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Empowering Students Through Tailored Learning

At Rocky Mountain Classical Academy, our Learning Services are designed to cater to the diverse academic needs of our students. Our dedicated team is here to assist all learners excel in a nurturing and enriching environment. Join us on this exciting educational journey!

Learning Services Team

At Rocky Mountain Classical Academy, we prioritize the diverse needs of our students by providing a comprehensive Learning Services team. Our dedicated professionals, including paraeducators, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, work closely with each child to ensure they receive personalized support tailored to their learning styles and challenges. By fostering an inclusive environment, we empower every student to thrive academically and personally, unlocking their full potential within a nurturing community.

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Brooke Green

Behavior Interventionist

Hi all! My name is Brooke Green, and I am grateful to be RMCA's behavior specialist for the third year. My experience in the field coupled with my MA in Educational Psychology and certificate in applied behavior analysis bolster my passion for helping students navigate their behavior so they can thrive in an educational setting. All behavior is communication, and I have the unique privilege of helping teachers and students discern that communication more effectively! When I am not in school, I am likely spending time with my husband and our two littles, Huck and Maisel. On a given weekend, you might also find me reading, thrifting, skiing, or teaching a spin class. Here's to another great year!
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Allison Muto

Interventionist

Hello! My name is Allison Muto and this is my first year at RMCA and first year as an Interventionist. I have been working with children for almost 8 years. I graduated with my Bachelors in Liberal Arts from California State University, Fresno. I moved to Colorado this year from California with my amazing husband. When I'm not working, I love watching sports, finding new places to eat and exploring my new home.
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Heather Favela

Interventionist

Hello families! My name is Heather Favela. I am excited to start my first year with RMCA as a Literacy Interventionist. My husband and I moved to Colorado Springs 10 years ago and love the area. We have two beautiful children that both attend RMCA. As a family we enjoy; camping, off-roading and kayaking. I have a Bachelors of Science degree in Education. I have taught over nine years of preschool and first grade. I have always had a passion for working with kids and I am excited to help my students learn and grow this year.
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Latoya Warner

Interventionist

Hello! My name is Latoya and this is my first year at RMCA and my first year as a literacy interventionist. I am from Georgia and I have been living in the Rockies for 10 years with my awesome husband, our brilliant daughter, and our wonderful dog. I enjoy bodybuilding, gymnastics, running, dancing, warm weather and beaches. I miss living in the south, but I have grown to enjoy snow days!
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Lexie Mitchell

Interventionist

My name is Lexie Mitchell, I am a Reading Interventionist at RMCA. I have been working with children for about 10 years in a clinical setting but decided to make the leap into education this year and it has been nothing short of amazing! I was born and raised here in Colorado Springs and I truly love it here. I have a very busy life with my four children, my soon to be husband and our two dogs! We all are very active and enjoy doing things together as a family especially traveling and playing sports. I am so excited about this new adventure and to be a part of the RMCA family!
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Samantha Martinez

Interventionist

My name is Samantha Martinez and this is my first year at RMCA, and second year as an Interventionist. I graduated from William J. Palmer High School in 2016 and earned my Associates degree in Psychology from Pikes Peak State College in 2021. I plan to earn my Masters degree from UCCS. When I'm not working I love watching and playing sports, being out in beautiful nature, going to church, and spending time with my loved ones.
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Sophia Green

Occupational Therapist

I received my bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University and my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Northern Arizona University. I love spending time with my family and friends. My husband and I have a baby and seven pets which all keep us busy and full of life! I enjoy working with children of all ages helping them succeed in school and be as independent as possible in life!
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Emily Duster-Kost

Occupational Therapist Assistant

Hi, my name is Emily and this is my first year at RMCA! I've been working in pediatric occupational therapy in an outpatient clinic setting for 3 years. I'm originally from Ames, Iowa. I moved here in 2021 and met my now husband, Ryan, while camping in Moab, UT. We love Colorado and plan to stay here a long while. I love to run, my life goal is to run a marathon in every state! I also enjoy being creative and planning activities for kiddos - I would love to start my own small business someday enabling families with children with additional needs to go camping and enjoy our beautiful state.
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Alex Brown

