Virginia Court Elementary School

Will Thompson - Principal

Will is a passionate leader who has devoted the last 17 years to teaching and leading in Spain, Mexico, and Title I schools in and around Denver. He is a graduate of Green Mountain High School, the University of Northern Colorado, and has completed graduate degrees through the American College of Education. His family, Mariel, Noah, Caden, and Camila are the foundation and motivation he uses to ensure that all the children in his care are safe to take risks in learning and life. He enjoys running, cycling, and playing/watching team sports.

Melissa Beckley - Assistant Principal

Melissa is a dedicated advocate for equity and inclusion in education, bringing nearly a decade of experience within Aurora Public Schools. Her career has spanned various roles including Classroom Teacher, Teaching Partner, Teacher Retention Coach, and Administration Support. Outside of work, Melissa cherishes time with her family, including her son AJ, her daughter Mia, and her wife Melody.

Melissa is eager to collaborate with the school’s exceptional staff and contribute to a community where every member feels supported and empowered to succeed.

Adrian Grow - Dean of Culture

Adrian Grow is a devoted mentor and educator that has worked in many different roles to serve youth. His journey started 2 decades ago as a camp counselor and has since served as a before and after school site leader, group home parent, interventionist, educator, and leader. Adrian’s education includes Music, Comparative Religions, Art, and Teaching. Adrian’s interests include a lifelong love for Star Trek as well as other Science Fiction stories. He has played competitive Magic: The Gathering for the past 27 years and competed, and won, in different high level tournaments such as GenCon Indianapolis.

Adrian shares his time at home with his family Melody and Finnley as well as his 4 dogs: Aki, Tama, Kisu, and Rain.

Maribel Fernández - Principal Secretary

Maribel is starting her 28th year in APS. She was born in México City. Her family means everything to her! She lives with her husband, mother, 3 adult children and her dog. She loves to be outdoors, travel and enjoys quality time with her family. She misses her dad greatly. Funny fact about her is that she will only do math in Spanish and she hates cooking!

Romy Reyes - Clerk

Romy Reyes started working as a Clerk at Virginia Court in 2004 and has been dedicated to her job and has worked in the main office for the last 20 years.

Outside of work Romy loves to spend time with her family. Romy is married and her husband of 33 years also works for APS and they have 2 sons, 1 daughter, two granddaughters and one grandson. She enjoys spending time with her 95 year old mom. Romy was born in Holland and speaks Dutch and English. She enjoys cooking, shopping and road trips with her family.

Karrie Hammond - Clerk

Karrie is one of the two clerks in the main office at Virginia Court. Karrie brings 34 years of experience working with children and families. Her career path started in childcare and teaching preschool, advanced to the medical field spending the 15 years prior to coming to Virginia Court working at Children's Hospital. Wanting to make a change after Covid and still wanting to work with children came to Virginia Court in 2022. Born and raised on a farm in Kansas she is a country girl living in the city. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her 4 adult children(3 sons,1 daughter) and her 2 dogs. She enjoys going back to home to the farm whenever she can.

Sofia Alvarez - Family Liaison

Sofia Alfaro is the family liaison at Virginia Court. Sofia was born in Mexico city and migrated to Denver when she was 8. The help and support she received from teachers to succeed is what ignited her passion to pursue a career in education. Her career path began two years ago as a para librarian for a DPS school. She graduated Northfield High School, and is now attending MSU working on her degree in educational psychology. Outside of work and school she enjoys hiking, and spending time with her husband and dog!

Veronica Santos - Health Paraprofessional

Mrs. V is the Health Para at Virginia Court. She is excited to spend her 2 years at Virginia Court Elementary.

Mrs. V was born in Juarez, Mexico and migrated to the US when she was 4. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 29 years. She has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. She has been in the healthcare field for 20 years as a Labor and Delivery Doula, CNA, and in medical billing.

She loves spending time with family, traveling, sight seeing, and meeting new people.

