Our Team

Aubree Keys is the sixth grade language arts facilitator at Colorado SKIES Academy. She has been with CSA since it opened, and she loves helping learners develop the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills that will aid them now and in the future.

Originally from Michigan, Aubree graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in English and psychology; she then earned her Masters Degree of Education with a focus in secondary level English. She has over a dozen years of experience with teaching middle school language arts.

Aubree is married and spent two years living abroad in Australia with her husband before they moved back to Colorado and adopted a son from Kyrgyzstan and a daughter from China. She loves spending time with her two young children and enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, camping, traveling, taking pictures, cooking, and reading.

Hi, I am Cheryene (sher-rene) McGuire! I teach 6th grade math, along with electives and flight crew. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montevallo in 2015. I also have my Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in STEM Education, from the University of Cincinnati. I have taught 5th grade for several years and I am excited to move into the middle school world. I have also worked in the museum setting, teaching summer camp at the McWane Science Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Engaging, hands-on learning is truly my passion!

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

When I saw that CSA was a small school with a focus on engagement, STEAM, and project based learning, I knew there could be no better fit. I love the community feel here, how everyone comes together to help students. Combined with the way all subjects are combined into projects and outside of the box thinking is celebrated, I know that I have made the BEST choice ever. (:

What would learners be surprised to know about me?

I am originally from the Birmingham, Alabama area and moved here right before the school year began. I live in downtown Denver with my husband and two sweet doggos. I am obsessed with taking walks, board games, kawaii things, tattoos, bright colors, Broadway shows, and personality tests.

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.

I am a native of Dillon, Colorado back before there was a lake (just barely). I studied at the University of Colorado and finished my BA in Mathematics at University of Northern Colorado. Because of the song Kokomo on the radio during a cold-snap, I moved to Waimea, a small town on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. After completing a M.Ed. in Secondary Mathematics Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Hawaii, I moved to Washington DC, then landed in San Diego,CA for six years. There, I met my husband who I brought back to Colorado to buy a home and settle down.

I chose to teach math because I could work anywhere. Along the way, I deepened my belief that helping students rise to the challenge of expanding their mind is
so much more than teaching computation. Our goal should be to raise and educate independent adults that can support themselves and understand enough about our government to sustain democracy. Mathematics is a way of understanding the world around us and interpreting what we see. The opportunity to focus on curriculum directly related to content in other subjects drew me to Colorado Skies Academy.

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!!!

I am a part of the Care Team here at CSA, so you will see me all over the place providing help for anyone who needs it! I work concurrently with our special education teams, as well as our general education teams. I am currently in school working toward my bachelor’s in education and specializing in psychology to be a mental health advocate as well as an educator. My educational career journey began in a day care, so this was just the kind of change I needed! I am from the world of homeschooling, as that’s where my education began. I grew up with my mother teaching me along with my brother and a handful of kids with diverse learning needs. Education has been my life, and learning how to be an educator is the ideal fit for me. Because I was homeschooled, I have a jack-of-all-trades mind-set and skills. I can do just about anything that you ask of me! I am also very familiar with modifying and adapting curriculum and materials to best fit learners, so being on the Care Team is a perfect fit!

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

I have several years of experience in volunteer service, aviation, and leadership through Civil Air Patrol, so finding a school that was project-based with a focus on aviation was ideal. In Civil Air Patrol, I learned that it takes a good follower to be a great leader, that everyone’s voice matters in making decisions, and that the best learning experiences come in many forms. Through hands-on experience, I learned how to fly gliders and powered planes. From textbooks, I learned how to read the weather. Because of the diverse learning styles at our school, I also found that this would be the perfect place for me to help learners learn how to be flexible, to have fun learning, and to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health.

What would learners be surprised to know about me?

I have three tattoos, I graduated high school with my associate’s degree, and my mom also teaches here! The Motley Crew are we, and I am often called her shadow. I also love to play Dungeons and Dragons and go to comic conventions over the summer. I go backpacking and hiking with my mom, and we are looking at backpacking Europe together soon!

Hello! I facilitate learning in the Cyber Spaces this year. This places a focus on what can be created in digital space, including things that can not exist under real life environmental concerns. I am excited to see what the leaners create!
I went to a charter school until high school, allowing the programs and other benefits to have a lasting impact on my schooling and love for learning. I took 6 years of Latin through the Core Knowledge System, causing me to read the Iliad and the Odyssey three different times (once in Latin and twice in English).

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

Truthfully, the school pursued me just as much as I pursued them. The kids and the staff have welcomed me with open arms and I couldn’t find a better school to work at. I have been able to see myself in middle school in these kids, all highly motivated, quick learners, and hungry for high-level knowledge. I love the STEM field and the Project-Based Learning structure present here at CSA! The learning atmosphere set by charter schools can’t be beat!

What would learners be surprised to know about me?

I completed the International Baccalaureate Program in HS, where I was able to graduate with 65 college credits. I grew up riding horses at Westernaires. I can code in Java, Python, HTML (and HTML5), C, C++, C#, and SQL!

I am Ms. Mallory, and I earned a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas. I have taught 6th grade science and social studies for five years now, and I am so excited to start my Colorado career here at CSA!

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

As soon as I saw the description of an aerospace-focused middle school, I immediately wanted to know more. I have been fascinated with space since I was a little girl and even got to work in a planetarium in college. I am so happy to have to opportunity to share my love of learning with my learners!

What would learners be surprised to know about me?

I have traveled to 12 different countries, and I speak three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese! I love traveling and was an exchange student to Brazil after high school.

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