about

Faculty and Staff

Relationships are the foundation of our learning environment, and our faculty are our hallmarks. Current students and alumni share that the close and enriching relationships they have with our diversely talented and deeply committed teachers are the cornerstone of what makes a CRMS education so powerful.

Administration
Admission
Arts
Bike
Business Office
Climb
College Counseling
Computer Science
Cross Country
Development
English
Faculty
Garden
Health
History
Horse
Housekeeping
HS2
International Program
Kitchen
Learning Specialist
Maintenance
Marketing & Communications
Mathematics
River
Science
Snow Sports
Soccer
Spanish
Teaching Fellow
Technology
Wilderness Leaders
Yoga

Amanda Leahy

History Department Chair, History/English Faculty, Horse Program Manager

Amanda Leahy

BA, American Studies, Middlebury College

MA, American Western History, Colorado State University

Appointed 2000 What do you do on campus? I chair the History Department and teach…

Annie Oppenheim

Director of the (HS)2 Program

Annie Oppenheim

BA, History and Education Policy, Dartmouth College

MEd, Education, Harvard University

Appointed 2019 My primary role at CRMS is directing the (HS)² Summer Program. In addition…

Ashley Smith

Director of Counseling

Ashley Smith

BA, Psychology, University of Montana

MSW, Social Work, Colorado State University

LCSW, CAS, and EMDR Trained Clinician

Appointed 2002 What do you do at CRMS? I am the mental health counselor at…

Beth Krasemann

History Faculty

Beth Krasemann

MAT, History - Brown University

BA, History - Williams College

MA, Holocaust and Genocide Studies - Gratz College (in progress)

Appointed 2022 Beth grew up in Portland, Oregon, hitting the Cascade Mountains for adventures in…

Beth Smith

Marketing & Communications Manager

Beth Smith

BA, Psychology, University of Pennsylvania

Appointed 2023 Beth has served as the Marketing & Communications Manager since 2023, bringing with…

Billy Gavette

Operations Project Manager, Ranch Crew Leader

Billy Gavette

Appointed 1998 bgavette@crms.org

BJ Sbarra

Director of Residential Life

BJ Sbarra

BA, Cornell University

Appointed 2012 bsbarra@crms.org

Bobby Rosati

Mathematics Faculty

Bobby Rosati

BS, Physics, Northern Arizona University

Appointed 2011 Originally from Chicago, Bobby has been part of the CRMS community since the…

Brittany Bergin-Foss

English Faculty

Brittany Bergin-Foss

BA, Secondary English Education, Colorado State University

MFA, Creative Writing, Nature Writing, Western Colorado University

Appointed 2025 Born and raised in Colorado, Brittany will step into her eighteenth year as…

Bryan Garneau

Director of Food Service

Bryan Garneau

BA, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Food and Farming, University of Montana

Appointed 2023 Bryan grew up in Connecticut, attended college and graduated from the University of…

Calvin Bates

Arts Faculty

Calvin Bates

BA, Economics - Middlebury College

Appointed 2022 Calvin joined the CRMS faculty after spending a year teaching and coaching in…

Clemente De Hoyos

Science & Academic Support Faculty, Culture Liaison

Clemente De Hoyos

BS, Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology - Emory University

Appointed 2022 Clemente is a recent graduate from Emory University and acquired a BS in…

Cleo Torres

Housekeeping

Cleo Torres

Appointed 2018

Colin Rydell

History Faculty

Colin Rydell

BA, Political Science & History, University of Denver

MA, History, University of Chicago

PhD, History, University of Chicago

Appointed 2025 Originally from the Denver area, Colin was a postdoctoral teaching fellow and assistant…

Daniel Pittz

Spanish Language Department Chair, Spanish Language Faculty

Daniel Pittz

BA, Spanish Literature, University of Colorado

MEd, Curriculum and Instruction, Arizona State University

MA, Spanish, Universidad de Salamanca and New Mexico State University

Appointed 2004 What do you do on campus? I teach Spanish, level 3, and this…

Eliot Taft

English Faculty

Eliot Taft

BA, English & Environmental Studies, Bowdoin College

Appointed 2019 What do you do on campus? I teach English, and I like to…

Eric Krimmer

Director of Technology

Eric Krimmer

BS, Information Technology, Colorado State University

AA, AS, Colorado Mountain College; Microsoft MCSE Certification; Cisco CCNA Certification

Appointed 2000 What do you do on campus? I am the Director of Technology. I…

Heather McDermott

Director of Garden Program

Heather McDermott

BA, Green Mountain College

Appointed 2016 Heather grew up ski racing in New Jersey and attended Rowmark Ski Academy…