Megan Bailey - Itinerant Nurse

Megan Bailey is the Elementary Itinerant nurse for Virginia Court Elementary.
Megan grew up in West Fargo, North Dakota. She attended the University of North Dakota where she graduated with her BSN in 2008. She moved to Colorado in 2010 and immediately fell in love with the scenery. She currently lives with her husband and 2 kids and enjoys camping and spending time in the mountains with her family.

Megan has over 15 years of nursing experience. She has a background in Pediatric Intensive Care, Emergency Pediatric Care, Neonatal Intensive Care, and Pediatric Cardiac Intensive care. She moved from acute nursing settings (hospitals, clinics) to school nursing in 2020 and hasn’t looked back. She enjoys the work-life balance school nursing offers. She also feels that school nurses act as the liaison between acute care facilities and public health.

Kim Curry - Teaching Partner (Math)

Kim Curry is one of the two instructional coaches at Virginia Court. She has also taught 1st grade through 4th grade. This is her 24th year teaching, 24th year serving Aurora Public Schools and 9th year at Virginia Court. She holds degrees in Psychology and Curriculum and Instruction. She is excited for a new year to continue learning , supporting teachers, and building relationships with staff and students at VC. When Kim is not at school, she enjoys soaking up the time she has with her two daughters and her husband. One is starting her second year in college and the other one finishing up her high school career as a senior. She also has a third child, a golden retriever who keeps her busy. She enjoys the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, traveling and taking walks with her third child.

Tara Thompson - Teaching Partner (Literacy)

This is Tara’s twenty-fourth year in education and ninth year at Virginia Court. She has taught K -5th grade, reading intervention, and been an instructional coach. She holds Master’s Degrees in Teacher Leadership and Literacy. She is looking forward to continuing her work as a coach and literacy nerd.

Tara’s family immigrated to Aurora from Northern Ireland when she was in second grade. She became a US citizen in 2018. She loves spending time with her husband and two sons. She also loves reading, cooking, and knitting.

Candice Grimm - CLDE Teacher Leader

Candice is one of the CLDE teacher leaders who supports 2nd and 3rd grade. This will be her ninth year in education and her sixth year at Virginia Court. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Over the years she has taught 3rd grade, 4th grade, reading intervention and has also worked as a language assistant in Spain. She is excited to continue to support Virginia Court’s teachers and multilingual learners! When she’s not teaching she enjoys trail running, reading, spending time with her dog Lucy, and traveling.

Mirella Ochoa - CLDE Teacher Leader

Mirella Ochoa is one of the CLDE teacher leaders who supports Kinder and 1st grade. This will be her 15th year in education and her 7th year at Virginia Court. She has taught 1st through 3rd grade. She is excited to continue to be part of the VC community and help teachers and multilingual learners grow!

Mirella enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children, and her 2 golden retrievers. She loves to go swimming, paddleboarding, playing board games and enjoying leisurely walks.

Nicole Sawick - CLDE Teacher Leader

Nicole is one of the CLDE teacher leaders who supports 4th and 5th grade. This will be her 10th year in education and her 6th year at Virginia Court. Over the years, she has taught 2nd through 5th grade. She received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and just finished her Master’s in Organizational Leadership. She is excited to continue to support Virginia Court’s teachers and multilingual learners!

When she’s not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her two black cats. Nicole likes to get outside whenever she can, either paddleboarding, hiking, or reading by the pool.

Kelly Quiett - Reading Interventionist

Kelly is excited to start her new position this year as Reading Interventionist. This is her 27th year of teaching and her 7th year here at Virginia Court. She has a passion for teaching kids how to read and write. She has her B.A. from Colorado Christian University and Masters in Education from Regis University.
In her spare time, Kelly loves spending time with her husband, her two adult children and two dogs. Kelly loves cheering on the Nuggets and Broncos!

Carly Rahmani - Reading Interventionist

Carly is a dedicated reading intervention teacher with 16 years of experience in helping students develop strong literacy skills. Known for her passion for teaching and her commitment to her students’ success, Carly has made a significant impact in the field of education by creating engaging and supportive learning environments that foster a love for reading. When she is not at school, Carly enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and their beloved dogs. They can often be found exploring nature, attending sporting events, or simply enjoying the fresh air. Carly is also eagerly preparing for the arrival of their daughter, who is expected in October. This exciting new chapter in her life adds a joyful dimension to her already fulfilling career.

