Specials

Michael joins the Ben Franklin community, and he brings years of classroom and admin experience. He is excited to live and breathe the Ben Franklin values and virtues along with sharing his passion for education and students. He looks forward to partnering with students, families, and all stakeholders of the community.

Most recently, Michael was an Assistant Principal in Aurora Public Schools for 4 years, and prior to that, he supported Brighton Schools as a Dean of Students for two years. He began his career in education in DPS as a Gifted and Talented teacher who supported multiple schools. Michael will always call Minnesota home, however, from a distance (brr). He very much likes the scenery of the mountains and the mild winters here which was a major reason he decided to call the Centennial state his permanent home. Michael received his Bachelor of Science from Minnesota State University Moorhead and his Master’s of Arts degree from Concordia University Portland. Shortly after moving to the Denver metro, Michael embarked on his Educational Leadership journey by attaining his credentials by enrolling in the ALPS leadership program through the University of Colorado Denver campus. He then enrolled in an educational leadership doctorate program also through the University of Colorado Denver. Michael believes every student can thrive and be successful in the classroom and life. It’s up to us as the adults and educators in the building to provide the tools and resources to ensure each and every child has an equal opportunity to succeed. “I can’t wait to hit the ground running, and building and fostering as many relationships as possible. If not us, who? If not now, when?” Is a favorite quote he tries to implement into his daily workday because he truly believes our student’s futures depend on us stepping up and doing our jobs as educators.

Michael and his wife, Lilli, live in Centennial with their daughter and son, Hudson (7) and Henry (6), respectively. In his free time, you can find him playing basketball with friends or out and about with his family to explore and enjoy all the great things Colorado has to offer. He is also a die hard Minnesota sports fan even though it causes quite a bit of heartbreak each year, he is committed and loyal. You will probably see him at Ball arena or Sports Authority Stadium when the Timberwolves or Vikings are in town.

Shalane is excited to be a part of the Ben Franklin Academy Team as an Instructional Aide!

I am originally from Minnesota and my husband and I moved to Colorado for the scenic landscape and our love for skiing, hiking, and biking. We have two adult daughters that we love to travel with and this year will mark our 25th year in Colorado.  

While attending college in MN, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education & Corporate Fitness and after moving to CO, I attended CSU and earned a Master’s in Education and Human Resource Studies. Throughout my professional career, there has always been a “teaching” component to my work so as my own children grew older and more independent, I took the opportunity to step into the role of substitute teacher at BFA. After completing an alternative teaching licensure program, I taught fourth grade for four years and this year will be my second year teaching kindergarten and I love it! Teaching students to read has quickly become a passion of mine. It is goi

Wyatt Bangert is currently a senior at the Metropolitan State University of Denver pursuing a degree in History with certification in secondary education. He is 26 years old with a passion for supporting students to reach their fullest potential. With a patient and pursuable demeanor, Wyatt is skilled in creating an inclusive and positive environment where students are able to excel and feel encouraged to participate. He was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and the youngest of 7. He is eager to get his educational career started and looks forward to the opportunity of working at Ben Franklin Academy.

Haylee was born and raised in Canada. She received her education from Tabor college in Kansas, where she played on the collegiate volleyball team. Haylee has been teaching 4th grade for two years and will be entering her third year of 4th grade this coming school year. She has a history of coaching volleyball and softball and still enjoys playing sports herself.

Angela is a Texas Native, but has lived in Highlands Ranch for more than 15 years. Angela has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters Degree in Teaching from the University of Northern Colorado. Before becoming a teacher, she worked as a Software Consultant with Deloitte Consulting and as a Project Manager at a small start up software company in Austin. 

She has an amazing husband and two awesome sons. (Angela was also lucky to be a stay-at-home mom when her sons were younger.) She loves the mountains, the four seasons, and all of the outdoor opportunities that living in Colorado provides. In her free time she enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and reading for fun or to learn something new.  

This past school year Ellen completed her tenth year working with elementary-aged students in the Douglas County Charter School system. Prior to her Charter School experience, Ellen began her career working for a major test-prep company, where she prepared students for college, grad school, and medical licensure.  When not on the sidelines watching her kids play sports, Ellen can be found hiking, biking, snowboarding, or READing!

