2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Valdez Elementary, Kindergarten
Julio completed his residency year training at Munroe Elementary in a Kindergarten classroom. He joined the Denver Teacher Residency from the mental health field and has worked as a clinical case manager at the Mental Health Center of Denver. Julio saw DTR as an enriching opportunity to learn how to be an effective teacher that would truly help his students learn and grow and reach their fullest potential. As a product of DPS, Julio would like to take part in closing the achievement gap by helping the school system that helped him as a child.
"I've seen how rigorous the kids' work is." Hear more>>
Julio recognizes that teaching is an incredible opportunity to help the community and positively impact the lives of children. For this reason, he hopes to teach for several years and one day, become an administrator in order to continue to improve Denver’s schools for years to come.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Munroe Elementary, 1st Grade
After moving from Ecuador, his country of origin in South America, Paul has lived in Colorado for over 10 years now. Teaching has been one of his passions and after his professional growth as a manager in the Marketing and Construction field in the Denver area, he joined Denver Teacher Residency with a strong feeling and need to give back to the community, especially its children. Paul completed his residency year training in a first grade classroom at Greenwood K-8.
"I know that I'm going to be a big contributor to the education system." Hear more>>
It was through his volunteer experience working as a mentor with a student of the Denver Kids, Inc. that he decided to get actively involved in the education field with a clear goal of helping students to reach their highest potential.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Oakland Elementary, 4th Grade
Gretchen joined Denver Teacher Residency from an extensive and varied career with outdoor and experiential education. She has worked for Outward Bound as a wilderness instructor, coordinated a G.E.D. program, and taught environmental education on the Heifer International Ranch. It was through these experiences that she found her passion and commitment to serving and educating at-risk youth.
Gretchen sees Denver Teacher Residency as more than a five-year commitment, and plans to dedicate her life to teaching and helping students reach their highest potential.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Cheltenham Elementary, 5th Grade
In 2007, I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with honors and a double major in Art History and Spanish. I spent my final year at CU studying Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico. The year after graduation, I received a grant to teach English and develop bilingual curriculum in a public high school in Algeciras, Spain.
After returning to Denver, I knew I wanted to continue to teach and I began researching teaching programs. The DTR fit my hands-on style of learning and provided an opportunity for me to make a real, positive impact in my community, so I signed up.
I spent my first year as a DTR resident at Montclair Elementary with my mentor, Jennifer Shindoll. She modeled not only effective classroom practices, but also how to navigate an often-challenging assortment of obligations meted out to a public school teacher. As it turns out, our role as teachers is not limited to planning and teaching. I learned from Jen how to support a child in their education, as well as how to provide for them in their social development. She also continued to support me through the many challenges of my first year in my own classroom.
After two years in DPS teaching at Cheltenham Elementary, I have begun to see the actual breadth of my role as a fifth grade teacher. For some students, I may be their only connection to education. I have just one year to make an impact that will engage them and prepare them for the steps they’ll make on their own when they leave my classroom. For this reason, I am continually seeking ways to improve my practice in order to make every lesson count. This role of teacher is as difficult and multifaceted as it is rewarding, and it is one that I am proud to fulfill every day.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at College View Elementary, 4th Grade
I am a Colorado native. I graduated from Arvada High School and earned my Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Regis University, where I graduated Cum Laude. In the five years since college I have worked in a wide variety of fields including audio and video production, event planning and food service, and most recently in the IT department at a large corporation.
I was very active in sports growing up, and played on an inner city youth competitive basketball team in high school. This experience allowed me to see different places and see college as an attainable goal. Despite becoming a mother shortly after high school, with support from a very large family, great friends, coaches, and teachers, I was able to go to college and become successful. I feel that one of my greatest accomplishments has been completing college while raising a young child. I hope I can be inspiration to other teen parents and prove that goals can still be achieved despite having a child at a young age.
I aspired to be a teacher, but chose the path too late into my college career. The DTR program fit me perfectly because of the hands-on experience it provided as well as the challenging coursework through the University of Denver.
I love spending four days of my week in the classroom with kids. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and provides training that could not be obtained from a book and coursework. Every day is a new experience with challenges and successes. It’s always wonderful to see the children in my classroom learn and grow.
There have definitely been surprises – balancing all of the non-academic challenges that come with being a teacher, as well as the vast difference in abilities that are all in one classroom is a huge challenge. I enjoy the challenge of keeping all the children engaged and learning across their academic differences.
Rhianna completed her residency year training at Archuleta Elementary.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Valdez Elementary, Literacy
I am 31 and grew up in New Jersey and moved to Colorado as a teenager. I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Journalism. I worked for eight years as a reporter for several newspapers in Colorado and Florida on the crime beat. My husband, daughter and I live in Denver.