Janisha Taylor - Reading Interventionist

Janisha has taught for 15 years and this is her 2nd year doing Reading Intervention at Virginia Court. She enjoys working with children that need support with reading skills. She has her B.A. in Psychology and Teaching License from University of Colorado Denver.

AM/PM Preschool Facilitator

Coming soon.

Ada Perez Garcia - Full Day Preschool Facilitator

Ms. Ada is excited to start her first year at Virginia Court as our Preschool Facilitator. Ms. Ada has been working with children for over seven years. She is also currently attending at MSU to further her career in ECE.

On her own time she loves spending time with her 5 kids and her fur baby. Children, Outdoor activities and traveling is her happy place.

Eddie Magliorini - Preschool Paraprofessional

Bio coming soon!

Monica Moreno - Preschool Paraprofessional

Monica Moreno is a Preschool Para, this will be her 2nd Year in Preschool. Monica has worked for Virginia Court Elementary for over four years. She is excited to continue to be part of Virginia Court Elementary Family.

Monica Loves spending her free time with her Husband hiking and traveling.

Lael Baxter - Kindergarten Teacher

Lael Baxter received her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado and attended a post-graduate teacher program at Cal State L.A. Her first career involved utilizing restorative justice and social and behavioral education for youth offenders exiting detention facilities and returning to their homes. This career was extremely fulfilling but the program lost state funding and had to shut down. She has also been a foster care case manager and a childhood mental health case worker. Lael is entering her 18th year of teaching. She has taught kindergarten, 1st grade, and reading intervention. Her 12-year-old son is twice exceptional (neurodivergent and gifted) and keeps her on her toes! She has two rescue cats, Javier and Poe. She loves reading, nature, Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, as well as all things spooky.

Beth Lomas - Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Beth Lomas has taught Kindergarten for 13 years in Aurora Public Schools. This is her third year teaching at Virginia Court. She is excited to welcome all her new little learners! When she is not at school, Ms. Beth likes to be outside; gardening, biking, building things and fixing stuff! Or spending time with her family and friends.

This year, Ms. Beth is working to earn her Master’s degree in Responsive Literacy.

Daniel Marks - Kindergarten Teacher

Daniel is from New York and has been living in the state of Colorado for about four years. He will be working as the newest kindergarten teacher at Virginia Court! Daniel attended SUNY Oneonta and has a strong passion for education and music. Daniel enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, creating music, watching the newest movies and trying new restaurants!

Hannah Rosenblum - Kindergarten Teacher

Hannah Rosenblum is thrilled to be starting her second year of teaching, now in kindergarten! After spending her inaugural teaching year in first grade, she is excited to bring her enthusiasm and commitment to early childhood education to her new role. Ms. Rosenblum earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University. Building on this foundation, she pursued a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado, Denver. She is dedicated to creating a nurturing and engaging classroom where young learners can thrive.

In her free time, Ms. Rosenblum enjoys watching sports and spending time with her friends and family. She looks forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Felicia Sakamaki - Kindergarten Teacher

Felicia is going on her 17th year as an elementary school educator. Out of those 17 years, Felicia taught 16 years within the Aurora Public School District. During these years, she has taught Kindergarten thru 3rd grade, and she currently is going on her 6th year teaching Kindergarten at Virginia Court Elementary School.

Outside of being a teacher, Felicia is a wife to a loving husband of 33 years, and also a mother of two wonderful and beautiful children, ages 31 and 23. She and her husband love spending time together, traveling and cruising around the world.

When Felicia isn’t working or traveling with her husband, she loves being home in the company of her three dogs and four cats.

Jackie Deason - First Grade Teacher

Jackie Deason is one of three new first grade teachers at Virginia Court. She taught second grade last year and first grade the two years before that. Jackie has mostly elementary experience and has taught grades kindergarten through fifth, and also high school English. Jackie enjoys spending time with her daughter, Nicole, as well as with her friends at church. She loves to garden and enjoys watching the Denver Nuggets at home and in person. Jackie also loves going with her daughter to Disneyland. Her favorite Disney character is Minnie Mouse.

