Iris Alarcon
Iris Alacorn is a secretary here at DCIS. Her Bio is forthcoming.
Email: iris_alarcon@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9103
Geri Zabitz Badler
Geri is Director of the Travel Center and Community Partnerships. She has B.S. in Special Education from Syracuse University and has had a varied career spanning education, publishing and the nonprofit sector. A native New Yorker, she’s lived in New York, Kentucky, Chicago, Philadelphia and Lausanne, Switzerland. Shortly after moving to Denver in 2006, Geri became involved with DCIS while running the DPS Foundation’s School Partners Program. Her mission at DCIS is to help students find appropriate travel and study abroad opportunities to enrich and change their lives.
Email: geri_badler@dpsk12.org
Rachel Binkley
Rachel Binkley is a mathematics teacher at DCIS. After originally receiving her B.S. in mathematics and teaching certificate, she decided that she needed more life experience and travel before committing herself to the classroom. She remembered her favorite teachers being able to not only offer her education about the curriculum, but also inspiration and advise about the world. After spending time applying math in many business situations, and living abroad, she returned to Colorado and to teaching. During her free time Ms. Binkley continues to seek out new experiences which she can share with her students. Ms. Binkley taught math in Costa Rica in 2011-2012.
Email: rachel_binkley@dpsk12.org
Website: Binkley’s Virtual Classroom
Phone: (720) 423-9068
Sally Bishop
Sally Bishop is our Italian teacher. Growing up, her family hosted exchange students and visitors from all over the world. So when she was old enough, struck by a fascination with other cultures she had developed during this time, she applied and was accepted to the American Field Service exchange program. At the time, it was only possible to select a hemisphere, not a country, and though she had disliked Italy during a visit there the summer before, AFS “sent” her there nonetheless. That year proved to be a life-changing experience. Italy’s people and culture captured her imagination and heart, as well as the family with whom she lived and has remained close to for more than thirty years. This experience cemented in her a belief in the power of cultural exchanges and has now led her to fulfill a life-long dream of establishing an exchange with high school in Italy. Following her year abroad, she attended Colorado College, lived and studied in France, earning a B.A. in Romance Languages. An avid cyclist, she worked in the bicycle industry and eventually lead and designed cycling tours in Italy, France and Switzerland. When the desire to teach struck, she came to Denver and earned a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Email: sarah_bishop@dpsk12.org
Website: Edmodo
Phone: (720) 423-9015
Jennifer Boyle
Jennifer Boyle is a social studies teacher at DCIS. She is a proud Denver native and graduate of East High School. Jennifer completed her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College with a major in History and minor in Speech Communication. She has a background in non-profit management, education, and summer camp administration. This year, she plans to start working towards her masters in curriculum and instruction with a focus in linguistically diverse education at the University of Colorado Denver.
Jennifer was recently elected board President of the Young Philanthropist Project (YPP) for the 2011 – 2012 fiscal year. YPP is an organization that raises awareness regarding child abuse and neglect in alliance with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children in the 18th judicial district.
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys going to the mountains as much as possible and spending time with friends and family
Email: jennifer_boyle@dpsk12.org
Website: Mrs. Boyle’s Website
Phone: (720) 423-9085
Jeffrey Brown
Jef Brown is a science teacher at DCIS. Prior to coming to DCIS Jef taught nine years at Kunsmiller Middle School. Jef received his B.A. in Science from Otterbein College in Ohio, as well as, a B.S. in Nursing from Regis University. He enjoys travel both in the U.S. and in Europe. He has been to many European countries and hopes to begin exploring Asian countries soon. He hopes to inspire his students with his love of science and life long learning. In his spare time Jef loves to cook, hike and spend time in the mountains no matter the season.
Email: jeffrey_brown@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9033
David Cohen
David Cohen is one of DCIS’s English teachers. He has a B.A. in English from Middlebury College and an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Montana. For five years, he ran a small tutoring company in Chicago, helping high school students prepare for college.
Email: david_cohen2@dpsk12.org
Website: mistercohen.com
Phone: (720) 423-9095
Misa Contreras-Williams
Misa Contreras-Williams has been with Denver Public Schools since 2002. She is one of DCIS’s math teachers. Misa has taught Algebra, Geometry, and second year Algebra previously at West High School for three years. She also worked at Grant Middle School for a year. Before working for Denver Public Schools she worked in the Information Technology field for over ten years. Misa has a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from University of Colorado Boulder, an M.S. in Information Systems and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado Denver. She received her teaching license from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Misa is fluent in English and Spanish.
