My name is Emily Collom and I am a fifth grade teacher for Denver Public Schools. I grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, but have been living in Colorado for the past 6 years. I received my Bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico and my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. I’ve been working for the district for the past 5 years and love getting to spend time with amazing kids! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time in the mountains, reading, and hanging out with my dogs.

I moved to Denver from Iowa City, Iowa in 1999 as a high school English student teacher in the Cherry Creek School District. I was drawn to Colorado after many summers of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park as a teen. I earned a BA in English (1998) and a Secondary Education Certificate (1999) from the University of Iowa and stayed in Denver after graduation. I taught in two Cherry Creek School District high schools, Eaglecrest & Cherry Creek, for six years, specializing in writing, grammar, mechanics and literacy for grades 9-12.

My love of education has expanded beyond the classroom walls. I am also a Holistic Health Coach & Wellness Educator specializing in yoga, breath work & meditation techniques for over 15 years. I enjoy working with the whole learner, teaching mindfulness tools to help reduce stress and anxiety and achieve with more ease in academics and life.

My name is Deanna Pickel, and I have been teaching high school mathematics for 8 years in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I earned my B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Mathematics at Saint Mary’s College, and my Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from The University of Akron. Prior to teaching, I worked as a researcher for 8 years.

I am currently the Department Coordinator for the Mathematics Department at Oak Ridge High School, where I teach Precalculus, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations. In my free time I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors with my family, and learning geometric art techniques.

My name is Justin Rufa and I am a former high school mathematics teacher, college mathematics professor, and Air Force officer currently living in Wichita, Kansas. I have 3 years experience tutoring middle school and high school mathematics ranging from Pre-Algebra to AP Calculus BC and 5 years experience on the Mathematical Sciences faculty at the United States Air Force Academy teaching and designing courses ranging from Differential Calculus (Calculus I) to Differential Equations. With this thorough mathematical foundation, I can help your student better understand fundamental and applied mathematical concepts within their current high school math/science course(s) and across courses. I enjoy teaming with students to explore the math in their daily lives as a catalyst for deeper conceptual understanding.

I graduated from CU Denver in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in education, along with my teaching certification. I have been a public school teacher for 9 years, and I currently work in a charter school in Jeffco Public Schools teaching 7th and 8th grade Language Arts, 7th-12th grade Strategic Reading and 7th-12th grade Yearbook. The bulk of my teaching experience is in grades 5-8, but I’ve worked with almost every grade level and have taught almost every subject at one point or another. My areas of expertise are K-12 literacy and K-5 math.

My teaching philosophy is to teach students to think, not “do”… because if they know how to think, then there’s nothing they can’t do!

My name is Eli Devine, I am a former high school math teacher from Iowa. My wife and I recently moved to Colorado as a fresh start after getting married. We both have family in the Denver area so thought it would be a fitting place! I have a background in computer engineering and endorsement in computer science. I have a year of tutoring experience as I tutored remotely and in person while working in IT.

I am currently a Business Systems Administrator for a trucking company and thankful for the opportunity to work in the Education field still. I received both my Masters in Secondary Math Education and my Bachelors in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University, working in education as a tutor and mentor in the Science Bound program where I also co-taught a seminar course for first year students in the Science Bound program. I have a passion for learning as I continue my own education through certifications and enjoy learning from others as well.

In my free time I like to play board games, do puzzles, play games with friends virtually, and work on side projects with friends of mine. My wife and I also enjoy taking our dog out on walks and new hikes and trails that offer a little more than the corn fields we are used to!

I am from Denver, Colorado and grew up with 4 generations of family. Family is super important to me! I graduated from, Spelman College, an all-Women’s Historically Black, Christian Institution, with a BA in Mathematics. I have taught for 3 years with DPS and APS. I currently teach Integrated Math III but have familiarity with a variety of math curriculums. My passion is showing all students that they have the capacity to be mathematicians by demonstrating different avenues for learning math. My goal as an educator is to send scholars in the world that are critical thinkers and confidence in Mathematics!

My name is Shivani Jain and I am really passionate about helping students in High School and college excel, in math and science. I have 13 years of experience working with Middle, High and College students. Whether you need help with Algebra 1 and 2, Calculus 1 and 2, AP Calculus or AB/BC, Trigonometry, Geometry, Physics, Chemistry, I have the knowledge and experience to guide you towards success. I have also been involved in teaching for Mathcounts and AMC 8,10 to middle and high school students. These are high level Math competitions.

I believe that everyone has the potential to excel in math and science, and I am dedicated to helping you reach your full potential.

Howdy! My name is Haley Schuetzle and I am originally from Texas! I have been calling Colorado home for 4 years now. I have a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) where I studied environmental science and sociology. As well as a master’s degree from University of Denver in curriculum and instruction with CLDE endorsement. Education is where my heart is. The last 5 years I have been teaching a variety of subjects and learners in grades K-8. I love diving into all subjects but I do have a soft spot for young learners struggling in math! As a student, math class was always very challenging for me. As a teacher not only do I understand math but I like it now! I also believe in building strong relationships with both my students and their families as learning is a team effort.