Rachelle is very excited to teach another year of 5th grade. She began her career in finance with an undergraduate degree in International Business along with minors in Finance and German from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She previously has worked as a substitute teacher in the Cherry Creek school district and at Ben Franklin Academy. Rachelle has a teaching certificate and believes in continuous learning to hone her skills and stay updated on best practices. She grew up in Nebraska. She and her husband, Scott, have three children who keep them very busy with activities and sports. She loves to travel, and has been fortunate to visit many different places over the course of her studies and holidays. She also loves to ski and sew in her free time. Rachelle looks forward to a great year with the incoming 5th graders!

Silvia De Bedout is a passionate educator and psychologist with over 15 years of experience dedicated to fostering positive change. Based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Silvia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. Silvia has a wealth of experience as a Spanish teacher at 5280 High School, where she worked with students in recovery from various challenges. Her innovative teaching methods and commitment to student success created a dynamic, inclusive learning environment that significantly improved student outcomes. Outside of her professional life, Silvia enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, and exploring arts and crafts. Her warm and compassionate approach makes her a beloved figure in an educational setting. Silvia’s dedication to promoting academic achievement and personal growth sets her apart.

Julie DePasse began her career after graduating from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a degree in Elementary Education, Summa Cum Laude, and she has held a professional teaching license ever since. She first taught in Littleton Public Schools for three years; she then stayed home for several years to raise her two sons. She went on to teach for four years at a private school in Colorado Springs and then taught fourth grade at Monument Academy Charter School- that was where she was introduced to the Core Knowledge Sequence. She still loves the high level, spiraling content of this curriculum which is also used at Ben Franklin Academy. After arriving at BFA in 2014, Julie taught first grade for three years before moving to kindergarten and has taught her sweet BFA kindies for five years and counting! She enjoys being at BFA where the curriculum is packed with exciting topics to study, including lots of math, history, and science! 

Julie grew up in Littleton, where she discovered her love of reading and learning. She believes that reading helps people see the world from a whole different window! She has recently completed several reading classes including the Comprehensive Orton Gillingham Plus training which targets a multisensory approach to reading instruction as well as the Orton Gillingham Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension course. She has previously completed the Wilson Foundations Language training, and other classes targeting the development and enhancement of early literacy skills. In 2023, Julie also completed the Alert Program for Self Regulation, a sensory integration program that aims to help students maintain an optimal state of alertness for attending, learning, and concentrating in classrooms. She continually strives to implement best practice in the classroom applying her hundreds of hours of continuing education credits and is proud to work at a school which enthusiastically supports the growth of teachers.

Julie also loves reading on a personal level and is a part of a book club. She hopes to share her love of reading and learning with her students. She also likes watching movies, gaming, walking her goldendoodles (Dougal and Daisy) on the High Line Canal Trail. Her two awesome sons are now grown and married, so she gets to enjoy having two wonderful daughters-in-law in the family these days as well.

Mrs. DePasse is looking forward to working with you to create an electrifying year for our BFA kiddos. GO BOLTS!

This will be Staci’s third year teaching first grade at BFA. She was also a founding board member of BFA and served as the Secretary for five years. She is a graduate of Western Governor’s University where she earned her bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-6). She also earned her certification in Orton-Gillingham reading instruction. Staci is excited for another year in first grade, as she loves being a part of her students’ sense of pride and accomplishment as they learn and grow.

Staci lives in Roxborough with her Husband (Henry), son Kyle (14) and pup Grizz. She loves to be in Colorado’s outdoors doing activities like camping, hiking, paddle boarding, and kayaking, to name a few. Staci also loves baking, decorating cakes, and crafting.

After being a substitute at BFA for the past three years, Lauren is very excited to now be the Elementary Science Specialist! She grew up in Littleton and graduated from Columbine high school. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a biomedical emphasis and a minor in Chemistry from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Lauren also studied Emergency Medical Services at Aims Community College and became EMT certified along with additional special certificates. After graduating she worked in the medical field for several years before returning to school to complete a Master’s Degree. Lauren earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Florida (go Gators!) in Forensic DNA Analysis and Serology.  

Shortly after earning her degree, she became a stay-at-home mom and spent seven years taking care of her two kids before returning to work. She loves being around all the kids and is looking forward to being here full-time this year!

In her spare time Lauren enjoys getting outside to hike, bike, swim or read. Her family loves to adventure around the country and they typically go on two road trips per year! They love visiting national parks and monuments and trying local food. They also love to take their dog, Tucker, anywhere they can! 

