Alicia went to the University of Oregon, majored in International Studies and Spanish, and lived abroad in Chile for a year. 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. After returning to Denver she taught 8 more years, stepped into Leadership roles, and received a certificate from the DU Ritchie Leadership program. She is a Colorado native and loves to read, ski, bike, and spend time in the mountains with her family. Going into her 9th year at Compass, Alicia is excited to be a part of a community that invests in adult learning and is dedicated to providing an equitable education for all of our students.

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

Ms LeDuff 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

Paige is thrilled to be joining the Compass family as the new Director of Operations. A North Carolina native, she earned her bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University and worked in higher education policy for the UNC system before discovering her passion for advancing educational equity in the K-12 space. She earned her masters of public policy from Georgetown University, followed by teaching 4th grade math and 6th grade science in St. Louis as a Teach for America corps member. Finally making her Colorado dreams come true, she has spent the past four years with the Colorado Department of Education. When not on campus, Paige can be found hiking or snowboarding with friends, testing out new recipes using produce from her garden, or sitting outside with a good book.

Ms. Paige can be reached at pmoser@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

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. Emma Green was born in Littleton, Colorado, but was raised in Costa Rica until the age of 9. She returned to Colorado, where she attended school and college at the University of Denver, earning her Bachelor's of Science in Psychology with minors in Biology and Spanish. Most recently, Ms. Green worked as a 2nd grade Math and Science teacher and K-5 STEM lead at a charter school in Orlando, Florida, while earning her Master's degree. She returned to Colorado in the summer of 2024 to be close to her family and pursue her passion for teaching Science. Outside of school, Ms. Green enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and scuba diving!

Ms. Emma can be reached at egreen@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 eighth year of teaching 7th grade math.

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

Leilani was born in Hawaii, raised in Texas, and has lived in Colorado for 10 years. She graduated from Texas State University with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies and is in her 10th year of teaching. She is returning to the classroom after spending the last 5 years running her own food truck. She enjoys hiking, reading, and spending quality time with her family. As a science teacher, she strives to spark curiosity and encourage students to explore the world around them through observation, experimentation, and critical thinking. She is passionate about helping students build confidence in their abilities, ask meaningful questions, and make connections between science and their everyday lives.

Ms. J can be reached at ljohnson@compassacademy.org.

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 18th 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.

Ms. Candie can be reached at cdunbar@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

Nixon García is a Venezuelan educator known for his dedication to teaching language and literature, English, public speaking, and music history. He studied Industrial Engineering at the Universidad Rafael Belloso Chacín and holds diplomas in music history, public speaking, and radio and television broadcasting. He hosted three radio programs in Táchira, Venezuela, where he developed his passion for communication and community engagement.
In parallel, he pursued musical training in orchestral conducting at the Simón Bolívar Conservatory and participated in the historic Guinness World Record for the world’s largest symphony orchestra through his involvement with El Sistema. He has also worked as a music teacher and performed as a clarinetist and guitarist in youth ensembles.
Currently, he combines his teaching career with a specialization in Microsoft Cloud and Data Engineering while working on his first poetry collection. A lover of hiking, cooking, music, and classical literature, Nixon blends art, technology, and education to inspire his students.

Mr. Nixon can be reached at ngarcia@compassacademy.org

Mariela is a Spanish curriculum developer and educator from Argentina. She has been in education for 14 years. She taught Spanish in elementary, middle, and high school. Ms Mariela is a multilingual learner and educator whose vocation is to create opportunities and tools for students through foreign languages. She loves traveling and learn new languages and cultures. She enjoys time with family and friends. Ms. Mariela also wrote Spanish books for children and hopes to continue creating more resources for kids to access new languages.

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 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

Eileen was born and raised in Denver, CO and is proud to have attended Denver Public Schools for her K-12 education. Eileen earned her Bachelor's degree from CU Boulder as a member of the President's Leadership Class. Following graduation, Eileen became a corps member with Teach for America in San Jose, CA while simultaneously earning her Master's degree from Loyola Marymount University. She remained at her "placement" school for five years before returning to Denver and joining the Compass community, where she is in her second year. 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 and has 2 grandchildren. 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 5th year as a School Social Worker. She enjoys working with and supporting the Compass Academy Community by providing academic, mental health, and family resources. She looks 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 attended the university and alumni. Coach Torrence is excited to be apart of the Compass Academy team. His mission is to revolutionize physical education, making it both enjoyable and educational for all students. He is looking forward to an incredible 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

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.

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.