Cold Spring School

Mr. Cody Stipes

Mr. Austin Barcome

Dr. Binh Tran

Cody Stipes is the Chief Operating Officer of Cold Spring School and has served at Cold Spring for six years. Before serving as COO, Mr. Stipes was the principal of Cold Spring School for four years and oversaw our first STEM Certification process in 2019. He is in his 9th year as a school administrator and is a former middle school math teacher. Mr. Stipes is a proud graduate of Wabash College (Mathematics), Marian University (MAT), and Columbia University (M.Ed.). 

“One of my favorite parts of working at Cold Spring School is the alignment and dedication to STEM and environmental science from our students, families, and staff. Our staff is doing a great job of inspiring a passion for STEM and the environment in our students every day!”

AJ Barcome is the Principal of Cold Spring School and has served at Cold Spring for seven years. Before serving as the Principal, Mr. Barcome was the Dean of Students for 1 year and the Assistant Principal for the previous 5 years. During his time at Cold Spring, he supported the 2019 STEM Certification and has been an active member of the STEM committee for the past 7 years.  He is in his 7th year as an administrator and previously taught Physical Education and Health. Mr. Barcome is a graduate of the University of Indianapolis (B.S. Physical Ed. and Health and an MBA in Education Leadership.) 

"STEM at Cold Spring has and continues to be a pillar for our students, staff, and families. Cold Spring has created an environment where students take what they learn and have the opportunity to apply classroom lessons to 21st century needs for careers that do not exist."

Genevieve McLeish-Petty is the computer science teacher at Cold Spring School.  Genevieve received her undergrad and her master’s degree from Indiana University Indianapolis.  Genevieve started her career as a secondary ELA teacher and made the switch to Computer Science with the intent to come to Cold Spring.  She has been teaching for 24 years, and this is her sixth year at Cold Spring.  She is an assistant Robotics Coach, facilitator of the Junior Robotics Program, Girls Who Code Sponsor, STEM Camp Director, and coaches multiple sports.  She is the building Technology Team leader and handles all of the one-to-one computing needs of the building.  

“I love the kids of Cold Spring.  There is a perfect combination of students who want to know and understand all things robotic and computer, but still want to play in the creek and garden.  Cold Spring is producing some of the most well-rounded students I have ever encountered and I cannot wait to see how the school continues to grow and evolve for our students."

David Petty is the Environmental Science Teacher at Cold Spring.  David is in his 9th year at Cold Spring and has been a critical part of the school’s STEM development and integration.  His position and shared vision have led to PLTW being implemented building-wide as he was the related arts PLTW teacher and then the PLTW Lead Teacher who oversees the program and our staff’s training.  David is also the head robotics coach, assists with STEM Camp planning, and acts as the building athletic coordinator. 

“I love to get to teach genuinely important lessons to kids.  I love to see them interact with nature and glean an understanding from interacting with Science that cannot happen with textbook learning.  Every day is a new challenge and I love the constant opportunities to teach in a meaningful way.”

TonyTonyTonyTony Homan is the middle school science teacher and team lead of Cold Spring School. He has been a part of Cold Spring since the beginning of their middle school program in 2020. Before joining the Cold Spring faculty, Mr. Homan served as a middle school science teacher and mathematics teacher. This is Mr. Homan's 14th year as an educator, and he is a graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Computer Engineering), The Ohio State University (Master of Electrical Engineering), and Marian University (Master of Teaching).

"The inclusion of STEM education in all parts of the Cold Spring School curriculum helps students to more easily connect their academic activities to their own lives. When students are able to observe the academic connections to their own lives, their interests, engagement, and learning grows exponentially."

Jane Jackson is a third grade teacher at Cold Spring School. She graduated from IUPUI in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and has been at Cold Spring School ever since. Jane is an assistant coach for Cold Spring’s Robotics team and helps with the Junior Robotics program. She has participated in multiple STEM trainings and conferences to further her instructional practice including the PLTW Lead Teacher Launch Training.   

“My favorite part about Cold Spring School is the campus. I love that teachers can utilize the campus for their lessons and get outside every day.” 

Emily Smith is the Visual Arts & Project Based Learning Teacher at Cold Spring School. She is in her third year of teaching at Cold Spring and her eighth year of teaching in general. Mrs. Smith started in middle school teaching Project Based Learning, creating a cross-curricular program where students could apply all their academic skills. This year, Mrs. Smith has expanded her program to teach visual arts in grades K-5 and Project-Based Learning in Middle School. Mrs. Smith has a bachelor's degree in Graphic Arts from Ball State University and a Masters in Education from Marian University. Before she transitioned into teaching, she was a graphic designer for ten years. 

Kyle Talma is a Kindergarten teacher and the K-2 team lead at Cold Spring School, and he has served at Cold Spring for 4 years. He is in his 10th year teaching, all in lower elementary. Mr. Talma is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Psychology and Legal Studies) and Marian University (MAT). 

“Cold Spring School provides a wide variety of STEM opportunities for students of all ages, unlike anything I have seen before. Engaging lower elementary students in STEM is crucial to developing that passion, and Cold Spring sets the bar with robotics, STEM Camp, related arts, etc."