Liz graduated with a master’s in occupational therapy (OT) in 2011 from Colorado State University. While she has experience in the acute care setting, working with children has always been her goal. Liz worked at a center for children with autism before joining Ben Franklin Academy. She served just under three years before taking time to stay home with her twins, Kate and Jack, now second graders at BFA. Liz is thrilled to return to BFA and support students in achieving their highest learning potential as part of the student support team. Occupational therapy has always been her calling, but Liz also has a deep passion for nutrition and health. When her kids started pre-K at BFA, she returned to graduate school at the University of Western States to pursue nutrition studies. She plans to finalize her license as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) in 2025. With her enthusiasm for nutrition and wellness, Liz enjoys frequenting farmers’ markets, being outdoors, and exploring local coffee shops and farm-to-table restaurants. Above all, Liz cherishes spending time with her family, her greatest blessing.

Sarah Harrell is a Colorado native and has been teaching at BFA since it opened in 2011. She received her B.A. from CU Boulder, her Literacy Intervention Specialist certificate from Colorado College, and her M.Ed in Elementary Ed and Special Education from Grand Canyon University. She also has her endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. Before becoming a teacher, Sarah worked as a counselor at a residential treatment facility with teens 11-18 years old. Her passion has always been working with students of various ages to reach their full potential despite their backgrounds and/or disabilities.

In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her adult sons. She also enjoys traveling anywhere, especially to the beach, hiking, and reading. She also volunteers with RezDawg Rescue. 

Alyson graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities as well as a Masters of Arts in Teaching. She taught Kindergarten and First Grade in Texas, Michigan, and Tennessee before stepping out of the classroom to start their family. Now a mom of four (two BFA graduates now at Mountain Vista High School, two boys still at BFA) and after working at her church’s preschool for the past few years, Alyson is thrilled to be working at her kiddos’ much loved school! Having relocated here in 2013, exploring this beautiful state, spending time with her husband of 20 years and family (mostly in ice rinks during hockey season), reading biographies and historical fiction, and taking walks/hikes have become her favorite pastimes. She believes every child can learn and excel when they have at least one caring adult in their life. She is looking forward to working with the students and teachers at BFA this year as a First Grade instructional aide!

Erica is excited to begin her eleventh year teaching Second Grade at Ben Franklin Academy!  She has worked as a classroom teacher for 18 years and as a Literacy Specialist for 5 years.  Erica graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in English/Elementary Education.  She also earned a M.Ed in Reading/Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University.  In her spare time, Erica enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, cooking and spending time with her husband, three children and two dogs.

Ali has been teaching for more than twenty years. She graduated from Sussex University in England with a bachelor’s degree in Art and Education and went on to teach in England, Spain and Italy for many years before coming to America in 1994. After spending a few years at home with her children, she began teaching again. She has been teaching art in Core Knowledge schools in Douglas County since 2005. She loves teaching art and is proud to have been a part of Ben Franklin Academy from the beginning. She is also excited to be able to teach at a S.T.E.A.M. school where art is considered to be an important part of a well-rounded education.

She lives in Highlands Ranch with her husband, John, who is a native Coloradan. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.

Erin Hinz is very excited to begin her tenth year of teaching at Ben Franklin Academy. Shortly after receiving her degree in Psychology with a Minor in Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder, she enrolled in the University of Northern Colorado to obtain a Master of Arts in Teaching. She was fortunate to complete her student teaching here, in second grade, at Ben Franklin Academy. She taught fourth grade her first year, third grade her second year, and is now very excited to continue her educational journey in the second grade. This is her eighth year teaching second grade.

In her free time, Erin enjoys singing, hiking, cooking, yoga, Zumba, spending time with her four-year-old son, Tate, and husband Alex, as well as playing all types of sports. She also is excited to be adding another baby boy to the family this coming August. She is very passionate about working with children and families, and welcomes all to stop in at any time for a question, concern, or even a friendly hello. Erin is very eager for the new school year, and is happy to be a part of the BFA family.

Ms. Jaime Johnson has been the K-8 music director at Ben Franklin Academy since 2012. She is responsible for directing performances and after school classes as well as teaching elementary general music and middle school music and theatre electives.