Jasmine Maciel-Lugo - First Grade Teacher

Bio coming soon!

Mayrel Rodriguez - First Grade Teacher

Mayrel was born in Mexico but immigrated to Colorado at the age of 4 years old. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and MSU Denver. She taught the last couple years in kindergarten in Denver. Mayrel loves spending time with her friends, family, boyfriend, and her dog S’mores! Mayrel also enjoys hiking, swimming and being outdoors.

Jessica Romanelli - First Grade Teacher

This will be Jess’s second year as a first grade teacher at Virginia Court. She has spent the last ten years in education working with various age levels and stages of development. While working she obtained her Bachelor's degree in History from Temple University in Philadelphia and her Associates Degree in Early Childhood from Delaware County Community College. When not in the classroom Jess spends time with her husband Shawn and son Jesse. They enjoy exploring Colorado with their puppy Freckles.

Kaija Staley - First Grade Teacher

Kaija Staley teaches first grade and is excited to start her second year at Virginia Court. This is Kaija’s fifteenth year of teaching and she loves helping her students grow and feel valued and special. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania but has lived in Florida, Oregon, and Minnesota. She moved back and forth to Colorado three times, but the mountains called her home again and she’s here to stay! Kaija enjoys distance running, hiking, climbing peaks, paddleboarding, and baking. She enjoys visiting her family as much as she can. Her black and white cat Lenny is a big topic of conversation in her classroom!

Starr Cooper - Second Grade Teacher

Starr Cooper is a 2nd Grade teacher approaching her third year at Virginia Court. She has 12 years of teaching experience.
Starr grew up in Texas, but graduated from Hinkley High School. She earned her bachelor’s at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, and her M.B.A. in Colorado.

Starr enjoys hanging out with her close-knit family, coloring, learning and creating new things, and going on long walks.

Annie Holmes - Second Grade Teacher

Annie Holmes has been a teacher for 9 years. She has worked at Virginia Court for 6 years and also taught in Denver and Austin, TX. She got her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado and her Masters at the University of Texas in Austin. She loves teaching reading and writing, and encourages families to read every day. She is originally from Seattle and has family in Washington and California. She enjoys reading and does yoga regularly. She loves her husband and cat named Barnacle! You can often find her in traffic on i-70 going hiking or skiing.

Nora Polaski - Second Grade Teacher

Nora is returning this year for her 5th year at Virginia Court and her 8th year of teaching overall. Her undergraduate degrees are in Elementary Education and Sociology, and she just finished her Master’s in Organizational Leadership. She loves teaching Math and Phonics, and aims to create a loving and fun community within her classroom. Nora grew up in Chicago suburbs, but has lived in Colorado since 2020. Outside of work she loves to spend time with her boyfriend, friends, and family. She also enjoys being active, reading, eating, and her newest obsession is playing pickleball!

Mackenzie Ribble - Second Grade Teacher

Mackenzie Ribble is thrilled to be starting her third year of teaching, now in second grade! After teaching first grade for two years, she is excited to bring her enthusiasm and commitment to early childhood education to her new role. With a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa, Ms. Ribble has always been passionate about fostering a love of learning in young students. When she is not in the classroom, she enjoys reading, being outside, and spending time with friends and family. She is looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Kamal Sidhu - Second Grade Teacher

Bio coming soon!

Kayla Hagerman - Third grade Teacher

Kayla is starting her 7th year in education. Prior to making the shift to VC, Kayla taught second and third grade here in APS. She is finishing her certification in the Neurosequential Model for Education (NME) and has her Masters degree in Literacy- her favorite subject to teach! Kayla grew up north of Fort Collins, CO and attended both CSU and UNC. Outside of work she loves to spend time with her dog Payton, friends and family. Kayla also enjoys gardening, a leisurely hike, and simply being outdoors.