Jacob Sheetz-Willard

Outdoor Program Director

Jacob Sheetz-Willard

BA, History, Hamilton College

MA, American History, Utah State University

MFA, Poetry, Warren Wilson College

Appointed 2026 Jacob grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended Hamilton College before moving…

Jeff Leahy

Head of School

Jeff Leahy

BA, English, Pomona College

MA, English, Trinity College

Appointed to Faculty 2000, as Head of School 2005 Jeff Leahy was born in Philadelphia…

Jennifer Ogilby

Dean of Students; Modern Language Faculty

Jennifer Ogilby

BA, International Studies, Vassar College

MA, Private School Leadership, Columbia University

Appointed 1996 What do you do on campus? I teach Spanish 1, assist with coaching…

Jim Gaw ’64

Science Faculty

Jim Gaw ’64

BA, Chemistry, Reed College

PhD, Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz

CRMS Great Teaching Chair in Science and Mathematics

Appointed 1979 What do you do on campus? I teach chemistry. I lead hiking, kayaking…

Joe White

Chief Finance & Operations Officer

Joe White

BS, Business Administration, University of Colorado, Denver

Appointed 2005 jwhite@crms.org

Joel Ordoñez Gonzalez

Kitchen Staff

Joel Ordoñez Gonzalez

Appointed 2002

Jose Chardiet

Glassblowing Artist-in-Residence

Jose Chardiet

BA, Glass, Southern Connecticut State University

MFA, Glass, Kent State University

Appointed 2019 jchardiet@crms.org

Josh Weinstein

Mathematics Faculty

Josh Weinstein

BS, CU Boulder

Appointed 2022 Josh grew up on the Front Range of Colorado and rapidly developed an…

Julie Wiley

Associate Director of Admission

Julie Wiley

AB, Public Policy Studies & Art History, Duke University

Juris Doctor, Washington & Lee University School of Law

Appointed 2019 Julie practiced law for 14 years in North Carolina and Maryland, culminating in…

Katie Bailey

Alumni & Parent Relations Manager

Katie Bailey

BA, Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder

M.Ed., Education, Seattle University

Appointed 2024 Katie has dedicated herself to advocacy work since 2000, with a strong focus…

Kayo Ogilby

Science Department Chair, Science Faculty

Kayo Ogilby

BS, Liberal Arts, Evergreen State College

MA, Secondary School Science Education, Columbia University

CRMS Great Teaching Chair in Science 2010/11

Appointed 1996 What do you do on campus? Favorite campus pastimes: Teaching 2 sections of…

Keelan Bozman

Music Faculty

Keelan Bozman

BS, Music, Queens University of Charlotte

BS, Biology, East Carolina University

Associates in Fine Arts in Music, Central Piedmont Community College

Appointed 2022 Keelan Bozman is a dynamic performer, dedicated educator, and passionate outdoor enthusiast. His…

Laura Rhodes

Front Desk Attendance Manager

Laura Rhodes

George Mason University

Appointed 2026 Laura was born and raised in New Jersey. After graduating from George Mason…

Levia Nahary

Director of College Counseling

Levia Nahary

BA, Communications/English Education, University of Scranton

MS, Higher Education Administration, West Chester University

Appointed 2026 Levia Nahary joins CRMS as our new Director of College Counseling. Levia brings…

Lori Gavette

Spanish Language Faculty

Lori Gavette

BA, Spanish, University of Colorado

Appointed 1994 What do you do at CRMS? I teach Spanish levels I and II.…

Maria Olivas

Housekeeping

Maria Olivas

Appointed 1996 What do you do in your free time? I like to go on…

Mark Bell

Director of Development

Mark Bell

BA, English, University of Virginia

MA, English, University of Richmond

Appointed 2023 Mark has spent the last two decades in the independent school world, serving…

Marlin Rhodes

Accounts Payable/Receivable

Marlin Rhodes

Appointed 1990 What do you do at CRMS? I work in the Business Office processing…

Matt Bowers

Science Faculty

Matt Bowers

BA, Neuroscience - Bowdoin College

PhD, Molecular, Cellular, and Integrated Neurosciences - Colorado State University

Appointed 2022 Aside from a passion for all things biology, Matt loves the mountains. Growing…

Matt Norrdin

English Department Chair, English Faculty

Matt Norrdin

BA, Philosophy, University of Colorado

Appointed 2007 What do you do on campus? I chair the English Department, teach Sophomore…