Paraprofessional

Bio Coming
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Debra Arnold

Paraprofessional

Hello. My name is Debra. I have been working as a special education paraprofessional for 7 years, with 12 years total working in the school district. I have a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. I love working with children to help them learn and grow. When I am not working at the school, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy staying active by teaching cardio fitness (Zumba) classes at the gym, working out, and spending time outdoors.
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Diana Lopez

Paraprofessional

Bio Coming
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Lekisha Nelson

Paraprofessional

My name is Lekisha Nelson. This is my 5th year at RMCA. I began working as a lunch aide and teachers aide for three years. This (24-25) is my second year working as a paraprofessional and I am finding it thoroughly fulfilling. I was born in Bermuda and became an American citizen in 2017. My husband and I have two kids (Kiorra 16 and Marcus 11), a dog, and 6 chickens. I have an Associates in Business Administration and a Masters in Social Work. I love helping kids, seeing them push through struggles to reach their potential and goals. I enjoy crafting, music and anything having to do with water or the ocean.
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Michelle Turner

Paraprofessional

Bio Coming
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Sierra Hensel

Paraprofessional

Hi! My name is Sierra Hensel, this is my second year as a paraprofessional at RMCA. I moved to Colorado Springs from the Dallas area for college in 2021 and will be graduating with a degree in Human Services in May! My long term plan is to teach, ideally kindergarten or 1st grade. I have loved working with kids for as long as I can remember and feel so lucky that I get to work with students every day! In my free time I love going to concerts, being outside, attending sports games, and cooking or baking!
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Susan Calvert

Paraprofessional

Hello! I am excited to finally be an official employee at RMCA. I started substitute teaching here in the Spring of 2021 and have held many day to day, as well as long term substitute positions throughout the school. I have a son and daughter who attend RMCA and we have all enjoyed being a part of the community here. My husband and I both grew up in MD (Go Orioles and Ravens) and we moved to Colorado Springs in 2016. In my free time you will likely find me cheering on my kids at their various sports activities. (Baseball, basketball, or gymnastics).
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Alina Lee

School Psychologist

Hello! My name is Alina Lee. This is my 4th year at RMCA, and my 11th year as a School Psychologist. I love working with students and helping them gain skills to be successful at school and in life! I am always learning and looking for new ways to help support all students, especially neurodivergent students. In my free time, I enjoy camping, hiking, snowboarding, gardening, cooking, and spending as much time adventuring as I can!
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Emily Woodhouse

Special Education Teacher

Hi! My name is Mrs. Woodhouse. This is my 3rd year teaching Middle School Resource at RMCA. I work with 6th & 8th grade this year. I am from Albuquerque, NM where I attended The University of New Mexico (everyone's a Lobo!) and received my bachelors degree in dual licensure of Special Education & General Education K-12. I moved to Colorado Springs, CO 6 years ago with my husband Esau, we have two dogs - Groot (a blue heeler mix) & Bishop (a redbone coonhound mix). I am fluent in ASL (American Sign Language) and used to teach at a school for kids who were deaf/hard of hearing. When I am not at work, I enjoy being outdoors, listening to music, hanging out with friends and traveling back home to NM as often as possible.
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Katelyn Cimmino

Special Education Teacher

Hello! My name is Katelyn Cimmino, But you can call me Mrs. Kate. I am an Elementary Resource Teacher. I obtained my Bachelor's Degree from Western Governors University in Elementary Education/Special Education. I am currently getting my Masters from Walden University in Child Development with a focus on Inclusive Classroom. I am a mother of 3, fluent in American Sign Language, and read braille at a 3rd grade level. American Sign Language was my first language, as I am a CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult). I taught at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind for 6 years. I also taught in Las Vegas, Texas and now Colorado. This year will be my 10th year teaching! We just moved here at the end of August, we missed the mountains and snow. I approach teaching with a compassionate, humanistic, student centered perspective.
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LaDonna Lattimore

