Dear CIS Parents:

We have completed the interview process.  Please join me in welcoming these new staff members to our CIS Staff. 

Here is a brief description of their qualifications:

Stephanie Garcia - Teacher of the Gifted

Ms. Garcia has extensive experience in teaching gifted children and providing gifted education workshops to parents across our state.   She currently teaches at Osuna Elementary and is a board member of AAGTS (Albuquerque Association for Gifted and Talented Students). 

Venesee Taylor- SPED Teacher/Lead Teacher

Ms. Taylor has been in education for 25 years and holds a Masters in Education.  She has both taught and led special education teachers and programs.  She has been a principal for APS for six years and is currently the principal at Lew Wallace Elementary. 

Amy Hughes - 5^th Grade Teacher

Ms. Hughes holds a Masters in Elementary Education.  She has a diverse and eclectic background with academic experience in theatre, music, and film in addition to teaching in both charter and traditional schools.  Ms. Hughes describes herself as "passionate, organized, open-minded, and altruistic young educator, eager to undertake the challenges of today's education world and encourage the academic development of students."

Isabel Constable 6^th Grade Teacher

Ms. Constable holds Masters of Arts in teaching and a Bachelors of Arts in Biology.  She has attended and received degrees and certificates from the University of Michigan, Brown University, Cambridge University, and George Mason University.   She also holds an IB Teacher Award in MYP from George Mason University.   Her fields of study have been: Biology, Ecology and Evolution and Organismal Biology, Fish biology, Statistics, Ecology and Physics.   She has taught in a well-established IB K-12 school, the United Nations International School of Hanoi a Vietnamese private school.  Ms. Constable states in her letter of application that "these cross cultural experiences have taught me to view teaching as a conversation in which my primary role is to set up learning situations, and then listen, observe, and actively collect feedback to inform my response - the development of a fresh learning situation."

Sheley Wimmer- K-10 Music; 6-10 P.E/Health

Ms. Wimmer has twenty years of public, private, and college level educational experience.  She started and managed a private school (elementary/mid-school) for twelve years.  Along with her academic credentials, she is also an accomplished writer.  Ms. Wimmer also brings with her the skill of writing grants.

Ruth Roberts - Humanities Teacher 7-12

Ms. Roberts has completed her 37th year in the classroom. She has taught Humanities, AP and Honors English, Drama, and History.  She brings extensive experience teaching Advanced Placement/Honors classes.  She has also and coached drama for the last 10 years and would love to contribute to that element at our school. The dance team she coached has won  the 1-2A State Championship title this March and also qualified to dance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The team has travelled to New York for five consecutive years. 

Dr. John Giovino - Mathematics/Science 9 -10

Dr. Giovino has taught Mathematics and Science for 17 years.  He holds a Ph.D. in Math Education and a Masters in Science.  His most recent teaching position was at La Cueva High School.  Prior to joining the teaching profession, Dr. Giovino was a Mathematician with the U.S. Government Civil Service.

Dorothy Lee - Spanish Teacher 6 -10

Ms. Lee is a unique Spanish teacher for she is a fluent speaker of Korean and Spanish and is conversationally proficient in Chinese. She is currently an MYP Spanish teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, an MYP school in Denver Public Schools.  She holds a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction and a Bachelor's degree in Spanish and has studied in Spain at the Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo.   She is also passionate about music and would love to incorporate it into her teaching duties as well as other arts-related clubs.  She is currently acting for a professional theatre in Denver.   Ms. Lee states in her letter of application, "I am committed to helping and facilitating adolescents and children who are discovering their own academic voices and are motivated to become the best, responsible world citizens."

David Kruchoski - Mathematics/Science 7-8

Mr. Kruchoski is an experienced MYP and PYP teacher.   He recently taught 6^th grade at the Aga Khan Academy in Nairobi, Kenya.  He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Geography, Mathematics, and Science Education from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.   Mr. Kruchoski describes himself as a life-long learner, "dedicated to my vocation and continually striving to enhance my knowledge and teaching skills through reflection, additional education, professional training, and self-directed study."

Josh Ripp- Language Arts 7-12/ MYP Coordinator

Mr. Ripp is currently an MYP teacher of English and Business Management at Hiram Bingham School, an International Baccalaureate Program School in Lima, Peru.  He is also an adjunct instructor in Lima for the Fullbright Commission.   Mr. Ripp graduated from the University of Denver a dual degree in Law and Business Administration.   He holds both a Juris Doctorate (law) and Master's in Business Administration.

Please join me in welcoming these fantastic educators to our CIS community!

Respectfully,

Dr. Elsy Diaz

Head of School