We are always looking for talented individuals to join our team! View our job postings.
Admin Team
Rachel Balkcom
Director of Partnerships & Student Futures
Founding Team Member
Rachel Balkcom's Bio
With over two decades’ experience as an educator, school co-founder and director, curriculum and fieldwork designer, and teacher coach, Rachel teaches for equitable regeneration of people and planet. She holds a BA in Sociology and Studio Art, an MA in Philosophy, an AMI Montessori Adolescent Diploma, and Colorado State credentials in Social Studies, English, and CTE. Outside of work, Rachel gardens, writes, dances, and serves as a relationship coach. She lives with a handful of awesome housemates, two dogs, a cat, and lots of veggies and sunflowers on their two-acre co-op in Erie.
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Katya Thronweber
Director of Academics
Founding Team Member
Katya Thronwber's Bio
Katya grew up in Colorado and came back to the Denver area after exploring both coasts of the United States through farming. Since returning, Katya has been teaching and leading in a Montessori adolescent environment. She believes in the potential of adolescents to blossom into the adults that our world needs and she loves being a part of that process. While her degree is in studio art, Katya’s passion for understanding humans, our history and our current society have led her to teaching social studies where she strives to help students dig into the past and present in pursuit of a more peaceful and sustainable future. Outside of the school world Katya also runs a small vegetable farm and plays as much soccer as she can.
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Michelle Oray
School Operations Leads
Founding Team Member
Michelle Oray's Bio
Michelle is our business office manager, and a founding STEAD family member. She has an associate degree in business administration, a medical assistant diploma and 20+ years in business management and human resources. Her biggest joy in life is helping other and making people smile. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, paper crafts, cooking and traveling.
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Jessie Boukarim
Director of Pathways and Student Experience
Founding Team Member
Jessie Boukarim's Bio
Jessie holds both a Master’s in Nutrition and Food Sciences and a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences from the University of Rhode Island, where he earned multiple honors, including the Diversity Award and recognition from the American Society of Nutrition. His academic and research background is matched by a decade of dynamic teaching experience across Montessori, charter, and public schools, where he’s led science, nutrition, and outdoor education programs with creativity and care.
Outside the classroom, Jessie’s commitment to building strong, supported communities shines. From spearheading community gardening programs and student internships to volunteering in food literacy, child wellness, and environmental advocacy, Jessie brings a spirit of collaboration and compassion wherever he goes.
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Front Office
Brenda McCluer
Office Assistant
Brenda McCluer's Bio
She was born in Panama, then moved to the states when they were young. Finally, landing in Colorado when they were 11. They have worked in education since 2022 and before that they worked at home owning a daycare. They enjoy taking on new challenges and doing their best both in school and in personal growth.
She is a mother of two wonderful children (one is a student here at STEAD). They enjoy doing things together as a family, going on adventures, game nights, doing all things nerdy like Comic Conventions, and being crafty.
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Guides
Manny Catala
CTE Lead
Founding Team Member
Manny Catala's Bio
Manny is one of our agricultural guides. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in international agriculture, Manny served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal as an urban agricultural extension agent, working with small-hold farmers to increase food security. Before joining the STEAD Team, he also worked in Ghana as a science teacher and 4H advisor in Batanyaa, a rural village in the central region of Ghana. Manny is passionate about working with youth and connecting them to agriculture. He is originally from New Hampshire and wicked excited to make Denver his new home. On weekends you can find Manny hanging with friends, hiking, traveling, or watching movies. A new hobby he is excited to learn is snowboarding!
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Nick Cillessen
ELA Guide
Founding Team Member
Nick Cillessen's Bio
Nick is a Colorado native who grew up in the southwest Denver area. He then attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where he earned his English BA with an emphasis in Secondary Education. After that, he moved to Dublin, Ireland on a working holiday visa. Just before the pandemic, he would start a MA in Digital Cultures at the University of Galway. Since then, Nick has taught in other PBL schools, lived in Italy, learned Italian, and taught English as a foreign language. He joined STEAD in 2024 and is the Yearbook Advisor, as well as a guide for the ELA 3 and ELA 4 courses.
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Lila Day
Visual Arts Guide
Founding Team Member
Lila Day's Bio
Lila grew up in La Veta, where she developed a deep appreciation for art, community, and connection. She earned a BFA in Ceramics with a minor in Art Education from Colorado State University.