Special Education Teacher

Hello! My name is LaDonna Lattimore and I served in the Air Force for 20 years and I am now happily retired. This is my 1st year at RMCA as the Middle School Resource teacher, and my 3rd year working as a Special Education teacher, but I have taught for 8 years in the military. I love the Lord and I love traveling. My passion is teaching and empowering kids and I look forward to working with teachers and administrators this year.
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Litia Sistrunk

Special Education Teacher

Hello! My name is Litia Sistrunk. This is my first year at RMCA, and I am so excited to be here. I hold a Master of Arts in Special Education, and I am obtaining further hours to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my 7-month old son. I am eager to learn more about your students and find new ways of helping them grow.
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Yelitza Alvarez

Special Education Teacher

Hola! My name is Yelitza Alvarez and I am a Sped Resource Teacher with RMCA. This is my first year at RMCA but I have been working as a special education teacher for eight years. I am so excited to be part of this amazing team! I have my Masters in Special Education and my hobbies are reading, dancing, and being able to beat my husband in Mario Kart. When the weather is nice you will find me and my two kids at a park or on a walk. My goal this year is to be the best teacher I can be and a great support to my fellow amazing coworkers. I want to make a difference and help students feel welcomed here because no matter what background everyone comes from, they are welcome and are amazing in my book. "Never let anyone treat you like regular glue, you are glitter glue!"
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Meagan Rivera

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Hello! My name is Meagan Rivera and I have been a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant for 3 years. I received my Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida. After moving to Colorado I completed my SLPA program at MSU Denver. In my spare time I enjoy hiking with my husband and our two dogs, indoor/outdoor gardening, reading and trying new restaurants.
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Brooklynn Ensch

Speech-Language Pathologist

Hi! My name is Brooklynn Ensch and I am excited to start my first year with RMCA as a Speech Language Pathologist. I come from a military family but spent most of my childhood here in Colorado Springs. I received my bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University, and my master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of North Texas. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my dogs, traveling, and reading.
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Jeannie Gallacci

Student Services Coordinator

Hello! My name is Jeannie and this is my first year at Rocky Mountain Classical Academy. I will be working as the Student Services Coordinator, assisting with needs in Special Education/504 plans, Gifted and Talented Education, Multi-tiered Systems of Support and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. I have a Masters in Special Education from University of Northern Colorado and completed my undergrad at Brigham Young University - Idaho. I grew up in a town called Paradise in California, but have loved calling Colorado my home for the past 30 years. I have four sons who I adore, the youngest of whom has down syndrome, who brings a flair to our family that we wouldn't trade for anything. I have worked in a core knowledge, classical charter school for 10 years and my children are a product of charter education as well. I believe that a strong educational foundation rooted in core knowledge and classical principals cultivates intellectual rigor, critical thinking, and a deep appreciation for the timeless ideas that shape our world and I believe that all students can learn, when provided appropriate support and instruction. I am excited to be part of the RMCA team!

RMCA's definition of a Gifted Student/Child:  A student/child between 4 and 21 whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet educational programming needs.  Gifted students/children are hereafter referred to as gifted students.  Children under five who are gifted may also be provided with early childhood special educational services.  Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all social-economic, ethnic and cultural populations.  Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

 

  • General or specific intellectual ability

  • Specific academic aptitude

  • Creative or productive thinking

  • Leadership abilities

  • Visual arts, performing arts, musical or psychomotor abilities 

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​RMCA's Gifted Education Vision: All Gifted students will accomplish challenging post secondary work/force goals and become productive, creative citizens capable of succeeding in their area of strength.

 

​RMCA's Gifted Education Mission: Ensure gifted student growth and achievement through systems of support, programming and advocacy.

