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Mrs. Hainds
Secretary

As secretary, Dani has had the privilege of working and watching over the students of Ute Pass Elementary for over 22 years. She is a Colorado native (with the exception of 7 years in Alaska) and graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in Political Science, Sociology, and Women’s Studies. She has three daughters, all Manitou graduates, Chandra (2000), Christa (2000), and Katelyn (2004), and three grandchildren she wishes could attend Manitou schools! She and her husband Mike are avid runners and love living in the mountains with so many great trails right out their front door. Email Dani Hainds

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Mrs. Grieb
Preschool Teacher

Lynn Grieb has been teaching at Ute Pass Elementary since 1994, with a couple breaks to have children of her own. Lynn was born in Virginia, moved to Colorado to attend Colorado State University, fell in love with the Colorado mountains and never left.  Lynn has taught kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades and now has settled into pre-kindergarten, which she really enjoys.  She is married and has two wonderful children who attended UPE.  Lynn loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog, hiking, running, biking, skiing, camping, and reading. Email Lynn Grieb

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Mrs. Ferguson
Kindergarten Teacher

Kym Ferguson is starting her seventeenth year of teaching 
kindergarten at Ute Pass Elementary. She is excited to be able to help students grow and learn about themselves each year. Kym graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in Early Childhood development and art. She is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters who both graduated from the Manitou School District. She is also blessed to have three grandsons to chase after. She loves hiking and being outside as much as possible.
Email Kym Ferguson

Mia Harriman
First Grade Teacher

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Mia Harriman is a new teacher and is excited to begin her career at Ute Pass Elementary teaching first grade. Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Mia has visited the area many times, fell in love with the community and promised to one-day return to make it a more permanent place in her life.  She is a graduate from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Liberal Studies and attended the Teaching Licensure Program at UCCS. Her passions are teaching, learning, children, yoga, and running. She is excited for the upcoming year and all the amazing things it will bring.
Email Mia Harriman

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Jacob Sampson
Second Grade Teacher

Jacob Sampson. I have had the pleasure of teaching at UPE  since 2010. This is my 16 year! My first ten were in Greeley, Colorado where I was born and raised. Proud to be a Colorado native, I graduated from University of Northern Colorado in 2000.  I have a daughter who is 7th grade and son attending 5th grade at Ute Pass. I am so thankful to be a part of the Ute Pass community.
Email Jacob Sampson
Visit Second Grade website

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Louisa Dick
Third Grade Teacher

Louisa Dick is excited to begin her third year teaching 3rd grade at Ute Pass Elementary. She attended Colorado College and received degrees in both Art History and Spanish Language. In 2014, Louisa graduated from Colorado College’s Masters of Arts in Teaching program. She loves teaching because it provides endless learning and growing opportunities. Outside of the classroom, Louisa enjoys hiking, skiing, cooking, gardening, and reading. Louisa can’t wait to see what year three will bring! Email Louisa Dick
Class Website

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Jessica Black
Fourth Grade Teacher

Ms. Black grew up in Woodland Park, Colorado. She graduated High School from Woodland Park High School in 2009. She is a 2013 graduate from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a Language Arts emphasis, and a minor in Reading Instruction. She is currently teaching fourth grade at Ute Pass Elementary School in Chipita Park, Colorado. Email Jessie Black

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Mr. DiFiore
Fifth Grade Teacher

Mr. DiFiore is in his twenty-third year of teaching fifth-grade students at Ute Pass Elementary. He attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where he earned a  Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and his teaching certificate in 1995.  He loves teaching and working in our wonderful small school where the students call him Mr. D.  He has lived for over twenty-five years in Manitou Springs with his wife and has two grown children and two grandchildren.  He loves to travel and share those experiences with his students.  His other interests are hiking, biking, gardening, and reading.
Email Greg DiFiore
Visit Fifth Grade Website

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Miles Groth
Sixth Grade Teacher

Miles Groth has been teaching in elementary schools in Colorado and Connecticut since 2008 and this will be his third year teaching the Mountain Academy of Arts and Sciences.  Miles graduated from Colorado College with degrees in Anthropology and Southwest Studies and later earned his Master’s in Elementary Education.  Mr. Groth is passionate about outdoor education and finding ways to connect students to the world around them.  Outside of teaching, Miles spends his time with his wife Emily and young son.  Some of his hobbies include camping, hiking, mountain biking, beekeeping, and snowboarding. Email Miles Groth
Visit Sixth Grade Website

