My name is Melissa Wells, and I will be teaching your child in math and science throughout the year. This is my 19th year at Wilder! I'm a wildcat for life and am looking forward to this new year with a new team!
I absolutely love teaching and being around kids. I love the community that is built in a classroom and establishing a relationship with each of my kiddos. I want kids to feel confident and successful in the classroom through hard work and dedication.
This summer, I was busy being a mom to our two kids, Owen (13) and Weston (10). Owen will be an eighth grader this year at Goddard, and Weston will be in fifth grade with Mrs. Hathorne and Mrs. Miller. They keep me very busy with trips to the pool, all the sports, and camping in the mountains with family and friends.
My name is Ashley Swanson. I am thrilled to be a part of the Wilder community to teach fourth grade! I am a Colorado native and grew up across the street from Wilder. I received my BS from Creighton University and then my Masters in Reading Instruction. This is my nineteenth year of teaching.
In my classroom, I want all students to feel safe, loved and supported so that each student can reach his/her full potential.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Enrique, my son Drew (7), my daughter Ellie (5), and my dog Marvin (11). We love to enjoy the mountains and the outdoors. I also love running, listening to music, and, of course, I am an avid Creighton Bluejay Basketball fan. :) I look forward to beginning our school year together!
My name is Layne Arndt and I am so excited about joining the 4th grade team! This is my 15th year teaching and my 8th year at Wilder. I am a Colorado Native and also attended Wilder from Kindergarten through 5th grade. I absolutely love this community and am looking forward to a great school year.
I love teaching and prioritize building relationships and a positive classroom community with my students. I want each child to feel confident and engaged in their learning.
This summer we welcomed a new addition to our family! I am a busy mom to three amazing kids, NJ (4), Hadley (2), and Hunter (2 weeks). We love doing anything outdoors and spend a lot of our free time in Grand Lake.
My name is Tyler Dierking and I could not be more excited to be joining an incredible 4th grade team. I am a born and raised Coloradan and a LPS alumni. The Wilder community means so much to so many people who mean a lot to me and I am honored to be able to make my own mark on such a special place.
I am looking forward to building relationships with my students and creating a classroom environment built on excitement and positive energy. I am someone who emphasizes hard work and am excited to help students build confidence in their own unique abilities.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my friends, family, and my puppy, Nola. I am an avid sports fan and love my Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas Jayhawks. If I’m not watching a game, I enjoy fishing and spending time outside and a bit of a nerdier guilty pleasure of mine is building and collecting LEGO!