FACULTY AND STAFF
Dustin Cady | Fifth Grade Math Problem Solving Teacher
Dustin is driven to teach by his desire to give students the tools and confidence to succeed in life, regardless of their backgrounds. While a student at the University of Oregon, he spent his junior year studying abroad in Chile, followed by an internship with a micro-finance NGO in Peru. After graduation, his travels took him to Spain where he spent eight months as an assistant English teacher in a Spanish high school. Dustin is thrilled to be working with an Atlas Prep staff that shares his passion for working with youth and his determination to close the achievement gap in Colorado Springs. A Colorado native, he grew up loving the mountains and is excited to explore the hiking west of town.
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 | Grade Chair & Founding Teacher - Fifth and Sixth Grade History
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 Teacher - Athletic Enrichment
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!
Rebecca Hooley | Fifth and Sixth Grade Science Teacher
Coming from a long line of public school teachers, Rebecca believes that all students deserve access to a challenging, high quality education that prepares them for the collegiate world and beyond. After earning a degree in biology from Lewis & Clark College, Rebecca entered the field of education as an environmental educator with nature centers in Minnesota and Colorado. Rebecca taught middle school science at a KIPP school in Denver prior to enrolling in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Since moving to Colorado Springs earlier this summer, Rebecca has enjoyed going on nature walks in parks around the city and gardening in her backyard.
Alison Kelly | Founding Teacher - Sixth Grade Math Problem Solving
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!"
Brittany Kernan | Creative Enrichment Teacher
Brittany is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring her passion for teaching to the Atlas Prep community and begin working with people who share such an inspiring goal. Originally a Colorado College alumna, Brittany furthered her education at Denver University, where she received her elementary teaching credential. She has had four years of teaching experience in both 4th and 5th grade in sunny California. Brittany believes that Atlas Prep is a unique school that gives all students the tools to become successful, college educated adults, and she can't wait to get back to the state that out-shines California to begin this journey.
Mark Lanning | Sixth Grade ELA Teacher
After mentoring youth for ten years, Mark joins Atlas Prep eager to impact Colorado Springs. Mark graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Ethnic Studies. After working with underserved youth at the Boys and Girls Club, he decided to obtain his teaching certificate from the University of Colorado Denver. Before teaching at Atlas Prep, Mark worked tirelessly to close the achievement gap at an urban elementary school. In his classroom, students will become excited about the possibilities a college preparation education can provide. He is eager to participate in a school that is meticulously devoted to student achievement. On weekends, you can find Mark exploring the great outdoors with his dog Tattoo.
Anne Long | Sixth Grade ELA Teacher
Anne's passion for teaching stems from her belief that all students are entitled to receive an exceptional education that ensures opportunities for a successful future. After graduating from Lewis and Clark College in 2005, Anne began her teaching career as a Teach For America teacher in Gallup, New Mexico where she taught for four years. She holds a master's degree in elementary education from Western New Mexico University. Anne is excited to embark upon new learning opportunities at Atlas Prep and to work with students, parents and teachers in order to provide learning experiences for students to help them achieve their highest potential. She is also thrilled to explore the beautiful mountains of Colorado.
Wendi Sussman | Founding Teacher - Special Education
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!
Daniel Valdespino | Founding Teacher - Fifth Grade Math Procedures
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.
Erin Wahler | Grade Chair & Founding Teacher - Fifth Grade ELA
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.
Karen Ware | Fifth Grade ELA Teacher
Karen believes strongly that all students have the right to an excellent public education that adequately prepares them to be successful in college and in life. She began teaching at an elementary school in Gallup, New Mexico as a 2008 Teach for America Corps Member. Karen is a graduate of Indiana University and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is ready to work hard with a committed group of students and educators and become a part of the Colorado Springs community.
Gisellys Zarzuela | Sixth Grade Math Procedures Teacher
As a recent a graduate from Cornell University, where she majored in Psychology and Spanish, and minored in Latino Studies, Gisellys is committed to ensuring that all children receive the quality education that they deserve. She fervently believes that the achievement gap is a solvable problem and will work hard in the effort to make education in America more just. Gisellys is enthusiastic to join Atlas's talented team in their vision to create a safe learning environment geared towards a college education. She is also looking forward to living away from the east coast for the first time and exploring the west.
