Meet The Team

Ben Hershelman

GT Resource Teacher

Favorite Mythical Creature: The Yeti

Years at NAMS: 2 as a student, 8 as a teacher

Years in Jeffco: 11 as a student, 14 as a teacher

I love NAMS because: Every kid has a community here.

I have an ALP in: collecting stickers.

Shaunna Abling

GT Resource Teacher

Years at NAMS: 1

Years in Jeffco: 15

I'm so excited to be part of the team this year at NAMS. I started my educational endeavors as a Middle School Social Studies and ELA Teacher for fourteen years, seven of which were in GT Center, before coming aboard as a Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher. I'm a product of Jeffco, my husband also works in education, and our two children attend Jeffco schools as well.

Benjamin Wells

GT Social Studies Teacher

Years at NAMS: 3

Years in Jeffco: 3

Hello, my name is Benjamin Wells, and I am the new GT Social Sciences teacher here at NAMS. This is my third year at this school. I am certified to teach a number of subjects including French, high school biology, environmental science, and social sciences. I earned my B.A. from LSU in 2013 in International Studies with a regional concentration in Africa and a French minor. I earned my M.A. in 2016 from UNO in applied linguistics with a focus on socio-cultural phenomena in the early industrial era. My classes focus on ideas of inclusivity, stewardship, and citizenship in the modern world. I will challenge students to “think globally” and “act locally” as we progress through the year. As a former GT kid, I am excited to serve the community in this new capacity, and I look forward to working with you all.

Kristen Pfeiffenberger

Language Arts Teacher

I am so excited to be a part of North Arvada's GT center. I have been teaching in Jeffco for 29 years. I worked at Sheridan Green for 23 years and I was fortunate enough to open the GT center there. I taught 3 and 4th grade in the center there for 5 years before moving to North Arvada and I have been here for 6 years. I love teaching language arts because it is so fun becoming lost in a good book.

I have been married to my husband, Brian, for 15 years and we have two children. Our daughter is in 9th grade this year and our son in in 7th grade. We also have three dogs that range in size from 10 pounds to 85 pounds

GT ELA Teacher 6th Grade

Years at NAMS:

Years in Jeffco:

GT Stem Science Teacher (7-8)

Years at NAMS: Years in Jeffco:

Stephenie Buehrle "Ms. Steph"

GT Counselor

Years at NAMS: 3

Years in Jeffco: 5

I have traveled a fun path from the sciences to technology, in research and innovation, through non-profit work to consulting with some of the largest companies in the world! And then I quit. Volunteering with young people got a grip on my heart, so I earned my counseling degree, left Corporate America, and here I am! I also serve as a GT Counselor at Arvada High School.

Tristin Koch

GT Social Studies Teacher (7-8)

Years at NAMS: 2
Years in Jeffco: 21
Currently I am piloting the iCivics curriculum in Jeffco and absolutely love it. It is rigorous, but equally engaging. I also travel often (last summer to Morocco and Egypt) and bring my experiences to the classroom.

Jill Weber

GT Stem Science & Math Teacher (6)

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