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Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn
Lead Teacher, Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics – Emphasis in Elementary Education, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
All my life I've had a passion for learning and adventure. Wanting to share this love, I pursued a career in education, teaching for seven years in Jefferson County. Once my daughter Maya was born, I left the classroom to spend time exploring life with her.
Searching for the ideal school to nurture Maya's spirit led us to Friends' School. Here we found an environment that provides a balance of challenge, friendship, creativity and adventure. What a gift it is to be able to return to teaching in a setting that values the individuality of each child.
To fulfill my need for adventure, I've taken up ultrarunning, adventure racing, skate skiing, mountain biking and roller blading. On the tamer side you can also find me reading, cooking, scrapbooking or watching Maya perform on the stage.
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Carrie Simpson
Lead Teacher, Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Working at Friends’ School since 2000 (my first year as a teacher candidate and the remaining years as a classroom teacher), I now enjoy alternating years teaching Kindergarten and first grade with the same students. Teaching is a personal calling for me and spending my days with children is a gift. I appreciate working alongside educators who share my commitments to professional and personal growth, honoring individual learners, promoting holistic education, and nurturing young souls. I strive to create a caring, safe, and respectful classroom community and to make school fun for students by helping them find personal success as they engage in dynamic, creative learning experiences.
I also bring to my teaching career my passions for science and social/emotional learning, and recently have enjoyed facilitating workshops for other teachers. I love to dance, sing, listen to live music, hike, travel, read, be near the ocean, cook, bird watch, and study astrology. I would like to thank my younger sister, my very first student and now a 5th grade teacher, and my mom, a 25-year veteran preschool teacher and a teacher of unconditional love.
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Diane Bramble
Lead Teacher 2nd & 3rd Grades
- Bachelor of Arts, Elementary & Special Education, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV
- Master of Science in Teaching English, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
I have taught at Friends’ School since 1989. I love teaching here because it’s a place where children are respected. I believe, as Plutarch did, that the mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. In my classroom I aspire to not only get children thinking and to challenge themselves, but also to impart to them the knowledge and expertise I possess. I have had the opportunity to study with master teachers who inspired me to constantly examine my teaching practice. These mentors gave me many gifts, but the most important one was to respect and value children in their learning process. Friends’ believes in children, families, teachers, and community – that’s why I love to teach here.
On a more personal note, I am passionate about music. I play guitar, djembe, and I love to sing. Nature is where I go to quiet my mind. My favorite thing to do is hike and bird watch. I love words – I collect them in notebooks, on napkins, backs of receipts and in a journal. I enjoy passing my love of words on to the children through the teaching of reading and writing. As my passions enrich my life, they also enrich my teaching. I love the cycle of learning and teaching, both in my personal and professional life – Friends’ supports both.
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Nick McGrane
Lead Teacher, 2nd & 3rd Grade
- Bachelor of Arts,English and Spanish, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
- Master of Arts, Educational Psychology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
I never expected to be a teacher. Then, after college, I had the opportunity to move to Japan and teach English in public middle and elementary schools. I figured teaching would be a small price to pay to get the opportunity to live overseas for several years. Once I got there and realized the joy that can come with sharing authentic and exciting learning experiences with children, I was hooked.
Upon my return to the U.S., I went looking for a way to earn my teaching license without having to go back and spend several years in college learning about what happens in a classroom. From my time in Japan I learned most about what I did not want to see in education: classes of 40 students, uniformity, little to no interaction between teacher and student, non-differentiated instruction and few opportunities for creative thought or original insight. I was extremely lucky to stumble upon the Teacher Preparation Program at Stanley British Primary School in Denver. Like Friends', Stanley is a school that values inquiry, experience and community, allowing students to make choices and making sure that every child becomes a lifelong learner and a conscientious member of the community. After my internship, I was hired on at Stanley to teach a K-1-2 class and have had a wonderful time interacting with the students for the last few years.