Email: misa_williams@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9097
Mike Delgado
Mike Delgado works at DCIS as our security pro. His Bio is forthcoming.
Email:
Phone: (720) 423-9047
Sarah DeWeese
Sarah DeWeese joined the DCIS faculty in 2010. Upon completing her English B.A. at the University of North Florida in 2007, she spent a year in the Balkans
developing English language curriculum for summer camp programs. Afterwards, she completed her teaching license and M.A. in Secondary English Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Colorado Denver. In summer 2012, she taught American Literature in China and has been awarded a Fulbright Seminar opportunity in Turkey during summer 2013. For professional communities, she continues to be involved with The Denver Writing Project and Colorado Language Arts Society.
Email: sarah_deweese@dpsk12.org
Website: deweeseteach.com
Phone: (720) 423-9061
Frank Doyle
Frank Doyle is a mathematics teacher at DCIS. Frank taught at Skinner Middle School for ten years. He was honored to serve as a Math Facilitator at Skinner for two years before deciding to return to the classroom to work more directly with the students. Frank was born and raised in Denver, but enjoys traveling to anywhere on the planet. His travels have taken him to Central America, particularly Costa Rica, where a college friend lives and whose wife helped Frank to become fluent in Spanish. Other travels have taken Frank through Scandinavia after attending a wedding in Sweden, and most recently, his ‘motherland’, Ireland. Frank has led students on many winter sports trips & fishing trips, which he hopes to not only continue, but expand here at DCIS.
Email: frank_doyle@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9039
Brady Efting
Brady Efting is a Social Studies Teacher at DCIS. Brady has lived the majority of his life in the ski towns of Colorado. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Northern Colorado and is currently enrolled at C.U. Denver to finish his Masters degree. This is Brady’s first year as a teacher at DCIS. Prior to teaching, Brady worked as a Paralegal with dreams of going to law school. While working as a Paralegal Brady soon realized that the law was not for him and decided that he needed to find a career which better suited him. This led Brady to teaching and ultimately to DCIS. When not working, Brady enjoys spending his free time outdoors. A few of his hobbies are snowboarding, hiking, camping and of course traveling.
Email: brady_efting@dpsk12.org
Website: Edmodo
Phone: (720) 423-9027
Karen Fernandez
Karen has a B.A. in Dance from California State University, Long Beach, 1979. She also has a M.A. in Secondary English Instruction from the University of Colorado, 1985. Karen is a National Board for Professional Teacher Standards in Adolescent Literacy, 2003. She earned a Ph.D. in Education from Capella University in 2007. Karen has 23 years teaching experience in a variety of alternative, charter, and conventional schools in Denver and Jefferson Counties including High School Redirection, East High School, The Community Involved Charter School, and Manual High School.
Email: karen_fernandez@dpsk12.org
Website:class dropbox
Phone: (720) 423-9038
Li Mei Ge
Limei Ge is DCIS’s Chinese teacher. She was born in China and is a native Chinese speaker. She came to the US in 1987 as a visiting scholar at the University of Colorado at Denver. She is a certified Chinese language teacher and has taught Chinese Language and Literature at both the University of Colorado at Denver and the University of Denver. Limei came to DCIS as a Chinese language teacher and Chinese program coordinator in 1992 and designed 4-level Chinese language classes and a Chinese History & Culture course. During the past ten years, she has coordinated and organized several exchange programs between China and the US – these included hosting a Chinese professor from the Beijing Language Institute, organizing teaching material exchanges between Shanghai Shi Bei Secondary School and DCIS, and leading the DCIS student and teacher exchange program with the Kunming Foreign Language School. Through the CIS Chinese program thirty students and five teachers have visited China over the past few years and the Chinese program has been highly evaluated by both the US Department of Education and the Chinese government.