Pearl Hurst - Third Grade Teacher

Pearl is beginning her third year of teaching at Virginia Court and has experience teaching up in the mountains of Colorado as well. In undergrad, while studying Forest Resource Management, she devoted a large portion of time towards being a leader in a local youth outreach program. While forestry and sciences were her initial draw in her personal education journey she felt a tug towards a career working with kids. She had the opportunity to take a gap year between undergrad and graduate school where she nannied for the first grandbaby in her family. In graduate school she earned her masters of education.

When she is not teaching… Pearl is found on the ski slopes every weekend between the months of November and June. Skiing is her greatest place to find pleasure and joy, as well as other outdoor activities (hiking, biking, camping). Pearl is also an avid reader and really enjoys reading while cuddling her dog on the couch.

Mitzi Kalkbrenner - Third Grade Teacher

Mitzi is starting her 3rd year teaching and 2nd year at Virginia Court! She will be teaching 3rd grade this year. Mitzi has her bachelor's degree in elementary education.

Mitzi grew up in upstate NY. When she is not in the classroom, she loves to read and spend time with friends and family.

Wendy Loyd - Third Grade Teacher

Wendy Loyd is a dedicated educator with 26 years of teaching experience, currently shaping young minds as a 3rd grade teacher. Originally from Missoula, Montana, Wendy has built a fulfilling life centered around her family, including her husband Tim and their 5-year-old son Owen. Outside of the classroom, Wendy enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, and she is passionate about golf. When she's not on the golf course, you can find her enjoying various sports as a spectator.

Reagan Shapton - Third Grade Teacher

Reagan Shapton is a 3rd grade teacher at Virginia Court Elementary. She is excited about starting her 3rd year teaching at VC! Reagan grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She attended Kalamazoo College to study Political Science and Spanish. She also swam on the swim team! Reagan knew she wanted to be an elementary school teacher after she began coaching and tutoring students from a nearby school. She went on to earn her master's degree in education at the University of Michigan.

In 2022, Reagan moved to Colorado. During her free time she loves to hike, cook, read, and coach running.

Jennice Bustamante - Fourth Grade Teacher

Bio coming soon!

Mandi Macias - Fourth Grade Teacher

Mandi is joining the fourth grade team. She has taught every grade K-5th except second grade in her 24 years. She has leadership experience including math teacher leader, MTSS coordinator and summer school principal. She holds a masters degree in Bilingual, Bicultural education as well as her Principal license. She is excited to learn and grow with the staff at VC.

When Mandi isn’t teaching, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, her husband and her two dogs. Her daughter is a gymnast, swimmer and cheerleader. Her family enjoys camping, fishing, Water World and just hanging with the neighbors.

Ninaad Nariani - Fourth Grade Teacher

Bio coming soon!

Regan Ross - Fourth Grade Teacher

Regan Ross will be beginning her 6th year of teaching and 3rd year as a 4th grade teacher at Virginia Court. She loves teaching math and helping students feel confident in the classroom.

Mrs. Ross has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming and her Master’s degree in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education from the University of Colorado. In her free time, Mrs. Ross enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading a book and going on walks.

Natalie Shear - Fourth Grade Teacher

Natalie Shear is teaching 4th grade for the second year. She joined the wildcats last year in January. She has taught in a variety of places and subjects . She spent 3-years teaching English classes in Vietnam although she doesn’t speak the language very well. She enjoyed studying it. She has also taught a variety of extra curricular subjects including martial arts and creative writing. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her four cats and family members. Her favorite thing about teaching is helping her students feel confident and learn new things.

Sally Feo - Fifth Grade Teacher

Sally Feo is in her 9th year teaching in APS. She returned to school as an adult to earn her teaching degree. She is very fortunate to have the opportunity to make an impact on our future, and loves every minute of each day. Science and Math are her favorite flavors! Sally’s spare time revolves around her family, her pets and sciences around the great outdoors. Botany, entomology and marine biology are her hobbies. Sally hope to inspire our future leaders to preserve the environment; and enjoy nature.

