School Culture & Climate Committee

My name is Katherine Brunk. I have lived in Steamboat Springs since I was six years old. I was born and raised for part of my life in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I’m a senior at Steamboat Springs High School and I can bring the lenses of a dancer, thespian, mental health advocate, and epileptic teenager to the committee. I am very excited to be part of the Culture and Climate Committee because I believe the school district needs to work on the energy and actions happening at the schools. I am honored to be one of the only student voices on the committee and hope to advocate for as much of the student body as possible.

My name is Narisa Wild and I have lived in Steamboat Springs with my family (husband and 3 children) for 3.5 years now.

Within the Culture and Climate Committee I truly hope to help continue building upon the foundational work our taskforce has begun with the lens and voice of a parent, an Asian minority, an advocate for mental health and well-being.

I am excited to serve on this committee to truly support the student and faculty communities in their quest to create a culture of unique differences that beautifully weave together to create OUR school culture and to foster a climate where ALL students feel safe, included, respected and and have an equal voice.

Thank you for this opportunity!

My name is Allison Wither and I was born and raised in Steamboat and then moved away and just moved back here about 6 years ago. I have worked in the SSSD for 6 years as a school counselor and restorative practices coordinator so I come with a mental health and social justice lens. I am excited to be part of this committee because I feel passionate about creating a school climate in which every student, staff member, and family feel valued and included. This is incredibly important work and I am honored to be part of it.

My name is Rob Freer and our family recently moved to Steamboat Springs from Seattle, WA. We have three boys, one graduating college from Montana State University, the other two, aged 9 & 13, attending Strawberry Park Elementary and Steamboat Springs Middle School. I am currently a permanent substitute teacher at Steamboat Springs High School. Additionally, I completed my Ph.D. in 2015 from Penn State University and currently work with a research team to help Higher Education institutions maximize their equity strategies through on-campus culture & climate assessments. My lens is that of a parent, educator and researcher. I am excited to build upon the hard work completed by the founding members and am committed to uncovering and distributing knowledge that informs measurable objectives, directed actions, and systems of accountability. Our institutions should be a safe place for students, staff, teachers, administrators, and families, equal in opportunity, and free from discrimination.

• How long you have lived in Steamboat Springs: I moved to Steamboat from Boston in 2012 and left in 2015. The Yampa Valley curse brought me back in 2019!

• Role or Lenses you represent on the committee: I represent on the committee in a professional manner as the Youth Programs Manager for Rocky Mountain Youth Corps and the Board President for the Youth Services Coalition.

• A few sentences about why you are excited about serving on this committee: It is important to me to serve on this committee because I believe that each youth in our school system has an important role to play in our community. It is part of our responsibility to them to provide a space where they can flourish and feel valued, safe, supported, and confident and I know that together we can provide that space for them.

Time in Steamboat: 21 years

Roles: Teacher, Parent, Community Member

Why do I want to serve on this committee?

I am deeply passionate about ensuring that ALL students feel safe, welcome, supported, and comfortable in our schools. Creating a school culture of inclusivity is critical to this mission. As a teacher, and the parent of three children coming through the district, it is very important to me that students feel safe, so they are able to engage interactively in learning and rise to their potential.

I have lived in Steamboat Springs since 2003. I am a parent of two students, one at the middle school and one at the high school. I am a mental health therapist specializing in adolescence, young adult, family and parenting, as well as an adjunct instructor at CMC. I am excited to bring my skills and knowledge to collaborate with a team of committed community members to help create a stronger and a more effective path forward.

My name is Joe Laliberte. My wife and I moved to Steamboat Springs four years ago. I am currently the Assistant Principal of Steamboat Springs Middle School. Prior to that, I was a teacher and administrator in Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs. In my 13+ years in education, I have worked to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has an opportunity to learn and thrive in high-quality schools. I believe that all children deserve a school with a safe and predictable learning environment so they will be engaged, supported, and challenged. As educators, we must hold ourselves to high expectations to teach not just academic skills, but also social, emotional, behavioral, and character skills. This is essential work to build a strong climate and culture across the Steamboat Springs School District.

President, Founder, 305 Spin, Inc. www.305spin.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-moore-305/

A typical Steamboat story: started skiing here in 1986, bought a condo in 2010. Bought a lot in 2013. Opened an office here in 2014 (305 Spin, Inc). Completed house in 2016. Moved here full time 2018. Our son, Riley, graduated 2019 from SSHS. Our daughter, Maelin, is a Junior at SSHS.

Parent

To be a champion for change in the Steamboat Springs K-12 school system climate and culture to enable, empower and give voice to those that are currently in the minority and provide a safe environment for learning and creativity for all.