Email: li-mei_ge@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9020
Janet Glovinsky
Janet Glovinsky is one of DCIS’s guidance counselors. She was the counselor at West High School for five years and has had the pleasure of helping many students win scholarships and get admitted into their first choice colleges. She recieved her B.A. from Syracuse University in English and her M.A. from the University of Colorado, Denver in counseling. Janet has had many years experience as a counselor, teacher and chess coach in public schools. She is a tournament chess player who has been consistently listed among the top 100 female players in the U.S. and has been the top rated female player in Colorado for several years. Janet has published two collections of poetry; the first was a limited edition book by Bacculite Press in 1981, and her second manuscript was recently published as a special edition of Madblood Magazine. She has read poetry around Colorado and has also appeared on public television. She recently had her premier solo exhibition as a painter at BlueJack Gallery and is scheduled for a second show this summer. As a child, Janet initially resisted learning another language when her mother tried to drag her to Hebrew school. She continued to resist learning world languages while studying in Germany, Costa Rica and Mexico. That said, she enjoys working with faculty and students more gifted than herself and hopes that some of their language abilities may transfer to her.
Email: janet_glovinsky-lewis@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9105
Amy Gonzalez
Amy Gonzalez is one of DCIS’s guidance counselors. Amy Gonzalez graduated from Colorado State University in 1993 and received both her Masters in Counseling from the University of Phoenix and an Administrative License from the University of Denver. She has worked in DPS for 14 years, twelve at West High School as bilingual social studies teacher and counselor. She spent two years at Skinner Middle School and now is excited to be part of the DCIS team. She has two children who attend DPS schools. She has traveled throughout Mexico and currently takes her children to visit their father’s family who live in Cuernavaca, Morelos.
Email: amy_gonzalez@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9094
Kirsten Hansen
Kirsten Hansen has been with DCIS since 2001. Prior to joining DCIS, she taught for three years at Balarat, Denver Public Schools’ Outdoor Education Center. Before moving to Denver from Michigan, Kirsten served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lesotho training rural village teachers. While there, she traveled extensively in southern and east Africa. Ms. Hansen has an M.A. in Global Studies from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and a B.A. in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology. Ms. Hansen has traveled through western Europe, worked rebuilding homes in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch, visited Turkey, received a PEBC Fund for Teachers Grant to study Spanish in Oaxaca, and accompanied nine DCIS students on a summer community service trip to Costa Rica. Most recently, she participated in a Gilder Lehrman Institute for teachers on the Global Cold War at Clare College, Cambridge University.
Email: kirsten_gates@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9011
Theresa Harrold
Theresa Harrold is the Intervention Specialist and Case Manager for DCIS Middle School students. She has worked in Denver Public Schools for 12 years at the middle and high school level. She has a BA in English from Fort Lewis College with minor in History, and a MA in Special Education from the University of Colorado at Denver. Theresa lived and taught in South America for a year, and has taken students on trips to Mongolia and Europe.
Email: theresa_harrold@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9078
Sara Hirsch
Sara Hirsch is our Spanish teacher. She began learning Spanish as a seventh grader. In high school she travelled to San Luís Potosí, Mexico with the Indiana University Honors program in foreign language. On this trip, she lived with a family, took outside trips, took classes, and was only allowed to speak in Spanish. This program is where she fell in love with, not only the language, but also the culture and people. She continued studying Spanish through college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she again chose to study in Mexico (Guanajuato). She graduated college with a Bachelors of Science in Spanish. She then moved to Denver and began teaching elementary school in an ELA-S classroom. After a few years, she began and then completed a Master’s Degree in Spanish from the University of Northern Colorado. During that time, she moved to teaching Spanish in secondary, continued her passion of dance, and travelled to Salamanca, Spain for a summer. After a few years of moving around schools, she has found her home at DCIS, where is starting her eleventh year of teaching.
Email: sara_hirsch@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9022
Gwendolynn Holmes
Gwen Holmes is DCIS’s Lakota teacher. Her Bio is forthcoming.
Email: gwendolynn_holmes@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9063
Heidi Hursh
Heidi Hursh is a native of New York and has been teaching at DCIS since 1990. She holds degrees from Vassar College (B.A. in History), the University of Rochester (M.A. in Education), and the University of Denver (Ph.D. in Curriculum Leadership). After beginning her teaching career in international schools in Taiwan, Colombia, and Peru, she returned to New York State, where she taught Afro-Asian studies in a junior high school, wrote curriculum for the State Education Department, took part in an official trip to China in 1973, wrote Regents Exams, and coordinated a federal grant for higher level thinking skills. Relocating to Colorado in 1980, she was an associate at the Center for Teaching International Relations at the University of Denver, teaching courses in area studies and archaeology and directing a global education grant from the Danforth Foundation. She has received two Fulbright grants for study in Egypt and Thailand. At DCIS she has taught a variety of classes, served as the advisor to the Model United Nations Club, and taken students to the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen. For the first two years of the school reform at West High School, she served on the Leadership Committee and visited schools in Boston and New York. She has strong research interests in school reform and peace education.