Melissa Hawkes - Fifth Grade Teacher

Melissa is returning this year for her 3rd year at Virginia Court and her 13th year in teaching overall. She graduated from Salisbury University with a major in Elementary Education with a minor in Business. Later on, Melissa continued her learning and graduated from La Salle University with a Master’s in Education, specializing in differentiation. Melissa loves to teach reading and writing and building relationships with her kiddos!

Melissa is from Baltimore, Maryland and moved to Colorado in 2017. She has worked in Colorado middle schools and elementary schools. She loves hanging out with her husband and toddler. Outside of school, she loves to read, work out, hang out with family and friends as well as trying new restaurants out in the community!

Jason Kirkpatrick - Fifth Grade Teacher

Jason Kirkpatrick or Mr. KP is going into his 4th year of teaching. Originally from California he received his Bachelors in Business Management Economics from University of California Santa Cruz before moving to Colorado. He did an accelerated teaching credential program through Aspire Denver while substituting. He has now had the pleasure of working with his own students for 2 years and is eager to meet his 3rd class.

Mr. KP aims to bring excitement and joy into the classroom and provide a space where students feel they belong and will take ownership of their learning. His goal is to utilize infectious positivity to help students build a foundation in order for them to determine what success means and apply their knowledge to achieve the life they want and deserve.

Dina Terry - Fifth Grade Teacher

Dina Terry is starting her 28th year in education. She started her career teaching middle schoolers in San Jose, California, for 10 years before moving to Colorado where she taught in Jeffco for 8 years. This will be her 10th year teaching in APS (3rd year at VC). I’m tired just listing all those years. She has family in California and Arizona and lives in Highlands Ranch with a roommate and a dog named Milo.

Stella Cypher - STEM

Stella is the STEM teacher at Virginia Court. She is excited to spend her 25th year with the students here. She is passionate about creating excitement and curiosity in students as they explore computers, 3D printing, engineering challenges, and creative problem solving. Prior to Virginia Court she taught fourth and fifth grade and then worked as a district Ed Tech coach.

When she isn’t teaching, she is doing some of her favorite things: pickleball, trivia, hiking, or playing with her four kids and five grandkids.

Rebecca Goldscheid - Music

Rebecca (Mrs. G.) is the Music specialist at Virginia Court. She is in her 14th year of teaching and this will be her fourth year as a Wildcat. Rebecca was taught the violin by her mother, and enjoys making music with her three siblings who are also all musicians. She has both a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in Music Education and has trained with one of the founders of educational and medicinal music therapy. She is married and has two small children as well as a dog and a bird that keep her quite busy at home.

When she’s not being a wife, mom, and teacher, she likes to travel, camp, read, run, play a plethora of games with her family, and letterbox. She dreams of one day living in Germany, running the London Marathon, and learning how to Irish Dance.

Andrew Heinz - Science

Andrew Heinz is excited to continue teaching Science as a special at Virginia Court for the 3rd year. This is his 7th year of teaching over all. Can not wait to continue to explore the wonders of Science with all of Virginia Court.

Mackenzie Petersen - PE

MacKenzie Petersen is the Physical Education specialist at Virginia Court. She is in her 21st year of teaching and beginning her 14th year at Virginia Court. MacKenzie comes from a family of educators and has known she wanted to be a PE teacher since she was in kindergarten. MacKenzie has a husband, two daughters and two pugs.

Originally from Boise, Idaho, she has lived in Colorado for over twenty years. She loves to travel around the world and spend time with her family.

Krystal Smid - Art

Krystal has been an Art Teacher for over 10 years. She is a proud Colorado native, from Littleton, CO. Krystal played Division I soccer in college at Mississippi State University and at the University of Arizona. When she is not making art, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, eating good food, and finding reptiles and amphibians in the wild (herping).

Amy Addison - ASD Teacher

Amy is returning to Virginia Court this year for her second year back in the classroom after spending over 15 years coaching teachers and recruiting special education teachers and providers for Aurora Public Schools. This is her 21st year in education. She has also taught in Denver and the Washington DC area. She is excited to get back to working with students with autism and be a part of their academic and personal growth.

When not in the classroom, Amy enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, camping, connecting with friends, finding unique experiences, and traveling.