Ms. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from University of Redlands and a Masters in Music Education from University of Colorado, Boulder. She holds a vocal coaching certification from New York Vocal Coaching. She also has her Orff Schulwerk certification. This certification focuses on training music teachers to implement the creative music and movement approach developed by Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman. This approach is known for using instruments such as xylophone to improvise and compose music. Training includes recorder and movement classes.

Outside of Ben Franklin, Ms. Johnson is a music director for Audience of One, Spot On Theatre and Mountain Vista High School. Prior to BFA, she taught band and orchestra at three Douglas County schools and K-8 general music at a charter school in Denver.

Ms. Johnson truly believes in the power of the performing arts and is thrilled BFA is a STEAM school. Her role as a music teacher is to teach skills that will help students succeed in school and in life such as working with others, listening, storytelling, speaking in front of a group, being a good audience and accepting other people’s interests. Through the arts, she has seen students come out of their shells and embrace learning. 

Jackie is a Colorado native and grew up in Littleton. She graduated from CU Boulder with her psychology degree and elementary teaching certificate. Since then, Jackie has gone on to pursue her master’s in education, taking graduate-level education courses in school counseling and literacy instruction. She has taught for thirteen years—seven years as an elementary school teacher and six years running a licensed in-home preschool.

When not teaching, Jackie loves spending time with her family, including her husband Kyle, her son Austin who will be in second grade at BFA; her two-year-old daughter Caroline; and their dog Faith. Jackie and her family love spending time at the pool, visiting new playgrounds, hiking, and attending Austin’s sporting events. They are also huge Disney fans and save for trips to Disneyland every chance they get!

Jackie is eager and excited to teach first grade, meet her new students, and partner with their wonderful families. Her favorite aspect of teaching is getting to know each student individually and pointing out their strengths while encouraging them to challenge themselves and make new goals.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Creighton University, more than 10 years in the computer industry as a programmer and network engineer, along with many years as a Technology Teacher, Beth has a plethora of ideas and hands-on activities to inspire and challenge students. A die-hard Broncos fan, Beth loves Colorado, the outdoors, her two teenage daughters, and learning new things!

Julie is so excited to be a part of the BFA team!! She lives in Highlands Ranch with her son Kaiden who attends BFA. She is a Louisiana/ Mississippi Gulf Coast native and has been in Colorado since 2005. She loves hanging out with her son, going to movies, shopping,organizing, and just being home!

Jackie has worked as an ISS para since 2005 in Douglas County. She received her college degree from University of Northern Colorado. Over the last 40 years she has worked with various special-needs populations. She was a Program Manager for 16 years serving adults with intellectual challenges and their families in their homes and community. She currently lives in Highlands Ranch with her husband. She has two adult children, a son and daughter.  She is proud to tell you about her five grandchildren. Jackie describes herself as extremely outgoing and full of energy. She has a unique passion for working with students and receives tremendous joy from working with BFA students. Her motto is: “Seek peace and pursue it!”

Jenna has been teaching for over 4 years. She is a Colorado State graduate (go Rams!) and is licensed in both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. She has taught Kindergarten, 3rd grade, 1st grade and reading intervention. Growing up with seven siblings (4 brothers and 3 sisters), Jenna considers her classroom an extension of her family. She has a high expectation for her students, believing they have the capability to encourage and challenge each other. Through a formative year, she loves seeing their character develop as they learn and grow academically. In her free time, you would most likely find Jenna hanging out with her family. She loves a good laugh and breaking out her dance moves when a good song comes on. Jenna is a Colorado native and enjoys all things outdoors: hiking, fishing, kayaking, camping, and backpacking. Jenna is excited to be continuing at BFA as a first grade teacher!

Amy is thrilled to continue with the fourth grade team as she begins her tenth year of teaching. She remembers fourth grade to be one of the most influential years in her life. It was in this grade that she started to develop her life long passion to become a classroom teacher.

As a Colorado native, Amy attended Arapahoe High School and went on to go to Azusa Pacific University in Southern California for undergrad. After graduation she moved back to Colorado to continue her education. Amy attended MSU Denver where she received her teaching license and Masters in Education.

Amy lives in Englewood with her husband Charlie. In her free time she loves to sew, golf, and spend time with friends. When she gets the chance, she loves to travel to as many new places as possible. 

Amy is inspired by the way Ben Franklin Academy uses Core Knowledge to produce life long learners and is excited to continue to be a part of this great school and community.

