Flagstaff Academy Faculty and Staff 2007/2008
Principal - Jere Pearcy
We welcome Ms. Jere Pearcy to Flagstaff Academy as our new Principal! Principal Pearcy has an extensive background in education and administration. Formerly, she was the Principal at Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, and the Assistant Principal at Jefferson Academy – both K-8 Core Knowledge schools. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology and Elementary Education from Baylor University in Texas, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. She has been a consultant for the Core Knowledge Foundation and has provided district and school training in this curriculum. In addition, she serves on the Colorado School Improvement Council through the CDE. She has been nominated for the Colorado Teacher of the Year.
Principal Pearcy has two daughters, Emma and Anna. Anna will be attending Flagstaff in the fall. In her spare time, she loves the outdoors, reading and spending time with her two children.
Assistant Principal - Bess Kuzma
 Assistant Principal Kuzma was born and raised near Syracuse, New York. She went to college in Rochester, and came to Colorado about 20 years ago. Kuzma has always been a teacher, working in Aurora for a Catholic school for 14 years and also in public education. She holds a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision and her areas of expertise have included the subjects of math and algebra, working with middle school students, and Core Knowledge.
In addition to working as a teacher, she has also held positions of middle school language arts specialist, math administrator, and principal. Her schools have ranged from a Catholic middle school, to a Core Knowledge charter school in Broomfield, to a junior high school, and then to a small charter school start-up on the eastern plains of Colorado, where she served as founding principal. Most recently she served
as the math administrator in Core Knowledge for 6th, 7th and 8th grades at Aurora Academy.
Seeking an administrative position, Kuzma was drawn to Flagstaff, especially with the science and technology focus, Core Knowledge curriculum, and growing middle school.
Kuzma and her husband live in Central Denver, along with their two cats, Basil & Veronica, and collections of live hermit crabs and turtle figurines.
Other interests include knitting, needlework, jigsaw puzzles, and a serious reading habit. She is very excited to join the Flagstaff Academy community.[top of page]
Kindergarten Full-Day Teacher – Kristina Gudmundson
 Kristina Beaudoin-Gudmundson is beginning her first year of teaching kindergarten at Flagstaff. Prior to coming to Longmont, she taught kindergarten for three years in California, and then relocated to Avon, Colorado where she spent a year working as a third-grade mentor. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development with a minor in Psychology.
Ms. Gudmundson lives with her husband, Scott, her 22-month old son, Wyatt, two Bassett hounds and two cats! She loves to camp with her family, ride bikes and watch documentaries. [top of page]
Kindergarten AM/PM Teacher – Tracy Applehans
 Ms. Applehans is a returning Flagstaff Academy teacher. She attended University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1988. She worked as a counselor with disabled children for three years before becoming a nanny. Ms. Applehans has also taught preschool and kindergarten enrichment for the past five years. She completed her certification in Elementary Education in May of 2005 from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She is a compassionate and devoted teacher, always seeking what is best for all children. Tracy is dedicated to helping all students celebrate their strengths and embrace their challenges.
Tracy is a passionate mother of one daughter. She is a leader in her church and community. When not at school, Ms. Applehans enjoys drawing, baking, camping, and hanging out with her family, pets, and friends. [top of page]
1st Grade Teacher -Terri Reh
 Terri Reh is beginning her first year of teaching at Flagstaff. She has been a substitute teacher for the past five years in both the Saint Vrain Valley School system as well as several private schools in the area. She has also worked as the Kid’s Coordinator at Longmont Free University. Mrs. Reh has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Colorado and is completing her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Regis University. In addition, she enjoys Professional Development and has recently completed a seminar on Multiple Intelligences from Harvard Graduate School.
Mrs. Reh enjoys identifying what makes each child’s learning ability unique and guiding her teaching accordingly. She has two children, Jacquelyn and Matt, both of whom attend Flagstaff Academy. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing and reading.[top of page]
1st Grade Teacher - Stephanie Jarvis
 This is the first year at Flagstaff for Stephanie Jarvis. Previously she taught the Core Knowledge curriculum for six years for grades K- 3. She has also provided one-on-one education to a disabled child, and has been a professional nanny for several years. She has her BA in Education from the University of Maine.
