Virginia Schick, Director of Art Department
Virginia Schick has been teaching for 21 years and has been at Monarch High School since it opened. She has earned over fifty hours of masters plus classes, a master degree from Lesley University and an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University.

Virginia enjoys nature while running, skiing, riding horses, wandering, and just being. Virginia and Bob, her sweetheart, spend vacations traveling the globe.

Claudia Lastella
Claudia received her BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology, her art teaching credential from the University of San Francisco and her Master’s in Art History from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Claudia enjoys painting, taking pictures, cycling, climbing, cooking and spending time with her husband & daughter and looks forward to spending time with their eagerly anticipated new arrival in April.

Connie Q. McGinley
Connie earned her BFA and teaching certification from Tyler School of Art of Temple University; earned her MFA in painting from Idaho State University; and her Master’s in Art Education from the University of Illinois.

Connie can often be found swimming laps in the pool at Louisville Rec, lifting weights, spinning or watching her son play basketball in the gym.

David Rivers, Art Teacher
Mr. Rivers grew up in rural Northwest Indiana. He graduated from Valparaiso University in 1990 with a BS in biology with minors in art and psychology. Mr. Rivers received a Bachelors of Studio Arts degree from CU and K-12 Fine Arts Teaching Credentials from Metro State College.

Mr. Rivers lives in South Boulder with his wife Suzanne and their Greyhound, Moe. He runs, climbs and bikes as much as possible.

Jenny Weich, Art Teacher
Ms. Weich earned her MA in Visual Arts at the University of Northern Colorado, studying Art Education and writing about Pueblo pottery.

Batik, pottery and painting are her favorite media in creating her own artwork. Her hobbies include swing dancing, yoga and visiting Spanish-speaking countries.

Gwendolyn Lukas-Doctor, Director of Drama Department
Ms. Lukas-Doctor graduated from Iowa State as an English Major with a minor in Theater. She was a professional actor with the Denver Victorian Playhouse in Denver prior to teaching at Monarch HS as of fall, 2003.

She enjoys reading, gardening and cooking and spending time with her husband, Brad.

Kent Jones, Director of Music at MHS
Mr. Jones graduated from Denver University as a Piano Major (and plays tuba and bass trombone) and has a Masters from CU in Choral Conducting.

He currently plays with the 101st Army Band and plays freelance piano and jazz for shows around the area. He has 4 children and likes to snow ski, play music and ride his motorcycle.

Clare Church, Woodwinds
Ms. Church graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Music Degree in Saxophone Performance and a Masters Degree in Saxophone Performance from CU. Ms. Church instructed woodwinds for marching band. She is a "1st Call" Sax player on the Denver Music Scene and has played with Natalie Cole, the Temptations, the Platters, Dizzy Gillespie and many other celebrities. She also performs with the Colorado Symphony and the Boulder Dinner Theater from time to time.

She loves to run and is a snow skier and tennis player. She has a senior at MHS who is an accomplished drummer in the Drumline.

Brain Knott, Orchestra Director
Mr. Knott graduated from CU with a bachelors and masters degree in Music and Bass Performance. He is currently a doctoral candidate pursuing a DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts). He currently performs with the Boulder Philharmonic and freelances in the Denver/Boulder area. He also performed at the Aspen Music Festival over the summer months.

He enjoys skiing and tennis and grew up in the Littleton area... A COLORADO NATIVE! He has a wife and 2 sons.

Brenda Lotterhos, Orchestra Teacher
Ms. Lotterhos graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Music Education. She teaches part time at Monarch and 6 other schools. She plays in several bluegrass groups,including the Boulder Session Band (an Irish jam group), and was formerly with Jackson Creek Bluegrass Band.

She has 3 children and loves to snow ski, hike and camp. She currently has a senior in Drumline at MHS.

Brian du Fresne, Director of Vocal Department
Mr. du Fresne graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelors and Masters in Piano Performance. He also has a Masters in Education from CU. He teaches full time at MHS and directs the musicals, teaches a guitar class and has 5 different choral groups. He currently performs professionally with the Ars Nova Singers, plays organ at St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder, and is the Resident Music Director for the Trouble Clef Players (a professional theater group in Boulder). He also plays keyboards for the Denver Pops Orchestra.

His hobbies include running, swimming and cooking when time permits.

DeAnn Dickinson, Staff Accompanist
Ms. Dickinson received a BME & MA from DU in piano. She taught 8 years of elementary music & private piano lessons for over 30 years. She has accompanied for Denver Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Regional Auditions for National Assoc of Teachers Singing Competition and various recitals in town.

She is currently pursuing a certificate in Jazz Piano at DU. She enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family.