Staff

John Kiemele, M.Ed., Principal
Doctoral Studies, Arizona State University. Tempe, Arizona. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Currently completing research for dissertation in the area of educational standards / thinking skills.
Master of Education, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington. School Administration and Teacher Supervision. 1990.
Bachelor of Science / Elementary and Special Education. Montana State University, Billings, Montana. Graduate with Honors. 1983.

During the past twenty years as an educator, John Kiemele has been a classroom teacher, school administrator, and adjunct college lecturer at Central Washington University and Northern Arizona University. He has offered staff development in the area of thinking skills, integrated instruction, multiple intelligences theory, and organizational change. John is a contributing author to Integrating and Sustaining Habits of Mind, by Drs. Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick, and published by the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2000.

Wendy Buffer
BA:  History, Elementary Eduation, Metro State, Denver 

This is my first year teaching kindergarten at Coal Creek.  I also work as an Intervention Specialist.  My husband and I are proud that our two daughters are Coal Creek graduates.  I have been connected with Coal Creek since 1991 and was fortunate to have done my student teaching here in First Grade.  I love being at Coal Creek!

Judy Walden
BA: Communication Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
Post BA: Teaching Certificate, University of Colorado, Boulder

I began teaching at Coal Creek in the fall of 2007 as a Kindergarten teacher. My husband, two children, and myself enjoy outdoor activities, traveling, and our two dogs, Poppy and Rye. I am thrilled to be teaching at Coal Creek Elementary.

Terry Krason
BA:

I have joined the Coal Creek staff as Mrs. Swanstrom's long term sub for the 2008-2009 school  year.

Robin Marshall
BA:  Anthropology, University of Maryland
Graduate work: Education, University of Colorado, Boulder 

After teaching preschool in Boulder Valley for six years, I began teaching KCARE in 1997 at Coal Creek.  I am excited to have moved into this 1st grade position as of 2008.  I have two grown children.  We have a dog and a horse.  I enjoy hiking, traveling, and cooking. 

Jean Rachubinski
MA: Regis University, Denver, Colorado
Elementary Certification: University of Colorado, Boulder
BS: Health Education, University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse

I joined the Coal Creek faculty in 1987, after teaching a 1/2 multiage in Cherry Creek School District in Denver. I was born and raised in Wisconsin. I have lived in Boulder since 1983. I am married,  have one son and a dog named Lucky.  I enjoy traveling, biking, reading, running and being outdoors.

Becky Swanstrom
BA: Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder 
AA: Casper College of Liberal Arts, Casper, Wyoming

I joined the Coal Creek faculty in 1990 and have taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Before that I taught 2nd and 3rd grades at Flatirons and Foothill Elementary Schools in Boulder. I am a marathon runner.

Bette Wilson
MA:  Regis University, Denver
BS:  Elementary Education, Math, Illinois State University

I joined the Coal Creek faculty in 1984.  I began my teaching career in Woodstock, Illinois where I taught Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades for seven years before moving to Havre, Montana.  Teaching a Native American preschool in Havre offered me an opportunity to extend my expertise.  After moving to Florida, I taught 1st grade for five years and finally settled in Colorado and at Coal Creek.  I have taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade at Coal Creek since 1984.  I am married with two children and two grandchildren.  I enjoy walking, golfing, reading, and spending time with my family.

Rebekah Adams
MA: Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment, Regis University, Denver
BS: Behavioral Science, Early Childhood Education, Metro State, Denver

I taught full day Kindergarten in the Adams 14 School District before coming to Coal Creek.  I am an assistant cross country coach at Centaurus High School.  My husband and I have two dogs.

Judy Owens
BME: Major Music, Minor Elementary Education Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

I taught 2nd grade and music in Iowa before moving to Colorado. I taught 1st and 3rd grades at Aurora 7 in Boulder. Since coming to Coal Creek in 1991, I've taught 2nd, 2/3 multi-age, and 3rd grade. I enjoy making quilts, pottery, and love gardening. I have had a private vocal studio for the past 30 years. I am a 3rd generation to raise Golden Retrievers and have three goldens, Meadow, Ella, and Sadie.

Michele Hibl
MA:  Literacy K-12, University of Colorado, Boulder
BS:  Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder

I taught in the St Vrain school district for 15 years in a variety positions: classroom teacher, Language Arts Coordinator, Data and Literacy Coach, Special Education teacher, and TAG teacher.   This is my 4th year in BVSD and at Coal Creek.  I taught 5th grade for 3 years and this year I am teaching 2nd grade.

I am a Boulder native!  My husband, Mark, and I have four children.  I love reading, hiking, camping, and spending time with my friends.   

Diana Baumgartner
BA: Developmental Psychology & Communication Studies
MA: Elementary Education

I joined the CC faculty in 2005, after teaching fifth grade grade at Monarch K-8 in 2004, and grades two through five for four years in Florida.  My husband and I have been married since 1986 and have 2 children. As a family, we enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, and our Golden, Hobie.

Ellen Berns
BS: Elementary Education, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

I graduated from Virginia Tech and taught grades 2 - 5 in Virginia from 1979-1984.  Then I taught overseas in Germany on a military base for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools from 1984-1990.  Living overseas allowed me the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa and reinforced my love for travel. I have taught at Coal Creek since 1999, first as a literacy teacher and now as a 3rd grade teacher. My husband and I have been married since 1991 and have one son, Zach.  I enjoy biking, hiking, decorating, entertaining, reading, and my golden retriever Bella.

JoAnne Forth
BA: Elementary Education, Minors French and Music, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo

I taught during the l970s in Three Rivers, Michigan (a rural community just north of Chicago.) I taught 4th grade for most of that time, but one year I taught fifth grade, and one year I taught elementary music. After that I owned my own business for l6 years, but I always missed teaching, so I decided to return to it. In l997-98 I was a long-term substitute in a first grade class at Coal Creek and then a part time resource teacher. In 1998-99 I taught kindergarten. Since then I have taught 3rd grade.

