Meet the Coaches

Kyle Mills is the K-12 Instructional Coach here at University Schools. Kyle has his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado. He spent his first four and a half years in education as a Behavioral Interventionist at Bella Romero in Greeley, and as a Physical Education teacher at Centennial Elementary in Evans. Kyle has been at University Schools since 2018, spending three years as a Middle school Physical Education teacher and currently serves an Instructional Coach. 

Kyle is passionate about increasing student growth and achievement through high-quality instructional practices. He looks forward to partnering with teachers and school leaders to provide job-imbedded, ongoing, professional learning opportunities that ensure student ownership and engagement for all students. He is trained in Teach Like a Champion, Cognitive Coaching, and Impact Cycle and enjoys partnering in coaching cycles to assist in reaching goals.  

In his free time you can find Kyle spending time with his family; children Quincy, Killian, and wife Camille. He likes to travel, camp, fish, and do all things outdoors. 

Jill Tjardes is University Schools' K-12 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coach. She has been in education for 22 years, 19 of which were in the classroom.  She has taught theatre, communications, public speaking, student government, language arts, SEL and academic intervention.  She also helped create and implement the curriculum for a Social Emotional Learning class and Freshman Academy at Thompson Valley High School.  

Jill’s favorite definition of SEL is: the development of skills that help you move through life doing no damage to yourself or others and minimizing the damage done to you.  As she works on constructing systemic additions to help the Bulldog Community grow in SEL, she hopes she can also be a sounding board and thought partner to individuals.  She’s equally comfortable talking about the quantifiable research behind emotions as she is talking about the emotions themselves.

Jill plans to return to the classroom one day, but for now she is loving learning new things and helping teachers however she can.

Rachel Weigle is the K-12 New Teacher Coach here at University Schools. Rachel has her B.A. in Art and Design from the University of Northern Colorado and her M.Ed. with certification in Art Education and a Principal’s License from Colorado State University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Colorado State University. Rachel started her educational career as a Special Education Paraprofessional and has spent her time at University Schools since 2016. Rachel spent her first five years at University as a high school art teacher and yearbook advisor. Since her third year of teaching, she has taken part in mentoring new teachers and has partnered in facilitating University Schools Induction Program.

Rachel is passionate about supporting new teachers in becoming the highly impactful professionals they want to be. She is passionate about community and culture building and equitable student-centered education, including fully student-centered classroom management, high-impact instructional strategies, and standards- and competency-based assessment and grading. She is well versed in William Glasser’s Choice Theory (formerly Control Theory) and trained in Cognitive Coaching and Impact Cycle. 

In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband, Bret, and three dogs, Stormy, Charlotte, and Bernie. You can also find her on the golf course, out enjoying time with friends and family at her favorite restaurants, or out on her next adventure to wherever she can convince her husband to go.