Leadership Model

Denver Green School has a partnership leadership model. We have three lead partners who share responsibility for leading as opposed to a more traditional principal and assistant principal. In addition, we have a “partnership” where teachers meet to discuss and take action for the school.

Lead Partners

JESSICA KRICHBAUM, LEAD PARTNER

I started my career as special educator at Rishel Middle School in southwest Denver. From there I went on to become an instructional coach, assistant principal, and most recently co-lead the DPS Peer Observer Team as part of the our teacher growth and evaluation system. Personally, I am a Denver native raising two wonderful kids with a very patient husband. I love the Colorado outdoors and am proud to join a community that shares my enthusiasm for stewardship and sustainability.  Some of my other passions include cooking, running, CrossFit, gardening, and comedy. I have been cheering on the DGS team since the school was in the planning phase and am beyond excited to finally become a part of this extraordinary community. I very much am looking forward to getting to know your students and each of you on our journey together. 

Contact Prudence at prudence_daniels@denvergreenschool.org

JOSE PIZA, LEAD PARTNER

I am a Cuban-Mexican educator with a passionate interest in what education means for the 21st-century learner. As a Cuban-Mexican, I share a love of diversity and have a deep respect for the challenge of learning a language. Spanish is my native language. Through my coursework, as I attained a Masters Degree in Classical studies, I have also studied Latin and Ancient Greek. It is clear to me that language and diversity both involve getting close and personal to effectively translate those concepts into good learning. I worked in the non-profit sector helping families through various education programs. Eventually, I returned to school. I earned a license to teach and began working as a middle school teacher. I greatly enjoyed my 12 years in the class with middle school students. The age group for me demonstrates an amazing talent for curiosity as they explore the world through a unique blend of youthful play and adult-like intellectual maturity. It is a privilege to work with this age group and a source of constant joy. It is also a privilege to enter my new role at DGS. As a teacher-leader since the school's inception, I have always been deeply committed to the mission, vision, and values of our amazing school. The new role brings many challenges and opportunities to help maintain the level of excellence established over the course of the last ten years. Thus, I am both humbled by the prospect of being a Lead Partner and constantly driven to consider how to keep the legacy of our wonderful school and community thriving.

Contact Jose at jose_piza@denvergreenschool.org

Partners

Robert Sutro, Kindergarten Teacher, Partner

I am an equity-driven early childhood teacher who places love at the heart of my repertoire of strategies to meet my students’ needs. I endeavor to understand my students’ cultures, histories, languages and social-emotional needs in order to see them for all that they are and can be. In addition to being a renewed NBCT, I hold a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science and – prior to becoming a credentialed teacher – taught English to children in Taiwan and in Turkey and did peace building work with children in both Bosnia and Kosovo.

EMILY COUSINS, MI-A TEACHER, PARTNER

I am thankful every day to be teaching in our 3rd-5th grade Autism Center, where I have the opportunity to grow in such an inclusive and impassioned community. I grew up in Colorado and have worked with students with disabilities, specifically autism, in both educational and community-based settings since I was 16. For my undergraduate, I ventured out to Portland, OR to study English Literature and Creative Writing at Lewis & Clark College. After graduating, I came back to Denver and began working at DGS as a paraprofessional in the K-2 Autism Center. When a teaching position became available in the Intermediate Autism Center in 2014, I began my Masters in Special Education at Metropolitan State University while simultaneously starting my teaching career. In 2019 I joined the partnership to continue my progress in both leadership and advocacy for people with disabilities. Through my close relationships with students and families I have learned an immeasurable amount about the power of empathy, self-acceptance, and maintaining a growth mindset. When I am not teaching I enjoy yoga, gardening, hiking with my dog, writing, or simply relaxing with a cup of coffee and a good book!

ALEAHA HARKINS, MUSIC TEACHER, PARTNER

Hi! I'm Aleaha Harkins and I have been teaching music at DGS since 2013. I am originally from York, Pennsylvania, but have lived in Colorado for the past 20 years. I absolutely love Colorado and all it has to offer. I went to school at Colorado State University where I received my Bachelor's degree in Music Education and a Master's of Music with Kodály Emphasis. I recently graduated with my Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies through the University of Northern Colorado. I have two incredible, wild, young boys that make every day a new adventure, and we are expecting our baby girl in March. When I'm not at school, I enjoy hiking our local trails with my family and spending time on the water at Chatfield reservoir. I am looking forward to being back at DGS with everyone and can't wait for an awesome school year!

LIZ pattison, ELA S RESOURCE TEACHER, PARTNER

I am delighted to be an English Language Development teacher and Partner at the Denver Green School. I was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado and received my B.S. in Psychology from the University of Denver. During my time there, I participated in service-learning projects both locally in Denver as well as internationally. After graduation I spent three years in Guatemala as a Peace Corps Volunteer, where I worked as an environmental impact specialist and taught English and environmental awareness in elementary classrooms. Among the many amazing take-aways from that experience, I learned that I had a passion for teaching. It was my time in Guatemala that set me on my path as an educator, which led me to pursue a Master's Degree in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and an ELD position here at DGS. When I am not in the classroom I enjoy travel, time outdoors, exercise, and gardening.

Bailey Wagner, 7th Grade Math, Partner

Hi! I’ve been teaching at DGS since 2015. I absolutely love teaching middle schoolers and in particular 7th grade math. I love helping students explore and ask questions and guide them towards a feeling of accomplishment. I was born and raised in Massachusetts but moved out to Colorado in 2008. I have a masters degree in environmental engineering and worked as a few years as a consultant but ultimately decided to follow my dream of becoming a teacher. I have 2 young children at home, Violet and Henry. I love to spend time in the outdoors. I really love working at DGS because of the shared leadership and the agency that teachers have to be creative and successful. I hope as a partner I will continue to push DGS to be a successful and positive place to go be a student, be a parent, and work here.

Dwayne Brown, Dean of Culture, Partner

DENVER GREEN SCHOOL, 6700 E VIRGINIA AVE, DENVER, CO 80224, UNITED STATES(720) 424-7480 DENVERGREENSCHOOL@GMAIL.COM