I was pursuing a teaching certificate when I heard about Denver Teacher Residency and its commitment to students in urban schools, particularly "at-risk" students. The more I learned about the program, the more I felt that it had been custom designed for me. The mentoring, specially-designed master’s coursework and residency model were highlights. It was everything I wanted and more in a teaching program.
As a resident at Montclair Elementary, the thing I enjoyed most about my residency year was being paired with a mentor teacher who mentored and helped me develop my own teaching style, rituals and routines. Her support was invaluable and key to my learning process. I also love the students! There’s nothing better than a bunch of eager kids - they are awesome little people. The biggest challenge I see is the need for more one-on-one time with students, especially those who struggle academically whether it be because of language or pacing.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Teller Elementary, 1st Grade
I am 54 and recently married. I come from a military family, so growing up we moved around a lot and I went to many different schools. We moved to Colorado in 1972 where I completed high school at William J. Palmer in 1975. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and my Master's in Corporate & Industrial Communications.
I spent 23 years working in telecommunications in the area of sales, contract administration, and finance. I was an accountant for five years at DPS and decided to make a career change and was a substitute teacher for six months. I’ve also done freelance writing for two local publications, Women’s Edition and the Denver Urban Spectrum.
I come from a big family, love kids, and have always been a mentor throughout my professional career. Although I’ll be the first certified educator in my immediate family, educators come from both sides of my family - on my father’s side there are several retired and active school teachers, and a current elementary school principal; on my mother’s side there are also retired and current teachers, as well as another elementary school principal, and a college professor. Linda completed her residency year training at Gust Elementary.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Montclair Elementary, 1st Grade
I am 35 and a Denver, Colorado native. I am a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Bachelor’s of Music), the University of Michigan, and Southern Illinois University (Master’s degree in Music Performance). I am an accomplished teacher, soloist, and orchestral musician. My musical travels have spanned the United States, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Canada, and Australia.
I was formerly on staff at Southern Illinois University and have performed for college and grade school classrooms, as well as corporate firms across the United States. I held principal oboe positions with the Orquesta de Sinaloa de las Artes in Culiacan, Mexico as well as the New York Repertory Orchestra, Harlem Symphony Orchestra, and the Greenwich Village Orchestra.
I particularly enjoyed traveling to small pueblos in Mexico performing and teaching classical music to people who had never been exposed to it. I continue to teach private lessons for flute and oboe in the Denver Metro Area. I live in northeast Denver with my 3-1/2 year old daughter. I grew up in Denver Public Schools and am happy to be learning and teaching in the DPS system.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Holm Elementary, 2nd Grade
I grew up in West Texas and attended the University of Texas at El Paso where I earned my Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Criminal Justice in December, 2000. I went on to work for the U.S. Pretrial Services Office as a government contractor and then as a case manager in a Federal halfway house. After moving to Denver in 2002 I worked for Adams County School District 14 for five years, first as a Migrant Education Recruiter and then as an Adult English as a Second Language Instructor.
I chose the Denver Teacher Residency because it gave me hands-on experience in the classroom, and the opportunity to earn my Master’s degree from the University of Denver at the same time. I was impressed with the extensive support network that I received as a resident, and surprised at how progressive DPS is in implementing new ideas, like this residency.
I’m looking forward to working with families to overcome the challenge of lack of parent involvement. As I work on my teaching skills, I enjoy making a difference in the kids’ lives and watching them grow as students. Rosa trained at Archuleta Elementary.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Gust Elementary, 3rd Grade
Jessica fell in love with teaching when she moved her life to Málaga, Spain, to work in a bilingual elementary school for one year on the Mediterranean Coast. She was heavily involved in the primary classrooms at the school, teaching English lessons, translating curriculum, and generally helping to move the bilingual initiative in the region forward.
Upon her return to the states, Jessica could not have found a better fit in terms of a Master’s program, than the innovative model of the Denver Teacher Residency. She is nothing short of honored to be an agent of real change dedicated to closing the student achievement gap in Denver Public Schools. She completed her residency year at Knapp Elementary in a second grade ELA-S classroom, and begins her teaching career at Gust Elementary as a third grade teacher.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Cole Arts & Science Academy, Kindergarten
Claudia’s passion to advocate for youth and their families led Claudia to join the Denver Teacher Residency program. She comes from the human services field in which she served urban youth who experienced violence within their families. She saw education as a critical arena for supporting the empowerment of children and making a big impact. The Denver Teacher Residency program and the University of Denver have prepared Claudia well for the challenges ahead; she completed her residency at Archuleta Elementary. She is dedicated to serving the youth in the Denver community.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at McMeen Elementary, 2nd Grade
Shannon joined the Denver Teacher Residency Program after 12 years working in the field of federal legislative policy in Washington, D.C. A Denver native and Denver Public Schools graduate, Shannon is thrilled to be back in her home town working to close the achievement gap in DPS and helping all students reach their maximum potential. Shannon complete her residency year at McMeen Elementary.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at DCIS at Ford Elementary, 1st Grade
Sarah comes to Denver Teacher Residency from the non-profit field. After facilitating high school mentoring programs in Denver Public Schools through Goodwill Industries Youth Services and several years of volunteer with at-risk youth, Sarah realized that she wanted to become an elementary school teacher to help students reach their highest potential.
