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Staff Biographies

Non-certified staff
Kara Priest - Artist-in-residence
	Kara teaches Art at Horizons. Kara had in depth study in drawing and painting. She grew up in a family of professional oil painters – both parents had degrees from Minneapolis School of Art and were highly proficient in classical style oil painting. Kara studied Jacque Devand (professional illustrator for Hollywood), Frank Covino (Italian American artist and teacher), Italian Veradacio painting, and Berndt Savig (current Head of Red Rocks College Art Department). Other studies include drawing, painting, sculpture, composition and history. Kara has done illustration and design work for books, CD covers, and private businesses. She has been involved in multimedia productions, creating installations and designing artwork. Kara has taught for about 15 years, including K-12 experience, private lessons for all ages, workshops and camps. Recently Kara taught Mandela workshops for local teacher groups and teaches each year to Masters of Education students. Kara designs nearly all of her own curricula and has lately been teaching some of them to other educators.
Ernie Hargett - Musical Artist-in-residence
	Ernie is our music specialist on property. Better known as Mr. Music Man. Ernie started with our Arts & Science program and soon was writing shows for the 4/5 play. As a result of his skills, he became very much in demand as each of the grade groups began to use him for their performances. To hear Ernie say it music is my life and to have the opportunity to share this gift with kids is life personified. Ernie's music style began in Gospel and has spread to showtumes, jazz, blues, pop, R & R, and hard rock - you name it. The diversity in music that our cyhildren get is amazing and they just don't sing but they dance as well. What an addition to our team.
Judy Bohn - Kindergarten Enrichment
	Judy taught 3rd grade at another BVSD school until her daughter arrived. She has been involved at Horizons K-8 ever since her daughter started kindergarten here in 2001. She started volunteering then subbing and is now a paraeducator in kindergarten in the morning and teaches kindergarten enrichment in the afternoon.
Karla Lankford - Kindergarten Enrichment
	Karla, born and raised in Colorado, has six years of experience at Horizons. Her area of expertise is working with the primary grades and she holds an Associate degree in Child Development.
Neil Thurman - Paraprofessional, After School Activity Director
	My name is Neil Thurman, I am currently a para-educator and I also run the after-care program. I graduated from C.U. in 2001 with a degree in Sociology. I did a year of service with Americorps working with the "I Have a Dream" Foundation. I also ran a before and after school program for the YMCA for six years, I worked at Eisenhower Elementary. I love to skateboard, play soccer, and cook. See my contact info @ http://bvsd.org/schools/horizonsk8/teachers/thurman/default.aspx

Paraeducators
Barb Rankin
	Barb is a paraeducator in Nichole's 2/3 homeroom. Her son graduated from Horizons in 1999, and Barb is delighted to be back home at Horizons! She is originally a New Englander from R.I. and Maine, and holds a degree in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin. Barb enjoys the ocean, tennis, bowling, theatre, volunteering at C.U., and traveling around the country and world to visit her family.
Dee Dee Rice
	This is my 8th year at Horizons. I am a special ed para in a first grade class. My three sons graduated from Horizons. My background is in Child Life, a program that works with hospitalized children and their families. I have been the Health Coordinator for Head Start. I have worked with Social Services providing emergency foster care, and worked with children in the Nurturing Program. I've also volunteered with CASA as a court appointed child advocate. I love hiking, yoga, cross-country skiing, art classes, spending time with my kids and snowy days!
Jenn Snare
	Jen is a paraprofessional for grades 4/5 and middle school. In her previous life she was an LPN. Jen is also the parent of a fourth grader and fifth grader at Horizons. In her spare time she works in her studio making anything she can out of silver and copper. She also likes to cook.
Karla Lankford
	Karla, born and raised in Colorado, has six years of experience at Horizons. Her area of expertise is working with the primary grades and she holds an Associate degree in Child Development.
Leann Roberts
	Leann has been a para at Horizons for eleven years. She is a parent of two daughters, one in college and one a college graduate. Both are graduates of Horizons. She works in the double 2/3 classroom with Julie/Beth and Adam.
Leslie Dunlap
	Leslie is a paraeducator in elementary and middle school. With a background in theatrical costuming, Leslie also teaches the Costume Design Arts and Science class for the middle school play. Leslie is the parent of an 8th grade Horizons student. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the ballet, or seeing a play.

Neil Thurman
	My name is Neil Thurman, I am currently a para-educator and I also run the after-care program. I graduated from C.U. in 2001 with a degree in Sociology. I did a year of service with Americorps working with the "I Have a Dream" Foundation. I also ran a before and after school program for the YMCA for six years, I worked at Eisenhower Elementary. I love to skateboard, play soccer, and cook. See my contact info @ http://bvsd.org/schools/horizonsk8/teachers/thurman/default.aspx
Pam Geer
	Pam is in her sixth year as a special ed para at Horizons, after eight years as a Horizons parent. She works with all of the first-graders.
Quinn Falgowski
	I will be working as a Para this school year, and am looking forward to joining the Horizons Team! I am originally from Pennsylvania and Delaware, and recently got my degree this past Spring from East Carolina University in North Carolina studying Therapeutic Recreation. Even though I grew up at the beach, I am enjoying Colorado's outdoor scene and am especially looking forward to Snowboard season again! I also love roller coasters, live music, volunteering in the community and candy.
Sally Holmes
	Sally has been a substitute teacher and para at Horizons for 8 years. She has three children, all of whom have attended middle school at Horizons.
Sparrow Gabriel
	Sparrow has three children at Horizons and thoroughly enjoys her work as a paraeducator at Horizons. She loves to read, work in her garden, hike, bike, play with her kids and cook.

Office Administration
Hope Nelson-Roohr - Administrative Assistant
	Hope has been on staff at Horizons since it was a twinkle in the eye of several creative teachers and parents. She has worked as a para, and in the office ever since the opening of the school in 1991. She has been the registrar, the health room director, the office manager, the Open Enrollment coordinator, the Principal's secretary and is currently, the Administrative Assistant at Horizons. She calls Horizons, "her middle child." She is a former Miss Bronx.
Joan Truesdale - Bookkeeper
	Joan has been part of the Horizons community for over a decade, as a teacher, a para, and now as a parent and school bookkeeper. Originally from the Midwest, she moved to Colorado for college and just never left. She earned degrees from Colorado College and CU. She loves spending time with her nuclear and extended family, traveling anywhere, learning and trying all sorts of crafts, and still feels like she's on vacation in colorful Colorado after all these years.
Lori Papke - Payroll, Office Assistant
	Lori is a paraeducator in middle school and also works in the office. She has been involved in the Horizons/Paddock school community since its inception in 1991, when she and her husband, Edgar, contributed to the founding of the school. Their four children are all graduates of Horizons. Lori adores her family and loves spending time with them. A favorite time of the week is Sunday night family dinners. She loves music, a good game of Mahjongg, and animals, especially her cats and bunnies. She also enjoys mountaineering, bobsledding, clog dancing, carpentry, steelwork, and renovating classic cars (her current project is a 452 Hemi, four-barrel, posi-traction, super-charged 1972 Barracuda).