Megan Ferguson - ASD Teacher (Chair)

Megan Ferguson is returning to Virginia Court for her 4th year of teaching. She is excited about her new position as one of the autism teachers and as the staffing chair for the special education department. Megan got her undergraduate degree in elementary education with endorsements in special education and reading. She just finished her masters in behavioral analysis.

When she is not in the classroom she is spending time with friends or her dog Dixie Mae, as well as rooting on the Denver Nuggets or settling in with a good book.

Kelli Dispenza - Mild/Mod Special Education Teacher (Chair)

Kelli Dispenza is beginning her 3rd year at Virginia Court Elementary, having 16 years experience as a certified teacher, and 5 years as a paraprofessional in special education. She began working with students at the age of 17 through a YMCA after school program. She and her family moved to Colorado from Mississippi in 2019, and absolutely LOVES living in the mountains!!! There are so many things to do in and around Denver. So far favorites are rocking out at concerts, laughing at comedy shows, and “geeking out” at comic cons.

Sarah Slater - Mild/Mod Special Education Teacher

Sarah has been working as a Special Education Teacher since 2021. As a child, she struggled in school because of an undiagnosed learning disability. She is thankful to now have the opportunity to work with students that have diverse ways of thinking and learning. She believes in the power of supporting students to discover both their unique strengths and needs, so they can thrive in school and beyond.

Sarah holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Colorado in Denver and previously worked in the nonprofit arts administration and event production. She grew up in Colorado and has worked for a variety of youth development programs.
Outside of the classroom she enjoys road trips, crafts, birding, reading, exploring nature, and spending time with loved ones

Maura Whelan - Mild/Mod Special Education Teacher

Hello! Maura is excited to join the ESS team as one of the mild/moderate special education teachers. She is originally from Indianapolis, IN, and brings 15 years of teaching experience. Maura has proudly called Colorado home for the past 9 1/2 years. She is passionate about helping kids learn, grow, and succeed in a fun and supportive environment. When not in the classroom, Maura enjoys exploring the great outdoors. She loves camping, hiking, and foraging for mushrooms, always accompanied by her trusty Australian Shepherd, Wiley.

With a warm and caring approach, she is committed to making every child feel valued and capable. Maura looks forward to contributing to our students' success and helping them shine!

Alison Douglas - Speech Language Pathologist

Alison is returning this year for her 3rd year at Virginia Court. She is from Massachusetts (go Sox & Pats!) but moved to Colorado five years ago and has loved it ever since! She originally studied dance but ended up earning her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of New Hampshire, Durham and her graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Outside of work, Alison enjoys anything outside and in the sunshine. Specifically, she loves hiking, running, camping, reading, trying new places to eat, and traveling. Alison also loves spending time with her dog, Casserole (Cassie).

Gabby Daur - Speech Language Pathologist

Bio coming soon!

Kathleen Stewart - Speech Language Pathologist

Kathleen is entering her second year at Virginia Court and seventh year as an SLP in the school setting. She grew up in Pennsylvania and earned her undergraduate degree at James Madison University in Virginia where she also enjoyed being a member of the cross country and track teams. Kathleen moved to Colorado to earn her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Colorado Boulder and has remained in Colorado since then to be close to family and enjoy all that Colorado has to offer.

In her free time, Kathleen enjoys running, biking, hiking, camping, reading, listening to podcasts, learning, and spending time with family and friends. She loves trying new restaurants and has been dabbling in more cooking and baking at home too!

Sarah Hinson - Occupational Therapist

Sarah has been with APS since graduate school at Creighton University, when her final semester entailed partnering with the Welcome Center for newcomers. After completing her Doctoral Degree in 2022, she officially onboarded with APS and is beginning her 3rd school year here! Having concurrent experience in early intervention, she thoroughly enjoys supporting kids throughout the developmental stages.

While she is originally from Alabama, she has been in Denver for 5 years and enjoys the outdoor activities available to her here. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, making art, and going to concerts.