Sarah found that Denver Teaching Residency provided the opportunity to become a licensed teacher focused on the specific needs of students in Denver Public Schools. She completed her residency year at Archuleta Elementary and in her first few months of teaching already credits the program for spending a lot of time reflecting and reaching out to her former mentor teacher for support. Sarah is already enjoying working in an urban school district and providing students with the opportunity to have a quality education, particularly meeting the challenge of impacting students who have not had high expectations set for them in the past.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Green Valley Ranch Elementary, 2nd Grade
Growing up, I spent a lot of time in Mexico because my father, then a Mexican citizen met and later married my mother, an American, while he was touring the United States as a professional wrestler in Lucha Libre. They settled down and live in the States, but I was fortunate to have spent most summers and holidays in Mexico. Since then, my father has become a U.S. Citizen and my parents have been married for over 40 years.
I am 38 and bilingual in English and Spanish, and for six years prior to joining Denver Teacher Residency, I worked as an Interior Designer, primarily working in commercial space planning. Before starting interior design, I worked with Continental Airlines, where I got to travel extensively. I had planned on building my career there, but had to adapt my plans after major and immediate changes within the company and across the industry after 9/11. My husband and I originally moved to Denver from Colorado Springs, where he was stationed at Peterson Air Force Base; he is a Denver Firefighter, serving since 1998.
I was interested in DTR because I felt the program could be life changing for me and the students that it is meant to help. I was looking for a way to become more involved in my community and have a more meaningful career. My son is also a student in DPS, so I feel I have a personal stake in DPS’ success. I think the program gave me a unique glimpse into the future challenges of urban educators, which is realizing and understanding all the underlying challenges that many urban students wrestle with outside of school. Sometimes kids are trying to survive the best they can in their everyday world, so it’s hard for them to grasp the importance of studying and what a positive impact it will make on their future.
I did my residency at Archuleta, and preparing for these challenges has been easier with the huge amount of support I got from all the teachers and staff.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Maxwell Elementary, Kindergarten
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology from Taylor University (Upland, IN) in 2008. Prior to beginning my residency, I had been working for a year as a paraprofessional in Denver Public Schools at Maxwell Elementary. During my junior year of college I spent a semester in Tanzania where I first developed an interest in Urban Education, and throughout college my interest in Public Policy grew which led to a focus on educational policy.
I left college with a desire to gain experience in public education in order to enter the education policy arena. However, once I began working in a school last year I discovered a love for teaching. This led to my pursuit of a teaching program. I looked at a number of alternative teacher certification programs. I was drawn to Denver Teacher Residency because it addresses the civil rights issue of our time - the achievement gap - in an intentional way. It creates life-long teachers who are fully equipped to meet the foreseeable challenges. Beyond that, I've been surprised at the level of innovation DPS is cultivating. DPS is in a time of self-examination and honesty which I greatly value as an employee and community member.
During the residency year, I loved the practical learning in our courses and residency experience. Everything I learned could be applied the next morning when I walked through the doors, from strategies to help English language learners to strategies on how to holistically develop my students. This fed my passion for being able to develop the unbelievable talent and potential found in my students. I also enjoyed watching the growth of my students, and always look forward to finding myself as a teacher. I’m out to prove that our student's stories have NOT been written before they enter our classrooms.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Green Valley Ranch Elementary, 3rd Grade
Troy joined Denver Teacher Residency shortly after college. Prior to joining DTR Troy was a special education paraprofessional at McKinley Thatcher Elementary and at Corey Elementary. It was through his experience as a paraprofessional that Troy discovered that he wanted to become a teacher. He completed his residency year at Greenwood K-8 in a Special Education assignment.
Troy sees teaching as an opportunity. After having worked with many students with learning or behavioral difficulties, he believes that education is the best chance for every child to reach his or her potential. Troy has, and plans to continue, dedicating his life to this ideal by providing the best possible education for students.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Valdez Elementary, 1st Grade
Before joining Denver Teacher Residency, Anna worked for a teen pregnancy prevention project. During this time, she was immersed in Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek Schools, teaching a pregnancy prevention curriculum and facilitating support groups for teen mothers. Through these experiences working with high risk youth, Anna solidified her desire to be a classroom teacher. She joined Denver Teacher Residency to continue her work in urban schools and to give back to the school district she herself attended.
