Academic Program
Philosophy
We see each student as gift from God with unique personalities, gifts, and challenges. Together, we strive to meet the educational needs of each of our students by providing a safe, Christ-centered environment and an academic program designed to inspire a love of the Truth while developing a firm foundation of knowledge and skills to develop lifelong learners and worshipers.
To learn more about the values informing our program, visit our Salt, Light, Family, Community page. For a deeper sense of what is different about our program, visit the Distinctives page.
Core Curriculum
Through core instruction, students investigate and master foundational knowledge and skills to prepare them for success as they develop and move to more advanced study and application in our middle school and high school.
Foundations
Areas of foundational knowledge and skills: Biblical Literacy, Literature, Vocabulary, Composition, Spelling, Handwriting, Mathematics, Science, History & Geography
Differentiation
Through a variety of researched-based curriculum resources and best-practices, teachers pay special attention to each student’s growth in literacy skills and mathematics and seek to challenge, support, and enrich so that each student can reach his or her God-given potential.
Specials
In addition to our core academic curriculum, students experience the joy and beauty of aesthetics, music, and physical activity through our daily specials: art class, music class, physical education.
Elementary Faculty
Karen Cox - Kindergarten
Mrs. Cox earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Oklahoma. She has over ten years of classroom teaching experience. She taught 1st - 5th grades in the Norman Public Schools in Oklahoma and worked with 4-5 years olds as a lead preschool teacher in Early Learning with the City of Broomfield. Mrs. Cox joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2016.
Kari Kelley - Kindergarten
Mrs. Kelley graduated from Portland State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies, with a focus on early childhood development. She taught preschool both independently and through Broomfield Early Learning and worked for Boulder Valley School District. Mrs. Kelly joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2020.
Crystal Anderson - 1st Grade
Mrs. Anderson graduated from Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science and a minor in Early Childhood Education. She has more than 10 years of experience teaching in first through fifth grade with the majority of her years, teaching first and fourth grade in Jefferson County Public Schools. Mrs. Anderson joined the Flatirons faculty in 2023.
Emily Gardner - 1st Grade
Miss Gardner graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She holds an additional endorsement for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. She has over five years of experience teaching in a first-grade classroom. Miss Gardner joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2018.
Melissa Dunn - 2nd Grade
Mrs. Dunn graduated from the University of Colorado with a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology and a Concentration in Early Literacy. She also graduated from Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Arts and a minor in Linguistics and completed graduate coursework in English Language Development (ELD). She has over seven years of experience as a teacher and over 16 years in the educational setting. Mrs. Dunn joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2022.
Cady Metivier - 2nd Grade
Ms. Metivier graduated from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. During college, she gained teaching experience by tutoring children through a refugee organization in Phoenix. Ms. Metivier joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2023.
Donna Brandt - 3rd Grade
Mrs. Brandt graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a K-9 certification. She has also completed graduate coursework towards her degree in Special Ed and has 12 years of experience teaching elementary and middle school students in Illinois. Mrs. Brandt joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2022.
Dawn Cole - 3rd Grade
Mrs. Cole graduated from Walden University with a Master of Science in Education with a specialization in Elementary Reading and Mathematics. She completed her endorsement for Special Education Generalist through Colorado Christian University and also holds endorsements for Elementary Education (K-6) and English Language Arts (7-12th). Mrs. Cole has more than sixteen years of experience in elementary education with over five years of teaching in a third grade classroom. She joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2023.
Molly Rumbyrt - 4th Grade
Miss Rumbyrt graduated magna cum laude from Colorado Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts with Education specialized in Elementary Education and Biblical Studies. She has also completed graduate coursework in Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) through Fort Hays State University. Molly has over seven years of experience as an elementary teacher, with over six years of teaching in a fourth grade classroom. Molly joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2016.
Alison Chapman - 4th Grade
Mrs. Chapman graduated from California State University San Bernardino. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in literature. Mrs. Chapman has 20 years experience in the field of education and joined the Flatirons Academy Faculty in 2023.
Leah Pietrangelo - 5th Grade
Mrs. Pietrangelo graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She completed her Master of Arts in Special Education from University of Texas and holds an endorsement for Science instruction for grades 7-12. She has experience teaching in general education elementary classrooms and in middle school special education settings. Mrs. Pietrangelo joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2023.
Megan Schaffer - 5th Grade
Mrs. Schaffer graduated from Northland International University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Elementary Education and Biblical Studies. She has more than fourteen years of teaching experience at the elementary grade level. Mrs. Schaffer joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2022.
Deb Simpson - Instructional Support
Ms. Simpson has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Elementary Education and Social Studies and a Music Minor from the University of Northern Colorado. She also earned a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado. She has over 20 years of teaching experience as a classroom teacher and a reading interventionist. Ms. Simpson joined the faculty of Flatirons Academy in 2019.
Alyssa Axe - Art
Mrs. Axe received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Colorado Christian University. She studied Art Education at Metropolitan State University, adding an Art Endorsement to her Colorado Teaching License. After teaching in public schools for a few years, then managing a painting studio, Mrs. Axe was thrilled to join the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2018.
Troy Boyer - Physical Education
Mr. Boyer graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds a degree in K-12 Education, with an emphasis in Physical Education. Mr. Boyer has over ten years of experience in K-12 education. He joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2007.
Amanda Fox - Music
Amanda Fox graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership, Policy Studies, and Administration. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in K-12th Grade Education with an emphasis in Vocal and Instrumental Music as well as a minor in Religion and Bible Philosophy from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Amanda has over 8 years of experience in Education Administration, 10 years of experience as a teacher of K-12th grades in various subjects, and has served in youth ministry for over 17 years. Amanda joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2023.
Cathleen Kellerman - Music
Mrs. Kellerman graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Nyack College in New York. She has received an Excellence in Teaching Award and is a trained Kindermusik instructor. Prior to joining the faculty at Flatirons Academy she managed the Fortissimo Music Studio teaching Kindermusik, summer camps, lessons and workshops, taught high school band, choir and music appreciation at Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey, and served on staff as the worship leader at Neighborhood Alliance Church in New York. Mrs. Kellerman also has over 15 years of experience teaching private instrumental lessons. She joined the Flatirons Academy staff in 2012.
Chandra Witkowski - Science
Mrs. Witkowski graduated cum laude from the University of New Mexico earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She holds endorsements in Language Arts and Physical Education. She has more than 13 years of experience as a teacher in preschool-eighth grade, with over six years of teaching health and science. Mrs. Witkowski joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2022.
Kirsten Wallen - Librarian
Mrs. Wallen graduated from University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. After working at FirstBank in a variety of roles, she discovered a passion for serving communities through public library service. She completed a Master’s in Library and Information Science at Valdosta State University in Georgia and has over seven years experience working in public libraries. She joined the Flatirons Academy staff in 2021.
Kelsey Geske - Assistant Principal
Mrs. Geske graduated magna cum laude from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies for Teacher Education. She holds endorsements for Linguistically Diverse Education, Early Childhood Education, and Elementary Education. She has more than twelve years of experience as a teacher in preschool-third grade, with over eight years of teaching in a first grade classroom. Mrs. Geske joined the Flatirons Academy staff in 2017.
Jared Wallen - Principal
Mr. Wallen graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Master’s of Social Psychology, a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts, and minors in Exercise Science and English. He has also completed graduate coursework in Educational Leadership. Jared has over ten years of experience as a teacher and educational leader in Greeley School District 6 and Jeffco Public Schools. Mr. Wallen joined the Flatirons Academy faculty in 2018.