Alicia has taught in the Southwest Community of Denver for many years. Alicia went to the University of Oregon and majored in International Studies and Spanish. While there, she lived abroad in Chile. Following her time in Oregon, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she earned a Masters in Education and taught for two years with Teach For America. She is a Colorado native and loves to read, ski, bike, and spend time in the mountains with her family. Going into her 13th year in education and 6th at Compass, she is excited to support the ELD programming and biliteracy initiatives. 

Ms. Alicia can be reached at aschaefer@compassacademy.org

Ms LeDuff recently moved to Denver from San Jose, CA where she taught 8th Grade English & Social Studies for seven years. As a teacher, Ms LeDuff sought to create a classroom full of joy and curiosity while getting to know her students deeply as both learners and as people. Ms LeDuff received her bachelor’s degree in History at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the High Tech High Graduate School of Education. In 2019, she was awarded the California League of Middle Schools Educator of the Year. In her role at Compass, Ms LeDuff seeks to help students and staff see our school as a second home by building a strong community. She strives to help students gain the skills they need to handle life’s challenges. As such, she oversees our Restorative Team which helps students navigate conflicts, repair harm, and learn coping skills. Her ultimate goal is to help every Compass student know that they are loved and valued.

Ms. LeDuff can be reached at sleduff@compassacademy.org

Prior to becoming the Executive Director at Compass Academy, Brandon was the principal of Downtown College Prep in San Jose, California.  Before becoming principal he was a founding Humanities teacher for Downtown College Prep.  He also spent six years as an eighth grade English teacher at Cesar Chavez Academy in East Palo Alto, California.  Brandon got his start in education in Denver where he was a reading specialist for two years at Edgewater Elementary School.  He has also played the role of athletic director and summer school program coordinator.  He is extremely excited to continue with the Compass Academy team and is looking forward to learning from the great people working at Compass.

Mr. Jones can be reached at bjones@compassacademy.org

Martin earned his Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin. He spent 7 years in classrooms at Compass before moving to coaching full time.  Prior to serving at Compass, he spent two years working in community centers in the Greater Madison area.  He believes that everyone has the ability to succeed in math and knows they all will. In his spare time, he enjoys soccer, hiking, and the outdoors in general.

Mr. Martin can be reached at mzaborac@compassacademy.org

Sarah is a graduate of Regis University having received her undergraduate degree in Spanish Language & Literature and Secondary Education and her master's degree in Development Practice. She has a passion for sharing experiences and culture and uses these opportunities to create growth, for both her and those around her. Prior to her role as the Director of Operations, Sarah taught Spanish at Compass for 5 years. She loves this community and you’ll often find her reminiscing with old students and families about their time at Compass. In her free time, you can find Sarah hanging out with her dogs, watching sports, or traveling with her husband. 

Ms. Sarah can be reached at swhitlock@compassacademy.org

Marcia has worked in education for 30 years as teacher, instructional coach, director of curriculum and instruction, and as the Principal of a K-8 Charter school in Denver. She sees the power of a collaborative learning environment as being critical for both student and adult learning. In this environment, students are taught how to learn – not just what to learn. As a former Principal, and now as the Executive Director of Compass Academy, she would describe herself as one who leads with her heart and with her mind. Marcia believes that teaching and learning is a human endeavor. In her own words, “it is when we know and trust each other that relationships are formed and learning can happen. It is through intentional decisions about how we experience learning that we engage and become inspired to be all that we can be”.

Ms. Marcia can be reached at mfulton@compassacademy.org

Karla was born in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua and moved to Denver when she was only a year and a half and has since been raised in Denver. She is a mother of two beautiful children, one boy and one girl. Her family enjoys the outdoors and the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Karla graduated from George Washington High School back in 2010. Before joining Compass, Karla was a Senior Analyst for Accounts Payable at Arrow Electronics for 5 years. Karla reunited with Ms. Cathy, former Dean of Compass, who just happened to be her 5th grade teacher. Karla is very excited to work as the Office Manager here and be part of this wonderful team. 