Anna completed her residency year in a second grade classroom at Montclair Elementary and is committed to implementing best practices in order to move student achievement forward, ensuring that all students reach their highest potential.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Beach Court Elementary, 2nd Grade
After a successful legal career, Amy spent several years raising her young son. She became an active parent volunteer at his preschools, where she rapidly developed great respect for quality teaching. As a “founding parent” in a struggling Title I DPS elementary school following revitalization efforts, Amy resurrected the defunct Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and dramatically increased parent involvement. While volunteering many hundreds of hours at the school, she was struck by the observation that every child, regardless of background, flourished under the attention and guidance of a caring adult. Amy launched her nascent career in education as a substitute teacher and as a paraprofessional specializing in reading and writing for several years. She then joined the Denver Residency Program in June 2010.
Amy believes her experiences as a DPS parent, volunteer, and employee offer a unique and comprehensive perspective on the challenges facing today’s urban schools. She recognizes that when a family entrusts a faculty with the education of their child, it is at once a tremendous privilege and a sobering responsibility. As a lifelong learner, Amy continually hones her teaching skills to deliver the most effective instruction possible. She is wholly committed to serving all DPS students equitably, and to closing the achievement gap within the district.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at McGlone Elementary, Mild-Moderate Special Education
Maren Joined the Denver Teacher Residency from the non-profit sector where she worked mentoring and counseling teenagers for Young Life International. It was through her experience volunteering in a school in Guatemala that Maren realized she wanted to teach younger children. Maren plans to dedicate her life to teaching students to become lifelong learners and to obtain knowledge and skills that will help them reach their highest potential and contribute to our world.
Two of the most valuable learnings that she credits to her residency year are: learning how to write specific, measurable learning objectives, and sheltering my content and language instruction for my English Learners. Maren began her first year teaching with very few surprises. "Expectations at McGlone are extremely high," she says. "I feel that DTR has helped me be well prepared to take on the challenges of full time teaching."
She continues, "I have had the privilege of being trained by some of the very best teachers and trainers in the district. The men and women that have mentored me in specific areas of expertise have been a wealth of knowledge and experience and have continued to support me as I have begun teaching full time.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Swansea Elementary, 3rd Grade
Lindsay joined Denver Teacher Residency from medical and beverage sales field, and has worked for PepsiCo, Samuel Adams and Pacific Pulmonary. It was through her experiences as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters that Lindsay realized she wanted to dedicate her career to educating children.
"One of the greatest things I learned from DTR is that students will rise to high expectations. It takes guts and determination to set high goals with students, but with measurable benchmarks and the buy-in of students and their families, even the most ambitious goals can be attained. I am indescribably grateful for the mentorship and exemplary example of effective teaching I witnessed during my Residency year. As I begin my teaching career on my own, it is hard to distinguish what 'my' teaching style is and what I picked up from my lead teacher because her good teaching habits so easily transitioned to me. Now that I have my own classroom, I enjoy the freedom and responsibility of knowing that the kids on my roster sheet are 100% my responsibility and it feels natural and comfortable to be THE ONLY teacher in the classroom. All in all, I feel prepared and I feel like an... effective teacher!" "I like many things about teaching at DPS. Along with my appreciation for the diversity of the DPS student population, I am thrilled to be a part of the new movement to improve the education system and applaud the initiatives taken by DPS to ensure that every student, regardless of what neighborhood they live in, will receive an exemplary education. It is the civil rights movement of our generation and DPS is taking action." "I won't sugar-coat it: Teaching is incredibly hard work. I think the biggest challenge for urban teachers is sustaining the amount of passion and energy it takes to be the most effective teacher possible. The best teachers are dedicated, reflective, open to feedback, yearning to improve every day, and overall they are hungry life-long learners. I don't know an urban teacher that does not love what they do - but they are a special breed. Every day has its challenges, but the best teachers work every day to conquer the big goals they set with students to ensure academic achievement and, in turn, close the achievement gap.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Valdez Elementary, 3rd Grade
Before joining Denver Teacher Residency, Katherine worked for Outward Bound as an outdoor educator and served in AmeriCorps VISTA as a service-learning coordinator. Realizing that she can make the biggest impact in the classroom, her prior skills and experiences have built a foundation for her to engage students as leaders, critical-thinkers and good communicators while meeting academic goals. Katherine is dedicated to creating a just world and committed to being an exceptional teacher and leader within the Denver Public Schools.
Katherine says that through her lead teacher and learning rotations, she learned a lot about having high expectations for the students. This is immediately transferable to her own classroom, where she's increased the rigor of the content and academic language. She credits DTR to teaching her to ask deeper questions and require more of my students. She says, "Starting off my residency year with fresh eyes, I was unaware of truly how much my lead teacher already had in place. From what to do with supplies to homework policies, there are many details to consider. As a full-time teacher I am realizing more and more the constant decision making that occurs and how it affects a learning environment. As a teacher, I love the support of my school community. I know I can rely on other staff members for ideas, help, a good laugh, and inspiration. I could not ask for a better working environment."
"One of the biggest challenges of working in an urban district is meeting the vast array of needs. It is important that teachers differentiate their instruction to respond to the individual situations and needs of each student. It is essential to be invested in the success of every student; it takes a tremendous amount of time and dedication!"
