Experience and Dedication.
The staff at Denver Teacher Residency brings a diverse range of backgrounds and professional experience to the table. They oversee all aspects of the program, ensuring that every child in Denver Public Schools has what it takes to succeed – an effective teacher.
Thalia Nawi, Director – Under Thalia’s leadership Denver Teacher Residency is poised to join the ranks of other nationally competitive urban teacher residencies and is uniquely designed to meet the needs of Denver’s students. Prior to joining DTR, she was Education Manager for the Akanksha Foundation in India, where she worked with schools and teachers to ensure that every child had access to great teachers and a quality educational experience. Before working overseas, Thalia served as a principal for the Seattle and Kent school districts in the Pacific Northwest; taught the spectrum of elementary grades in California; and worked as a teacher trainer with the U.S. Peace Corps in The Gambia, West Africa. Thalia earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California – Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree in leadership and policy studies from the University of Washington.
Julie Rottier, Manager of Program & Curriculum – Julie is starting her 18th year in education. Her work with Denver Teacher Residency includes collaborating with faculty from University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education to develop and align curriculum with the needs of Denver Public Schools teachers; teaching for the DTR program; collaborating with multiple partners to select DTR host school site partners, mentor teachers and adjunct professors; and working with program staff to create professional development for mentor teachers. Julie has been a teacher, instructional specialist, and assistant principal in DPS for the last 9 years. Before joining DPS, she taught elementary special education students in Fort Lupton and Jefferson County schools in Colorado, and at the American School of Lima in Peru. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education from the Pennsylvania State University and acquired her administrative licensure through the University of Denver.
Nora Atkinson, Recruiter – Nora recently joined Denver Teacher Residency as recruiter. She has experience in education as a classroom teacher, administrator, and in alternative licensure programs. Her work with DTR includes identifying and recruiting quality candidates for the Denver Teacher Residency program. She collaborates closely with community, professional, and university contacts to develop a strong applicant pool while also working with the DTR staff to provide candidate support throughout all stages of the application process. Before joining DTR, Nora received her B.A. in International Studies and Spanish Language and her M.A. in Curriculum and Instructional design after completing an alternate licensure program in Memphis, Tennessee. Nora taught high school Spanish for two years before transitioning into school operations and teacher selection for alternative licensure in Memphis, Tennessee.
Jouanna Crossland-Wells, Field Manager – Jouanna has experience in various levels of education, including math and social studies teacher, assistant principal in both middle and high schools, adjunct professor in the College of Education for pre-service teachers/teacher candidates, and as an educational consultant for Mid-Continent Research and Education for Learning (McREL). As a classroom teacher and teacher leader, Jouanna worked with other teachers to implement instructional strategies to include cooperative learning and differentiated instruction with an emphasis on technology. As an Assistant Principal, Jouanna facilitated weekly data team meetings with academy teams and served as the administrative liaison to AVID, Advanced Placement teachers, CU Succeed Professors, CCA Professors and UCD Teacher Candidates. She has planned and facilitated a variety of professional development activities for teachers, both district and schoolwide. Jouanna earned her Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.
Sarah Flanders, Field Manager – Sarah has been involved in the Denver Public Schools for more than 20 years. A parent of three children and former DPS student, she began to teach for DPS in 1992, focusing on special education at Montclair Elementary School, Smiley Middle School and McMeen Elementary School. Most recently, Sarah was the Denver Teacher Residency site coordinator at McMeen. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education at Michigan State University, a master’s degree in special education at University of Northern Colorado and her administrative license from University of Denver.
Christina Jean, Field Manager – Prior to joining Denver Teacher Residency, Christina taught social studies for six years at Boulder Valley middle and high schools. During her tenure in the classroom, she served on the subcommittee to revise the Colorado Model Content Standards for Civics and participated in the Colorado Race to the Top application process. She recently began a doctoral program in Instructional Leadership for Educational Equity through the University of Colorado – Denver.
Joseph Marik, Field Manager – Joe began his work in education as a 2006 Teach for America corps member in Memphis, Tennessee. He taught Principles of Economics and AP Macroeconomics at his placement school for three years. While in Memphis he earned his Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Memphis. After Memphis Joe moved to Denver, Colorado as a seventh grade math teacher and grade level chair at the Denver School of Science and Technology. He joins Denver Teacher Residency after running a successful Teach for America summer school program in Los Angeles where 52 new teachers made incredible academic gains with over 500 students.
Andrea Appelhans, Program Assistant – Andrea began her work with the Denver Teacher Residency in the fall of 2009. Her primary responsibilities are to support the program at both the University and District level in order to promote the teaching, learning and research of the faculty, staff and students of the program. Andrea earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 2004 and was awarded her teaching license through an Alternative Licensure program in 2006. She taught Kindergarten for two years in Austin, TX before returning to Colorado to enroll in a graduate program at the University of Denver. Andrea is currently working to complete her masters’ degrees in Curriculum & Instruction and Mass Communication at the University of Denver.
Madda Evenson, Executive Secretary – Madda joins Denver Teacher Residency as the executive secretary. She has worked for Denver Public Schools since 2004. She held previous positions in DPS at Doull Elementary and most recently at CEC Middle College of Denver for over five years. Her primary responsibilities are to support the DTR staff, residents, and alumni with administrative and budgeting tasks, ensure accuracy and timeliness of reporting and scheduling, and to work with potential program candidates to support the recruiting and application processes. Madda graduated as an Executive Bilingual Secretary at the Secretarial Academy Madres Canadienses in her native Lima, Peru and has worked for organizations such as United Nations, Bechtel, and Shell.