Ms. Karla can be reached at kmartinez@compassacademy.org

Ms. Mirian Cuellar is the 6th grade Reading and Humanities teacher. Ms. Cuellar is originally from Honduras, but she moved to the USA 10 years ago in a teaching exchange program to teach Spanish in dual programs in schools. She lived in North Carolina and then she moved to Colorado in June of 2019 to pursue other career opportunities. She has her Bachelor’s in Teaching English as Second Language from the National Autonomous University of Honduras, and a Masters in TESOL from Greensboro College. Outside of school, Ms. Cuellar enjoys audiobooks, hiking, biking, and traveling! She is very excited to be at Compass Academy this year and for a great school year!

Ms. Cuellar can be reached at mcuellar@compassacademy.org

Michael Carroll was born and raised in South East Asia, mostly in Thailand and Indonesia. He came to San Antonio, TX when he was 18 to attend Trinity University for a career in Education; he obtained his Masters in the Art of Teaching in 2017. While starting off as an elementary school teacher, he found a passion teaching middle school math. In the summer of 2022, Michael moved to Denver, CO and continued his work in education joining the Compass Academy team for the 23’- 24’ academic year.  Michael is zealous about making math reasonable and relatable, knowing that there is a mathematician in everyone. Outside the classroom Michael is a big fan of writing, board games, snowboarding, D&D, comics, and movies. 

Mr. Mike can be reached at mcarroll@compassacademy.org

Ms. Ellen Taplin was born and raised in Durban, South Africa, located on the East Coast. After earning her BSc in Environmental Science, she moved to China, where she taught ESL. Following her time in China, Ellen moved to Dallas, Texas, as an Au Pair, caring for two wonderful boys. During her time as an Au Pair, she pursued an MA in Education through UNICAF in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. Ellen later relocated to Denver, Colorado, to marry and start a new chapter in the Rocky Mountains. Even though she started working as an ESL teacher, she discovered a deep passion for environmental education, particularly through her thesis, which provided a comprehensive review of innovations in environmental education assessments and learning in Colorado and Washington, D.C.Outside the classroom, Ellen enjoys baking, running, and traveling.

Ms. Taplin can be reached at etaplin@compassacademy.org

Born and raised in the DC metro area, Mare came to Colorado via North Carolina and New Jersey where she studied environmental science and developed marine science outdoor education programming. Once in Colorado she realized that the classroom was the place for her and she completed her Master’s degree in Secondary Education at Regis and along that journey found Compass Academy. Mare is passionate about making science fun and meaningful for students, while also prioritizing real world applications. Outside of school she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, paddling/rowing, and traveling with her husband and dog.

Ms. Mare can be reached at mrajk@compassacademy.org

Sjoukje was born in France and came to Baltimore, Maryland when she was seven years old, and lived there until moving to Colorado in July 2018.  In May 2005, she graduated from Washington College in Maryland with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, with certifications in elementary and secondary mathematics education. During her 4 years at WC, she was on the rowing and rugby teams.  Sjoukje had been teaching in Westside Baltimore City for the last twelve years, all at the same school. Sjoukje is ecstatic about returning to Compass Academy for her fourth year of teaching 7th grade math. Her dog, Taz, who certified as a therapy animal, will be joining the Compass family a couple days a week to work with the students. 

Ms. Sjoukje can be reached at sgraillot@compassacademy.org

Bio coming soon!

Jack was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado before making his way to rainy Washington to complete undergrad at the University of Puget Sound. He graduated in 2021 with a major in English Literature and a minor in Spanish, and worked through college as a Resident Assistant. He spent the last two years at Compass teaching Science, and is deeply excited to transition into teaching Humanities. In his free time, Jack likes to read, spend time with his puppy, Murphy, and see as much live music as he can fit into his schedule.