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Johnson Elementary, 5th Grade
Enna is passionate about the field of education and closing the achievement gap. After her work with middle and high school students, it became quite clear to her that educational gaps need to be closed in elementary school if we hope to offer every student the opportunity to go to college in the future. Enna joined the Denver Teacher Residency to personally address the glaring gap in our students’ academic abilities.
Through her full-year residency at Gust Elementary School working with master-teachers, and engaging in Master’s level courses at the University of Denver’s School of Education, she is prepared and excited to provide students in Denver Public Schools with the high quality education they deserve.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Knapp Elementary, 2nd Grade
I am originally from Des Moines, Iowa and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Business Management and Women’s Studies from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Following graduation, I moved to Denver where I worked for four years in legal marketing, two at the Colorado Bar Association and two as Director of Marketing at Westin Consulting.
I chose the Denver Teacher Residency program over others I looked at because I felt that they were looking for people who wanted to see long-term success in the classroom. It was a much better fit for me than other programs aimed at college aged students because they were looking for someone who had professional experience that would serve them well in the classroom. I stand behind the program because I feel that DTR has recruited some of the finest and most professional people that I have ever met. The inaugural cohort of residents has an amazing amount of dedication and vision for the program.
I absolutely love teaching and going to work every day to work with the kids. They have incredible ideas and are so impressionable at this age. As a resident, I learned from an amazing mentor teacher who astonished me all the time and was an integral part of preparing me for success in my own classroom.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Gust Elementary, 3rd Grade
I graduated from Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado, studied in Granada, Spain in the fall of 2007, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bucknell University in 2009.
I’ve worked as a member of a youth leadership team at a family camp on the Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, where I managed the work and day-to-day activities of 18 teen staff members. I also interned at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children over the Summer in 2008.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Fairview Elementary, Kindergarten
I am 25 and a proud product of DPS (go JFK!). I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2007. I spent the semester before graduation traveling the world through the Semester At Sea Program where I was able to visit and perform service projects in 10 different countries.
I have worked and volunteered with various organizations over the years, including Girls Incorporated, Boys and Girls Clubs, Mi Casa Resource Center, and Healing Waters Family Center (to name a few). I am proud to be a part of the inaugural residency class and feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to do what I love and to make a difference in my community. As a product of DPS, I feel that Denver Teacher Residency is a perfect fit for me, and I am happy to have begun working and sharing my passion with Denver's students.
As a DPS grad, I feel that I am familiar with many of the challenges that this unique group of urban students brings with them. I think that the structure of the program is unique, and the time that residents spend in the classroom during the residency year is invaluable. Residents are constantly working toward reaching goals that I am passionate about - closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students have access to a quality education with superior educators. I feel that this program is truly one of the best.
As a resident at Montclair Elementary, I loved learning alongside a mentor teacher who helped prepare me for teaching. I learned so much and feel very fortunate to have been able to observe and teach with individuals who are so very talented and passionate about what they do.
Finding a way to differentiate instruction is one of the biggest challenges I've encountered thus far. DPS classrooms have a variety of students who are all at different levels academically. Finding time to prepare and teach several different lessons so that all students are challenged and set up to achieve at their full potential while maintaining a productive whole group atmosphere is a challenge. The amount of time and preparation that it takes to be an effective teacher for all of your students is startling. This job goes way beyond the 40-hour work week, but the time put in is well worth it!
2009-10 Residency 2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Farrell B. Howell Elementary, 5th Grade
I am a Denver native. I am a Women’s Vision Foundation Scholarship Recipient for the Women’s College at the University of Denver, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Law and Society with a minor in communications in 2008. Prior to that, I spent 16 years in the work force with non-profits, banks, and as a domestic engineer.
I have defied statistics. Latino males have an incredibly high drop-out rate in Colorado and across the nation, but my oldest son just graduated from high school and is already attending college. I was pregnant with him when I graduated from high school. Because of this experience, I am committed to education and change. I am a proud single parent and believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. Nothing can stop you - not being a teen parent and not being a single parent. If you want something you have to work hard for it, and believe in yourself. I am not solely defined by my errors, but my choices to create change. I will either be part of the problem, or part of the solution, I have chosen the latter.