Outside of school, you may see me tooling around town on my bicycle, stopping to pick up some extra ingredients for some new cooking adventure, perhaps with my banjo in tow off to a lesson, or covered in dirt from my garden.
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Mandy Stepanovsky
Lead Teacher, 4th & 5th Grade
- Bachelor of Arts in Geography, State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo, NY
- Masters in Education Psychology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
It was 3:00 a.m. in the airport in Mumbai, India when my passion for teaching first ignited. The sight of so many young children without the opportunity to develop into and thrive as members of their own society left me with a feeling of tragedy I could never forget. After that first night abroad I became involved in researching alternative methods of education in India, South Africa, and Brazil. It was this study that led me to pursue a career that simultaneously aligned with my own belief that all children should be given the opportunity to develop into life long learners. By ensuring that each student’s individual interests and strengths are valued and encouraged, it is my hope that students become enthusiastic members of the community in which they live. In my classroom daily activities attend to the whole child, focusing on the academic, social and emotional development of students. Students actively participate in lessons and discussions that address content being studied, as well as community and other social issues. They are challenged to discover their strengths and accomplish various goals set before them. By relating studies to their own lives and the world around them, students make connections and discoveries that will allow them to be successful as active participants in their local and global communities. Nurturing a life long love of learning and enthusiasm for knowledge are paramount. My greatest joy comes from hearing an excited student begin a sentence with “…that’s just like when we studied…”
It seems like just yesterday that I was a part of the Friends’ School community as an intern teacher and I am thrilled to be returning “home” as this year’s fourth grade teacher. I am most looking forward to being an active member of a community of life long learners that supports and nurtures every child.
My personal passions include traveling, reading, writing, and spending as much time as possible in the mountains with my dog.
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Liz Richards
Lead Teacher, 4th & 5th Grade
- Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
- Elementary Endorsement, University of Northern CO, Greeley, Colorado
After the first day of orientation as a Friends' School intern, I knew what a gift it was to learn and grow with this school community. I am thrilled about the opportunity to cultivate my roots here as member of the Friends' School staff. Part of the reason I chose education as a profession was to be the teacher I needed when I was a student. The idea of attending to a student's Head, Hand and Heart speaks to the core of the teacher in me. There is nothing more gratifying than meeting kids where they are cognitively, emotionally and socially to facilitate their learning and help them see who they are.
Growing up in Colorado provided a fabulous backdrop for the evolution of my interest in teaching. The adventures of being a ski instructor and a camp director inspired me to broaden my abilities to make positive connections with kids. My passion for teaching stems from my own passion for learning. I get a gigantic kick out of watching kids make new discoveries.
When not at work I enjoy exploring both the cultural and natural gifts of the earth, especially with my two wonderful kids. I love being in the wilderness of Colorado all seasons of the year, skiing fast, running on trails and climbing peaks. Urban life is okay too when I can eat great food, watch movies and go dancing.
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CiCi James
Teacher Candidate, Kindergarten
- Bachelor of Science, Environmental Biology, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado
Through out my life, I have always taught children in some form or another. I have taught three and four year old children skiing and swimming for seven years. I have also worked at a preschool, located in Durango, Colorado, for the past three years. . I am passionate about Early Childhood Education and I’m a big believer and advocate for education and the joy of learning.
Most recently I worked at Lil Tykes Preschool. I fell in love with my position at this school and worked my way up to the assistant director and a lead teacher for three and four year olds. I have realized that teaching is my life long passion and I am enthused that Friends’ School has given me the opportunity to continue this dream
Outside of teaching I also enjoy, skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, swimming and music.
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Cara Brunello
Teacher Candidate, 1st Grade
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Bachelor of Arts, Political Science & Spanish, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
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Master of Arts, Writing & Consciousness, New College of California, San Francisco, CA
I am new to Colorado having moved here in April from San Francisco. It was in California where I first began teaching after-school creative writing classes throughout the public school district. It was then that I recognized teaching was my calling and decided that—along with traveling and spending time with my husband—it is in the classroom where I feel most alive.
