Welcome back! Along with all of the new students, new teachers have joined the Kadet family. From a new Dean of Students to a new English as a Second Language teacher, 16 teachers joined the staff. Here is a little bit about each of the new teachers to introduce them to you.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Renee Mendieta

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?

A: Manitou Springs High School and Fort Lewis College.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: My favorite (and only) class is English as a Second Language.

Q: How many schools have you taught at?

A: I have taught at four different schools, including my current positions at AAHS and Eagleview Middle School.

Q: What is one interesting fact about yourself?

A: I am a first generation college graduate.

-Ms. Mendieta adds that she believes that regardless of what you are born into, you are capable of success. We are really excited to have Ms. Mendieta here to teach ESL!

SOCIAL STUDIES

Nathan Hill

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?

A: Mountain Vista High School and UCCS.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: I really enjoy teaching U.S. History, but in general just love to teach.

Q: How many schools have you taught at?

A: 3 Schools including Vista Ridge, Eagleview, and now Air Academy.

Q: What are some cool things about yourself?

A: I love anything outdoors including running, hiking, biking, backpacking, etc. I am also the head wrestling coach.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I have a retriever mix named Marley.

ENGLISH

Katie Girton

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?

A: I graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School and then got a double bachelor’s from UCCS in theatre and English.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: That’s not a fair question! I love all my classes! Hehe! My favorite PART of classes is discussions! I love hearing other people’s ideas and being able to learn about new perspectives.

Q: How many schools have you taught at?

A: I actually started teaching at UCCS! However, I did my student teaching at Sand Creek High School and now I’m here! (AND I LOVE IT!!)

Q: What is one funny/interesting/cool thing that you would like to share about yourself?

A: I’ve lived all over the world! The weirdest thing I’ve eaten is water buffalo intestines … and they were actually okay!

Q: Do you have pets and what kind and what are their names?

A: I have one black cat J His name is “Hershey” and he’s 16 years old!

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A:  I LOVE teaching and I LOVE Air Academy! I’m looking forward to meeting even more students and getting to know you all even better.

Rachel Cullen

Q: Where did you attend high school and college?

A: I went to high school in Georgia for 9^th and 10^th grade (Warner Robbins High School), and I completed 11^th and 12^th grade at Mesa Ridge High School down in Widefield after my dad brought our family here to retire from the Air Force. I went to college at UCCS (Go Mountain Lions!), and I had such a wonderful experience there! My Bachelor’s degree is in English, emphasis in literature, and I am currently working on my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

I only teach Mythology and 12^th grade Lit. & Comp., and I truly love both of them for different reasons. The engagement and excitement is high in Mythology, because my students are truly interested in the material, and I look forward to seeing my seniors every single day just because of who they are and the awesome relationships I have built with them. They keep me smiling.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: Air Academy is the very first school I have ever taught at, and I am LOVING it! Prior to being a teacher, I was a gymnastics and cheerleading coach for 13 years.

Q: What is an interesting fact about you?

A: As my students have discovered, I enjoy being upside down. I do cartwheels in class occasionally (Wait! Maybe I shouldn’t reveal that to the world?), and I love to walk on my hands. I am also a coffee fanatic, but I only drink it black. I am the “krazy” person who sponsors the Kadet Krazies, so many students have probably spotted me being spastic in the stands at football games. (Shameless plug: It’s not too late to join Kadet Krazies! Come see me in room 413 and follow @kadet_krazies on Twitter and Instagram.)

David Miles

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?

A: Parkway High School in St. Louis, the University of Michigan for my history degree and the University of Missouri for my masters in Journalism.

Q: What did you do before teaching?

A: I worked as a journalist for a decade.

Q: How many schools have you taught at?

A: 3, Ortiz Middle School in Santa Fe, NM, Santa Fe Indian School, and now Air Academy.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: AP English Literature and Composition and World Literature and Composition; I feel energized being around young people, and I am passionate about reading and writing, so teaching English is the ideal job for me.

Q: What is one interesting fact about you?

A: An interesting fact about me is that I appeared on the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2014. While I didn’t become a millionaire, it was a surreal and special experience that I cherish. I had the opportunity to meet Terry Crews, who hosted the show at the time, and I got to appear on national television with my sister! I won more than $20,000, which enabled me to take an amazing vacation to Europe in 2016 with two friends. Now I will always remember what Liberty Measles are because that is the answer to the question that stumped me on the show.

AFJROTC

SMSgt Jerry Archuleta

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?

A: Attended Centennial High School in Pueblo, CO … GO BULLDOGS! Finished my Bachelors in Organizational Management with Colorado Christian University, and my Master of Arts in Education through Regis University.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: The Leadership Education portion of the JROTC Curriculum.

Q:How many schools have you taught at?

A: Taught at 2 schools.

George Reyes

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?

A: High school- Power Memorial Academy in New York

College- University of Pheonix

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: AFJROTC.

Q: How many schools have you taught at?

A: Three.

Q: What is one interesting fact about yourself?

A: I served 22 years in the United States Air Force.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I have 3 dogs- Bear, Cooper, and Mamas, and one cat- Max.

-Mr. Reyes also said that Air Academy is an “OUTSTANDING school!!!!!!!”

SCIENCE

Cyndi Hatcher

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?

A: I went to Dakota Ridge High School and Colorado State University for my undergrad in Biology and Master’s in Teaching.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: My favorite class to teach is Earth Science or Biology.

Q: How many schools have you taught at?

A: I taught for 3 years at Fort Morgan High School and this is my first year at AAHS.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: My favorite hobbies are baking, reading and playing golf or tennis.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I own 3 birds (2 cockatiels, 1 parrotlet) and 2 guinea pigs.

MATH

Craig Beal

Jillian Koch

MUSIC

Vanessa Lyttle

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Orange County, New York

Q: Where did you go to college?

A: Kennesaw State University for a BA of Music Education

Q: How many schools have you taught at?

A: 3

Q: What is a major accomplishment of yours?

A: I was Kennesaw State University’s Destinguished Senior of the Year in Music Education in 2002.

Mrs. Little has been a huge help to our woodwinds in marching band this year and is also our new orchestra instructor. “Mrs. Little is a great teacher,” Sohomore Mena Sherer says, “I really enjoy the way she teaches us and helps us to improve, and I always can ask her when i need help with anything.” Junior Ayana Cervantes adds, “She sees the potential in everyone and doesn’t stop until we see it ourselves.”

OTHERS

Julie Attias: Dean of Students

Kali Maxwell: Physical Education

Caitlin Valerio: MTSS

Brad Vollmer: Support Teacher

Marisa Farró: Spanish