Staff Bios
Experience and Dedication.
The staff at Denver Teacher Residency brings a diverse range of backgrounds and professional experience to the table. They oversee all aspects of the program, ensuring that every child in Denver Public Schools has what it takes to succeed – an effective teacher.
Thalia Nawi, Director – Under Thalia’s leadership Denver Teacher Residency is poised to join the ranks of other nationally competitive urban teacher residencies and is uniquely designed to meet the needs of Denver’s students. Prior to joining DTR, she was Education Manager for the Akanksha Foundation in India, where she worked with schools and teachers to ensure that every child had access to great teachers and a quality educational experience. Before working overseas, Thalia served as a principal for the Seattle and Kent school districts in the Pacific Northwest; taught the spectrum of elementary grades in California; and worked as a teacher trainer with the U.S. Peace Corps in The Gambia, West Africa. Thalia earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California – Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree in leadership and policy studies from the University of Washington.
Julie Rottier, Manager of Program & Curriculum – Julie is starting her 18th year in education. Her work with Denver Teacher Residency includes collaborating with faculty from University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education to develop and align curriculum with the needs of Denver Public Schools teachers; teaching for the DTR program; collaborating with multiple partners to select DTR host school site partners, mentor teachers and adjunct professors; and working with program staff to create professional development for mentor teachers. Julie has been a teacher, instructional specialist, and assistant principal in DPS for the last 9 years. Before joining DPS, she taught elementary special education students in Fort Lupton and Jefferson County schools in Colorado, and at the American School of Lima in Peru. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education from the Pennsylvania State University and acquired her administrative licensure through the University of Denver.
Nora Atkinson, Recruiter – Nora recently joined Denver Teacher Residency as recruiter. She has experience in education as a classroom teacher, administrator, and in alternative licensure programs. Her work with DTR includes identifying and recruiting quality candidates for the Denver Teacher Residency program. She collaborates closely with community, professional, and university contacts to develop a strong applicant pool while also working with the DTR staff to provide candidate support throughout all stages of the application process. Before joining DTR, Nora received her B.A. in International Studies and Spanish Language and her M.A. in Curriculum and Instructional design after completing an alternate licensure program in Memphis, Tennessee. Nora taught high school Spanish for two years before transitioning into school operations and teacher selection for alternative licensure in Memphis, Tennessee.
Jouanna Crossland-Wells, Field Manager – Jouanna has experience in various levels of education, including math and social studies teacher, assistant principal in both middle and high schools, adjunct professor in the College of Education for pre-service teachers/teacher candidates, and as an educational consultant for Mid-Continent Research and Education for Learning (McREL). As a classroom teacher and teacher leader, Jouanna worked with other teachers to implement instructional strategies to include cooperative learning and differentiated instruction with an emphasis on technology. As an Assistant Principal, Jouanna facilitated weekly data team meetings with academy teams and served as the administrative liaison to AVID, Advanced Placement teachers, CU Succeed Professors, CCA Professors and UCD Teacher Candidates. She has planned and facilitated a variety of professional development activities for teachers, both district and schoolwide. Jouanna earned her Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.
Sarah Flanders, Field Manager – Sarah has been involved in the Denver Public Schools for more than 20 years. A parent of three children and former DPS student, she began to teach for DPS in 1992, focusing on special education at Montclair Elementary School, Smiley Middle School and McMeen Elementary School. Most recently, Sarah was the Denver Teacher Residency site coordinator at McMeen. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education at Michigan State University, a master’s degree in special education at University of Northern Colorado and her administrative license from University of Denver.
Christina Jean, Field Manager – Prior to joining Denver Teacher Residency, Christina taught social studies for six years at Boulder Valley middle and high schools. During her tenure in the classroom, she served on the subcommittee to revise the Colorado Model Content Standards for Civics and participated in the Colorado Race to the Top application process. She recently began a doctoral program in Instructional Leadership for Educational Equity through the University of Colorado – Denver.
Joseph Marik, Field Manager – Joe began his work in education as a 2006 Teach for America corps member in Memphis, Tennessee. He taught Principles of Economics and AP Macroeconomics at his placement school for three years. While in Memphis he earned his Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Memphis. After Memphis Joe moved to Denver, Colorado as a seventh grade math teacher and grade level chair at the Denver School of Science and Technology. He joins Denver Teacher Residency after running a successful Teach for America summer school program in Los Angeles where 52 new teachers made incredible academic gains with over 500 students.
Andrea Appelhans, Program Assistant – Andrea began her work with the Denver Teacher Residency in the fall of 2009. Her primary responsibilities are to support the program at both the University and District level in order to promote the teaching, learning and research of the faculty, staff and students of the program. Andrea earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 2004 and was awarded her teaching license through an Alternative Licensure program in 2006. She taught Kindergarten for two years in Austin, TX before returning to Colorado to enroll in a graduate program at the University of Denver. Andrea is currently working to complete her masters’ degrees in Curriculum & Instruction and Mass Communication at the University of Denver.
Madda Evenson, Executive Secretary – Madda joins Denver Teacher Residency as the executive secretary. She has worked for Denver Public Schools since 2004. She held previous positions in DPS at Doull Elementary and most recently at CEC Middle College of Denver for over five years. Her primary responsibilities are to support the DTR staff, residents, and alumni with administrative and budgeting tasks, ensure accuracy and timeliness of reporting and scheduling, and to work with potential program candidates to support the recruiting and application processes. Madda graduated as an Executive Bilingual Secretary at the Secretarial Academy Madres Canadienses in her native Lima, Peru and has worked for organizations such as United Nations, Bechtel, and Shell.