I completed my residency year at Harrington Elementary in 2009-10. During this year, I learned that the connection between parents and educators is essential to the success of each student. Now a full-time teacher with own classroom, my respect for educators has grown leaps and bounds. I like that every day I'm inspired by my students, who teach me far more than I will ever teach them.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Green Valley Ranch Elementary, 3rd Grade
Kate grew up outside of Chicago and lived in Portland for the previous seven years. She studied English and Hispanic Studies at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR. Then, she worked in public relations for three years. Kate chose DTR not only because of its mission to close the achievement gap, but also because it offers an unparalleled support structure to ensure that all residents are set up for success in the classroom. She loves the sense of collaboration with the other residents and appreciates learning so much from each other on a daily basis. She enjoys the opportunity to make a difference in students' lives each day the most about teaching. She's looking forward to applying the strategies the residents have learned about and designing her own classroom in a way that fosters a unique classroom culture and sets students up for success. The biggest challenge that she sees facing urban teachers today is catering to students with many diverse needs simultaneously.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Holm Elementary, 5th Grade
I am 42 and spent 20 years at the Rocky Mountain News as a reporter, writer and editor, covering everything from Aurora City Hall to late-night murders to the city's concert scene. For the last nine years I was editor of the Weekend Spotlight section, one of the paper's largest and best-read sections. I’m fairly certain I’m the only staff member in the News' 149-year history to have interviewed both Oliver North and Carrot Top (although not at the same time).
Like 200 other News employees (and millions more in other industries) I had to plot a new course midstream. I thought, “If circumstances demand a change, why not make a real change - one that shifts how you think and ultimately makes a difference?”
After devoting half my life toward a product destined for the recycling bin, I was looking for a career that delivered lasting value. With teaching I knew each day's work would build toward something bigger. At my age, I didn't want to mess around, and DTR was the ideal program. It promised to load me up with experience and purposeful coursework with a very specific mission: helping urban children get the education they deserve. Michael completed his residency training at Archuleta Elementary.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Henry World Middle School, Special Education
Craig found the Denver Teacher Residency after relocating to Colorado in the spring of 2009. A sales and management professional for thirteen years, Craig has been coaching youth sports for several years in preparation for the transition to teaching. Craig’s coaching experience led him to investigate DTR and uncovered his strong desire to work with children, focusing on students with special needs.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, 1st Grade
I am from East Brunswick, NJ. I attended undergrad at Rutgers University and majored in Spanish and Anthropology. I graduated four years ago, and moved back to Merida, Mexico, where I had studied abroad and fell in love with the culture. While down there I dabbled in archaeology, but spent most of my time volunteering at a local orphanage teaching English.
After returning to New Jersey, I spent a year or so bouncing between sales jobs. None of which I felt were as rewarding as my brief teaching experience in Mexico. And that's what turned me on to the prospect of being a teacher, and eventually, to find Denver Teacher Residency.
I completed my residency at McMeen Elementary in a third grade classroom. The most important thing I learned during my residency year was how to manage a classroom. I entered into teaching knowing next to nothing about kids, so this gave me a solid foundation from which to work. As any teacher knows, good classroom management is the key to success!
At the beginning of my DTR journey, I thought teaching would be so easy. I have had many high-stress jobs in various fields prior, but there is nothing like teaching. I didn't know at the time that teaching is a lifestyle, not just a job. What I like most about teaching in Denver Public Schools is that I can actually see that I am doing good for my students. I see them at the beginning of the year and the end of the year and to see their progress is amazing.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at McMeen Elementary, Kindergarten
Jennifer joined the Denver Teacher Residency from the construction field. She is a Denver Public Schools graduate who is passionate about working in Title 1 schools. It was through the volunteer experiences with elementary students that Jennifer realized that she wanted to work with primary aged readers and writers. Jennifer completed her residency year at Munroe Elementary and is excited to devote her time and energy to McMeen and promotes highly effective teaching.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Cheltenham Elementary, 3rd Grade
I am 24 and graduated with academic distinction from University of Colorado Boulder with dual degrees in Spanish and English Literature. I have always had an interest in serving those in need in my community and abroad, and have participated in a variety of volunteer opportunities during the past five years, including Hurricane Katrina relief in New Orleans, work with school-aged children in the projects of New York City, work with the homeless in Boulder County, and finally a summer-long service trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia, where I spent time with some of the city's many abandoned children. I also worked for the Housing Authority of Boulder County as a translator for families seeking affordable housing opportunities.
After spending time with a group of Bolivian orphans during the summer I spent there, I became aware of the huge impact that just one intentional adult influence can have on the trajectory of a child's life; for this reason, I decided to go into education. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to teach in a high-needs, urban school, to fight the institutionalized racism that has doomed so many of our nation's youth to poverty and a substandard education.
I knew that, in order to be effective in such a challenging teaching environment, I needed support and excellent preparation. For this reason, I chose the Denver Teacher Residency. This program stands for everything that I believe to be true about education and about the educator's crucial role as an agent of change. It prepared me in the most effective way imaginable to succeed as a teacher - and most importantly - to help my students to succeed. A huge challenge that I see for the beginning teachers at my school is a lack of thorough preparation. I feel that most traditional teaching programs fail to emphasize the importance of building a culturally responsive classroom that celebrates students' racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity. Without such instruction, teachers aren't fully equipped to face the challenges of an urban classroom, and may burn out prematurely.
