Our Team

Laurie Mickey- Teacher

Hello Fireside Families,I am a Kansas native who has called Colorado home for more than 30 years. The mountains called and I had to answer! By happy accident, I began working in the preschool at my sons’ elementary school and found my true calling. I am passionate about Early Intervention and committed to giving every child the best possible start in school.
This is my 15th year in Early Childhood education and my fourth year as a proud Fireside Falcon. I worked at Birch Elementary in Broomfield for 10 years and I completed my Early Childhood Special Education degree in 2020.
I am the proud mother of two amazing and talented young men who bring me joy every day. When I’m not teaching, I love to spend time outdoors in our beautiful state. I love to cook as much as possible from my own gardens and experiment with new and unusual recipes--my husband is my willing taster! I’m also an avid reader, movie watcher and coffee drinker, sometimes all at the same time.
I love being part of the Fireside community! I look forward to getting to know all of you.

Jody Choi-Paraprofessional

I was born and raised in Southern California. I moved to Hawaii in my 20s and worked as an assistant to an attorney in Honolulu. I met and got married in Hawaii and we decided to move to Louisville, Colorado to live and start a family.
I have been a part of the Fireside community since my daughter started attending Kindergarten in 2013 and began working in Preschool in 2019. Over the past years I have volunteered in the classrooms and other activities at Fireside. I also worked at the Louisville Recreation Center in childcare and was a substitute in the Building Blocks and Stepping Stones programs.
I have a daughter attending CU Boulder and a son at Monarch High School. When we are not at school or work we like to watch movies, go for hikes/walks, and spend time with friends.
I am so excited to be working at Fireside in the Preschool classroom. I enjoy getting to know all the little ones and their different personalities. This has been such a joy in my life!

Lexi Miller-Paraprofessional

I was born and raised in the mountains of Colorado and have called the Boulder area home for more than a decade. Before joining the preschool team at Fireside Elementary, I worked in the mental health field; as a journalist focused on health, wellness, and education; and as a running coach- working with both youth and adult athletes. These experiences have given me a strong appreciation for meeting people where they are, building confidence, and creating supportive environments where everyone can learn and grow.I am excited to bring that experience into the preschool classroom and to be part of such a dedicated, energetic, and caring team at Fireside. I look forward to getting to know our students and families and helping make their first school experiences positive, welcoming, and fun.Outside of school, I am a mom to two young sons. When we aren't at school, you can usually find us camping, biking, hiking, skiing, or enjoying just about any adventure we can find in Colorado. I feel incredibly lucky to be raising my family here and am excited to be part of the Fireside community!

Candace Garbow-
Community Liaison

I am honored to join the Fireside family as Community Liaison!
I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska but moved to Minnesota after finishing elementary school. Those are two gorgeous - but very cold - states! I moved with my husband, Zack, to Colorado in 2011. We could not have picked a more beautiful place to call home and start our family.
My background is in electrical engineering and long ago, I did chip design for IBM. I resigned from IBM to work for Zack's startup. Once I had Amelie, I became a stay at home parent. In 2021, I felt inspired to substitute teach within BVSD so I could help our teachers during such a difficult year. Little did I know subbing would lead me here and I am so grateful!
I have two Fireside Falcons: Amelie (3rd grade) and Cade (1st grade). Amelie is a delightful little girl who loves to draw, read, play soccer and listen to Hamilton. Cade is a sweetie pie guy that loves Legos, sharks, crafting and reading.
In my free time, I love to run, read and nap...usually in this order.

Anne Palazzola-
Speech-Language Pathologist

Liz Schneider - Occupational Therapist

Liz grew up in Minnesota and comes from a family of educators, including a grandmother who was a kindergarten teacher and a mother who was a speech-language pathologist. She holds a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. Ski trips to Colorado as a child gave her an appetite for adventure. Liz landed in BVSD in 2013, a perfect place to access the outdoors while also helping kids. Liz loves working with other educators and parents to help students become strong learners. She believes that all students have the ability to participate productively and be included in the regular education experience. Liz spends free time with her two young boys and husband, preferably outdoors.

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