With over 12 years of experience as a ceramic artist, teacher, and mentor, Lila teaches ceramics through the Art Students League of Denver and runs her own pottery studio. She also has a background in K–12 art education, teaching painting, mural design, digital art, mixed media, and other hands-on creative practices.
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Weather Gardner
Science Guide
Founding Team Member
Weather Gardner's Bio
Having previously worked at a veterinary hospital, Butterfly Pavilion, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Weather has experience with knowing what science looks like outside of the classroom and incorporates that into her teaching. When she is not teaching, Weather is filling her cup with historical fencing, video/board games, and working at the zoo.
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Dain Holland
Culinary & Farm Director
Founding Team Member
Dain Holland's Bio
Dain was born in California but raised most of his life in the Gallatin Valley in Southwest Montana. He has built a life working around food; growing, preserving, cooking, and now teaching. Dain has an A.S. in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University in Denver as well as a Certificate in Organic Agriculture Practices from the California Farm Academy in Winters, California. Dain learned how to cook at a very young age from his mother, and how to grow food from his father’s garden. Dain grew up involved in 4-H with projects in dairy goats and food preservation, and has been fly fishing since he could walk. In his free time, he spends time in his own backyard garden with his wife Lauren and their black lab mix Rocky. They love to play outdoors and sleep under the stars, and hope to bring their knowledge about local food systems to future generations.
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Chip Mitchell
School Counselor
Founding Team Member
Chip Mitchell's Bio
I am coming to stead after 12+ years of educating, facilitating, and guiding others in the outdoors all over this country. More recently I have received a masters degree in transpersonal wilderness therapy from Naropa University. I am a threshold guide from the school of lost borders and weave The Four Shields of Human Nature into how I show up in life and my work. I am a budding therapist and hope to bring my unique way of holding to the students and staff of this school. I am a storyteller, firekeeper, rite of passage guide, and holder of space. I walk with grief and aid others in remembering their own songs and stories. I am here to support students journeys within and help to catch them when they feel like they are falling. I hope to show that we are all in constant ceremony with the land and each other.
This is who I am now. This will shift as does life.
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Eric Newcombe
Social Studies Guide
Founding Team Member
Eric Newcombe's Bio
Eric comes from a proud lineage of public educators, and he carries forward that legacy with passion and purpose. With a Master’s degree in Public History from Colorado State University and a Bachelor’s in Secondary History Education from Northern Arizona University, Eric has spent over a decade engaging students in the exploration of U.S. and world history — from Advanced Placement courses to college-level instruction.
In addition to his classroom success, Eric brings a fascinating background in historic preservation and public service, having worked as a historian and architecture specialist with History Colorado and the Montana State Historic Preservation Office. His work has included everything from defending historic landmark nominations to leading state tax credit programs and writing cultural resource reports — experiences that offer our students a rare window into the real-world applications of historical study.
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Halie Padilla
Music Guide
Founding Team Member
Geoff Rice
Director of Student Support
Founding Team Member
Geoff Rice's Bio
Prior to joining STEAD, Geoff was a special education teacher at Johns Creek High School in Atlanta Georgia. He was born in Maine but moved to Georgia when he was nine, splitting his time between the two. Geoff holds a B.A. in History with a minor in education, a M.S. in instructional design and technology and holds a special education certification. Geoff’s teaching philosophy is excitement equals engagement: getting students excited and engaged with their learning is half the battle. In his free time, he travels and camps with his partner Nicolle, is a huge movie buff and an avid gamer.
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Aidan Rooney
Mathematics Guide
Founding Team Member
Aidan Rooney's Bio
Aidan grew up in Longmont as the middle child of a family of seven, and has known he would be a teacher since 3rd grade. Aidan attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs as a Chancellor’s Leadership Class Scholar, and graduated from the UCCSTeach program with a BS in Mathematics, a concentration in secondary education, and minors in piano performance and leadership studies. In his free time, Aidan enjoys playing board games, cooking, chocolate making, crocheting, volunteering, and playing cards (especially bridge). Aidan is very excited to be a part of the STEAD community!
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Kristi Thornton
Student Support Guide
Founding Team Member
Kristi Thornton's Bio
As a dedicated special education teacher, I am passionate about creating inclusive, supportive, and empowering learning environments where every student can thrive. With a strong belief that all children have unique strengths and potential, I work tirelessly to provide individualized instruction, foster social-emotional growth, and celebrate each milestone—big or small.
