Mrs. Kardys
It is certainly hard to believe that this is my 23rd year in the classroom! When I am not at school, you can find me outdoors trail running, camping, skiing, hiking, or biking with my family.
Born and raised in New York State, I moved to Colorado with my husband in 2001 in search of mountains, sunshine, and a Master’s Degree in reading from CU Boulder (Go Buffs!). We have been married for 21 years and have two wonderful children, Jack is 17 and Eliza is 15. Jack and Eliza also have a furry sibling, our rescue dog, Willow.
First grade is a very exciting time for children and I am looking forward to joining Vanderhoof and fostering the social and academic growth of my students. My passion for teaching stems from a desire to help children develop an intrinsic love of learning. I feel fortunate to be a part of the Hoof Team in which everyone is dedicated and involved in helping your student become successful.
One of my goals for the upcoming school year is to provide a safe, risk-free environment in which active learning, cooperation, problem-solving and communication are promoted. One way we can accomplish this goal is to develop a partnership between home and school. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or any information you think I might need to help your child grow and learn to his/her fullest potential.
andrea.kardys@jeffco.k12.co.us
303-982-3014
Mrs. Klinefelter
Welcome to 1st Grade! Teaching 1st Grade has to be one of the most amazing jobs I could ever imagine having!
Every day is a NEW ADVENTURE and I am so glad that you are part of this adventure through 1st Grade! This year will be a year filled with meeting new friends, learning new things, and becoming more independent! I cannot wait to meet your child and begin to grow our 1st
Grade Family together! In our classroom we will be having fun and learning something new each day!
I, Melissa Klinefelter, am a proud and grateful part of the
dedicated staff here at Vanderhoof! I have been a part of this talented staff for over 15 years! I am particularly proud of
the way we focus on the academic, social, and emotional needs of every child!
I was born in Santa Monica, CA and grew up in Pittsburgh,PA which makes me a HUGE Steelers Fan! I currently live in Littleton, CO. My husband, Ron and I have been blessed
with a daughter, Julia, and a son, Andrew. Both my children
attend the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. Julia will be a senior and Andrew will be a sophomore. I love to cook, exercise, hike, bike, camp, and travel! I have taught every grade level from kindergarten to 6th grade, but teaching 1st grade
is my favorite by far! 1st grade is a magical year where children grow and change tremendously! I can’t wait to be a part of your child’s MOST EXCITING year of school! Let’s work together to make it a successful year for YOUR CHILD!
melissa.klinefelte@jeffco.k12.co.us
Mrs. Kay
My name is Mandey Kay. I am incredibly honored to be teaching first grade here at Vanderhoof! I look forward to another year working with an amazing team of educators and an amazing community. This will be my fourth year at Vanderhoof, GO ROADRUNNERS!
I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was a young little girl! I am a Colorado native and attended Jefferson County schools through high school. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Colorado Denver and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Outside of teaching, you will find me spending time with friends and family, reading, camping, swimming, or binge watching my favorite TV shows. I married my best friend, Eric, in 2016 and we currently live in Westminster. We have a ¨fur baby¨ named Apollo who has a lot of energy and gets a lot of attention!
First grade is such an amazing year full of academic, social, and emotional growth and I am thrilled to be on this journey with your child! I believe that every child can learn given the right environment. I truly look forward to getting to know each and every one of you this year!
I look forward to a wonderful year teaching your child!
Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Mrs. Ward
Welcome to first grade! I am thrilled to be teaching at Vanderhoof this year! I have a deep passion for nurturing young children and helping them discover the joy of learning. This year, we will be very busy building strong foundational skills, and creating a classroom environment full of kindness, curiosity, and creativity.
I have been a teacher in Jeffco for 25 years, and I have experience teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade. I absolutely love being a teacher, and I cannot imagine doing anything else! My teaching philosophy centers around the belief that every child has the potential to shine, and one of my missions is to help each student find their unique strengths and passions.
I have been married to my wonderful husband for 23 years. We have two awesome boys and two beautiful daughter-in-laws. All of them attend college in Denver. We also have a sweet dog named Rocky. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy reading, camping, and playing pickleball and racquetball.
I’ve seen firsthand how a supportive and engaging environment can inspire young minds. My goal is to create a space where students feel excited to come to school every day, eager to explore new ideas and tackle challenges with confidence. I look forward to building positive relationships with you and your child to make this year a successful and memorable one!
voicemail: 303-982-4798