Mrs. Jarvis loves to motivate students and find creative ways to get them excited about learning. Outside of school, she likes hiking, kayaking, mountain-biking and photography. [top of page]
1st Grade Teacher - Susan Lamb
 Joining our first grade team of teachers this year is Susan Lamb. Ms. Lamb has taught first and second grade for ten years in various areas of Texas. In addition, she has taught language arts and science. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She loves seeing children get excited and motivated to learn and enjoys being part of this process.
Ms. Lamb is married and has three children. She enjoys exercising, reading and spending time with her busy family.[top of page]
5th Grade Teacher - Terri Long
 Terri Long has been teaching primary education for five years and is beginning her second year at Flagstaff. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Business. She believes that learning should be fun, and brings a lot of humor to her classroom.
When she isn’t in the classroom, Mrs. Long is taking care of her three children, Daniel, Alex and Brice. She loves rollerblading, football and reading. For the coming school year, she hopes to put together a dance team as an after-school activity.[top of page]
2nd Grade Teacher - Jennifer Battistoni
 Jennifer Battistoni is relocating to Colorado to begin her fourth year of teaching. Prior to coming to Flagstaff, she taught second grade in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her undergraduate degree from Penn State and completed her graduate education at CU Boulder. She believes that “every student should be viewed individually and that his or her strengths should be demonstrated for all to see”.
Ms. Battistoni loves to hike, ski, play soccer and play Frisbee. In Pittsburgh, she created a soccer program for her students. On the quiet side, she enjoys yoga, reading and writing poetry.[top of page]
3rd Grade Teacher - Jason Zook
 Jason Zook is beginning his second year at Flagstaff as a third grade teacher. He attended Colorado State University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Previous to having his own classroom, he was an instructional aide for second grade at Flagstaff, and a favorite among his students. He enjoys teaching because he loves it when “lightbulbs go off in people’s heads”.
Mr. Zook is married and has two cats. He enjoys bicycling, basketball and golf. In 1996 he carried the Olympic torch for the Atlanta Games! [top of page]
3rd Grade Teacher – Mandy Wilson
 Mandy Wilson is entering her third year as a Flagstaff Acacemy teacher. She is a Colorado native, born and raised in Fort Collins. After completing her primary education through Poudre School District, she pursued her undergraduate degree at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska.
Upon completion of her double major in Special Education and Elementary Education, Mrs. Wilson returned to Colorado and her roots (literally). Mrs. Wilson completed her certification process by student teaching back here in Colorado at her former elementary school with a former teacher. Student teaching in the same school she went to as an elementary student opened her eyes to a new world within those walls.
Mrs. Wilson completed her Special Education student teaching requirements at a Core Knowledge school in Fort Collins. Mrs. Wilson has taught at a Core Knowledge Charter School for two years prior to joining Flagstaff. When Mrs. Wilson is away from school you can find her reading, quilting, shopping and spending time with family and friends. [top of page]
3rd Grade Teacher - Jennifer Meyer
 Jennifer Meyer is returning to Flagstaff Academy after having taught 1st grade last year. She is originally from Troy, Michigan but moved to Grand Rapids to go to school. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a major in group science and a minor in elementary education.
Ms. Meyer has lived in Michigan her whole life with her mother, father, and younger sister, Karen. Karen is currently attending Oakland University and plans to move out of Michigan just like her big sister. Ms. Meyer’s second home is Portland, Maine. She has been visiting her grandparents and cousins every year since she was two.
Ms. Meyer has a wide range of interests. One of her passions in life is reading. Recently, Ms. Meyer has started running. Since she was a swimmer in high school, running is a welcome challenge. She loves all types of movies. One of Ms. Meyer’s favorite is Gone with the Wind. [top of page]
4th Grade Teacher - Jaclyn Lesser
 Jaclyn Lesser comes to Flagstaff with five years of teaching experience. She has taught in the public school system in New York City, as well as Aurora, Colorado. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Parks and Recreation Management from Northern Arizona University, and a Master’s Degree in Childhood Education from Lehman College in New York. In her classroom, she promotes a high level of activity and learning. She believes that good literature should be incorporated into every subject area.
