Our Team
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Brent Applebaum
Principal Partner
It is such a pleasure to be part of such a great community here at C3. I was born and raised in Denver and enjoy the opportunity to travel and see the world, but I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Prior to C3, I taught Kindergarten, first and second grade for seven years at Stanley British Primary School. C3 has a great reputation around Denver and I am thrilled to be a small part of this community. Outside of education, I enjoy spending time with my wife Jodie, daughters Ellie and Ryan and our dog Charlie in the mountains.
OUR AMAZING STAFF
Liz Bamesberger
elizabeth_bamesberger@dpsk12.org
Fifth Grade Literacy Teacher
My name is Liz Bamesberger and I am so excited to join the C3 community this fall as the 5th grade literacy teacher! I live in Denver with my husband and two girls, Maggie and Avery. I grew up in Northern California and came to Denver in 2002 to attend DU. I fell in love with Colorado and decided that I wanted to stay and teach in Denver. I have taught 6th grade at the elementary level for the past 12 years. In 2011, I graduated from CU Denver with my Masters in Education Psychology. My favorite aspect of teaching is empowering students to take ownership of their learning and watching my students get excited about learning something new. When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family. Together, we love to explore outside, cook, read, travel, and stay active. I am really looking forward to the upcoming school year and my new adventure at C3.
Shantel Blakley
SPED
Susan Chamberlain
Literacy Interventionist/Teacher Support Coach
I moved to Colorado in 1990 to learn to ski. After hearing my father tell his friends he paid for college only to see me tend bar I decided to get serious about using my degree and in 1992 I began teaching first grade in the Cherry Creek School district (making much less than when I tended bar!) I taught first, second, and third grade in Cherry Creek for ten years and learned beside brilliant students and colleagues. During this time I pursued my Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at UCD and began working with a staff development organization called the Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC). In 2002 I transitioned from working with children to working with adults and became a National Literacy Consultant for the PEBC. In this role, I worked with teachers across the country to develop and implement the best instructional practices in literacy. Although I loved the work, the travel became challenging for my family and I found the most rewarding part of my job was when I was in classrooms with children. The opening of C3 has provided me with the opportunity to return to a teaching position and what I missed most, developing a community with young learners. As I walk to school each morning I feel a balance between three parts of me: the mother, the teacher and the learner. I look forward to a tremendous year of learning beside your children.
Laura Datz
Kindergarten Teacher
Originally from St. Louis, I studied English at Sewanee. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia, I taught English as a Second Language and learned to speak fluent Pohnpeian. I moved to Denver and received my Master’s from the University of Colorado Denver and teacher training through Stanley British Primary. My previous teaching experience includes both private and public education. My husband, our son and I enjoy hiking, cooking, camping and travel.
Beth Ferguson
After Hours Homework Club
Sara Fornberg
Second Grade Literacy Teacher
Susan Fullerton
Kindergarten Paraprofessional
My name is Susan Fullerton and I am a Denver native. I have been married for 23 years to an amazing man. We have two wonderful daughters one is a senior at Manhattan College in the Bronx, the other is a sophomore at the University of Vermont in Burlington. I have been with DPS for many years and I am very excited to be apart of the C3 Kindergarten team. My interests include family and friends, traveling, cooking and going for long walks with my husband.
Mariel Galgas
Third Grade Literacy Teacher
Hello! My name is Mariel Galgas. I have been teaching since 2009. I have taught both second grade and kindergarten. I moved to Denver from New Jersey in 2010 to teach, pursue my master’s degree, and explore all of the wonderful things that Colorado has to offer. I hold a B.A. in Psychology with an Elementary Education Certificate from Ramapo College of New Jersey. I have also obtained an M.A. from the University of Colorado Denver in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Elementary Reading and Writing. I am endorsed as an Elementary Education Teacher (K-6), Reading Teacher (K-12), and as a Special Education teacher. My goal is to become a National Board Certified Teacher in the next few years. Outside of school, I enjoy exploring the outdoors with hiking, skiing, and camping. I also creative pursuits like sewing, cooking, and pottery. On the weekends you can find me visiting family in Breckenridge, catching some live music with friends, or planning my next vacation! I am looking forward to a great school year!
Jeanette Hofer
Nurse
Lisa Iverson
Fifth Grade Math, Science/Social Studies Teacher
I have lived in Colorado for over 10 years. I grew up in Alaska, with mosquitoes, rabbits and mussels (the shellfish) as pets. My first passion was theatre, and through that I discovered a new love: helping people learn. I have taught students of all ages and from many backgrounds. I previously taught at Cory Elementary and earned an endorsement as gifted education specialist. During that time, I was also a member of the C3 design team, and helped to shape the education plan. I spend my free time with my husband, family and friends. For fun, I enjoy getting outside to garden, hike, and travel. I also enjoy painting, visiting art galleries, seeing theatre and live music, and reading voraciously under the covers with a flashlight.