I am a sixth year teacher and a graduate of Colorado State University.  My course work and life have prepared me to be an informed, dynamic, professional in the Health and Physical Education field. In high school I was on the baseball, football and tennis teams where my coaches taught me the value of hard work, dedication, being a stand up individual and many other life lessons that I hope I can pass along to my students.   I do not only teach Health and Physical Education, I also live it.  I like to think that I practice what I preach!  Some of my favorite hobbies are exercising and playing/coaching different sports.  I have coached elite youth baseball, football and golf throughout the last ten years which has helped inspire me to pursue my dream of becoming a Health and Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director.  I love to try new things and spend time with my family and friends.  Lastly I truly love and have a lot of passion for what I do.  I believe I have the best job in the world, and get up every day thankful that I get to do what I do.  I love working with all my students, and having the opportunity to teach them how to be healthy and physically fit.

This is Megan’s eighth year of her teaching career all at Ben Franklin Academy. She graduated from Western State Colorado University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse education endorsement. Additionally, Megan has acquired a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. 

As a Colorado native, Highlands Ranch has always been home to Megan as she is a product of the Douglas County School District. She loves being able to teach in the community where she was raised and loves being part of the BFA family. 

Family, friends, and sports keep Megan extremely busy! In her spare time, she can be found coaching a competitive softball team, attending the Colorado sports teams’ games, or playing in recreational leagues. She enjoys bowling, golfing, hanging with her dog, and being outside in the sun. 

Alice is an open minded, hardworking, and creative individual. Alice was born and raised in Ireland and is very proud to be Irish. She moved to Colorado in 2023 from Milan, Italy,  with her boyfriend Alex, who is a professor at UCCS and financial advisor at Maia Wealth. Alice has a global perspective on education and has taught in various countries including Ireland, Fiji, Germany, Italy and now the US. Throughout her career, Alice has had multiple roles as an educator, including class teacher, bilingual school teacher, special educational needs intervention teacher, art and design teacher, and whole-school ECO coordinator. Alice has also guest lectured in a university in Ireland about how to foster creativity in the classroom.

Alice has a first-class honors bachelor’s degree in Primary Education from St. Mary’s University College, Belfast with a double degree specialism in art and design and special educational needs. Alice graduated top of her cohort and has written two pieces of educational research in Northern Ireland. As an educator with a combined specialism in Art and Design and Special Educational Needs, Alice believes it is crucial that children are provided with opportunities to freely express themselves, create, explore, invent and discover. Alice plans child-led lessons and encourages students to take ownership and responsibility of their learning.

As she enters her 7th year of teaching elementary, Alice is excited to continue exploring, playing and helping each child embrace their unique talents. Alice’s classroom is energetic, curious and happy. In her free time, Alice loves spending time in nature or at home painting. She is an avid skier and hiker and can be found in the mountains most weekends. 

Candace has been teaching for 17 years. Candace received her Bachelor’s of Science in Education from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. Candace taught third grade in Clyde, Texas. She later moved to Aurora, Colorado, to teach first, second, and third grades. In 1993, Candace had her first child and decided to be a stay-at-home mom. She went back to teaching after raising her children. 

Candace earned a Master’s degree in Reading and an endorsement as a reading specialist at Regis University. She uses it to reinforce literacy for her Kindergarten students. Candace has been teaching first grade and kindergarten at Ben Franklin Academy for 11 years.  She truly loves the students and families at BFA. She is heavily invested in the Core Knowledge curriculum, given that her own two children attended a Core Knowledge charter school. 

Candace lives in Highlands Ranch with her husband Scott of 36 years and two cute wiener dogs named Dot and Dash. She has a son, Preston, who is a psychiatric nurse, and a daughter, Monica, who is also a kindergarten teacher.  She enjoys traveling, reading and crafting in her spare time.

Candace truly loves the BFA community and can’t wait to meet her new class of Kindergarteners!

Christine loves teaching third grade at Ben Franklin Academy! This is her second year teaching at BFA and 16th year in the classroom. Prior to BFA, she spent two years teaching in Highlands Ranch and 12 years teaching in Massachusetts. Christine graduated from Framingham State University with a bachelor’s degree in Education and Natural Science, and earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Fitchburg State University.