This past summer I worked as a day camp director, which was both demanding and invigorating, and although I miss the ocean dearly, I have been enjoying Boulder and adjusting well to the quiet streets and mountain air. I am incredibly excited to be a part of the Friends' School community and am looking forward to an extraordinary year.
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Linda Chang
Teacher Candidate, 2nd & 3rd Grades
- Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Master of Arts, International Development, University of Denver, Denver, CO
My path to teaching has been a journey, filled with surprising turns and unexpected rewards. Born in Beijing, China, I came to the United States when I was eight. My experiences as an immigrant and ESL learner have shaped both my identity and my commitment to learning and teaching. The excitement and joy that I have found in learning is what I hope to nurture in my students.
I have worked in a variety of fields, from academic publishing to cake decorating to international development. My experiences in these disparate fields represent a journey of self-discovery and learning about the world. As a result of this process, I come to teaching with the conviction that it is the field to which I am called, and in which I can make my best contribution.
Most recently, I worked as a paraeducator in a lower elementary Montessori classroom (1st through 3rd grade). Within weeks of being in the classroom, I was hooked. My interactions with the children were a constant source of learning and inspiration, and it is they who have truly motivated my desire to pursue teaching. My other passions include rock climbing, trail running, and backpacking, as well as reading, cooking, and knitting.
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Freya Henry
Teacher Candidate, 2nd & 3rd Grades
- Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Bryn Athyn College, Bryn Athyn, PA
As an environmental educator, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of fun places, including nature centers, museums, and camps. Since moving to Colorado in 2006, I have held educational positions at the Denver Botanic Gardens, YMCA of Boulder Valley and Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery. I absolutely love serving as an educator, and was drawn to the intern program at Friends' School as an excellent opportunity to continue learning and growing in this role. Teaching in a formal classroom will be new for me, and I look forward to facing this challenge with the guidance and support of an experienced mentor teacher. I am honored to be part of the Friends' School community as both teacher and student.
When not working, I love to get outside with my bike, snowshoes, running shoes or hiking boots. My husband and I live in Louisville, where we are devoted riders of RTD and public transportation in general.
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Mary Meyer
Teacher Candidate, 4th Grade
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Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
My love for the outdoors led me away from the classroom right after graduating from college. Quickly I realized that I could combine my passion for the outdoors with my passion for education- boy, was I happy! Since this realization, I have spent the past four years working in a variety of outdoor and environmental education settings both in Illinois and Colorado. Most recently, I worked for the Colorado Youth Program here in Boulder as the Program & Camp Director. Teaching about insects, leading backpacking trips and writing outdoor curriculum are a few of the things that have inspired my exciting teaching journey.
Bringing me back to the classroom is my desire to work with the same group of students over a school year, watching them learn and grow. I also look forward to continuing my own education, learning from the fabulous 4th grade class and amazing Friends' School teachers. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to join the Friends' School community!
When I am not teaching, I enjoy exploring Colorado on foot (both hiking and running), skis and bicycle!
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Chloe Fitch
Teacher Candidate, 5th Grade
- Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies Elementary Education, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
As a young girl I had always imagined growing up to be a teacher. I didn’t actually realize that this was where my passion lies until I started pursuing my degree in Elementary Education. When I began my first education job working as an outdoor educator with the Greenway Foundation in Denver, I found myself being inspired on a daily basis while working with kids in an outdoor setting.
I grew up in a rugged part of Northern California where being outdoors was part of my childhood. Working as an outdoor educator has helped me to see the importance of nature in a child’s life and the beauty of watching a child connect and discover their surrounding environment. I am so excited to have been given the opportunity to work at Friends’ School. I look forward to working with Mandy and the 5th Grade class in such a positive learning environment. In addition to teaching I enjoy running, yoga, cooking, gardening, backpacking, traveling and painting.
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