Email: lydia_hursh@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9019
Monica Johnston
Monica Johnston is the DCIS school nurse. She received a BSN from University of Central Missouri, as well as a BA from Columbia College. Originally from Missouri, she moved to Denver in 2011 to start working for Denver Public Schools. Before moving here she worked as a surgical nurse at a Veterans Hospital for three years. She is a veteran of the Army Reserves where she spent two years deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In her free time she likes to bike, hike with her dog, Ranger, travel, and Crossfit.
Email: monica_johnston@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9104
Ian Kearns
Ian Kearns is one of DCIS’s science teachers. Ian brings with him three years of teaching experience. For two of those years he taught science in a rural village of Namibia with the Peace Corps. Ian decided to teach in Africa because he thought it would be the best way that he could affect the epidemic of AIDS that is paralyzing southern Africa. While working with this goal in mind Ian just happened to fall in love with teaching. Upon returning to the states he pursued his teaching certificate in his home town of Dayton Ohio. Although Ian grew up in the midwest he has always had an inclination towards the mountains. Ian’s hobbies include cycling, rock climbing, fishing, and hiking.
Email: ian_kearns@dpsk12.org
Website: KearnsScience
Phone: (720) 423-9034
Letitia Larsen
Tish Larsen is one of DCIS’s social studies teachers. Tish Larsen is a veteran DPS parent, volunteer, and teacher. Both of her daughters attended DPS K-12. As a parent she was President of her daughter’s PTSA and volunteered at the school. Because of her volunteer efforts she received the Governor’s School Volunteer Award for the state of Colorado. Now she is a 20 year veteran of social studies education, is an adjunct professor for CU-Denver, and has served as the district’s lead teacher for the newly re-designed US History curriculum. A more extensive biography appears in either Marquis Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Email: tish_larsen@dpsk12.org
Website: DPS Classroom
Phone: (720) 423-9072
Jeff Leone
Jeff Leone is one of DCIS’s science teachers. In addition to a B.A. in Economics from the University of Southern California, he has an M.S. in Education from the University of Kansas. He has lived in Australia for two years and has visited Japan, Fiji, and New Zealand as well as a number of European countries. His family has hosted Youth Group teenagers from Trinidad and Tobago and an adult sponsor from Romania. A proponent of inquiry-based teaching, he enjoys working with students as they develop an increasing awareness of the world’s challenges and how these challenges can be met. A kidney transplant recipient in 1999, he is active in the U.S. and International Transplant Games.
Email: jeff_leone@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9041
Jane Lineman-Coffman
Jane Lineman-Coffman is the DCIS school psychologist. She is a Texas native and has been with DPS since 2007. Before moving to Denver, she worked as a math teacher and peer mediation facilitator. Jane earned her BS, MS, and SSP from Barry University and received her PhD from the University of Denver. She enjoys spending time with family and traveling. She has traveled all around the US, Mexico, Canada, and the islands of the Caribbean.
Email: jane_lineman@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9077
Laurie Lopez-Nelson
Laurie Lopez-Nelson is DCIS’s bookkeeper. She is a graduate of the Denver Public Schools, and has worked for them since 1990. She has one daughter, one cat, one granddaughter, and one granddog. She loves kids, and is committed to making their school experience memorable and happy.
Email: laurie_lopez-nelson@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9108
Dan Lutz
Dr. Dan Lutz is currently directing the development of a new DPS school based on the DCIS model and scheduled to open in the far northeast area of Denver in August, 2011. Dr. Lutz is a graduate of DPS’s South High School and received a B.A. in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He began his education career in a unique program that combined the Teacher Corps in New York with the Peace Corps in Afghanistan. This experience gave him his start as a high school teacher, a Masters degree in Cross-Cultural Education and a passion for international education. After working as a trainer for new Peace Corps Volunteers in Iran, he returned to the U.S. to teach in the Denver Public Schools. He became the Director of the CIS Magnet Program at Denver West High School in 1985, and has enjoyed the creativity of international and cross-cultural program development for high school students. In 1992 he completed his Ph.D. in Curriculum Leadership from the University of Denver. He has taught graduate classes in global education for the University of Denver and the University of Colorado at Denver. One of the founders of the Korean Heritage Camp for families with adopted children from that country, he later served on the Board of Directors for Colorado Heritage Camps, an organization that expanded the concept of the original camp to six others. He is the founder and former principal of DCIS and is completing a novel.