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Mrs. Romano
Art & Library TeacHer

Beth Romano is currently in her ninth year teaching art at Ute Pass Elementary School.  She is a thirty- year veteran in the teaching field, having taught in both private and public schools in elementary education, gifted, and art education before joining the Ute Pass team in 2001. She is married to Jim Romano and has four daughters, all graduates of Manitou High School. Beth and Jim have a two-year-old granddaughter and love spending time with her. Beth loves painting in her free time, as well as singing and playing the flute and cello. She is involved in music ministry in her church and working with a local organization for adolescents, in the arts. She loves teaching at Ute Pass Elementary School and finds the small school setting a perfect environment for getting to know families in the Ute Pass and Manitou communities. Email Beth Romano

Taylor Weimer
Music & Technology Teacher

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Taylor Weimer is in his fourth year as a Music and TEAMS teacher here at Ute Pass Elementary School, and he couldn’t be more thrilled! He is incredibly passionate about teaching and learning and loves working with the amazing kids and staff in District 14. Taylor graduated from UCCS with a degree in Music Composition and Sound Art, with a background in technology as well. He has taught after-school music programs through Arts14 in Manitou for six years now. Taylor is the director of the 6th-grade band program and loves fostering a passion for music in children of all ages. He also teaches TEAMS (Technology, Engineering, Arts, Media, and Science). Taylor enjoys spending time outside, rock climbing, learning new things, playing games, and spending time with family. Email Taylor Weimer

Mrs. Christensen
Interventionist

Staci has been teaching for 20 years at Ute Pass Elementary. It is a pleasure for her to come to work each day to work with students in all academic subject areas. She received her Teacher Certification from the University of Southern Colorado and her Master's degree in Gifted and Talented Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado. She is a native to Colorado Springs, is married, and has three dogs. Staci enjoys the outdoors, running, practicing photography, and reading good books.
Email Staci Christensen

Neilson-Johnson
Speech Teacher

Leah Johnson is the Speech/Language Pathologist serving Manitou Springs Elementary and Ute Pass Elementary Schools.  She earned her B.A. degrees in French and English, with a minor in Journalism, from Western State College and her M.A. in Communication Disorders and Sciences from the University of Oregon.  She holds her Professional Special Service Provider License from the State of Colorado in the endorsement area of Speech/Language Pathologist (ages 0-21) and her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech/Language Hearing Association.  This year will mark Leah’s 15th as a school-based SLP and her third year in Manitou Springs School District.  Before coming to Manitou, Leah worked for eight years in Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 and four years in Colorado Springs School District 11.  Leah has worked at all levels, from preschool-12th grade, but the majority of her experience has been in the early childhood and elementary settings.  Leah is a native of Colorado Springs.  She and her husband, Cris, keep busy with their three wonderful boys, ages 15, 9, and 4 years.  She enjoys running, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.
 Email Leah Nielson-Johnson

Lisa Kadlec
Health Tech

Lisa has been working with Elementary School children since 1998.  She started as a volunteer and soon after became an Administrative Assistant that she loved for many years.  Over the years she has worked side by side with several Nurses and many students.  She believes children should always come first as they are our future.  She is a Colorado Springs native and married her High School sweetheart.  She has two adult children Nicholas 25 and Mindy 23 who are the sunshine of her life.   Lisa loves the outdoors and the mountains.  She spends the weekends riding her motorcycle and relaxing at the family cabin.

Milica Barkic
Food Service

Terry Weimer
Food Service

Terry comes from Springfield, Ohio, but Colorado has been her home for over 30 years. Terry and her husband Dave have a daughter, Katie who attended Manitou Springs School District from Preschool to graduation in 2010. Terry has designed and made costumes for MSSD plays and performances, helped with talent shows and cheer fundraisers. Terry is thrilled to continue to be a part of the MSSD Community serving lunches to the wonderful kids at UPES! In her free time, Terry sings with her band, paints and makes original works of art.