages, having had the opportunity to live and study abroad in both Costa Rica and Brazil. Hannah received her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, Spanish, and Portuguese from Denison University. After graduation, Hannah moved to Denver as a Teach For America Corps Member to teach Special Education in Denver Public Schools. She earned her Master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum in Urban Education and Linguistically Diverse Education at the University of Colorado at Denver. Hannah is passionate about facilitating the success of her students with diverse learning needs. In her time away from the classroom, Hannah enjoys reading, sewing, CrossFit, skiing, camping, and cooking.
- Monica Osborn-O’Dowd - is thrilled to be part of the Centennial Community and part of the Crew! Being with children and nourishing their sense of wonder and excitement to learn brings joy to her day. Monica has lived in the Denver area for the past four years. Before coming to colorful Colorado, She lived in California and grew up in New Mexico where she earned a B.S. and M.A. in Elementary Education and an Ed. S. in Educational Leadership. During her teaching career, Monica has taught primarily multi-age classes, in grades kindergarten through fourth. She has also had the pleasure of teaching Early Childhood Education students at California State University Channel Islands. Monica enjoys traveling, art, playing with her dog, and spending time with her husband and his four wonderful children.
- Nancy Gutierrez-Delgado - is excited to be part of the Centennial Crew! She has a passion for her job and is dedicated to each of her students. Nancy was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado where she earned her B.A in Elementary Education with an endorsement in ESL. She has had the pleasure of teaching kindergarten for the past six months and has worked as a paraprofessional in kindergarten, fourth, and fifth grade. Nancy loves playing basketball, reading a good book, traveling to Mexico, and spending time with her family and friends. Her desire is to ignite a passion for learning into each child she comes across.
- Robyn Thompson (K/1, 3rd Math) Robyn’s belief in Expeditionary Learning is reflected by the quote: “Students do work that is good for the mind, good for the soul, and good for the world.” Over the past eight years, Robyn has fallen in love with her role as an educator, teaching age groups ranging from first through fifth grade, with a most recent role as a first grade teacher at Centennial. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Manchester College in her home state of Indiana, Robyn felt a pull towards Denver, where she served as an AmeriCorps volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters. She was inspired by the students she met and received her teaching license from the University of Northern Colorado and is earning a Master’s in Linguistically Diverse Education at University of Colorado at Denver. She believes the Expeditionary Learning model is how she would have wanted to learn as a child, and it nurtures a sense of wonder and exploration and enables children to contribute to their community in meaningful ways. Outside of school, Robyn loves cooking, swimming, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and two dogs, Raleigh and Chico. Students hear many stories about her four-legged babies!
- Chris Cristoff - Chris is very excited to be joining the Crew! He grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana and received a degree in history from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY where he also ran on the varsity track and cross country teams. He is currently working on completing his masters in critical pedagogy at the University of Colorado Denver and is working to complete an Early Literacy Certificate via Guided Reading Plus classes. Chris loves working with students and sharing his love of learning. Outside of teaching, he enjoys reading and continues to run competitively.
- Sarah DeRungs – is a native of Colorado and loves our state. She attended Denver Public Schools during her own academic career and went on to University of Colorado Boulder, earning a BA in Humanities with a licensure in Elementary Education. She has been third grade classroom teacher, Gifted and Talented teacher, literacy interventionist, and most recently, has taught kindergarten. Her love of learning and teaching will be honored in the 2016-2017 school year at Centennial, A School for Expeditionary Learning as a first grade teacher! She is so excited to learn along with her first graders while exploring, inquiring, thinking critically and investigating. When not at school, she loves barre classes, reading novels, playing with her two dogs, and synchronized swimming.