Hi! My name is Jason Austin, and this is my 20th year teaching 4th grade at Red Rocks Elementary! I was born in Dallas, Texas and moved to Colorado when I was 4 years old. I lived in Lakewood and attended Green Gables Elementary for kindergarten and 1st grade, and then moved to Parker where I attended school until 7th grade. After that, my parents bought a small ranch out east in Kiowa, Colorado. We lived there until I graduated from high school in 1993 (with a very small senior class of 12!).
After high school, I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado in Denver, and then completed the teacher education certification program at Metro State College. Next, I spent time as a student teacher with 5th graders at Peiffer Elementary. When I was ready for a class of my own, I was fortunate to be hired at Red Rocks - the best school in Jeffco! In addition to teaching 4th grade, I teach private music lessons at my studio in Littleton. It's fun teaching drums and percussion to students of all ages and ability levels!
When I'm not busy with 4th graders, I enjoy participating in the peer mentor program at Red Rocks. We learn about leadership and compassion for others. A team of teachers and parent volunteers meet regularly with a group of about 20 fifth graders. We study strategies to help learners who may struggle, we keep an eye on our Buddy Bench to offer support when someone needs a friend, and we learn about a variety of topics related to children and adults with special needs. Our group is passionate about helping others and keeping Red Rocks a welcoming and wonderful place for ALL kinds of kids to learn!
My favorite thing to do when I'm not at school is spending time with my family. If I'm not with them, you'll likely find me in my drum studio. I enjoy all types of music and there is nothing more enjoyable than making music with good friends. Like many of you, I love spending time in the Rocky Mountains and exploring Colorado. Learning about our state is one of the many awesome things we get to do in 4th grade!
Vanessa, my wife of 27 years, works for a medical lab at Littleton Hospital. She loves her job and stays very busy with her family and friends.
Zach, my son, is 20 years old and is currently a student in the Jeffco Transition program. He loves gaming on his PS5, connecting with friends, and helping with projects around the house.
Sara, my daughter, is 18 years old and is a freshman at CU. She enjoys all the things about college life in Boulder! She also enjoys her work with elementary age students in the Jeffco SAE program during breaks from college.
Baylee is our 8 year old puppy dog. She enjoys laying in the sun and hanging out with her best buddy, PJ.
PJ is our 12-year-old puppy dog. He loves chasing squirrels around the yard and playing tug of war with his chew toys.
Allie is our 2 year-old puppy dog. She loves playing with her best friends PJ and Baylee, and keeping a watch on any birds, squirrels, or bunnies that might visit her yard. Her nickname is 'wiggles' because she gets so excited when she sees people that she wiggles her whole body all over the place! :)
Simon is our 9-year-old kitty. When he isn't running around playing with the dogs, you can find him being lazy and enjoying the sun in front of a bright window.
There is never a dull moment at our house... and I love every minute of it!! :)