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”.

Prior to becoming the Director of Academics and Development 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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Antonio Ortega Orona was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and is a member of the Southwest Denver community. Before joining Compass Academy, Antonio attended Colorado State University where he studied Human Development and Family Studies. Antonio is excited to help local youth find ways to develop their socio-emotional skills all while receiving a quality education. In his free time, Antonio enjoys working out, playing with his dog, and spending time with friends and family. 

Mary Kate discovered her passion for teaching after serving with City Year New York in 2015. The following year, Mary Kate moved to Denver and received her teaching license through Rocky Mountain Prep's fellowship program. During her fellowship year, she took classes while teaching Social Studies and Reading to a diverse group of fourth graders. Mary Kate also has experience teaching 2nd-5th grade Science, English, and Math, and taught at an expeditionary learning school that prioritized student-led projects and fieldwork. Prior to City Year, Mary Kate graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 2014 with a dual degree in Spanish and Latin American/Caribbean Studies. She developed her Spanish fluency while living and volunteering at a hospital in Cusco, Peru. As an educator, Mary Kate's goal is to stimulate passion and help students develop an appreciation for diversity by incorporating their own histories and unique personalities into social studies learning. In her free time, you can find Mary Kate kayaking on the water, skiing in the mountains, or cooking up a good meal at home!

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.

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. 

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.

Ashlie was born and raised right outside of Denver.  After graduating high school, she moved to New York City to attend New York University. While at NYU, she obtained her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Creative Arts from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a minor in Psychology. After college, she spent nine years teaching English and Special Education in grades 9-12 at The Bronx Academy of Letters, a small 8-12 public school in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx. While there, she received her M.S. in Education from Long Island University at the Brooklyn Campus, and was also a New York City Teaching Fellow.  During her time at BAL, Ashlie was able to serve as the 10th Grade Cabinet leader, then as the Special Education Department lead, and finally, dedicated her time to being an Instructional Lead for all departments. Through these roles she was able to facilitate collaboration between teachers and administrators, as well as design and help implement instruction and assessments with the goal of creating equitable access to the curriculum  for all students. She was also able to mentor NYU college students in her classes through the Great World Texts program. Ashlie moved back to Denver three years ago and is excited to be at Compass Academy for her first ever Colorado and middle school teaching experience.

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. 

Quintin is the 7th 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.

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. His family has had a business supporting science educators with materials and professional development since he was young, and the wealth of family friends working in education played a major part in fostering his passion for the profession. Jack is excited to start his teaching career at Compass, and see how both he and his students grow throughout the year. 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.

Keegan was born and raised in the mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado. He loves to ski, read, rock climb, write and see live music. He also loves to travel and has visited over 29 countries and counting! He is drawn to teaching because he loves reading, writing and learning, and hopes to pass this love onto his students in a way that empowers them as humans and thinkers. He is super passionate about the stories of our youth, and how they express them, so a big part of teaching for him is bringing out those stories in whatever form they take!

Robert grew up in Spain and lived there until the age of 8 before going to Wisconsin Milwaukee. They came to Colorado in 2021 and enjoyed Colorado's weather, and natural beauty. They graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee having earned their degree in Spanish. After school, they lived and taught 9th grade and 10th grade Math at Carmen School of Science and technology. When not in the classroom, he enjoys soccer, biking, and going on hikes.

Jessica was  born and raised in Houston Texas. She then graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster PA and returned to Houston to teach for 11 years. She helped write the first Texas Education Agency approved textbook on financial literacy in the state of Texas and went on to direct and serve on the governing board of Financial Mentors of America. She is an experienced trailblazer in education with a deep understanding of child development, strong leadership skills, and a proven track record of success in managing projects, building positive relationships, and getting things done. She is committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities and continuously improving programs and practices, and is well-suited to lead each child toward noteworthy academic and social growth. She has also Illustrated a bilingual children’s book. In her free time, she likes to roller skate, hop on her peloton, start small business endeavors, and research her next home improvement project.

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!

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.

After graduating from the University of Denver in 2021, Marylou began her career in education serving at Compass Academy as a City Year Americorps member. In this experience she became attached to the powerful and beautiful Southwest Denver community.  After a year of working with middle school students and watching the 8th grade class of 2022 continuate, Marylou was driven to pursue a career in education. Marylou is stepping into one of the Spanish teacher positions this year with determination and commitment to provide students a welcoming learning space. Marylou is first generation in Colorado as her family is from Honduras and Mexico, cultures that she is delighted to incorporate into her teaching practices. In her free time she enjoys hiking, dancing, walking her cat named Jarrito, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Daylan was born and raised in Denver, Colorado; this is his fifth 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.

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!

Tasha is from the Southwest Denver area. She has earned her Bachelors in Human Development with additional General and Diverse Learners Education. She has worked toward completion of her Masters in Special Education. She has some teaching experience and enjoys spending as much time as possible with her loved ones.