Micki Kibler

Director of Health Services

Micki Kibler

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Northern Colorado

Appointed 2020 I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995 with a BSN…

Molly Dorais

Director of Enrollment & Tuition Assistance

Molly Dorais

BA, Political Science, Princeton University

Appointed 2003 Molly attended The Taft School, a boarding school in Connecticut, before matriculating to…

Monica Perez Rhodes

Human Resources/Controller

Monica Perez Rhodes

BS, Business Administration, University of Phoenix

Appointed 1994 mrhodes@crms.org

Nancy Draina

Academic Dean and Fine Arts Faculty

Nancy Draina

BA, Secondary Education, Shepherd University

MA, Art Education, Maryland Institute College of Art

Appointed 2006 ndraina@crms.org

Nicole Padgett

Admission Associate

Nicole Padgett

BA, Philosophy, Rollins College

Appointed 2018 After college, Nicole lived and worked in New York City for 10 years.…

Nikhil Malhotra

(HS)2 Associate Director

Nikhil Malhotra

BA, Journalism, Lehigh University

Appointed 2024 Born and raised in New York city, Nikhil fostered a love for the…

Noah Sakamoto

Fine Arts Department Chair

Noah Sakamoto

BFA, Media Arts, California College of Arts and Crafts

Appointed 2019 What do you do on campus? Painting and Drawing teacher, Videography teacher, Roaring…

Olegaria Barrera

Kitchen Staff

Olegaria Barrera

Appointed 2019

Peter Benedict

Mathematics Faculty, River Program Manager

Peter Benedict

BA, Outdoor Education, Prescott College

MS, Math Education, Montana State University

Appointed 1998 What do you do on campus? I teach math, Run the River program,…

Rachel Morse

Fine Arts Faculty, Ceramics and Silversmithing

Rachel Morse

BS, Cognitive Psychology, University of Utah

Appointed 2023 Rachel was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where she grew…

Rosa Morales

Kitchen Staff

Rosa Morales

Appointed 2022

Ryan Margo

Buildings and Grounds Director

Ryan Margo

Appointed 2018 rmargo@crms.org

Sierra Aldrich ’97

Director of Active Curriculum

Sierra Aldrich ’97

BA, Colorado College

MA, Educational Leadership, Western State University

Appointed 2024 Sierra is a proud graduate of Colorado Rocky Mountain School (’97) and deeply…

Siouzxy Sundheim

Interim Learning Specialist

Siouzxy Sundheim

BS, Special Education and Psychology

MA, Special Education, University of Utah

Appointed 2026 Siouxzy Sundheim is the Interim Learning Specialist at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, bringing…

Spencer Forbes

Learning Center Faculty, Blacksmithing

Spencer Forbes

BS, Natural Resources Management, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Appointed 2024 Spencer joins Colorado Rocky Mountain School from North Carolina, where he recently completed…

Suzanne Sinclair

Kitchen Staff

Suzanne Sinclair

Appointed 2023

Tim O’Keefe

Director of Annual Giving

Tim O’Keefe

BS, Biology, Davidson College

Appointed 2020 Since 1996, Tim has worked with non-profits in environmental, faith-based, and education fields.…

Tom McGill

Maintenance Staff

Tom McGill

Staff

Appointed 2016

Tracy Wilson

History Faculty, Climbing Program Manager, 9th Grade Team Leader

Tracy Wilson

BA, English & Communications, Boise State University

MA, Secondary School Education, Prescott College

Appointed 2008 What do you do on campus? I teach ninth-grade World Geography and am…

Veronica Wolff

Mathematics Faculty

Veronica Wolff

BA, Mathematics and Art History, Williams College

Appointed 2023 Veronica grew up in Northern Virginia and attended Williams College, where she studied…

Virginia Invernizzi

Spanish Language Faculty

Virginia Invernizzi

BS, Education, University of Virginia

MA, Spanish and Latin American Literature, University of Virginia

PhD, Spanish Literature/Specialization in Contemporary Latin America, University of Virginia

Appointed 2024 Virginia was born in the charming coastal city of Montevideo, Uruguay. She moved…

Volker Krasemann

Mathematics Department Chair and Science Faculty

Volker Krasemann

BA, MS, Physics - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universitat Greifswald (Germany)

MS, Physics - Montana State University

Appointed 2022 Volker is a proud relic of the Cold War. He grew up in…

Yolanda Ocampo Reyes

Kitchen Staff

Yolanda Ocampo Reyes

Appointed 2023