My journey in education has been guided by compassion, patience, and a deep commitment to equity. I specialize in supporting students with diverse learning needs, including those with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and emotional/behavioral challenges. By collaborating closely with families, therapists, and school staff, I ensure that every child receives a well-rounded and consistent support system.
Whether adapting curriculum, implementing behavior intervention plans, or advocating for student services, I strive to make a lasting difference in my students’ lives. I view teaching as not just a profession but a calling—and I feel privileged to be part of my students’ educational journeys.
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Dra. Molly Tun
World Language Lead
Founding Team Member
Molly Tun's Bio
Molly has a Ph.D. in Hispanic and Lusophone Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics from the University of Minnesota with a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Before joining The STEAD School she taught Spanish and Mathematics for fifteen years at Simpson College, St. Olaf College, the University of Minnesota, and the University of St. Thomas. Molly focuses on communication, culture, and projects in the classroom and enjoys seeing how students grow in their Spanish abilities and knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world. She loves traveling and has spent considerable time in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Bosnia, and India. Molly has many publications and collaborative projects on topics such as math traditions from around the world, ethnomathematics, the environment, indigenous ways of knowing, literature, and pedagogy. She is an expert of quipus (indigenous knot records) and has been invited internationally to give workshops on the topic. When classes are not in session Molly can usually be found in Mexico visiting family and practicing the Yucatec Mayan language. Molly is ecstatic to be a part of the STEAD community and create unique learning opportunities for students.
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Hannah Wallace
Senior Summit Lead
Founding Team Member
Hannah Wallace's Bio
Prior to joining the STEAD team, Hannah received her graduate degree in Sustainable Food Systems from the University of Colorado. During her time in graduate school, she studied the importance of agriculture-oriented, project-based learning for high schoolers. Prior to that, she served as an Americorps member in Southern Colorado. In this role, she taught environmental education for the Rio Grande Farm Park and taught at a local middle school. This role offered hands-on learning, including curriculum building, and game creation! Hannah has also partnered her passion for holistic food systems with her background in environmental science, conducting research on urban agriculture nutrient retention and nutrient pollution. She has loved learning about different forms of agriculture, and is passionate about zero-waste initiatives, and pollinators! In her free time, you can find her enjoying the outdoors with her dog, Lola. This is just the tip of the iceberg for Hannah’s passions, background, and interests. She is excited to continue growing as a part of the STEAD community!
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Kelly Watson
Ag CTE Guide
Founding Team Member
Kelly Watson's Bio
Kelly Watson is a horticulturist focused on creating localized food systems and using sustainable landscape practices. She is originally from Annapolis, Maryland, and received her B.S. in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Maryland, College Park. She took her passions into her work as a groundskeeper and greenhouse grower. Following her desire to work with youth, she pivoted into education. She began as a substitute teacher in the 27J school district for local middle and high schools. Most recently, she taught Environmental Horticulture at Pickens Technical College in Aurora, Colorado. Outside of the classroom, you can find Kelly gardening, camping, or cheering on the Nuggets! Kelly is ecstatic to share her knowledge and love for the natural world with STEAD students.
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Danny Williams
Mathematics Guide
Founding Team Member
Danny Williams' Bio
Danny grew up knowing he wanted to be a teacher. In High School and College, he gained experience with several tutoring opportunities. He then began his career, immediately after graduating, by becoming the High School ESOL teacher for New Garden Friends School in Greensboro, NC. Following that school year, Danny went on to be a study hall advisor and one of their Math teachers. After the 2019-2020 school year, Danny took a break from teaching to run his own Travel baseball program. He learned a lot from his time running his own business, but missed being in the classroom. He has been at STEAD for 4 years now and could not imagine working anywhere else. He is thankful to be a part of this community and is excited to see it growing!
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Naj’la Stokes
Head Girls/Boys Volleyball Coach & Paraprofessional
Founding Team Member
Naj'la Stokes' Bio
Coach Naj has been in the game as long as she was able to play. She started playing for Denver Parks and Recreation when she was 10, and continued all through Graduating from South High school. She then began her coaching career as a side gig in college for both of those institutions (DPR for 15 years). Coach Naj coached for both East High, and a Club team at George Washington HS, before taking a break back in 2017, to focus on being a teacher. In July of this year she decided she loved coaching too much to stay away for too long and also coaches with Infinity volleyball club, during the off season.
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