The support that I received as a Denver Teacher Resident has been unparalleled. The program staff and faculty at DU ensure that we receive training related to every unique aspect of teaching in an urban school setting, and have meticulously designed each step of our residency year to accomplish the end goal of preparing excellent classroom teachers. I could not ask for a more supportive learning environment, and feel confident of my own future success as a result of DTR's crucial investment.
Likewise, I have been impressed by the proactive approach that DPS is taking to close the achievement gap by focusing on data-driven instruction, increased teacher support, and increased parent involvement. My fellow residents and I have the unique privilege of participating in the first year of a program specifically designed and implemented with the support of DPS as a genuine, proactive effort to change the state of Denver's urban schools. I completed my residency year at Montclair Elementary.
I am continually amazed by the vast potential I see in my students. There has been absolutely nothing more rewarding than seeing the students in my classroom struck by the inspiration of having grasped something taught to them. Seeing a student internalize, personalize, and apply a concept learned in the classroom to his or her own experience certainly makes the toil of planning worthwhile.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Knight Academy at Hallett, Special Education
Edie joined Denver Teacher Residency from a career in counseling and community relations. Edie has worked with The Denver Area Council Boy Scouts learning for Life Program and Excelsior Youth Center. It was through the direct interactions with the youth in these programs that Edie decided she wanted to work in the field of Special Education with the children in the Denver Public School System. Edie credits the DTR program as an opportunity to give back to the community and assist the youth whom struggle the most in the school system.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Green Valley Ranch Elementary, 3rd Grade
As a proud graduate from George Washington High School, Lauren knows that is her time to give back to her community. After spending two years as a paraprofessional at McMeen Elementary School and teaching a literacy after-school program at Bruce Randolph School, she realized that she had a desire to become a classroom teacher. Lauren chose the Denver Teacher Residency because it stood out as a top program among Denver educational programs, was very hands-on, and gave her the opportunity to work alongside a mentor teacher. By working alongside some of the district’s most successful teachers, she has been able to address challenges such as how to close the achievement gap and increase the graduation rate, ultimately making DPS one of the best school districts in the nation.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at McGlone Elementary, Kindergarten
Nadine joined the Denver Teacher Residency after spending a year working as a kindergarten paraprofessional in a high-needs school. It was through her experiences as a children’s ski instructor and as a paraprofessional that Nadine realized she wanted to become an educator. Nadine is aware of the challenges that urban teachers face, and hopes to help students overcome these challenges and achieve success.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Cole Arts & Science Academy, 2nd Grade
Sarah entered Denver Teacher Residency after spending two years as an AmeriCorps*VISTA at the University of Denver’s Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. While at DU Sarah helped to develop and maintain DU’s relationships with Denver Public Schools through service learning opportunities for DPS students. After balancing her time in the office and DPS classrooms, Sarah saw that her true passion was being in the classroom, working with students to reach their academic goals. To Sarah DTR is about more than being an effective teacher; it is about dedicating her career and life to closing the achievement gap and supporting students in DPS.
In her own words: "The greatest learning that I take with me from my residency year is REFLECTION AND COLLABORATION. After each day, I take a moment to think about what is and is not working in my classroom and modify it so that students are more likely to achieve. When I'm struggling with students, a curriculum or a procedure, I know to ask for help! There are many talented professionals around me who have great ways to support me. Being a teacher is a lot more than just lesson planning. It is advocating for my students, providing first aid, building relationships, playing at recess, challenging yourself to think deeper, reflecting, and so many more roles.Denver Public Schools is willing and open to take risks and try new things to support students and help them achieve. One of the hardest parts of teaching is balancing the tension between doing what I can do daily in my classroom to help students achieve, and a need for change in policies and practices so that students can reach their highest potential and achieve.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Place Bridge Academy, 1st Grade
Andrea joined the Denver Teacher Residency program immediately after graduating from the University of Northern Colorado where she majored in Mexican-American Studies and minored in Teaching English as a Second Language. Since childhood, becoming a teacher has been a goal for Andrea and quality education for every child is her life-long passion. Andrea is dedicated to closing the achievement gap for students in her classroom. She has high expectations for all students as she encourages each student to be successful and motivates students to achieve their goals. As an educator, Andrea believes that students must be encouraged to continue their education so that they, too can make positive contributions to their communities and to the world.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Archuleta Elementary, 4th Grade
Margarita joined Denver Teacher Residency after a successful career in business management with organizations such as Junior Achievement, Dex, Pepsico, and Johnson and Johnson. While serving as the Executive Director for the Hispanic Initiative of Junior Achievement, she discovered Denver Teacher Residency and decided to follow her passion for education. Margarita is a native Spanish bilingual elementary educator with expertise in utilizing data, differentiation, reflective teaching and sheltered content instructional methods for ELL students in all core subject areas. She also has extensive successful experience in community outreach, parental engagement and working with socially and economically diverse populations.