For information regarding Early Access please contact Jeanne Gallacci at jgallacci@rmcacs.org

 

For more information on Gifted and Talented through D49, click here.

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Kelli Yukawa

My name is Kellilyn Yukawa but the students just call me “Mrs. Y.”. I grew up in the very small town of Pagosa Springs, Colorado and was very fortunate to also start my teaching career there after attending Fort Lewis College for my teaching degree. After teaching for eight years, I took a short break and was excited to get to work for a cognitive brain training company and discover even more about how students learn. RMCA and my love for gifted and talented students stole me away from brain training and I couldn’t be happier. This will be my 18th year in education and I love teaching gifted and talented students at RMCA!

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Debi Spencer

Hello, my name is Debi Spencer and I am very excited to be at RMCA working with the Gifted and Talented Students. I have a Bachelors in Fine Arts and a Masters in Education. I have a wonderful husband and two amazing boys that I love to spend time with whether it’s camping, hiking, watching movies or just being together. If I am not with my family, then you will probably find me at the dance studio choreographing for the dance team or teaching classes. I have also been a professional dancer touring with Broadway musicals, dancing at Disney World and many other shows. The one thing that I have enjoyed the most over the past 20+ years, is teaching children!

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Kayla Lehr-Heggem

My name is Ms. Kayla Lehr (L-air). This is my 6th year teaching at RMCA. I taught Pre-K at Pikes Peak Community College and The University of Colorado Colorado Springs for 3 years. I taught 2nd grade for 5 years here at RMCA. This year I am very excited to start my new journey in Gifted and Talented and it is a privilege to have your children entrusted to me daily! I have an amazing husband and three rambunctious boys (ages 11, 12, & 16)! We enjoy the outdoors and binge watching the newest shows on Netflix! I am thrilled to be starting this new position as a Gifted and Talented Educator!

RMCA is dedicated to identifying and providing exceptional programming for gifted students. Schools throughout the district are committed to identifying those students who meet the district and state criteria of a “gifted learner.” Teachers work collaboratively with Gifted Specialists to develop Advanced Learning Plans for all our identified gifted students to ensure gifted children are challenged and experience academic growth throughout the year.

Gifted needs are addressed using a variety of instructional strategies and programming options. RMCA offers early access for highly gifted kindergarten and first grade students who do not meet the age requirements for enrollment. Elementary schools provide differentiated instruction through grouping, advanced learning opportunities, and after-school academic classes, clubs, and contests.

RMCA believes that parents are partners when it comes to meeting the needs of gifted learners. Parents and teachers work together to ensure children are not only challenged, but also valued for their unique abilities. The gifted education website is designed to provide parents of gifted learners support and resources as well as provide information on RMCA's gifted education and associated processes and procedures.

Gifted & Talented

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Assessments

Rocky Mountain Classical Academy has a robust assessment portfolio used to assess students' knowledge in a multitude of subject areas. Our philosophy on assessment is that RMCA uses our student outcomes to influence our instructional practices. We place value on short and medium term assessment in order to gain the most relevant and actionable data for our students. All students complete common grade level content assessments throughout the year.

 

RMCA uses DIBELS reading assessment in order to measure literacy skills of K-5 students. The i-Ready assessment is used in K-8 in order to measure content attainment in Literacy and Math. All eighth grade students will complete the Classical Learning Test to help determine their overall knowledge gain from their years at RMCA. Yearly 3-8 students will complete the Colorado State Assessment (CMAS) in ELA and Math.  

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Hannah Tiernan

Assessment Coordinator

Hello! My name is Hannah and I am excited to start my first year with RMCA as the Assessment Coordinator. I am a Michigan native and moved to Colorado Springs in 2018. I was a classically trained dancer growing up and competed in national competitions across the US. After graduating I moved to Japan to dance professionally with Tokyo Disney before retiring from my dance career and moving into the education world. I am passionate about spending time outdoors with my husband, daughter and labradoodle Duke. I look forward to getting to know and support the students and staff here at RMCA this year!

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