FACULTY AND STAFF
Sarah Alexander | Founding Science Teacher
Sarah became passionate about education at a young age, when a family move made her realize the disparities in public education within her home state of NJ. A graduate of Georgetown University, she is eager to close the achievement gap using her hands-on experience in the non-profit and education spheres. Sarah also studied education through the lens of marketing at two top cause-marketing firms in DC. A firm believer that education is the key to the future, Sarah is excited to join the Atlas Prep team on their ambitious mission to make a college education a possibility for all children.
Debra Crowell | Office Manager
Debra is a Colorado Springs native who brings with her 11 years of experience in the education field. She has previously worked with District Eleven and Fountain Valley School, positions which have equipped her with a diverse and highly useful skill set. Debra is also a certified mediator and a member of the Colorado Council of Mediators & Mediation Organizations (CCMO), and has most recently worked on cases with the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. Debra is the proud mother of four children and a grandmother of three. As the Office Manager at Atlas Prep, Debra is responsible for managing the day to day operation of the front office, administrative duties and parental correspondence. She has a passion for educating and empowering underserved youth, and is thrilled to be a part of the Atlas Preparatory School team.
Nora Duane | Founding Historical Literature Teacher
Nora is excited to join the Atlas Prep team; she strongly believes that it is the right of every child to have access to a quality education and a safe school. A graduate of Stonehill College, Nora began teaching in Fall River, MA through PACT, a volunteer program, while earning her M.Ed. at Providence College in RI. After, she moved on the to Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School in the Hyde Park section of Boston, a school which shares a similar vision to Atlas Prep. Nora is coming to Colorado Springs from her beloved home state of Vermont, and she is looking forward to comparing Green Mountains to Rocky ones.
Pamela Fitzsimmons | Founding Writing Teacher
Pamela's experiences working with youth have helped to develop her belief that education can empower and change the lives of youth. Whether teaching struggling students in a large, inner-city school in Long Beach, California for three years, teaching rural under-served students in Eastern Colorado, or serving as School Counselor for two years, she has sought individual success for ALL learners as an educator. She began working with youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Westminster, California in 1998. This work inspired her to complete her studies in Psychology and complete the teaching program through California State University-Fullerton. Pamela looks forward to working assist Colorado Springs students in achieving high expectations and in becoming productive members of their global community!
Alison Kelly | Founding Math Problem Solving Teacher
Alison begins her career with Atlas Prep after witnessing the achievement gap first hand in her native state of Louisiana. After 4 years of college at Tulane University, earning a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Business, Alison has joined Teach For America Colorado. Alison realizes that ethnicity, income, and demographics should not influence the level of education students receive . She is thrilled to join Atlas Prep and work with a team of highly motivated and successful people to provide quality education to the community. Alison is also looking forward to her first real winter and trying to learn to ski or snowboard - whichever one hurts the least!"
Wendi Sussman | Founding Special Education Teacher
Wendi Sussman is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a degree in Social Work focusing on individuals with disabilities. Upon graduation, Wendi joined Teach for America with a strong dedication to close the achievement gap. Through work and volunteer positions during college Wendi has seen how the achievement gap affects students with disabilities and is committed to the idea that all students CAN achieve. Wendi is very excited to move to Colorado, and enjoy everything the beautiful state has to offer!
Erin Wahler | Founding Fictional Literature Teacher
Erin entered teaching as a Teach For America corps member in 2005, inspired to work to close the achievement gap by the educational inequalities that were so obvious in her college neighborhood. She has taught 5th grade for the past four years on the Zuni reservation in Northwestern New Mexico. Erin has also served as a collaborative group leader for Teach For America upper elementary teachers in New Mexico and founded a College Night program to assist high school students in Zuni with applying and preparing for college. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Elementary Education from University of New Mexico. Her enjoyment of outdoor activities grows out of a childhood spent at the Grand Canyon. Erin is excited to join the Atlas team and work with others who are dedicated to ensuring all students attain an excellent education.
Daniel Valdespino | Founding Math Procedures Teacher
Daniel comes to Atlas dedicated to closing the achievement gap, and putting in the hard work to ensure that a quality education will not be denied any student. While at Oberlin College, he began to find his own passion for teaching with the program SITES, where he taught Spanish to kindergarteners as well as 5th Graders. As a 2009 Teach for America Corps Member, he is excited about taking part in Atlas' mission of providing college focused education to all students. He is excited to be part of the first year of what will surely be a model school. Daniel also looks forward to reuniting with his long lost love of snowboarding in the mountains of Colorado - as opposed to the hills of New York.