Email: dan_lutz@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9079
Paul Mahon
Paul Mahon is one of DCIS’s science teachers. He is a California transplant. While in California he earned a B.S. in Geology and a Teaching Credential from California State University at Fresno. Yes, Paul was a Bulldog. In 1988 he and his wife joined the Peace Corps and lived in the Dominican Republic for the next two and a half years. There he learned a new culture and a second language. Paul loves to ski, so Colorado was his choice when he returned from the Peace Corps. In Denver, Mr. Mahon continued his education by receiving a Master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix. He has fifteen years of experience teaching science in Denver Public Schools. For six of those years he was a physics and earth science teacher. During the last eight years he has been a chemistry and astronomy teacher. In those fifteen years, he has taught a mix of AP Chemistry, AP Physics, algebra and biology. In the last year Mr. Mahon has dived into the world of middle school science. It has been a learning experience. The 7th grade science curriculum is Science and Life Issues. Mr. Mahon thinks highly of the course.
Email: paul_mahon@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9048
Susan Marion
Susan Marion is one of the English Language Arts teachers at DCIS. She is a total geek about learning and language—teaching, achievement motivation, educational theory, practice, assessment–and a B.F.A. (NYU), two M.Ed.s (U.Mass, Harvard) and an Ed.D. (Harvard) “just because I can’t stop.” She has taught every level from preschool to grad school, almost all of it in large urban public school districts. She has also worked in central administration as a curriculum coordinator, specializing in high school English reform. She is thrilled to be among the other teacher-geeks at DCIS, helping to internationalize the English Language Arts curriculum and work on curriculum integration, differentiation, assessment of and for learning, arts infusion and differentiation techniques for our fabulous students. Her latest international research in English language and culture was in the UK and she is especially excited about putting together a series of cultural learning excursions to English-speaking countries around the world for our potential English Language Arts geeks (that’s everyone) at DCIS.
Email: susan_marion@dpsk12.org
Websites: AP Lang; 6th Grade; DCIS Arts
Phone: (720) 423-9004
Barbara Martin
Barb Martin joined DCIS in 2010 as the Disability Access Teacher and continues to be an integral part of the special education department. She teams with various teachers to assist students in classrooms, and provides guidance for the 9-12 graders on her caseload. After completing a Sociology/Anthropology BA from New Mexico Highlands University, she worked on a Master’s Degree in Theatre and switched gears to pursue a teaching license in Social Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In addition to working for the past 10 years in public schools, Barb’s experience includes teaching in residential treatment facilities, juvenile detention centers, and charter schools. Barb lives with her husband and two daughters, on a ranch on the Eastern Plains, just outside of Denver, where she and her family raise animals and participate in 4-H activities. She has traveled to Europe, Mexico, Canada, and the Bahamas, and would like to venture to South America, Africa, and New Zealand. Barb says that DCIS is one of the most wonderful schools she has ever taught in, and appreciates working within such a diverse and cultural atmosphere.
Email: barbara_martin@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9055
Takaaki Matsumoto
Takaaki Matsumoto is DCIS’s Japanese teacher. With an extensive background in teaching both here and in Japan, Mr. Matsumoto thoroughly enjoys working with students. He has taught Japanese, Physical Education, and Health Sciences. In addition to teaching in the classroom, he is extremely active in coaching and sharing his enthusiasm for sports. At DCIS, Mr. Matsumoto has developed the Japanese curriculum and regularly enhances the program with several cultural activities and guest speakers. Every year several of his students go to Japan.
Email: takaaki_matsumoto@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9014
James Mayes
James Mayes has been with the Denver Public Schools for 17 years; since 2005, he has served as the facility manager at DCIS. Before coming to DCIS, he worked at West High School, Hamilton Middle School, and Knight Fundamental Academy. James was born in Denver, grew up in Morrison, and attended Bear Creek High School. He enjoys classic muscle cars and traveling.