Christine and her family moved to Colorado five years ago and love living here! One of her favorite activities is hiking with her husband Mike, son Ronan, and two dogs Copper and Cleo. She also enjoys paddle boarding, pedicures, crocheting, reading, and coffee.

Larissa Meister has worked as a first and second grade teacher. After taking a pause from teaching to raise her family, she is very excited to return to the classroom as a second grade instructional aide. She is married to a wonderful husband, Chip and her three children, Landon, Emily and Owen attend BFA. She enjoys all things outdoors, especially hiking and spends her spare time driving her kids around to various sporting activities.

Kayla will be beginning her 16th year of teaching kindergarten this year. A Colorado native, she attended schools in the Douglas County School District. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Elementary Education where she played for the women’s soccer team for four years on an athletic scholarship. She received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix.

She lives in Lakewood with her husband Jay, her son Joel, daughter Blair, and two dogs. Two kids keep her very busy at home, but she loves every minute of it. Kayla enjoys spending time with family, watching her son and daughter grow each day, running, traveling, playing soccer, and watching movies. She has been teaching at Ben Franklin Academy since it opened and she feels so fortunate to be a part of the BFA family. She is looking forward to another great year!

Kyle Nolting is the STEM Coordinator at Ben Franklin Academy. Kyle is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in education from the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. He has a background in K-12 science and technology education while teaching for the New York City department of education. In the classroom, he has interests in STEM curriculum design, ASD Education, Gifted & Talented Education, Multicultural Teaching Practices, LGBTQ+ Youth Advocacy and DEI Work. Outside of the classroom, Kyle is interested in hiking, birding, fly fishing and general all around spending time outdoors. He is excited to meet you on campus!

Tracy is thrilled to join the eighth grade team for her third year at Ben Franklin Academy.  Tracy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in both Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s Degree in Education from University of Colorado at Boulder. 

Tracy grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, visiting Colorado often, and finally moving to Denver after college.  She has a wide variety of teaching experience that ranges from traditional classrooms to directing an overnight camp to homeschooling her own children in an RV for seven months while traveling the country.  

Jessica Richardson is a motivated and hard-working collaborative educator seeking to boost engagement, improve test scores, and tackle learning from any angle at an innovative school such as Ben Franklin Academy. She has been teaching in the public school setting for 3 years and is passionate about authentic and integrated curriculum.

Rachel loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time with her family. She is a plant lover and enjoys tending to her plants. She is also a great cook and is always eager to try new recipes.

Sarah Russell is an accomplished Speech Language Pathologist whose interest in the field was sparked while volunteering at a summer camp for special needs children during her high school summer breaks. Sarah attended Miami University (Ohio) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She then moved to Boulder and earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Colorado. In order to gain more experience in all areas of the field, Sarah accepted a one year Clinical Fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI and earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Her next professional opportunity led her back to Boulder to work as a speech language pathologist for Boulder Community Hospital in the Pediatric Rehabilitation Department. In this role, Sarah became certified in administration of the Autism Diagnostic Scale and a variety of specific intervention techniques. She was a member of the interdisciplinary Autism Diagnostic Team which consisted of a physical therapist, occupational therapist and psychologist. Additionally, Sarah became a certified trainer for the Hanen Center and part of the second organization in Boulder County to run workshops for parents and caregivers in the Hanen approach for early intervention. Sarah enjoyed working with and gaining knowledge from other professionals in related fields and closely collaborating with her clients families. Next, a postdoctoral opportunity for her husband had the Russells moving to Ohio where Sarah became an associate professor at Purdue University in their Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Department. Sarah supervised graduate students in medical and educational settings while collaborating with other professors to prepare students for their careers. After a professional break to start her family, Sarah has spent the last 11 years at Ben Franklin Academy where she is currently licensed as a Special Services Provider through the state of Colorado. She loves being part of the Student Support Team and BFA community. The best part of her job is helping students achieve their goals and improve their communication skills! Sarah strives to make her time with students both effective and fun!

When Sarah is not at BFA, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three teenagers and dog! Most frequently throughout the year, Sarah can be found at basketball games or cheerleading competitions, volunteering for booster clubs, reading or baking. During the summer, the Russell family takes an annual trip to visit extended family in Michigan and spends time on their boat at Chatfield Lake.

Leigh is honored to be part of the Ben Franklin Academy team. She has worked at Ben Franklin Academy since 2011, first in the Preschool program then in the BASE program.  Leigh is currently the Director of the BASE and Summer Camp programs. Leigh obtained her Directors Certification in August, 2022.

