Flight Crew Spotlight: Suzanne Acheson

My name is Suzanne Acheson and I am the School Director of Colorado SKIES Academy. I worked for 25 years in Aurora public schools, where I was a math teacher at Pickens Technical College, and then an assistant principal and interim principal at Hinkley High School. During this time, I was honored to be the 2017 Colorado Assistant Principal of the Year. All my educational experience and business experience has prepared me for my next journey as the new School Director.

I am a Colorado native and share my love of our beautiful state with my husband and my son, Ian. Ian is a senior this year at Valor Christian High School, with plans to attend Colorado Mesa University upon graduation. We all enjoy hiking and watching Ian play lacrosse.  Sometimes, our golden retriever, Ben, will join us on the field, too.

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

I’ve always been a firm believer in making learning relevant, and Colorado SKIES Academy does that and so much more. As I experienced in career and technical education, working on a project with the key concepts and standards embedded in it makes learning come alive for learners. And it is a really fun way to teach because it is different for every learner! Mix in the focus on aviation and aerospace, and a wonderful recipe for dynamic learning has been created. To have the privilege of being part of a school team where learners TRULY are at the center, where they are learning in a way that naturally suits the way we all learn, where parents and community support the vision for learners — this is the reason I wanted to be a part of Colorado SKIES Academy.

What would learners be surprised to know about me?

I learned to drive when I was 10 years old, and I attended one of the last three-room country schoolhouses in my area. I also used to be a part of a hot air balloon crew —way fun! 

Suzanne E. Acheson
School Director
suzanne.acheson@coloradoskiesacademy.org

Colorado SKIES Academy
Colorado SKIES Academy is a free public charter school authorized by the Cherry Creek School District, open to students throughout the Arapahoe County and Douglas County areas. This STEAM middle school serving grades 6-8 is located at Centennial Airport next to Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight.
Colorado SKIES Academy

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