Meredith Repasi - Occupational Therapist

Meredith is originally from St. Louis, Missouri (go Blues and Cards!) and graduated from the University of Missouri (M-I-Z-Z-O-U!). She has been an Occupational Therapist for 11 years with 9 years of experience in the school setting. This is Meredith’s third year at Virginia Court and she is excited to return to work with the amazing team in the autism classrooms.

Meredith loves spending time with her husband and two sons (ages 2 and 1) as well as hiking, traveling, trying out new restaurants around Denver, and exploring all that Colorado has to offer.

Maggie Lederman - General Education Counselor

Maggie is entering her sixth year as a school counselor, serving Title I schools. Maggie received her bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Go Huskers! She earned her masters from Adams State. She is excited to be a part of the Virginia Court community. She is dedicated to creating a supportive environment where students, staff and families feel a strong sense of belonging. Her goal is to ensure that every student feels seen, heard and valued.

Outside of school, Maggie enjoys reading, gardening, hiking and camping with her husband Eddie and their infant son. In her free time she loves walking her dog Elee and snuggling her cats, Peekay and Hermione.

Taylor Schuler - General Education Counselor

Taylor Schuler is entering her 2nd year at Virginia Court, as a school counselor. She earned her undergraduate degree at Metro State and a Master’s degree in counseling from the University of Colorado, Denver. Taylor is a compassionate counselor who loves to talk about feelings. Passionate about helping students succeed, Taylor focuses on teaching emotional regulation to support students' overall success in school and life.

In her free time, Taylor loves spending time with her husband and dog, Winnie. She enjoys camping, reading, and exploring all the new restaurants around Denver.

Susan Maresca - ESS Mental Health

Bio coming soon!

Gracey Murphy - ESS Mental Health, Aurora Mental Health

Gracey is entering her 2nd year at Virginia Court as a School Social Worker/ ESS Mental health provider. She has lived in Denver for three years but is actually from Iowa, where the rest of her family lives. Gracey has four sisters who are the most important part of her life.

In her free time, Gracey likes reading, doing yoga, acting, writing, and traveling. Gracey hopes to eventually visit every country in the world. She even lived in China for six months! Gracey is very excited for another great year at Virginia Court!

Carolyne Copeland - General Education Para

Ms. Carolyne is a 3rd year Classroom Paraeducator with 20 years total in Aurora Public Schools. Originally from South Carolina she attended the University of South Carolina where she acquired her Bachelors of Arts in British Literature and European History. She loves working with students and getting to know them and their families.

Her hobbies are reading, visiting family and playing with her cats.

Kaden DeVault - General Education Para

Bio coming soon!

Kel Gleason - General Education Para

Bio coming soon!

Hiba Mahamad - General Education Para

Hiba Mahamad is a dedicated classroom paraeducator beginning her second year in Virginia Court supporting students in their educational journey. Originally from Sudan, she moved to the United States, bringing with her a strong background in civil engineering and a master’s degree in Construction Management.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Hiba is a proud mother of six children: four wonderful girls and two energetic boys. Her greatest joy comes from spending quality time with her family, nurturing a loving and supportive home environment.

In her free time, Hiba enjoys engaging in activities that bring her family closer together, from outdoor adventures to quiet evenings at home.

Her journey from Sudan to the United States has been filled with learning and growth, and she is committed to continuing this journey by making a positive impact in her community and the lives of the students she works with.

Alicia Smith-Young - Educational Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Veronica DuVal - ASD Para

Bio coming soon!

Lisa Hemmings - ASD Para

Bio coming soon!

Debbie Pelot - ASD Para

Bio coming soon!

Cordell Proctor - ASD Para

Bio coming soon!

Miguel Reyes - ASD Para

Bio coming soon!

Kaylee Stackhouse - 1:1 Para

Kaylee Stackhouse is excited to be starting her first year as a 1:1 ESS Para at Virginia Court. Originally from Wisconsin, Kaylee moved here with her family in 2012 and has absolutely loved living here in Colorado. In Colorado she also graduated with her Bachelors of Psychology in 2020. She's passionate about helping those in need and with her degree, she set out to do just that.

In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes/walks with her son, exploring new places, and chatting with those around her. She also likes sitting down with a good book and cuddling with her cats.