Merino teacher appointed to cabinet

Cabinet provides CDE with direct feedback and advice from educators on Colorado education policy

A Merino Elementary teacher has been appointed to Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes’ Teacher Cabinet. Kari Michal, fourth grade teacher at Merino Elementary, is one of 12 additional members appointed to the cabinet announced by Anthes on Monday.

Anthes formed her Teacher Cabinet in 2017 to provide the Colorado Department of Education with direct feedback and advice from educators on Colorado education policy.

“I am honored to welcome our new teacher cabinet members,” said Commissioner Anthes. “Colorado is lucky to have such exceptional educators who step up to share their time and expertise with state leaders. Each of these teachers provides us with invaluable perspectives on the challenges facing Colorado’s educators and can help us find ways to continue to elevate the profession of teaching.”

Teachers selected for the cabinet represent all regions of Colorado, ethnicities, grade levels and come from urban, rural and suburban communities. Colorado Teachers of the Year also gain an automatic spot on the advisory group when they are selected.

Members serve two-year terms on a volunteer basis. The teacher cabinet will meet at least four times a year.

Other new cabinet members joining Michal include:

• Alfredo Beltran-aguirre — Mathematics and Career and Technical Education at Colorado Early Colleges Aurora, Charter School Institute.

• Kaileigh Bonner — Secondgrade English language arts and English second language at Burlington Elementary School, Burlington School District RE-6J.

• Marla Caviness-french — Gifted and talented at Jeffco Public Schools Education Center, Jefferson County Public Schools.

• Jimmy Day — 2023 Colorado Teacher of the Year —Band director at East Middle School, Aurora Public Schools.

• Donald Dilliplane — English and social studies, Grades 10-12,

at Montbello High School, Denver Public Schools.

• Pamela Ford — English language arts at Overland High School, Cherry Creek School District.

• Crystalyn Garcia — English language arts at Villa Bella Expeditionary Elementary School, Pueblo District 70.

• Beth Hamlin — Innovative practices at Academy of Las Animas Online, Las Animas School District.

• Lois Poulson-fowler — Third grade reading, mathematics and special education at Wildflower Elementary School, Harrison School District 2.

• Aicha Ross — Foreign language at Severance High School, Weld RE-4 School District.

• Brian Seppala —Science, grades 10-12, at Middle Park High School, East Grand School District.

• Melissa Thorne — Prek special education at Tozer Primary School, Weld RE-4.

Continuing cabinet members are:

• Emily Adams — Social studies and English language arts, sixth grade, Adventure Elementary, Mapleton Public Schools.

• Tina Barber-matthew — Social studies at Clear Creek High School, Clear Creek School District.

• Emma Copeland — Third and fourth grade at Agate School, Agate School District No. 300.

• Tegan Lewis — K-2 teacher and exceptional services administrator at Battle Rock Charter School, Montezuma-cortez School District RE-1.

• Andrea Malouff — K-2 reading interventionist at Alamosa Elementary School, Alamosa School District.

• Jennifer Mcloud — English language arts at Highland Middle School, Weld Re-9 School District.

• Autumn Rivera — 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year — Science at Glenwood Springs Middle School, Roaring Fork School District.

• Baochau Thomas — Mathematics at Horizon Community Middle School, Cherry Creek School District 5.

• Sarah Tilton — English language arts and English second language at Trevista at Horace Mann Elementary, Denver Public Schools.

To learn more about the Commissioner’s Teacher Cabinet, go to www.cde. state.co.us/cdecomm/ teachercabinet.