AJ Keglovits
Senior Team Lead
Susan Kelly
First Grade Paraprofessional
BJ Kittleson
Visual Arts Teacher
I am a Denver native and I grew up in the Park Hill neighborhood. I am a graduate of the University of Colorado with a Masters in Elementary Education. I have taught first and second grade for 15 years. The last eight years I have been a first grade teacher at Polaris at Ebert Elementary. Educating at the primary level is a passion. I believe it is the most important part of our lives. My time outside of school is spent with my family. I have a daughter, Elise who is 5 and a son, Bennett who is 8. We spent a great many of nights in a tent during the summer enjoying our beautiful state. It is my favorite to share beautiful natural places with my wife and children. Outside of teaching I enjoy painting and drawing the amazing memories from being outside.
Susan Krueger
Social Emotional Learning & Restorative Practices
Hi! I am C3’s social emotional learning and restorative practices specialist. I was born and raised just outside of Chicago and attended Michigan State University for my undergraduate degree. I am trained in restorative practices through the Conflict Center of Denver and am currently completing my Master’s Degree in School Counseling. I live in Highlands Ranch, CO and enjoy spending my time with family and friends, hiking, and making music. I am looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Josh Lee
First Grade Literacy
Robin McCarthy
First Grade Literacy Teacher
Welcome to first grade! My name is Robin McCarthy and I will be working with your children teaching literacy. This includes reading, writing and spelling. I began teaching Third grade at Tollgate Elementary in Aurora Public Schools but I have been teaching first grade at Tollgate for the last four years. Tollgate is a school for Expeditionary Learning and I am discovering many commonalities with C3.
I grew up in Colorado and enjoy spending time in the mountains both skiing and hiking. I am a resident of Park Hill and my children, Sean 25, and Riley, 23 both attended Denver Public Schools. I’m looking forward to getting to know your family and watching your child grow.
Lisa McGee
Library
Isaiah Medina
Cafeteria Manager
Robb Mike
Physical Education Teacher
17 years ago my wife and I left the island of Oahu and landed firmly in Denver, all with the intent of completing a graduate program at DU and quickly returning. And while I’d be lying if I said the ocean doesn’t occasionally beckon me, I couldn’t be happier having established roots in this vibrant and amazing state. This upcoming year will mark my 15th year in education, having spent the majority of it in Jefferson County Schools teaching curricula that was experientially based, self-directed, and authentic. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a variety of grade levels and content areas but find my greatest joy in connecting with students and helping them to discover a true love of learning. When I’m not working alongside the students, you’ll likely find me in the hills, running trails and climbing on rocks with my wife and dog. I’m thrilled to be part of the C3 community and consider myself quite lucky for being given the opportunity to share my ongoing passion and excitement for all things learning!
Facilities Management
Facilities Management
Tamara Moore
Third Grade Math Teacher
Originally from a suburb outside of Los Angeles, California, I recently made the move to Colorado in August of 2017 to pursue my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Math and Science at CU Denver. While in California, I spent the earliest years of my education career as a reading/writing specialist for Lindamood Bell Learning Center. However, once I stepped into my own classrooms, I began to see the real magic of Math and Science and a new educational passion of mine was born. I am so excited to bring my passion for learning to C3! In my free time, I love singing, anything related to Disney/Disneyland (I still have my season pass!), and taking my dog, Benson, on long morning walks. I can’t wait to meet you!
Lauren Obijiski
Occupational Therapist
David Ramsey
Music Teacher
Austin Rand
Fourth Grade Literacy Teacher
Born in the Greater Boston area, I have lived in Denver, Oakland, and Boston over the past ten years. I attended the University of Colorado – Boulder for my undergraduate degree and completed my Masters in Education at UC Berkeley in 2016. For the past year, I have been teaching 4th and 5th grade at Joe Shoemaker School here in Denver. When I am not teaching I can usually be found outside: running, riding my bike, camping, or skiing, somewhere in Colorado. I look forward to being part of the C3 community.
Jenn Rix
Gifted & Talented
Hello, I am Jenn Rix and I am eager to continue working with the C3 community as our GT Specialist. I will be supporting our gifted students and their families, as well as collaborating with teachers to meet the needs of students and elaborating our focus on Creativity. I will be at C3 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
I am a licensed Gifted Education Specialist (preschool-grade 12) and a Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) certified parent group facilitator. My education includes a M.A. in Special Education: Gifted & Talented, as well as graduate work in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education and Colorado Department of Education training in teaching Twice-Exceptional (2E) students. My experience includes teaching at the elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels as a classroom teacher, a Differentiation Coach, and a GT Specialist. I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, and parenting my two teens.
Courtney Rossman
Speech Language Pathologist
JH Sava
Second Grade Math Teacher
Tracy Sachs
Physical Therapist
Jayme Sharkey
Office Support
Julia Shepard
Founding Principal and Executive Coach
Kate Simmons
Fourth Grade Math Teacher
Jo Ward
Health Technician