She loves skiing, hiking and backpacking. She is a member of the International Honors Society, Kappa Delta Pi.[top of page]
2nd Grade Teacher - Courtney DePoyster
Biography coming...
Middle School History/Geography Teacher - Ashley Anderson
 Ashley Anderson is returning to Flagstaff for her third year of teaching. She is in charge of the History/Geography component of the middle school program. Ashley received her Bachelor’s Degree from Dakota State University (South Dakota) in K-8 Elementary Education, with additional credentialing in 5-8 Middle Level and K-8 Special Education.
Ashley loves the small environment that Flagstaff offers and particularly enjoys working with a “fabulous group of staff and students”. She is currently a mentor for new staff members this year. In her spare time, she plays league volleyball, skis, snowboards and hikes.[top of page]
Middle School Science Teacher - Michael Wax
Biography coming...
Middle School Language Arts Teacher - Lisa Wilkins
 Lisa Wilkins is beginning her first year as a middle school English teacher at Flagstaff. She comes to us from Ute Creek Secondary Academy, where she taught Freshman English and Literature for four years. She has a Bachelor’s in English from Capital University in Ohio, and has recently begun working on her Master’s Degree in American History. She believes that teaching English at Ute Creek has given her a great foundation in understanding how to prepare middle school students for high school.
Mrs. Wilkins enjoys the opportunity that teaching in a small school provides. She upholds the values of Core Knowledge and believes that it provides an excellent academic preparation for high school, as well as teaching the role of a “good citizen”. She enjoys reading, rollerblading, and American History.
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Spanish Teacher – Vilma Montealegre
 Vilma Montealegre is a returning Flagstaff Academy teacher. Accurately pronouncing her last name is usually the mid term test! Vilma was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Her elementary schooling was done in Houston, Texas. Junior High and High School, as well as her degree in Clinical Psychology, were achieved in Guatemala.
Vilma and her family have lived in Boulder for twelve years now. She has taught Spanish in various local schools to children of all ages: from preschool to high school.
Vilma’s passion is to bring the Hispanic culture into the classroom. She drawsmaterial from her beloved Guatemala and from her summer travels with her family to Argentina and Spain. [top of page]
Music Teacher – Tommy Reddicks
 Tommy Reddicks is a returning Flagstaff Academy teacher. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and cheers aggressively against the CSU Rams. He is an avid sports fan and happily abuses area golf courses. Tommy has taught general music, choir, band, drama, and orchestra over the past thirteen years in public, private, and charter schools in Arizona, Washington, and Colorado.
Tommy specializes in world music and multimedia technology. Because of this, his classrooms are famous for their ethnic flair and technological capability. Most recently, he has been performing and consulting for the new Denver Art Museum and has aided in the musical research, designs, recordings, and installations within the museum’s African Gallery.
As a Core Knowledge coordinator, Tommy has been recognized for his outstanding unit writing and his units can be found on the website for the National Core Knowledge Foundation. His writing is often used as model examples for Core Knowledge teachers across the country. Tommy presents his units and teaching style yearly to state and national audiences, and is a yearly presenter at state, regional, and national Core Knowledge conferences.
As an actor with Denver's Comedy Helper, Tommy saw his first comedic action on stage in Chicago at the 2004 Chicago Sketch Fest. As a theatrical director, he has produced Alice in Wonderland, The Mousetrap, his original musical production of The Jungle Book, Julius Caesar, Androcles and the Lion, and over twenty-five original musicals for children.
In film, Tommy frequently composes for Loosely Translated Productions in New York City. His music has also been used on Entertainment Weekly's website underscoring photo shoot and "Must List" videos. On Television, Tommy has appeared on Denver's NBC News following his 2005 commission of "Voyage of the Dream", on Denver's Morning Show on CBS in 2006 to perform his Denver Broncos song, "Another Chance for Glory", and on numerous local affiliates performing the National Anthem. [top of page]
Art Teacher – Kyle Sumnicht
Biography coming...