Mr. Jack can be reached at jspangler@compassacademy.org

This is Candie’s 16th year teaching, and she has taught a variety of things--middle and high school English, a middle school leadership class, and 3rd and 4th grade. Her favorite grade/level is middle school. She knows that might make her sound crazy but she really loves where they're at and the amazing growth that can happen in these three years. She really feels fortunate to be able to get students excited about reading and writing. She knows not every kid will love ElA but she hopes that her passion for English will be contagious and hook them. Outside of school she loves to mountain bike, paddle board, hike, pretty much anything outside. She also is a big journaler, and loves to draw/paint and be creative. She was bitten last summer by the travel bug and was able to spend 8 magical days in Spain. This summer she is heading to the Dominican Republic and can't wait to plan my next adventure.

Ms. Candie can be reached at cdunbar@compassacademy.org

Quintin is the 8th grade social studies teacher here at Compass! He was born and raised in San Diego, CA and has lived in Denver for the past 6 years. Though he misses the beach, he has grown to equally love the mountains. In his free time, he loves to travel, skateboard, and try new foods. He has a deep passion for social studies, and loves his job as a teacher.

Mr. M can be reached at qmarquardt@compassacademy.org

Ms. Winn is the 8th grade math teacher. Originally from the greater Boston, MA area, she moved to Colorado in July of 2020. She has her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Forensic Science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and a Masters of Education in Math and Science Teacher Education from Merrimack College. Outside of school, Ms. Winn enjoys concerts, kayaking, and traveling! She is very excited to be at Compass Academy this year and for a great school year!

Ms. Winn can be reached at dwinn@compassacademy.org

Theresa grew up on Long Island, NY and lived there until July 2023, when she moved to Colorado. While working towards her Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and Biology, she attended Monmouth University where she was a student-athlete and played Division 1 Lacrosse. Theresa realized her passion for teaching biology while working through college as a Genetics Teacher Assistant and Peer Tutor. After achieving her undergraduate degree, Theresa pursued a Masters of Arts in Teaching Biology at Stony Brook University. Theresa is so excited to become part of the Compass Academy family and start her new adventure living in Colorado!

Ms. Theresa can be reached at tdanetti@compassacademy.org

Eduardo is a native of of Caracas, Venezuela, a marvelous country situated to the north of South America. Eduardo has 22 years as a teacher and always tells his students that each day is a new opportunity to learn, as if it were a trip. Somewhere, something worth knowing is happening. I believe that only through education can we train leaders who can generate sustainable solutions for a better world.

Mr. Eduardo can be reached at everna@compassacademy.org

Mariela is a Spanish Teacher here at Compass. She was born and grew up in Argentina. She has been a Teacher for 13 years. She taught language arts in elementary, Spanish in high school and all subjects in Spanish in 4th grade. She loves to learn new languages and cultures. She speaks Spanish, English, Portuguese and Italian. Her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family and travel. Ms. Mariela enjoys cooking and loves plants. She is super excited to have students in her class, teach them  Spanish and share about Hispanic cultures .

Ms. Mariela can be reached at mcasper@compassacademy.org

Daylan was born and raised in Denver, Colorado; this is his eighth year teaching English Language Development at Compass Academy. He received his undergraduate degree in history and secondary education with an emphasis on english language development from Regis University (2016). Prior to joining the Compass Academy, Daylan worked on creating programs in the Adams 50 district that fostered growth in literacy for his ELL students. Daylan strongly believes in the Compass philosophy and uses it in and out of the classroom. His ultimate goal is to give students the opportunity to explore language and culture, to create different perspectives, and become critical thinkers in the real world.  Outside of school, Daylan enjoys reading, drawing, listening to music, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Mr. Daylan can be reached at dbradshaw@compassacademy.org

Diana grew up in Antioch, California, however was born in Mexico, Michoacan. She came to Denver, Colorado in 2023 and is a member of Teach For America. In May of 2020, Diana graduated from California State University- East Bay having earned her degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. When not in the classroom, Diana enjoys hiking, walking, skating, baking, and crocheting!