Hello my name is Karim Silva, I have been living in Steamboat for about 5 years now, one of the roles is that I been a student I’ve seen some things that the teachers don’t and another one is that I am a Latinx kid that the only thing that wants is a better chance for the school district to understand and help the Latinx kids and families and I am excited for to help around everyone and to understand everyone’s perspectives and help them understand others

My name is Meghan Barrett and I have lived in Steamboat Springs for 4 years. I am currently the Community Impact Manager at The Health Partnership and am serving as a community member on this committee. I also identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and will offer that lens to this group. I am very excited about serving on this committee! I have years of experience in teaching and youth development and am currently studying for my masters degree in social work. I look forward to collaborating with this team to promote a culture of equity and inclusivity in our schools and community.

I moved to Steamboat Springs in 2014 and I am a classroom teacher at Steamboat Springs High School. I am a science teacher who has taught Earth, Space, Physical Science (ESP) as well as Chemistry and AP Chemistry. I am also serving as the Senior Class Sponsor as well as the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Club Sponsor. I will bring to this committee the lense of a classroom teacher, as well as an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ members of our student body. I am excited and passionate about working on this committee, doing the difficult but necessary work to make our school a better place for all.

From Medellin Colombia, with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, fluent in English and Spanish. I have been living in Steamboat for almost 2 years and focusing my work on the youth population.

I am very excited to bring to the table my knowledge in teen dating violence, sexual harassment, healthy relationships, the effect of domestic violence on youth and kids, Latinx community, etc. This is a great opportunity for youth to have a voice where the decisions are being made. It is our job to give them a safe space for learning and growing.

My name is Shelby DeWolfe and I have lived in Steamboat Springs and worked for the Steamboat Springs School District as a counselor for the past 15 years. I am blessed to work with students across all ages and get to be in all six of our schools working with many stakeholders in our students' lives. I bring the lens of parent, counselor, as well as voice for many students, parents and staff across our district. I have served on the Culture and Climate Task Force for the past 2 years and am incredibly excited that we now have a committee with diverse representation. I look forward to the new energy and renewed focus to meet the mission: To support a climate and culture in our schools of respect, trust, safety, and dignity for ALL and help foster the same in our community.

I currently serve as the Director of Teaching and Learning for the Steamboat Springs School District. I also have 3 children who attend school at Steamboat Springs High School and Steamboat Springs Middle School. My wife also teaches at Strawberry Park Elementary School. My family has lived in Steamboat Springs for 5 years.

I look forward to working with a group of fellow stakeholders who represent a diverse community to build on the culture and climate at all six schools. I hope to make our schools even more inclusive; where all students, parents and staff feel welcomed, valued, and feel a true sense of belonging. I will strive to continue to create schools with warm learning environments where all students thrive and have equal access and opportunities to achieve positive outcomes and success.

I have lived in Steamboat Springs since 1998 and been a teacher at SSHS since 2003. I am a Social Studies teacher who has taught Psychology, Sociology and Civics for the last decade but also have experience on our American Studies and World History & Literature teams. On this committee, my primary lens will be as a classroom teacher although sometimes my lens as the parent of an in-district third grader may be useful as well. I am hopeful for the work we will do around equity, safety and mental health and inspired by the diverse expertise of my peers on this newly energized committee.

My name is Kelly Mangus and I have lived in Steamboat since the fall of 2000. I started working as a substitute teacher when I moved here and have worked for the district ever since. For seventeen years I was a Social Studies teacher at the high school and for the last three school years I have held the position of SSHS Dean of Student Culture. Additionally, I have sponsored many student clubs and activities during my time here. As a member of the task force since its inception, I am excited to expand our focus to the whole district. I also look forward to working with our new members and learning from their diverse perspectives and experiences.

I moved to Steamboat in 2000 at the age of 21. I am a small business owner with my husband Willis who I met here and we started our businesses together. I joined this committee as the parent of middle and elementary school kids. I am also a substitute teacher at SCE which has given me some amazing perspective in regards to our district. I am excited to be a member of this committee to continue the work that is being done at the high school level and try to channel that into being proactive. I would love to see us working from a young age to prevent negative behaviors instead of just working in the aftermath of them.

My name is Jammie Sabin. I first moved to Steamboat in 1992. I have three daughters, two still in the school district. My work on the committee is through that of a parent; a parent who understands the impact that sexual assault has on a child throughout their life. I have been a member of the Culture and Climate committee since the beginning. I have seen the district and our community is willing to listen, change and improve. I am very excited about the broad range of talented people with tremendous energy that are volunteering with the District Culture and Climate committee. I’m proud we as a district and community have such will and desire to improve our interactions with one another. I hope we can bring greater equity and voice to all our community of students, especially those not always heard before.

Hi! I’m Jan Stalcup, a senior community member who’s had a home in Steamboat Springs since 1994 and retired here for winters in 2014 after moving from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

My perspective on this committee is of a retired elementary teacher, parent-volunteer in Florida and Wyoming, a Cheyenne School Board Trustee and a Wyoming lobbyist representing Wyoming School Boards Assoc. advocating for education and kids.

I’m excited and honored to work on this important committee as it continues it’s work to further respect, trust, safety and dignity in ALL schools and our community during these challenging and diversified times.