Physical Education – Jon Fidelak
 Coach Jon’ graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. He has been a competitive athlete for most of his life, competing on the Canadian national track and field team while in high school, and achieving All-American honors while running track at Dartmouth College. He has recently traded in his running shoes for bicycles, and races in local cycling events.
After graduating from Dartmouth, he worked as an associate track and field coach at Dartmouth. From there he moved to California with his lovely wife Karen and worked as an elementary instructional aide and middle school track and field coach. In 1997, Jon and his wife moved to Colorado. He has worked as a kid’s program coordinator and personal trainer for the YMCA of Boulder Valley, and most recently served as the Phys Ed teacher at Flagstaff Academy for the 2005-2006 inaugural year, taking on this role as a volunteer. He is excited to now be part of the Flagstaff Academy community on a fulltime basis.
Coach Jon stays active by chasing and playing with his two children and training to race his bicycle. [top of page]
5th Grade - Melissa Slinker
Biography coming...
Special Education - Karen Jardine
 Karen Jardine is beginning her second year as the Special Education teacher at Flagstaff. She has over 20 years of classroom experience, including educating cognitively disabled and emotionally disturbed children. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, and a Master’s Degree in Education. In her position at Flagstaff, she works with teachers to help them design individualized instruction to help students be successful.
Mrs. Jardine has mentored Special Education teachers throughout the Saint Vrain Valley School District, is an educational consultant and serves on the Flagstaff leadership team. In her spare time, she enjoys movies, family activities and making jewelry.[top of page]
Special Education - Connie Badgett
Biography coming...
Science Building Resource Teacher – Peggy Simone
 Peggy Simone is a returning Flagstaff Academy Instructional Aide. Born and raised in the Dallas area (she still says "y'all"), Mrs. Simone has enjoyed living in Lafayette and Erie for over 15 years. Mrs. Simone earned her Master of Science in Physical Geography at Oklahome State University in 1987, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography/Earth Science at the University of North Texas in 1985. She had the opportunity to teach physical geography laboratories at each university.
Mrs. Simone was an Environmental Scientist and Project Manager for over thirteen years. Now, with a toddler and second grader at home, she welcomes the chance to return to the academic world. [top of page]
Literacy Building Resource Teacher - Kari Hvidevold
 Kari Hvidevold is beginning her second year of teaching at Flagstaff. She holds the position of Literacy Building Resource Teacher for grades K-3, and has over six years of teaching experience. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and is working on her Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Reading. She believes that “when expectations in education are set high, children will rise to the occasion time after time”.
Mrs. Hvidevold lives with her husband and two children, and enjoys camping, hiking, fishing and being with her family. [top of page]
Math Building Resource Teacher - Abby Rooks
 Abby Rooks is a returning Flagstaff Academy teacher. She is originally from Dundee, Michigan and graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2004 with a major in Group Science and a minor in Elementary Education.
Miss Rooks spent her first two years at Flagstaff teaching 1st grade. She now looks forward to the opportunity to work with students across the elementary grades in the area of math, as a Math Building Resource Teacher.
Miss Rooks has two brothers, a sister-in-law, and two nieces in the Erie area. She enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family. In the summer time, she travels back to Michigan to work for an old high school teacher shaving ice for local events and fairs. [top of page]
Literacy/Math Building Resource Teacher - Andrew Moore
 Andrew Moore joins the Flagstaff team this year as the 4th - 8th grade Literacy Coach. Mr. Moore has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. He has over seven years of elementary school teaching experience, including math, language arts and Spanish. One of his teaching goals is to “help students find success in unfamiliar places”. He is a strong advocate of educational reform in our public school system.
Mr. Moore enjoys outdoor education and has experience both as a summer camp director and a volunteer mediator for the Lafayette Police Department. He loves to garden and is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He lives with his wife, Caitlin, and has one child on the way!
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