Victoria grew up in South Carolina and lived there for 25 years.  In May of 2020, they graduated from Francis Marion University  having earned their degree in English Literature. They came to Colorado in 2020 and enjoy Colorado's mountain landscapes. This is her first full year with Compass and hopes to get a license to teach Diverse Learners in the near future. When not in the classroom, Victoria enjoys reading, outdoor adventures, and spending quality time with her friends and husband.

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! 

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. 

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!

Holly grew up in Aurora, Colorado before moving to Colorado Springs for a few years. She has a son and a daughter who are both in their 20’s. She received both her Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social works with an emphasis in at-risk youth programming. Before becoming a school social worker, he was a counselor for children living with/in domestic violence homes, worked with teens experiencing addiction, and worked in residential treatment where there were significant mental health needs and homeless populations. While working as a school social worker in Colorado Springs, she continued my education and received my Administrator and Special Education Director License.  She has spent the last 12 years working with all different grade levels.  Holly’s goal is to empower students to advocate for their needs and embrace their differences. She loves summer and enjoys camping, fishing, swimming, basically anything she can wear flip-flops to!

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.

Lee joined Compass Academy after spending 9 years in the human service field. He spent most of that time as a case manager for adults with intellectual disabilities. In 2016 he looked to get into the teaching profession, he started at Manual High School as a Physical Education teacher at the high school and as an after school sports program coordinator at elementary and middle schools in the Five Points area of Denver. This will be Lee’s second year as the PE teacher here at Compass. He has his bachelor’s degree in Human Services, minor in Psychology and is in his second year at Metro State for his Physical Education certification. Lee enjoys all aspects of sports and has coached basketball at the high school and middle school level. He cares deeply about building meaningful relationships with the students at Compass Academy in hopes to build a lifetime love of being active. He uses his background in coaching and case management to build a class where his students both feel safe and valued while learning about respect and competition both on and off the field of life. 

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.

Bio coming soon!

Before joining Compass Academy, Nate worked as the head of diverse learner and special education support for Teach For America Bay Area. He grew up in Massachusetts and attended Colorado College where he majored in Sociology and minored in Film Studies. Nate then continued his journey west and moved to the Bay Area in California to work in schools as a City Year-AmeriCorps Member, a High School Special Education Teacher, and a Teacher Coach. Nate is thrilled to be at Compass Academy because of the school’s focus on making sure every single student feels supported and proud of what makes them unique and able to hit their own learning goals.

Paola Deliz Félix Encarnación is a powerful, thoughtful, and intentional leader dedicated to educational equity. Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Félix Encarnación has always been passionate about learning and helping those around her share that passion. As a public school student, she attended a diverse Milwaukee Public School, graduating first in her class. Following high school, Encarnación received the Outstanding Scholar Award and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she earned a dual degree in Spanish and Community Education and Engagement. In 2017, she completed her Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Organizational Communication from Northeastern University.

Félix Encarnación is inspired by the words of Audre Lorde "if she dares to be powerful and use her strength in service it becomes less and less important whether she is afraid." As such she persists to make education accessible to youth and young adults in Milwaukee. Félix Encarnación served two years as an AmeriCorps member for City Year Milwaukee in predominantly Latino K-8 schools, where she led teams as tutors and role models in the role of Impact Manager. In 2015, she was honored as the University of Wisconsin of Milwaukee Graduate of the Last Decade for her work in the Milwaukee community and for her commitment to supporting Latinos in Higher Education. She continued to support education access and equity as an Impact Director for City Year Milwaukee. Most recently Félix Encarnación has stepped into the newly created role of Senior Director of Network for School Improvement.

E Her Vang is from Milwaukee, WI and the proud product of the non-profit organizations that served her family and community when she was young.  Those experiences sparked her passion to give back to disadvantaged populations. This passion motivated her to achieve a Master's in Public Health from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee focusing on Community and Behavioral Health Promotion. E is also a proud alum of City Year Jacksonville 2014-2016.  Service really shaped her career goals and released her potential to become a bridge between communities in need and resource accessibility/availability. Currently, she is involved with many volunteer opportunities like the Hlub Foundation, Hmong Young Professionals of Milwaukee and Komen Conversations for the Cure.  During her free time, you can find her snuggling and spending time with my 3 adorable nieces, going for a run or bargain shopping. A fun fact about E is that she can be overly competitive in sports, board games and contests so if you want to win, you want me to be on your team! E is super excited to be a part of the team and hope to bring energy, innovation and fun to this position. 

Born and raised in Parker, Colorado, Emily earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Colorado State University. After graduating in 2015, Emily and her twin sister Katy moved to Florida to serve as Corps Members with City Year Jacksonville. At the end of her first year she became a Team Leader and later moved to Boston to be part of Team Care Force, which leads corporate community service events across the US. After her Senior Corps Year Emily had the opportunity to be  on the 2017 Summer Academy Team. After serving at Summer Academy, Emily returned to Denver to be near her boyfriend, also a City Year alum. In her free time Emily enjoys reading, watching crime dramas, or playing Legos with her 5 year old nephew. Emily is excited to join the SDD and be part of the City Year family again!