Email: james_mayes@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9065
Gerardo Muñoz
Gerardo Muñoz is entering his twelfth year as a social studies teacher in Denver Public Schools. This is his fourth year at DCIS, where he teaches Introduction to Cultural Studies, Cross-Cultural Communication, Economics, and Connections. He will serve as an eigthth grade advisor this year, as well as coach the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, and the DCIS Debate Team. He recently completed his Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and has degrees in History and Latin American Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and has served as adjunct professor of education at the University of Colorado at Denver and the Teacher’s Institute at La Academia. An alumnus of Denver Public Schools, he graduated from Manual High in 1994. He has taught numerous DPS Social Studies courses. He has traveled in Latin America and Western Europe. He is married, and has a daughter. Most recently, his reading of the work of Dr. Jeffrey Duncan-Andrade has given him new ways to reflect on classroom communities and high expectations in school. He welcomes full community participation in his classroom. His hobbies include reading and sports.
Email: gerardo_munoz@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9023
Dorothy Norbie
Dorothy Norbie is DCIS’s Teacher/Librarian. B.A. in English, Univ. of Colorado/Denver; Masters in Library Science, Univ. of Denver, Secondary Teacher Cert., English/L.A., Regis Univ. Work experience: law librarian, corporate librarian, researcher, and public librarian; real estate rennovator and city government worker. As a parent of DPS students her experience includes: PTSA, CDM, organizing fund raisers and parents, classroom support, and leading field trips. Travels include: Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Mexico, Canada, and Guatemala.
Email: dorothy_norbie@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9107
Stephen Parce
Stephen Parce is the Principal at DCIS. He is a Colorado native and the fourth generation in his family to teach in D.P.S. Mr. Parce received his first degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a triple major in Business Administration, German and Psychology. He earned his second degree and teaching license at the Metropolitan State College of Denver with a major in History and a minor in Sociology. Mr. Parce earned his principal’s license and his Master’s degree in Administration, Supervision and Policy Studies at the University of Colorado. He began his studies for a PhD in Administration, Supervision & Policy Studies at the University of Denver in 2009. Prior to coming to D.C.I.S. Mr. Parce was an assistant principal at the Contemporary Learning Academy, DPS Night School and the GED Program for five years. Mr. Parce taught Computers & Technology classes at Morey Middle School to both students and teachers. Mr. Parce also taught a variety of subjects at Skinner Middle School that included; Social Studies, English as a Second Language, World Languages, and Computers and Technology. Mr. Parce has studied French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Esperanto, and a little Chinese. Mr. Parce has had the opportunities to travel to over 30 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He is working towards the goal and experience of continuing his travels and studies around the world as a life long student.
Email: stephen_parce@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9100
Lorie Peña-Helm
Lorie Peña-Helm is a Colorado native. She was born in a small farming community, Ordway, CO, many, many years ago. Lorie is the social worker for DCIS; she has been part of DPS for over thirty years, primarily as a school social worker. Lorie took time off from her social work duties to earn a teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education and taught for three years, prior to returning to social work with DPS. Lorie earned her BA from Southern Colorado State College and her MSW from the University of Denver. Lorie enjoys traveling; over the years she has traveled to Europe, Spain, England, Germany, and Mexico several times and more recently to Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Email: lorie_pena-helm@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9082
Darlene Rivera
Darlene Rivera is one of DCIS’s social studies teachers. Darlene Rivera joined the DCIS social studies department in 2007. Darlene has been part of the Denver community and schools since 1991and her children both attended DPS schools. Teaching is a passion that Darlene discovered late in life, and her first career was in the field of business software and database development. In 2002, she decided to go back to college and earn a B.A. in Behavioral Sciences with a minor in Secondary Education. Darlene graduated from Metropolitan State College, summa cum laude, in 2005. Her passions include traveling and studying international relations. While Darlene has not had the opportunity to live in a country outside of the United States, her appreciation of world cultures has been manifested through traveling over the years to islands in the Caribbean, coastal and interior places in Mexico and Canada. Additionally, through association with the Deliberating in Democracy group, Darlene has had the opportunity to travel to Estonia.