In her own words: "DTR prepared me to be an effective teachers with skills like Backwards Design, Classroom Management, and Data gathering. I love teaching my students and each of their personal stories. I know I can make a life-changing difference for these kids. All of the issues surrounding a child that is low socio economic income can become obstacles if effective teaching isn't consistent throughout the child's educational career.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Smith Elementary, 1st Grade
Lindsay was born and raised in Lakewood, CO and graduated from Boston University in 2009 with a double major in English and Religion. She then spent a year teaching preschool in Missoula, MT. She chose the Denver Teacher Residency because she loved the idea of applying theory to practice on a daily basis. The DTR program is great because residents have a team of support including experienced educators from DU, DPS, and all the residents in each cohort. Lindsay loves teaching and being a positive influence in children's lives. She sees the biggest challenge for urban teachers as bringing all the students up to grade level in order to close the achievement gap.
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Gust Elementary, 1st Grade
I grew up in Arlee, Montana, which is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation in the western part of the state. I’m a member of the Salish tribe. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Montana – Missoula. During college, I worked for Reznet News, an online news web site dedicated to covering Native American and minority issues. Before being accepted to the Denver Teacher Residency, I was the education reporter for the Casper Star-Tribune in Casper, Wyoming. I chose to report on education because I believe that education is at the heart of so many issues for our country.
After spending two years reporting on schools and teachers, I knew I wanted to be on the other side of the fence. Applying to DTR is one of the best decisions I’ve made; I never imagined that I would find a job that has the power to make me laugh and cry in the same day!
I chose Denver Teacher Residency because I was interested in getting hands-on experience in teaching - right away. Sitting through years of just coursework didn’t seem like the best way to learn about this profession. I love that I was able to learn how to teach and then apply that knowledge immediately. Our classes were well thought out and on the cutting edge of education reform. It’s a thrilling experience to be part of something that has the power to change so much.
Nothing could have prepared me for the amount of planning and work that goes into making just one hour in front of the class go smoothly. I thought journalism prepared me well for being one step ahead of the game and putting in extra work, but it’s nothing compared to the hours I can spend putting together lessons, activities, and other tasks for my students. What I learned in DTR really helps me deliver relevant instruction.
The kids are really the best! During my residency year at Gust Elementary, I had 20 bright, funny, and adorable kindergartners. Despite their challenges, hey would surprise me every day with their humorous outlook on life and their genuine desire to work their hardest and do their best. It was such a privilege to have co-taught for the 2009-2010 academic year, and looking back I know that it was really good preparation for my own classroom.
My greatest learning from my residency year was how important it is to really care about each student as an individual. When a child knows you truly care about him/her, and that you're willing to go out of your way to help, really remarkable learning can take place. I credit much of my students' academic success to the community we work hard to build at the beginning of the year. Relationships are a key piece of teaching. I am also continually reminded that there is always something more you can be doing to make yourself a better teacher, to make the classroom a better place, and to help students become successful learners.
This continual improvement is my biggest personal challenge - learning this profession, and learning how to do it well in a condensed amount of time. There's a sense of urgency in urban education right now, in finding and training effective teachers to lead the schools and work with the students who are falling behind more and more. That urgency underscores everything I do and gives me such purpose, but it can be extremely exhausting at the end of the day!
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Swansea Elementary, 4th Grade
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, 3rd Grade
I am 27 and was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I was blessed with a son in 2001, graduated from Omaha North High School in 2002, blessed with a daughter in 2003, graduated from Metropolitan Community College with an Associate’s degree in Human Services in 2005 from Bellevue University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2006, and blessed with another son in 2007. We moved to Denver in 2009 where I began work towards a Master's in Urban Studies a year before I was accepted into the Denver Teacher Residency program.
I chose DTR because its mission and goals were similar to my own - increasing academic achievement in urban settings. This includes promoting academic rigor and closing the achievement gaps. I feel that this is one of the biggest challenges for urban teachers - creating a learning environment that addresses students’ individuality and cultural differences while providing them with interesting and fun academic rigor.
"DTR has helped me think about how I teach..." Hear more >>I loved the DTR instructors who are all experienced teachers. Each of them brings their own style of teaching and learning into seminars. I also enjoy the collaborative and very hands-on approach the residents share with one another. I enjoy teaching science the most. Increasing the students’ awareness so they are able to identify science all around them on a daily basis is very passionate and amusing.
I completed my residency at McMeen Elementary in a first grade classroom. I was surprised by the students’ rapid growth. After only six weeks the students were displaying increased knowledge, more independence, and academic achievement.
2010-2011 Residency
Teaching at Swansea Elementary, 2nd Grade
Margi joined the Denver Teacher Residency after years in the education field and youth advocacy. It was through her experiences at Children’s Hospital and Education First, Educational Tours that she came to teaching. After a year as a paraprofessional at Green Valley Ranch Elementary School she is committed to a lifelong teaching career in Denver Public Schools.