Ms. Diana can be reached at dorozco@compassacademy.org

Eileen was born and raised in Denver, CO and is proud to have attended Denver Public Schools for her K-12 education. She earned her bachelor's degree in international affairs with a minor in leadership studies as a member of the Presidents Leadership Class at CU Boulder. Following graduation, Eileen became a corps member with Teach for America in San Jose, CA while simultaneously earning her master's in urban education and her teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University. She remained at her "placement" school for five years where she taught language arts and history to 6-8th grade diverse learners, and is now thrilled to be returning home and joining the Compass Academy community. Eileen is determined to foster a love for learning and a sense of belonging for students in her class, and is passionate about providing her students with an equitable education. In her free time, Eileen likes going on long walks with her husband and their dog, Moose, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Ms. Eileen can be reached at ebennett@compassacademy.org

Carra is a Denver native who graduated from Denver North High School and studied Special Education at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO.  She has worked in DPS for over 10 years with 7 years in Special Ed in mild-moderate, and severe profound classrooms and 3 years as an elementary school secretary. She has a 13 year old daughter who is in her 3rd  year here at Compass Academy. In her free time she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her family. She is also a professional Ballet Folklórico Dancer and has toured Europe, Mexico, and many states in the US on multiple dance tours.  She is excited to continue this new journey with The Diverse Learners as a Compass Lobo! 

Ms. Carra can be reached at cmontoya@compassacademy.org

Desiree is a 13th generation Colorado native.  She has three children and 5 grandchildren. Before coming to Compass Academy, she worked in the Special Education department of several Denver Metro school districts. Desiree is excited to be a part of the Compass Academy, Diverse Learners community. She is currently studying at Regis University. 

Ms. Desiree can be reached at dczarnickfulkerson@compassacademy.org

Henrietta is the mother of three daughters who are all married and have blessed her with five grandchildren. While raising her daughters she lived in Germany and traveled through Europe for six years. As her children grew up she decided to go back to school and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a Master’s degree in School Counseling. Henrietta is excited to continue her career at Compass Academy and focus on supporting students in many ways. She looks forward to offering a school counseling program that will provide students, parents, teachers, and staff a safe and accepting environment. Henrietta loves to give hugs and refers to all students as “hitas, hitos, mijos, and mijas”. Her goal at Compass is to get to know each student!

Ms. Henrietta can be reached at hsandoval@compassacademy.org

Staci is a mother of 2 sons ages 16 and 24. She has 2 grandchildren, ages 4 and 1 yr. She is a Colorado native, growing up in Denver and Lakewood. She attended Bear Creek HS. She continued her education and received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Metro State University (MSU) and received her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver (DU). She has worked for/with Denver Public Schools since she was 15 years old, starting out at the Service Building in the Paint department. She was a paraprofessional (teacher assistant) for 15 years. She is in her 4th year as a School Social Worker. She is looking forward to working with and supporting the Compass Academy Community by providing academic, mental health, and family resources. She is looking forward to getting to know each student and their family. 

Ms. Staci can be reached at slafore@compassacademy.org

Paul has worked in education for more than 13 years in public, private, and charter settings. Paul began his career as a secondary classroom teacher. Paul earned his masters and his doctorate in school psychology from the University of Colorado. Paul supports two other schools in the district. His professional passion is making a difference in the lives of students with disabilities and advocating for their educational rights. Outside of work Paul is a dad to three, loves to play video games, tinkers with technology, digs in the garden, and plays the drum kit.

Mr. Paul can be reached at paul_embleton@dpsk12.net

Coach Torrence hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is a proud graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sports & Fitness. During his tenure at UCF, Coach Torrence honed his skills as a strength and conditioning assistant, working with both collegiate and professional athletes who were alumni of the university. Now in his 10th year of teaching, Coach Torrence is excited to join the Compass Academy team. His mission is to revolutionize physical education, making it both enjoyable and educational for all students. Outside of school, Coach Torrence is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys listening to a wide variety of music genres. He is looking forward to an incredible first year at Compass Academy.

Coach T can be reached at rtorrence@compassacademy.org

Joe was born in Denver Colorado. He is a proud father of four kids and who loves coaching. He coached four years of basketball here at LincolnHigh, three years of softball and coaches' youth football in his free time. Joe is very supportive and caring to all students. Joe served as a security officer here at the Lincoln campus for eight years prior and has done a tremendous job supporting our students and staff within those years.

