Friends' School - Teachers & Staff




	Shelby Pawlina Preschool Director, Preschool Teacher, Teacher Preparation Program Advisor Bachelor of Arts, Childhood Studies, Tufts University, Medford, MA Master of Arts, Educational Psychology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO I didn’t start off wanting to be a teacher. In fact, for years I looked forward to being a forensic pathologist. How did she get here from there, you wonder. Through volunteering. From my first semester in college when I began working with local low-income children, I was hooked. A few people had whiplash from my sudden change in passion, but in my skin, it all made perfect sense. With a degree in early childhood, I went off to Swaziland, Africa with the Peace Corps. Upon my return, I settled in Boulder. At Friends’ School since 1995, I know I am home here. Being part of a community that keeps relationships and communication held to the same high standards as the academic learning is a big part of my connection to Friends’. Daniel Pink and Howard Gardner both write about the vital need for empathy and respect in our interactions for the future. Friends’ School embodies that learning from preschool to fifth grade, and on to the teachers and staff. Additionally, Friends’ articulates and supports the importance of taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from them. It is this philosophy that keeps me returning each year, my head, hand, and heart growing through a myriad of new experiences. My current professional interests include observing how language impacts children’s resiliency and motivation and creating professional development communities through dialog and connection. At home, I always have a novel by my bedside. I dabble in dance, guitar, singing, art, gardening, and creating comfortable spaces in my home.

	Sherry Biskup Preschool Teacher Bachelor of Arts, Psychology & Special Education, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ Master of Arts, Educational Psychology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO My first experience at Friends’ School was in 2002 as a part-time teacher in the three-year-old preschool class. I found it to be everything I was looking for in a preschool: an educational experience focused on the whole child; a curriculum focused on learning through play and encouraging a sense of wonder and discovery; an excellent staff; and terrific resources for children and teachers. I am very excited to now be teaching full-time at Friends’ Preschool beginning the 2003-04 school year. I am continually inspired by the passion and zest the children, parents, and teachers bring to the classroom. Previously I have supervised a School Age Care (SAC ) Program for the Boulder Valley School District and provided administrative support for The PassageWorks Institute, an organization dedicated to bringing social and emotional learning into the classroom. Before moving to Boulder in 2001, I taught at two play-based cooperative preschools in the Philadelphia area. In my free time I love to travel, create art, dance, volunteer with teenagers, enjoy the beauty of Boulder, and the city of Denver.

	Christie Stanford Preschool Teacher Bachelor of Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Master of Science, Exercise Physiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA Master of Arts, Educational Psychology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO I’ve been fortunate to be teaching in the Friends’ Preschool since 1999. I believe the 3, 4, and 5 year old child is a true pleasure with an enchanting view of the world. My teaching days are full of new beginnings as I am witness to curiosity in action. My husband, two children and I have been in Colorado since 1998 and we are thrilled! We regularly take advantage of the surrounding beauty by indulging in a myriad of outdoor activities. I especially enjoy running, biking and skiing.

	Lindsey Hilliard Preschool Teacher Bachelor of Arts, Humanities, Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO I am so thankful to be back at Friends’ School! To be part of a staff that shares ones teaching philosophy is every teacher’s dream. Honoring our students and their individual learning styles, while nurturing their souls, makes me feel blessed to teach at Friends’. I am a proud alumnus of the Friends’ Teacher Preparation Program, where I co-taught in the 4th and 5th grade classrooms. Following that, I went on to teach in the Denver Public School system during the school year, and was still able to work with Friends’ School in the summer to teach at the preschool summer camp. During my summers in the ‘backyard camp’ I fell in love with the energy, creativity and humor that 3 to 5 year olds exude. I am excited and proud to be a part of the Friends’ preschool team! When I am not teaching, I spend my time with my husband and beautiful daughter exploring and enjoying her new world. We are having such a ball being parents and I love, love, love being a mother. I love dancing, hiking, or snuggling up with a good book.

	Jessie Vanden Hogen Preschool Teacher Bachelor of Arts, Studio Arts, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO Master of Arts, Educational Psychology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO I have been living in Colorado since 1991. After graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1995, I began teaching preschool and enrichment classes. I started teaching at Friends' School in 1999. I love learning with children and enjoy how my job changes from minute to minute. I feel very connected to the staff, parents and children in the Friends’ community. I feel empowered to create an environment where the concepts of head, hand and heart are equally represented. I am honored to teach at a school where children and teachers are respected and whose ideals are close to my heart. Originally from Wisconsin (yes, I love cheese and the Packers), I spend my free time playing my violin and performing music with various bands, kicking a soccer ball around with friends, and spending quality time with my nephew and niece.

	Stephanie Vaughn Teacher Candidate, Preschool Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology and History, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO School and education have always felt like home to me. The day the school-supply list arrived in the mail was my favorite day of the summer. After graduating from the University of Colorado, I focused my attention on teaching, and have worked as a preschool teacher for some time. I truly feel that the earliest years are some of the most formative, and create the foundation for independent and joyful learners. If I can help one child develop a life-long love for learning, I will feel as though I have succeeded. When not in school, you can generally find me curled up with a good book, hiking, or dreaming of travel.