Electives
Terra Shea-Technology
I was born in Allen Park, MI. I grew up in a suburb of Detroit. I spent most of my life playing sports, camping and fishing. I moved out to Colorado in 1996 and received my Bachelors in Art Education at CSU. I taught art for 5 years at OTMS. I decided that I really liked technology and went back to school for my Masters in Educational Technology. I have been teaching tech for 6 years at OTMS and now Stuart. I am married with two children, Rylie and Daniel. My family is my world. We love to do fun things together, like go to the zoo, museum and parks. I enjoy building things, playing volleyball and reading. I enjoy traveling, but haven't done much lately, however, I've been to Europe, Mexico, Canada, and many of the states. I love taking road trips and spending time lounging on the beach or site seeing. |
Jennifer Shaver-3D Art
I was born and raised in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago. Growing up I spent my time playing tons of sports and creating new masterpieces with anything I could get my hands on! I attended Illinois State University where I majored in Art Education with a studio focus on glass blowing. I spent many hours in the Glass House where I met my husband, Nate, and so many lifelong friends. My experience with glass blowing led me to employment at Pilchuck Glass School just north of Seattle, Washington, for two summers. At Pilchuck I had the pleasure of meeting, observing and sharing ideas with artists from all over the world. One year after graduating from Illinois State, Nate and I relocated to Colorado to begin our teaching careers. We decided Colorado would be a great place to go since we both enjoy running, hiking, biking and many other outdoor adventures. I started teaching elementary art in Golden for one year and found my home at Stuart Middle School the second year. I have now started my fifth year at Stuart and I can’t imagine being anywhere else! While teaching at Stuart I have also had the opportunity to sponsor Art Club, complete my masters in Education, Equity and Cultural Diversity at CU Boulder, and begin coaching Cross Country at Prairie View High School with my husband. I am so excited to be inspired and learn with the Stuart community this year! |
Amy Leonard-Leadership and Yearbook
This is my 14th year as a teacher and all 14 of those years have been spent in the 27J school district. I grew up in Brighton, graduating from Brighton High School in 1995. Upon graduation I went to college on a swimming scholarship at the University of Nebraska at Kearney where I received my degree in Social Studies education. My first teaching position after graduation from UNK was 7th grade Social Studies at Overland Trail Middle School. I originally planned to teach at the high school level but fate intervened and I was hired for a middle school position. It was the best intervention of my life as I cannot imagine teaching any other grade level. In addition to my teaching position at Overland, I also coached Junior Varsity volleyball at Brighton High School. In 2009, when the opportunity to help open up a new middle school came into my life, I quickly jumped on the chance to help develop a building from the ground up. I participated on the leadership team that helped open Stuart Middle School which was a very educational experience. I have taught a variety of classes at Stuart, from AVID to Social Studies. I am currently a member of the elective team, teaching Student Leadership and Yearbook classes. I love what I teach and truly enjoy getting to work with all types of kids as we plan events for the building and community. The projects we work on in my classes have real world applications which I absolutely love. In addition to my role as a teacher, I am also the 8th grade volleyball coach here at Stuart. Volleyball has always been a passion of mine so I am excited to get to play with and coach the next generation of great athletes. I am truly a Brighton native, having moved back to the community where I grew up. I met my husband at college in Nebraska and convinced him to move to Colorado with me after graduation. We have two beautiful children, boys ages 8 and 4. They both love hanging out at school with the big kids and jump on any chance they get to join in at school functions. When I find a few free moments outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, sewing baby blankets, going to the movies, reading Young Adult novels, and playing volleyball. |
Emily HIll-PE and Health
In my opinion teaching is a lifestyle not just a profession. It is not so much about the subject you teach but the motivation and the drive to want to change student’s lives on a daily basis. It’s my purpose to create a vision for my student’s and help them achieve personal excellence. My background is in Road Cycling. I went to Fort Lewis College and got Bachelors in Exercise Science and raced bikes for the United States and the College while obtaining my degree. I went on to get a Masters in Secondary Education and then became Nationally Board Certified in Physical Education. Teaching is my passion. I am married; have two sons Aidan and Trevan. We also have 2 dogs, Desi and Lucy. My boy Aidan wrote this about me: My mom is a good P.E. teacher. She helps students get fit. My mom teaches kids about Health. She helps them work hard and meet goals. Aidan |
Alyson Gordon-2D Art
I am very excited to teach 2D Art at Otho E. Stuart Middle School for the second year. Prior to Stuart I taught Ceramics and Drawing at Arvada High School. I am a native of Colorado but attended college in Kansas at Fort Hays State University. While attending college I was able to earn a Fine Arts degree as well as a degree in Art Education. Outside of the classroom I coach girls’ basketball and track for Stuart, along with coaching softball at Faith Christian Academy. When not teaching or coaching I enjoy the outdoors, sporting events, playing with my dogs, and spending time with my husband, family and friends. I have truly been blessed with an opportunity to teach what I love, which is Art! |
Lorrie Baum-Music
My undergraduate work was done at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the Music Academy in Vienna, Austria. After receiving my Bachelors of Music Education degree I spent many years touring with various bands playing trombone and bass guitar. I also spent 5 years as co owner/operator of a small recording studio in Denver called Hands On Recording Studio. I began teaching in 1990 and spent 18 years in Denver Public Schools doing both elementary and middle school band and orchestra. In 1998 I received my Masters Degree in Music, with a major in music theory and composition. I have had compositions published both for band and string orchestra and continue writing as often as I can. I am an avid golfer, enthusiastic traveler, and love spending time with my two Maine Coon cats, Sadie and Rudy. |
Lindsey Balt-Growing Up Ready
I was born and raised in Arvada, Colorado with one sibling, 30 year old sister. I graduated from Arvada West High School. I took a class in high school called Teacher Cadet where I was able to learn about education as well as work with elementary school kids in a classroom setting. Besides my mom’s influence of being a teacher for 30 years, this class is where I decided I wanted to be a teacher. After I graduated high school, I attended Colorado State University where I graduated with a Secondary Education degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. I was hired at Douglas County High School where I was able to teach my passion of life skills to all high school grades. I taught a School Success class helping struggling freshman adjust to high school, organize their studies, and taught them how to be successful in high school. I also was able to teach a unique Employment Development course where students learned professionalism, how to read a paycheck, and worked part time jobs for credit. After a year at Douglas County High School I decided to go back to school to get my Masters of Science in Family Consumer Sciences Education. During this process I switched gears to Middle School and was hired at Otho E. Stuart Middle School. This is my 5th year teaching Growing Up Ready, a life skills class focused on career exploration, banking/saving, nutrition and health, character education, child development, and much more. I am truly passionate about helping middle school students figure out their identity through building self-confidence and exploration. I also love coaching 7th grade volleyball at Stuart. When I am not teaching I am spending time with my family, husband of 2 years, and a loveable, but hyper, chocolate lab. My husband and I both have huge extended families with lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins who live in the Denver metro area. I love to camp, boat, hike, and travel with all the people I love in my life. |