Melinda Beaumont Elementary Science/Karate

Hello, my name is Melinda Beaumont.  This is my 4th year teaching at Options and my 11th year teaching elementary and middle students.  I have a BA from the University of Denver in Psychology and Education and a Teaching Certification in Elementary Education from the University of Denver's Graduate School of Education.  I got involved with the Options School four years ago when my son, now 8, started school at the Grace location.  I was there so much that year that I was offered a job and I enjoyed that so much that I am now teaching at three Options sites this year.  In my free time, I am also an avid martial artist.  I travel nationally to compete in Karate, Taekwondo, and Jiu-jitsu.  I hold 3rd degree blackbelts in , Kempo Karate, and Olympic style Taekwondo.  I also train heavily in jiu-jitsu, and am working towards a blackbelt in that as well.  Additionally, I currently own and run my own karate school and have really enjoyed teaching karate at Options.  I look forward to sharing my experience and passion for Science and karate with your child(ren) and expect this to be an awesome year!

Shelly Erickson Elementary Computer/Logic

Becky Johnson Elementary Language Arts/Rhythm & Movement

My name is Becky Johnson.  I have taught elementary students for 11 years.  I graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Spanish.  I completed my Master's in Education at Regis University, and love learning from my students as I teach.  Prior to teaching, I taught swimming lessons, coached various swim teams, worked as a counselor and administrator at a children's camp, and traveled to Juarez, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador to practice my Spanish.  Personal hobbies include hiking, running, and reading.  My family is amazing and consists of my husband, Quin, daughter, Collette, (3 years old) and son, Adam, (1 year old).  I look forward to working with your children this year.

Molly Paxton Kindergarten

Hi, I am Molly Paxton. I have been teaching for 3 years. I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2007 with my degree in History and Elementary Education. I student taught in the fall of 2007 and began my teaching career in December of 2007. I taught first grade at Aurora Frontier. I am really looking forward to teaching your children and working for this great program. In my free time I enjoy watching movies. I am a huge movie fan, so if you ever want to know useless information about movies or the actors who play in them I am your girl! Also last fall my husband and I had our first baby - Rosie Belle! We are so thrilled!

Lisa Marshall Elementary Geography

Hi, my name is Lisa Marshall and I am so happy to be teaching Geography on Monday and Friday!  This begins my fourth year with Options.  I have taught Elementary Geography, Science, Logic, Computers and am the AmeriTowne teacher.  This year I am hoping to be able to get a group together to go to International Town as well! Previously, I was taking time off from being a full time Elementary teacher with Aurora Public Schools. 

My husband, Craig, has been teaching with Aurora for 30 years. We have three beautiful daughters (2, 8 and 11 years old) and we recently adopted an eight year old sled dog that was ready to retire. Our family loves to go on nature hikes, play tennis, ride bikes and walk (or get pulled by) our dog. Our oldest daughters dance. We travel around the world to Irish Dance competitions and love December when our middle daughter performs in the Nutcracker.  The baby is starting to show signs of being a dancer, but for now she is a Rockies fan! 

We will have a wonderful year of “travel” in Geography. Teaching is never a job, but a pure joy and I look forward to seeing new faces as well as familiar ones this year with Options.

Dawn Robertson Elementary Art

Rosemary Been Secondary Language Arts

I originally moved to Colorado on a whim.  The mountains and wide-open spaces were a refreshing change from inner city Chicago, where my husband and I had been living and teaching prior to the move. 

Born and raised in southern Wisconsin, I am still a Badgers fan and still find myself longing for some of those really rollicking Midwestern thunderstorms.  I live in Centennial with my husband and two children both of whom you'll find in classes here at Orchard Options.  I"ve been teaching secondary language arts at Orchard Options since it's inception seven years ago. If I am not at home, I might just be out climbing a 14er.

Nancy Denhoed Secondary Language ArtsSSeocnarecondary Language Arts

I have been a Language Arts teacher for almost 30 years.  I have a BA and MA in English, and a B Ed. In education.  I have also homeschooled for the last 17 years, and have a son who just graduated high school.  My oldest daughter graduated in 2006 and attended the Air Force Academy.  She is married and works as an engineer at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.  My middle daughter graduated in May from Oklahoma University and is heading to Oxford in the fall on a Rhodes Scholarship.  My husband works for the VA.  We have been married for 27 years.  My teaching experience spans two continents (India and the US), and middle school, high school, college, as well as private and public education.

Anna Fryer Secondary History

This will be my third year at Options teaching social studies. I have a BA in history and a MA in curriculum and instruction both from the Unviersity of Colorado at Denver. My one year old son is my only child, but he keeps me very busy. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, hiking, and especially traveling. I have traveled around the world and have gone to four continents.

Andrea Good Secondary Robotics

Lamecia Landrum Secondary Art

Raised in Oklahoma, I have always done artwork and have a fine arts degree from Oklahoma State University.  My teaching career began in Denver Public Schools and I have taught in Jefferson County, but most of my years were spent in the Aurora Public Schools. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I became an airline stewardess for Pan American World Airways and got to travel all over the world.  During the last 20 years, I've also been a costume designer for small theatres in Denver and assisted the theatre teacher at Gateway High School for a few years.

In addition to teaching art at Options on Mondays, I spend the rest of the week at my art studio in the Santa Fe Art District. See my work at www.lamecia.com

Linda Newman Secondary Science

Jilian Scott Secondary Theatre Arts

Kate Stapleton Secondary Math

This will be my 4th year teaching math at Options. I grew up and lived in Wisconsin until 2006 when we move to Colorado.  I taught at a college prep school for 6 years before becoming a full-time mom in 2000. I have 3 daughters: Jordyn (9), Miquela (7), and Ashlyn (5). I am very interested in sports which makes it appropriate that my husband, Arnie, is a sportswriter for Associated Press. 

David Umphress K-12 Physical Education