I joined the Coal Creek faculty when the school opened in 1984. Prior to teaching at Coal Creek, I was at Burke and Flatirons Elementary Schools in Boulder and Kohl Elementary School in Broomfield, Colorado.

Cindy Hall
MA: Education Administration, University of Phoenix
BA: Communication, University of Colorado, Boulder 

I began teaching at Coal Creek in the spring of 2002 as a long-term substitute in 4th grade. Along with teaching 4th grade, I have also taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. I grew up in Iowa, but Colorado has been "home" since 1981. My two children who are Coal Creek alumni! I enjoy golfing, reading, social time with friends, and running in my free time.

I began teaching at Coal Creek in 1991 and have taught kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades here. I also taught at Eisenhower and Douglass Elementary Schools in BVSD. I was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. I am married and have a son.

Bud Harris
BA: Elementary Education, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo
MPA: Public Administration, University of Colorado, Boulder
BA: Sociology, University of Colorado, Pueblo

I taught for two years in Canon City, and then here at Coal Creek since 1984. I've also been a mentor with the Master of Arts in Learning and Teaching Program at Regis University since 1991. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. My father owned a restaurant where I learned to cook. I love... my wife, son, stepdaughter, two dogs, sports, and poetry.

I taught a 3rd - 5th grade multiage classroom of students for several years at Lincoln Elementary, located in Mundelein, IL. I am currently coaching cross country and track at Centaurus High School.  I was born and raised in Ohio and my husband is also a teacher and coach.

Sue Myers
BA: Spanish, Shippensburg State College, PA
Teacher Certification, University of Colorado, Boulder

Before joining the Coal Creek faculty in fall of 2003, I was a parent volunteer and para educator at Coal Creek since 1992. In 2001, I went back to school at University of Colorado, Boulder to get my Elementary Education Teaching Certificate.

I started teaching at Coal Creek in 1986. During the 1993-94 school year I was an American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) fellow at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

JoLynn Scott, Library Media Specialist
BS: Elementary Education, University of Colorado, Boulder
Reading Master: University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
Media Specialist Endorsement: University of Northern Colorado, Greeley

I have lived in Colorado since 1978. I was a Grade Team Leader in middle school and now after 20 years of middle school teaching, I am delighted to be sharing books with students and teachers in Coal Creek's Library! I am married with two children, a dog, and two rats.  My newest hobby is tap dancing!
Motto - "The more you know, the more you grow...READ!"

I taught for two years at Lafayette Elementary before I started teaching at Coal Creek in 1985.

Mary Jean Pope, Music Specialist
BA: Music Education, Westminster College, Pennsylvania
Orff-Schulwerk Certification I, II, III: Cleveland State University & Dominican University

I was born in Huntsville, Alabama. I have lived in Alabama, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and has been in Colorado since 1986.

Rachel Cauley, Music Specialist

I joined the Coal Creek faculty in 1996 after teaching at Martin Park Elementary School in Boulder for 23 years. I have also been a member of SWAAAC for 10 years. I love teaching young children to read and have done extensive reading and study on my own to keep current on best practices. I also enjoy doing Sudoku puzzles and spending time with my miniature schnauzer.

Carin Small, Special Education Teacher
MA: Special Education, University of Colorado, Boulder
BA: Elementary Education & Special Education, SUC, Geneseo, NY

Lisa Bradford, Speech-Language Specialist
BA:  Linguistics, University of Chicago
MA: Communication Disorders and Speech Science, University of Colorado

I have worked in the Boulder Valley schools since 1999, with students at all grade levels. Prior to working in the schools I worked in various health care settings in the Denver area. I live in Louisville with my husband and daughter.

Tammy Garner, Occupational Therapist
BA:Psychobiology, Hastings College, Nebraska
MS: Occupational Therapy, CSU, Fort Collins

1994-1999 - Medically-Based Occupational Therapist (Outpatient Adult Rehabilitation, Long-Term Care, Home Health, & Outpatient Pediatrics)
1999 to Present - Educationally-Based Occupational Therapy (Preschool - High School Assignments)

I currently service students at Coal Creek Elementary, Aspen Creek K-8, and Broomfield   
High School. I have been involved in service delivery at Coal Creek since 2001 and love  
being a member of the staff! I also have been the acting Boulder Valley O.T./P.T Liaison for 
our entire therapy group for the past four years.

Helen Hedrick, Social Worker
BS: Psychology & Rehabilitation Services, Emporia State University, Kansas
MSW: Social Work, Denver University

I have held my clinical social work license since 1990. I have worked in the public schools since 1986 and also have a private social work practice.

Demian Mesa-Hall, Psychologist

Lynn Montoya, Literacy Teacher
BS: University of Colorado, Boulder

I have been a literacy teacher at Coal Creek since 1999.  I have also taught 5th grade in Littleton, Colorado and Pre-K in Seattle, Washington.  My husband and I have three children who are graduates of Coal Creek.  I enjoy traveling, gardening, hanging out with my family and our dog, Asha and of course, reading!

Joyce Mennitt, Support Secretary

Melanie Francis, Paraeducator

Karen Turcotte, KCARE Staff
BS: Biology, McGill University
MBA: University of Chicago

I joined the KCare staff in 2004. I love working with Coal Creek's youngest students! I am married and have two daughters who are both KCare alumni.

Janet Wilson, KCARE Staff

Brandon Patzer, Head Custodian

Jean Dee, Kitchen Head Cook

MaiAnh Nguyen, Assistant Cook