Leigh and her husband Frank have been married for 35 years and have lived many places thanks to the military. But, by far, Colorado is the most awesome place to be!  Leigh and Frank have three wonderful grown-up children–Justin, Zach, and Erin.  In her free time, Leigh likes to spend time at BFA working, being with her family, crafting, doing house projects, and spending time outdoors in the beautiful Colorado weather. 

Leigh loves working with all children because of their openness and willingness to learn and have fun.  She loves to be part of the BFA family and community and to be able to interact with the children and parents alike.

Leigh is excited to begin the school year and make a positive impact in you and your children’s lives.

Teaching has always been a passion of Laura’s, and she loves being a member of the Ben Franklin Academy staff. Laura has taught for 15 years. She has taught fourth grade and currently is the K-5 Specials technology teacher. Technology is important to BFA and Laura is able to help effectively integrate technology into the hands of students at BFA.

Laura received her Bachelor’s degree in 2009 in Elementary Education from Purdue University. She has her certification in Linguistically Diverse Education from the University of Colorado at Denver, as well as a Masters in Information and Learning Technologies from the University of Colorado at Denver. Laura also received an award for ‘Outstanding Student in the Program’ at the end of her Masters program course work. This ILT program not only allowed Laura to grow with her own personal education, but it helps bring many of the latest ideas and projects related to technology into the classrooms at BFA. 

A Colorado native, Laura loves working out, watching football and spending time with her family.

Ms. White is so excited to start her second year as a third grade teacher here at Ben Franklin Academy!

She graduated May 2022 with a Masters in Elementary Education. She studied beforehand, at BYU-Idaho and Graduated 2019 with a Bachelors in Science in Child Development and a minor in International Studies. During the Covid times, She worked online with VIPKid teaching English to students in China. She was able to then attain certification in TESOL (Teaching English as a second or other language). Afterward, She came to this wonderful school in 2020 as a Substitute Teacher and later on as a Kindergarten and third grade Instructional Aide. 

Ms. White grew up moving around every 4 years as her Dad is in the oil field industry. Some states include: Louisiana, Wyoming, Utah, California, and others. She has lived in Colorado the most so she calls it home. Because of life’s travels, she has come to enjoy exploring and adventuring to new places and hope to eventually visit places outside our beautiful country! She eventually would love to visit Norway, Japan, or South Korea as she has a love for Asian Culture and is learning from her Aunt (who is Korean) everyday! 

She loves the process of teaching and all it entails. To learn, lead and to serve have become not just words to her, but foundational. Ms. White strives to create an engaging environment, where students thrive and develop a true love of learning. 

Mrs. Wilson joined Ben Franklin Academy during its inaugural year as a fifth grade teacher. After taking a few years off to care for her grandson, she returned as a third grade teacher. She states that this school has a strong and lively community where all are invested in the educational and emotional growth of each student.

This is my second year as the 5th grade afternoon instructional aide. I enjoy being a part of the Ben Franklin Academy family and helping out however I am needed. Sharing responsibilities with the teachers and getting to know the students are the best parts of my day. I’m originally from Texas but have lived in Colorado since 2008. My family and I enjoy spending time in the mountains whenever possible. Going home to Texas and spending time with my dad and family is also important to me. My daughter and son in law are also in Highlands Ranch with my two Colorado-born grandsons:). Although I’ve spent my career in law firms in many capacities, it’s a assisting in the day to day care of my grandsons prior to them starting school that has been my true calling. Now sharing my passion for the welfare, safety and happiness of our youth with the fine people at Ben Franklin Academy is icing on the cake. Having been a part of the carpool team, I have likewise gotten to know a lot of the parents of kiddos at Ben Franklin … it has been a pleasure getting to know so many good people and a reward to share in the day to day success of our school and our kiddos. 

Michelle grew up in Illinois and moved to Colorado in high school. She received her bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wyoming and her Masters in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Working with kids has always been a passion and teaching has been the most rewarding career where she helps kids grow and thrive. She loves helping each student grow their strengths and find confidence in themselves. This will be her sixth year at Ben Franklin Academy. She looks forward to another year of getting to know new faces and having fun alongside current students. 

When not working, she enjoys raising chickens and spending time with her husband and two children.