The Vanguard Team
Our faculty and staff are the heart of The Vanguard School. Click any name below to send an email. For general questions, contact us at [email protected] or (719) 471-1999.
Dr. Jim Smith
Executive Director
Shelly Schiff
Executive Assistant
Grades K-3
Leadership
Dawn Khederian
Elementary Principal
Reed Holcomb
K-3 Assistant Principal
Jenna Fariss
K-3 Elementary Dean of Students
Shelley Arrasmith
K-6 Testing Coordinator and Curriculum Assistant
Front Office & Health
Janell Aparicio
Elementary Secretary / Front Office
Carol Farmer
Elementary Secretary / Front Office
Erin Gilmore
Elementary Secretary / Front Office
Vanessa Thompson
Health Technician
Kindergarten Teachers
Grade 1 Teachers
Grade 2 Teachers
Grade 3 Teachers
Specials & Specialists
Valerie Edde
Art Teacher
Mark Weber
Music Teacher
Joe Wetters
Physical Education Teacher
Colby Kuhn
K-3 Reading Teacher / Specialist
Renee Hvizdak
K-3 Math Teacher / Interventionist
Content Instructors
Amber Martin
Full-Time Substitute Teacher
Assistant Teachers (Non-instructional)
Grades 4-6
Leadership
Dawn Khederian
Elementary Principal
Deena Gerber
Upper Elementary Assistant Principal
Kristen Gates
Upper Elementary Dean of Students
Front Office
Madeline Carroll
Elementary Secretary / Front Office
Roxanna Nelson
Elementary Secretary / Front Office
Grade 4 Teachers
Grade 5 Teachers
Grade 6 Teachers
Specials Teachers
EJ King
4-6 Art Teacher
Debra Ackley
4-6 Music Teacher / Choir
Adrian Nolazco
5-6 Music Teacher / Band
Tyler Francis
5-6 Music Teacher / Strings
Craig Woolridge
Physical Education Teacher
Math, Science & Reading
Thanh Ma
4-6 Math Teacher / Specialist
Gina Clark
4-6 Reading Teacher / Specialist
Jessica Broadaway
Math and Science Teacher
Sonie Rathbun
Math and Science Teacher
Jocelyn Nelson
Math and Science Teacher
Content Instructors
Anna Harbert
Full-Time Substitute Teacher
Assistant Teachers (Non-instructional)
Grades 7-8
Leadership
Clint Randall
7-12 School Principal
Christian Welsh
Junior High Assistant Principal
Sarah Heidel
7-12 Dean of Students
Support
Asha Watson
Building Secretary / Front Office Support
Anya Peaux
Junior High Assistant Teacher
Michelle Whitefeather
Junior High Assistant Teacher
English Teachers
History Teachers
Latin Teachers
Mathematics Teachers
Science Teachers
Arts, Music, Drama & PE
Leighla Beteta
Art Teacher
Emily Tigges
Art Teacher
Michael Robinson
Music Teacher (Strings)
Nikki Smith
Choir Teacher
Adiran Nolazco
Band Teacher
Gavin White
Drama Teacher
Bryce Robinson
Physical Education Teacher
Grades 9-12
Leadership
Clint Randall
7-12 School Principal
Hannah Rouse
High School Assistant Principal
Sarah Heidel
7-12 Dean of Students
Support
Holly Ellis
College Counselor
Elena Knowlton
High School Office Secretary
Tim Nelson
Assistant Teacher and Electives Teacher
Kim Hill
Librarian
English Teachers
Maggi Johnson
English Assistant Teacher
History Teachers
Aaron Smith
Economics & Government
Trevor Robbins
History Assistant Teacher
Mathematics Teachers
Science Teachers
Ami Kyle
Science Assistant Teacher
Languages
Nia Jamshidi
Latin Teacher
Kirsten Jaqua
Latin Teacher
Hollyann McCann
French Teacher
Yolanda Liu
Mandarin Chinese Teacher
Marcela Rivas
Spanish Teacher
Maria Malo
Assistant Language Teacher
Arts, Music, Drama & PE
Leighla Beteta
Art Teacher
Emily Tigges
Art Teacher
Michael Robinson
Instrumental Music Teacher
Nikki Smith
Music Teacher
Gavin White
Drama Teacher
Bryce Robinson
Physical Education Teacher
Student Services
Student Services (Grades K-12)
Dr. Paula Avis
Director of Student Services
Katelyn Kincaid
Special Education Teacher
Steven Foutz
Instructional Intervention Specialist
Valerie Hisey
Special Education Paraprofessional
Austin Lehrer
Special Education Paraprofessional
Kaela Martin
Special Education Paraprofessional
Taylor Eymard
Intervention Specialist
Shelley Arrasmith
Testing and Assessment Coordinator
Marlena Bagley
School Social Worker
April Anders
School Counselor Candidate
Jen Matthews
School Counselor Candidate
Robin Smith
School Nurse
Sarah Kiger
Health Technician
Vanessa Thompson
Health Technician
Administrative Staff
Athletics
Communications and Marketing
Crystal Levesque
Media and Communications Manager
Curriculum & Enrollment
Kathy Davis
Enrollment Assistant
Jeff Fenton
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Janet LaLone
Enrollment Officer
Kate Vasquez
Curriculum and Instruction Specialist
Facilities & Security
James Carson
School Security Officer
Dave Servantez
Facility Manager
Jon Sharketti
Incoming School Security Officer (August 2026)
Josh Smith
Maintenance and Custodian Lead
Operations & Business
Richard Luna
Business Office Assistant
Maria McComb
Director of Business Services
Brian O’Neal
Business Office Assistant
Lashonda Trujillo
Human Resources Manager
Sarah Wells
Human Resources Coordinator
Jeff Yocum
Director of Operations
School Development
Sandra Slizewski-Meagher
Director of Development
Technology
Debbie Gard
Student Information System Specialist
Elias Mokhriby
IT Help Desk Technician
John Zebarth
Director of Information Technology
Volunteer
Kathy Kilimann
Volunteer Coordinator