Mr. Joe can be reached at jmartinez@compassacademy.org

Rosa was born and raised in Palmdale, California and relocated to Colorado in 2021. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Cultural Anthropology from Cal Poly Pomona. Out of high school she began working in education with special needs students as a home tutor. While in college she continued her path in education as an after school program leader. After receiving her degree she became the attendance specialist for the Pomona Unified School District. As Dean of Restorative Practices at Compass she is very passionate about teaching skills that empower students to be the best version of themselves. 

Ms. Rosa can be reached at raguirre@compassacademy.org

Briseida Cisneros Castaneda (Bris for short) is a first generation American of an immigrant family from Jalisco, Mexico - born in California and raised in Aurora, Colorado. Her love for teaching sprouted in a choir classroom, and grew as she worked with Vocal Coalition, a program that broke social barriers with music, and when she supported students at a bilingual Montessori elementary school. Briseida’s passions include music, building relationships, and creating leaders! In her free time she enjoys time with her family, participating in her church and watching movies. Briseida is beyond thrilled and grateful to join the Lobo family this year! :)

Ms. Bris can be reached at bcisneroscastaneda@compassacademy.org

Dante is a second year corps member who served at Uplift Heights Secondary (Middle School) in Dallas, Texas for the 2023-24 school year. Originally from Greeley, Colorado, Dante is pursuing a BA in English education and plans to teach middle school English and coach sports after becoming a first generation college graduate. Dante believes that every student possesses unique potential and power and strives to facilitate the realization of that potential. In his free time, Dante likes to read and write, listen to music, take photos, spend time with family, and exercise. 

Isabel was born and raised in Denver Colorado. She attended and graduated from John F Kennedy High School. She is excited to be a student success coach in the students class. 

Katie was born in Denver Colorado and grew up in Sheridan, Colorado. Although not technically living in Denver, Katie attended and graduated John F Kennedy High School as a DPS student. Prior to serving with City Year Compass, Katie has volunteered with DPS’s Balarat to help students learn outside their classrooms. Today, Katie looks forward to serving students needs to achieve graduation and to make school a safer environment physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Jazaiah was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and he graduated from West High School in May 2024. He is an avid book reader and music listener. He is excited to be serving as a student success coach at Compass Academy.

Winta Gonye is a first-year corps member. She is originally from Denver, Colorado and graduated from DPS. She graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Public Policy. During her free time, she loves to read non-fiction books, go on walks, watch movies, and spend time with her siblings. She is super excited to serve with City Year this year.

Bio coming soon!

Jess was born in Mexico and raised in Denver, growing up around downtown Denver. She is a graduate of Denver Center for International studies, and has received her license in real estate. She enjoys many sports including Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA. 

Celeste is a born-and-raised native of Colorful Colorado, growing up in Highlands Ranch and Littleton. She is a graduate of Arapahoe Community College and the University of Colorado, Denver, majoring in English with an emphasis on creative writing and literature. Before joining City Year Denver, Celeste worked as a PAL (peer advocate leader) for UCD, helping first-year and transfer students navigate campus resources, and received a level three mentorship certification from CRLA’s International Peer Educator Training Program. Outside of school, Celeste is a published poet and freelance writer on Substack.  Celeste is very excited to work as a student success coach here at Compass Academy and to help students thrive and become future leaders.

Daniel Wallace is proud to be an Impact Manager at City Year Denver. ! Originally from the Chicagoland area, Daniel graduated from North Central College with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Leadership. He served as an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Team Leader at the Pacific Region from 2021-2022. Through this position, Daniel had the opportunity to work with a variety of non-profit organizations centered around service, such as the Boys & Girls Club of Mason Valley, Camp Tuolumne Trails, and World Relief Modesto. This is Daniel’s 3rd year as an Impact Manager but his first year at Compass! Daniel is excited to be continuing his passion for service at City Year where prioritizing educational equity and investing in young people is so vital to the organization.