Email: darlene_sims@dpsk12.org
Website: DCIS Room 209
Phone: (720) 423-9073
Christian Roche
Christian Roche, our French teacher, is a French native who settled in the US in 1988. He received a Ph.D. in French Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder, has taught French at just about every level, and is a published author of manuals for teaching French in high schools and universities. Christian spent most of his life in Paris, where he made a living as a classical guitarist. He has visited many different European countries, and wants to improve his Spanish in order to explore Central and South America in the near future. He is still an active musician and has been acting since 1995 with a French theater troupe in Denver, “l’Alliance and Co.”
Email: christian_roche@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9021
Francisca Rodriguez
Francisca Rodriguez is DCIS’s lunchroom manager. Her bio is forthcoming.
Email: francisca_rodriguez@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9074
Kimberly Rodriquez
Kimberly Rodriquez is one of the social studies teachers at DCIS. She received her BA in history at Metropolitan State College of Denver and is currently working towards a Masters in Political Science with a focus on International Relations. Kim also works with Denver Public Schools designing and piloting social studies curriculum as well as providing training to other teachers to implement the district curriculum. She is a proud Denver native and excited to a part of DCIS.
Email: kimberly_rodriquez@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9009
Julie Skrzypek
Julie has been teaching for Denver Public Schools since 2001 and is the CTE (Career & Technology Education) and FBLA Adviser (Future Business Leaders of America) for DCIS. She attended Eastern Michigan University and received her BBA with emphasis in finance. She received her teaching certificate from Metro State. Julie has held many positions in her career including, but not limited to, a stockbroker, training coordinator, mortgage broker, mortgage underwriter, receptionist, child-care, tutor, dog-sitter, short-order cook, server, event organizer, banquet server and now her favorite, a teacher.
Julie enjoys traveling, hanging out with her dog, cooking, tennis, hiking and Zumba. Some of her most recent travel playgrounds include Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.
As a former Future Business Leader of America State Board member and current adviser; she is excited for the business opportunities of leadership, travel and networking FBLA has to offer our high school students!
Email: julie_skrzypek@dpsk12.org
Website: Edmodo
Phone: (720) 423-9067
Carl Spetzler
Carl Spetzler was inspired to become a Social Studies teacher in order to share his love of Cultural Geography and Experiential Education. International travel has fueled these interests beginning with bicycling through Europe at the age of fourteen and later circumnavigating the globe by ship while studying with Semester at Sea. Over the years, he has explored twenty-four countries on five continents. Most recently, his adventures have taken him to the top of Kilimanjaro in Africa, into the Andes and rain forests of South America, and helicopter-assisted snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies. As a student, Mr. Spetzler has earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Psychology and a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. He recently completed his Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at University of Colorado at Denver. His twenty year teaching career began in Crested Butte where he taught multiple subjects and grade levels from pre-school to post-secondary. It was during this time that he was enthused by the Colorado Writing Project to teach Language Arts. Since then he has taught Secondary English in Fort Collins and worked as a Teacher on Special Assignment in Denver Public Schools. He is a mediator and facilitator of Restorative Justice as well as a consultant in the field of Decision Education. In 1020, Mr. Spetzler accompanied DCIS students to Mongolia and the Navajo Reservation as part of the Luby-Jenkins School Pairing Program, a Denver Sister Cities International sponsored student exchange. For the future, he has set his sights on Antarctic exploration as a co-sponsor of the DCIS Expedition Club.
Email: carl_spetzler@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9035
Rachael Streitman
Rachael Streitman is a Social Studies teacher at DCIS. She hails from Ohio where she studied Political Science and German at Ohio Northern University. In 2008 she moved to Colorado to study employment law, but ultimately ended up at the University of Colorado, Denver to pursue a teaching license. She is presently working on a Master’s Degree in Special Education. Rachael enjoys studying issues in employment law and interest group politics, and spends most of her free time with her family and crazy Labrador mix named Zoey. She is excited to be a part of the DCIS family.
Email: rachel_streitman@dpsk12.org
Website: Social Studies with Ms. Streitman
Phone: (720) 423-9012
Dave Tabano
After more than 20 years of teaching in DPS, Dave Tabano is proud to be joining the DCIS Team as a member of the Social Studies Dept. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y.C, Dave earned his Bachelors degree in Secondary Ed.: Social Studies and in International Relations from Florida International University in Miami. He also taught U.S. Government and Math at Miami Central High before moving to Denver where he began teaching Science at Annunciation and Algebra at St. Mary’s Academy. He is married and has three sons who graduated from East High and are currently attending UCD. Dave’s travels include Jamaica and Vancouver, Canada but in 2002 and 2004 he was fortunate to have been chosen to study in China and Japan. He received a Certificate for Advanced Studies of Chinese Language and Culture from Beijing University.