Outside of education, I love being outside in any capacity. While I am indoors I like to read, hangout with my dog, watch tv (I admit it), and cook!

My name is Rob Hammer. I am a physician in subspecialty practice for over 20 years with a lifelong love for learning. My bachelor’s degree is in Biology with a minor in Mathematics and Computer Science from Tufts University with specialty and subspecialty training from Northwestern and Mayo Clinic. I have worked in business, learning a manufacturing process before using my IT experience to write a fully operational pre-Windows business accounting database system that still runs the business to this day. I have been an avid medical educator, teaching advanced surgical skills and heading an anatomy and surgical education committee which codified medical education for the residents at Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago and along the way winning prestigious teaching awards. I continue to love the practice of medicine and have loved the time spent teaching my patients about their conditions and management options. And I have loved the time spent teaching my own children.

My true passion has always been to teach and tutor mathematics (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus), science (biology, chemistry and physics), test prep (ISEE, HSPT, SSAT, TACHS, PSAT, SAT), statistics and IT, to bring fun and creativity to the teaching environment, to help students to overcome frustrations and hurdles, to develop a deep sense of confidence in who they are, and to succeed! I put my heart into everything I do and teaching is where my heart is. My teaching mantra (William Butler Yeats): “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire!”

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, travelling, playing and coaching baseball, exercising, climbing Fourteeners, playing guitar and bit of piano, and solving hard math problems, learning robotics and writing Python code, reading, learning new carpentry skills and coming up with new ideas and ways to teach/tutor.

Hello! My name is Sydni and I’ve been in the education space for 4 years now. I graduated college from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where I played soccer all 4 years, and received my Bachelors in Elementary Education. I began my teaching journey as a 3rd grade teacher at Brookside Charter School in Kansas City. Although my first year teaching was impacted by covid, it allowed me the opportunity to move here to beautiful Colorado! Since moving here back in 2019, I have been a 4th grade teacher at Tollgate Elementary in APS for the last 3 years. Teaching and working with students has always been a passion of mine, and although I took this year off of classroom teaching for more schedule flexibility, I am so excited to continue working with kids through a tutoring lens! My approach with students is to create authentic relationships FIRST, where they feel safe & validated, and allow the academics to follow. My goal is to meet your student wherever they are at with their learning, and we will grow together from there.

In my free time, I try to be as active as possible! You can find me still playing soccer, biking, going on hikes, or simply enjoying the outdoors with my dog, Manny. I am also a huge bookworm, and am trying to hit my goal of 50 books for this 2023 year (always with a strong cup of coffee in hand!)

My name is Maddy Kirkbride, and I am a lifelong learner! I’ve worked as a Summer Enrichment Instructor and as an assistant speech and debate coach. I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado (go bears!) with my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and an emphasis in New Literacies. While in the program, I was a featured speaker at the University of Wyoming’s LRCC Fall 2018 Literacy Conference: Multimodal Literacies in P-16 Classrooms. Over the last four years, I taught Kindergarten and then second grade in Cheyenne, Wyoming. My passion for literacy continues beyond the classroom; I am currently pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults through the Vermont College of Fine Arts. In my free time, I love to read, hike, and bake treats for my friends and family!

Hello! I’m Kela, an experienced tutor with over 4 years of dedicated teaching experience. I’ve proudly served as an educator for 3 years, both at the college and high school levels. My academic journey led me through Florida State University, where I specialized in Physiology while actively participating in research and refugee assistance programs.

My teaching experiences began at Florida State University, where I immersed myself in guiding biology lab classes tailored for non-science majors. It was here that my passion for teaching blossomed as I perfected the art of simplifying complex scientific concepts into digestible fragments. Currently, I work at a GALS charter school in Denver, where I teach Chemistry and Earth Sciences.

In my teaching philosophy, I blend joy and rigor seamlessly. I’ve discovered that by fostering a joyful learning environment, characterized by laughter and engagement, I can effectively cultivate a deep understanding of the subjects among my students. Outside the realm of education, you’ll often find me indulging in my passions for baking, running, or diving into a good book.

Since I was about five, I’ve had two main passions: math and teaching. Whether it was teaching my friends to juggle, or participating in math competitions, I’ve always put my all into what I do. After receiving my Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Bristol in England, I started working as a tutor. I’ve been a professional tutor for the past twelve years and a teacher for the past nine. I’ve tutored math up to AP Calculus BC, as well as, Chemistry and Physics. As a lifelong learner, I’m currently studying Biology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and General Relativity.

As a tutor, I commit to working with your student’s goals, learning style, and personality. All too often, students feel disconnected and unseen with growing class sizes. I will work with your child to help them learn difficult concepts, improve grades, and find joy in the subject they are learning.

Hey there! My name is Jay Blackwell, and I have been working in education since 2019. I have been fortunate to be in numerous roles during my educational career, from teaching Pre-K and elementary computer science to teaching special education and social studies at the middle school level. I am currently the Dean of Students at DSST: GVR High School. Originally I am from Washington D.C. but grew up mainly in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. It was there I got my start in education, and I am forever grateful. I am new to Colorado, but it already feels like home. I am excited and eager to continue making memories in this great state.