Our Team

Aside from her experience leading the CSA’s board of directors, Christa has worked in corporate finance for almost 20 years in various areas at IBM. Ms. Coryell supported the Global Technology Services division as a senior finance manager. Christa has extensive experience working with school-aged children through many volunteer opportunities with IBM and direct involvement in her son’s activities.

Ms. Coryell was a Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) mentor to high school students in the St. Vrain Valley School District and was also a co-chairperson for the Discover Engineering and Innovation Academy partnerships between IBM and local schools in the Boulder area.

Christa earned a Master of Business Administration with a finance emphasis from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Arizona State University.

As a Colorado native, I have a deep passion for our state and its people. Before opening CSA as the STEAM Exploratorium SmartLab Facilitator in 2019, I had been a teacher for 15 years for students ranging in ages from Kindergarten to 6th grade. By teaching such a broad range of ages, I learned that a teacher must be flexible and adapt as the situation demands. I have found joy and challenges in each of the grades, learning something new that I have applied and developed to my overall teaching style. I received my BA in Psychology with a minor in special education from Metropolitan State College of Denver, then got my K-6 Certification at Metro. I have a Colorado Teaching Professional Licence and CLDE certification (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education) and am endorsed in CTE Engineering & Technology 7th-12th grade. A few trainings I have are: PBL (Project-Based Learning), AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination), 7 Mindsets, Differentiation, Restorative Practices and Cooperative Learning Structures.

Personally, I have two adult children in college named Aubrey and Jackson and have been married for 23 years. I have the sweetest Golden Retriever dogs named Leo, and Stella. I enjoy spending time with my family, including watching movies and attending my children’s activities (baseball games and theatre shows).

What is it about Colorado SKIES Academy that attracted me to pursue working there?

When I look back at my middle and high school years, I remember only enjoying learning subjects that I was interested in and being bored. The realization that students will learn more when they are interested and engaged in their own learning is why Colorado SKIES Academy was so attractive. Real world application is very important to learners, and I value voice and choice with the learning process.

STEAM and project-based learning fit with my values in education and teaching. I have always wanted to be involved in planning and facilitating the opening of a new school. I enjoy collaborating with other adults and learners. An innovative school focused on STEAM and aviation is very exciting to me, so I decided to work at CSA.

What would learners be surprised to know about me?

I decided to learn to snowboard a few years ago with my 16-year-old daughter after over 40 years of skiing. I have never fallen so many times in my life, but I found a new love and can deal with the drive to and from the mountains. I enjoy traveling, and I love living in Colorado!!!

After majoring in pre-law in her undergraduate studies, Mary Gispan earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science. She also holds a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on secondary education from the University of Phoenix. She conducted her practicum at The Denver School of the Arts. Mary also previously received training in project-based learning through NewTech Network, and participated in international development demos of a project at a Chicago International Conference.

I am the Director of Aerospace, Outreach, and Data. This is a new position this year at Colorado Skies Academy and uses my strengths and experience to better our school. I was involved in Civil Air Patrol as a youth, and into adulthood, and would love to start a School Squadron at CSA. I have been a leader with Boy Scouts of America and even trained other leaders using a program that was co-written by Steven Covey of the 7 Habits. Leadership and Aerospace have been integral parts of my life for almost three decades, as well as project-based learning. As a homeschooler, and a homeschool parent, I both learned from and taught my children using project-based learning. I have co-written and published project-based learning curriculum, reading and writing curriculum, and teaching manuals. For my Master’s Degree, I wrote the Skills for Academic Success class and student planner for learners at Colorado Skies to build their executive functioning skills. I have a vision for success for CSA, and I am so excited to see it come to fruition. Thank you for trusting me to guide your learner.

What is it about Colorado SKIES Academy that attracted me to pursue working here?

Volunteer service, leadership, and project-based learning have been a large part of my life. Civil Air Patrol taught me first how to follow, and then how to lead. My leadership and instructor training continued with Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, who teaches youth to take charge of their lives and be leaders, while also learning the skills they need for life to be successful, contributing, and involved citizens of their community, nation, and world. Project-based learning is in my DNA, I feel it is the best way for children to learn. I love inspiring and facilitating learning for children in a way that they enjoy and find meaningful.

What would learners be surprised to know about me?

I have summited 13 of Colorado’s 14ers and plan to summit them all. I am married to a South Metro firefighter, I have a young adult son, and one of our staff members is my daughter! I love to hike and backpack, and someday I plan on retiring to Ireland. I love animals, have two rescue bulldogs and a calico kitty.

Greetings to you all, my name is Shane Cronin. I am the facilitator for 6th grade Social Studies. I am to return to the team at CSA with so many talented team members, administration with a great vision, platinum integrity, and all of who care deeply for our learners.

My mission in life is to mold and inspire others. A family motto is “We are here to help others.” The educators and mentors that I had the good fortune of leading and growing with, continue to make significant impacts in a great number of dimensions in my life. I want to give that back to our learners.

A little bit about me: I grew up in Littleton, Colorado. I competed in a number of sports in high school and was a member of the Track & Field team at the University of Colorado-Boulder as a sprinter. I also competed in semi-pro football for the Mile High Grizzlies. I have one older brother who has been instrumental in my growth. He comes into agreement with me, that I, and every person, truly can accomplish any goal or dream we have with the right effort, strategy, persistence, and resilience. My favorite quote is “Those who say it cannot be done are usually passed up by those doing it.”

I have been a teacher for 3-years. I have been working with co-ed young people and young adult populations, from ages 5 to 22-years-old in the field of coaching, strength & conditioning, and mentorship since I was 19-years old. It all began with a 7-year head coaching career. Areas of discipline included recreational, club, secondary school, and collegiate individuals from a variety of backgrounds. My mission statement in coaching and mentorship is: “To Educate, Train, and Inspire.”

The elements that I learned from that time, that I am most proud of, are the connections cultivated. My prior students still stay in touch to this day. Those students took action to impact others and even took initiative to join me with shared positions on our staff when they became old enough.

I believe school, learning, and self-improvement should be fun combined with being informative, challenging, and leading a desire for more knowledge.

I cannot wait to meet you and the learner(s)! We can, and will, have a blast. Enrich and learn from each other!

My name is Subba Pratti and I am honored and humbled that I have been selected as an 8th grade lead math and science teacher at CSA for the 2022-2023 school year. I earned my masters degree MAT in teaching majoring in math from the Relay GSE. I attended undergraduate degree at AU and received a Bachelor Degree in sciences. (Major in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry.) I also attended AMS ( Seattle) and earned Montessori Primary Certification, Upper elementary certification from NAMC. I also earned computer science and technology from NICC, and I am highly qualified and earned my certifications in yoga ( Body Mind and Soul,) Indian classical dance, Carnatic music, drama and art of living. In addition I coached physical education and painting. Recently I worked for Principal Licensing program at CSU GLOBAL.

I serve now in several capacities. Teaching is so rewarding and gives me a sense that I am making the world a better place, one student at a time. I show my caring by forming relationships with my students and families and trying to help them find their dreams and strengths so they can believe in themselves the way I believe in them. Either way they are the future and have unlimited value. I am committed to providing your family with a loving and developmentally sound foundation for a lifetime of learning. At CSA, I strive to create and maintain an environment where your child can grow and thrive while exploring the world around them. I say thank you for believing in me and I am excited and looking forward to working with you.
Regards,
Subba