Email: david_tabano@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9007
Natalie van Zyl
Natalie van Zyl is one of the secretaries at the Denver Center for International Studies. She was born in Texas, and was moved around the United States and Europe until her family settled in Denver, Colorado. Natalie has been with the Denver Public Schools since fourth grade, starting her career months after graduating from South High School. Natalie has traveled to many different states across the United States, and spends a great deal of time once a year in South Africa where her husband’s family resides. Natalie joined the Denver Center for International Studies community in October of 2010. She has been attempting to learn both Afrikaans and Spanish, but is not fluent in either. She and her husband try and travel as much as possible, and are willing to go anywhere. She really would like to spend time in Europe and South America.
Email: natalie_vanzyl@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9106
Culum Walsh
Culum Walsh holds a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Colorado. Following his U.S. Peace Corps service in the Dominican Republic, he taught Spanish at Kent Denver School for seven years. After earning his M.A. in Foreign Languages from the University of Northern Colorado, he taught English Language Acquisition, Spanish, and Introduction to Literature at Manual High School for six years. Currently, he teaches middle and high school language arts. He is fully bilingual in Spanish and English. His international experiences include a junior year abroad in Seville, Spain; organizing cultural immersion and service learning trips for students in México and the Dominican Republic; graduate work in Madrid, Spain; and an International Learning Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Email: culum_walsh@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9029
Teriann Whitington
Teriann is a math and science teacher at DCIS. She has been teaching for 7 years, and lives southeast of Denver on a hobby farm where she raises her two children along with dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, geese, goats, an alpaca and a horse. Teriann began her professional life working as a biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Galveston, TX. She then worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on various ships conducting scientific research in Pacific waters between Alaska to Mexico. She began her teaching career after doing graduate work in Pensacola, FL, and taught high school math and science in Florida and then Arizona. She moved from Arizona to Maryland to work as an Aerospace Education Specialist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she was responsible for conducting teacher training workshops and giving student assembly presentations at schools in a 13 state region between Maine and Virginia. 6 years ago Teriann moved from Maryland to Colorado. Colorado is the 13th US state she has lived in, and she has visited every other one except for Montana. She has traveled internationally to Korea, Japan, Mexico, and Canada.
Email: teriann_whitington@dpsk12.org
Website: Ms. Whitington’s Website
Phone: (720) 423-9016
Michelle Wright
Michelle Wright is the Assistant Principal at DCIS. She is a graduate of Denver East High School, received her B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her M.A. in International Administration from the University of Denver. She received her teaching license at Metropolitan State College and her principal’s license at the University of Colorado.
Prior to coming to DCIS, Ms. Wright was an Assistant Principal at Godsman Elementary School for three years, was the Dean of Students at Rachel B. Noel Middle School, and a teacher at Skinner Middle School where she taught English and Social Studies. She also taught English at a local language institute in Denver, at a language school in Mérida, Venezuela, and in Cuernavaca, México. Her love for international studies and language began as a child when her family served as a host for visitors from both Switzerland and Uganda. She has traveled to Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica, studied abroad in Venezuela, and had the privilege to serve as a student ambassador to China during her junior year in high school. In the near future, she hopes to expand her international travel to the Philippines, Brazil, Australia, and Europe. She is fluent in Spanish and has also studied French and Portuguese. She has one daughter in elementary school, who is currently becoming bilingual in Spanish as well.
Email: michelle_abitia@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9102
Marek Zielinski
Marek Zielinski is one of DCIS’s mathematics teachers. He was born in Poland, where he completed his primary education. His post-secondary education was interrupted by his emigration, first to Austria and then to the United States. In the United States, he attended the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg while working to support his family. After six long years, he graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics Education. Shortly after that, he moved to Colorado in search of four seasons. He taught for over a decade at West High School and has been at Thomas Jefferson High for the past three years. Along the way, he earned an M.A. in Educational Counseling. Mr. Zielinski’s three children are of legal drinking age and have their own lives. He considers himself rather a private person.
Email: marek_zielinski@dpsk12.org
Phone: (720) 423-9031