Coaches & Support Staff
Katie Shenk
Teaching Partner
Teaching Partner
Katie was born and raised in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, but has called Colorado home for the last 20 years. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. Katie first learned about EL Education (EL) while exploring the glaciers and rivers of Alaska and immediately connected to the vision of EL. She spent the first decade of her EL career teaching at the Odyssey School and Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning in Denver. She then joined the EL national staff as a school coach and curriculum designer. Katie is thrilled to have joined the Tollgate Crew as a coach and is inspired daily by the passionate and engaged teachers and students here. In her free time, Katie loves to swim, arrange flowers, and explore and play with her family.
Email: kashenk@aurorak12.org
Nichol Castinado
TOSA Teacher
TOSA Teacher
Nichol was born and raised in Colorado, loving all the beauty this state has to offer, especially the mountains! She graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and received her Masters degree, in Curriculum and Instruction, from the University of Phoenix. She has taught Kindergarten for 3 years, 1st grade for 2 years, and a Kindergarten/First Grade combo (K/1) for 7 years. She has taught all 12 years at Tollgate Elementary and is excited to serve more students this year by stepping into the TOSA Teacher position. She loves teaching at Tollgate because of how the staff and students embody what it means to be citizens of their community. WE ARE CREW! She is so inspired by students each and every day. In her free time, Nichol loves to be outside, going hiking, camping, paddle boarding and snowboarding. She also loves to travel around the world with volunteer groups over the summers. She has been to 8 different countries and 5 continents! Nichol is honored to work at Tollgate and in the Aurora community. She looks forward to working with you and your child!
CREW WEBSITE: https://sites.google.com/aurorak12.org/k1crew/home
Email: nmcastinado@aurorak12.org
Check out what Ms. Castinado's Crew did!
Kristin Houser
EL & Literacy Coach
EL & Literacy Coach
Kristin is a Denver, Colorado native. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors Degree in Natural Resources Management, then earned her teaching certification through the Stanley British Primary School program. Kristin loves working with the students at Tollgate, and all of the dedicated teachers who make up the Tollgate crew. In her free time, you can find her relaxing with her husband and chocolate lab Sombra, reading books, or enjoying a cup of tea.
Email: klhouser@aurorak12.org
Mary Higgins Price
Interventionist - Primary
Interventionist - Primary
Mary is a proud Colorado native and grew in up in Denver. After graduating from Santa Clara University, she moved to San Francisco where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching at San Francisco University. After teaching 1st grade for 8 years she decided to focus on her passion for teaching reading, and accepted her dream job as Tollgate’s K-2 math and reading interventionist. She is passionate about helping all students succeed and find joy in their work at school. Her favorite ways to pass time outside of school include cooking, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Email: mkhigginsprice@aurorak12.org
Carla Chavez
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) Teacher Leader
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) Teacher Leader
Carla has worked at Tollgate for one year and absolutely loves the diversity and cultures of the students at Tollgate! She has been a teacher for 20 years and worked in Aurora Public Schools for 14 of those. She enjoys being a lead learner, leader, and advocate for English Language Learners. Carla is a Colorado native and is a very HUGE Colorado State University Rams fan and alumni. She has earned two Bachelor's and a Master's Degree. Carla is a PROUD mother of two amazing young men! She has one son who is 14 and will be attending Regis Jesuit High School and another who is 23 and just graduated from Colorado State University. She spends lots of time watching her sons, nieces, and nephews compete in a variety of sports. She loves to travel, go to the movies and sporting events, shop, and spend lots of quality time with family and friends!
Email: cnchavez@aurorak12.org
Brynn Calender
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) Teacher Leader
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) Teacher Leader
Brynn Calender was born and raised in hot, sunny Arizona. There she received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and her master's degree in Bilingual Multicultural Education from Northern Arizona University and began her teaching career. Nine years ago, she moved to Colorado and began working in APS where she felt immediate connection with the amazing students we serve! Brynn loves learning and working alongside teachers to co-create classrooms where students know they belong and thrive. She recently also became a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach with a focus on functional medicine, so she spends part of her time working with clients at a doctor's office, as well. In her downtime you can find her hiking, cheering on the Broncos, or spending time with family and friends. She's so excited to be part of the Tollgate Crew!
Email: BMCALENDER@aurorak12.org
TBD
School Psychologist
School Psychologist
Bio coming soon!
Email:
Catherine O'Meara
Speech & Language Pathologist
Speech & Language Pathologist
Catherine O'Meara grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota. She attended University of Wyoming for her undergraduate and graduate degree. She graduated with a Masters in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences. She recently moved to Denver this last summer with her husband and golden retriever. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog and cooking. Catherine is excited to be a part of the Tollgate CREW!
Email: cmomeara@aurorak12.org
Cindy Matthews
Interventionist & Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Interventionist & Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Cindy was born in Nebraska but has lived her adult life in Colorado. She has taught at Tollgate as a classroom teacher for many years but is now working with small groups of kids helping them with math and reading. She is also Tollgate's Gifted and Talented resource teacher. She loves being outdoors walking, hiking, biking and exploring and that is why Expedition Learning is a perfect fit for her. It is the best of both learning and adventure. Seeing students make progress and be happy makes Tollgate the best spot ever to teach!
Email: clmatthews@aurorak12.org
Dolores Gonzalez
District Nurse
District Nurse
Bio coming soon!
Email: ddgonzalez@aurorak12.org
Kristen Gold
Social Worker
Social Worker
Kristen is a native New Englander and recent transplant to the Denver area! She received her bachelors in Social Work at Providence College in Rhode Island where she did her first internship at a school and fell in love with working in the school setting! After some traveling around and graduate school in Washington, DC, she settled and worked in Providence, Rhode Island as a school social worker for 4 years before taking the leap with her fiance to move to Colorado! Kristen is a kid at heart and loves to be silly and have fun. When not at school, you can find her hiking, camping, cooking, and doing puzzles!
Email: kgold@aurorak12.org
Aimee Moncrief
Social Worker
Social Worker
Aimee was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She received a bachelor’s of science in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Utah. She then moved to Denver, Colorado and recently graduated from the University of Denver with her master’s degree in Social Work. In her downtime you can find her spending time with her dog, Ralphy, practicing yoga, or reading at a coffee shop. She also enjoys anything crafty such as macramé, cross stitch or painting. She is so excited to be a part of the Tollgate Crew!
Email: hmoncrief@aurorak12.org
Caitlin Saar
Aurora Mental Health Provider
Aurora Mental Health Provider
Caitlin was born and raised in Colorado until she was about 6 years old when she moved to Virginia with her mom. She grew up in Northern Virginia attending Prince William County Public Schools and graduated from Christopher Newport University (CNU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in communications in 2013. While at CNU she was deeply involved with her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha and interned with the counseling department her senior year. After graduating from Christopher Newport University, Caitlin worked at Antietam Elementary as a teacher's assistant in one of their lower elementary special education classrooms for the 2013-2014 school year. As much as she liked Virginia, Caitlin was drawn to Colorado and moved back in 2014. She worked as a Group Living Counselor at Excelsior Youth Center and later a Paraprofessional at Metro Children's Center. In May 2019, Caitlin graduated from Metropolitan State University with a Masters in Social Work. In her free time, Caitlin loves spending time with her boyfriend and their two dogs. She enjoys traveling, hiking, tubing, paddle boarding, and just being outdoors.
Email: CaitlinSaar@aumhc.org
Sarah McKenzie
Kitchen Manager
Kitchen Manager
Bio coming soon!
Email: slmckenzie@aurorak12.org
Lori Carlstrom
Head Custodian
Head Custodian
Bio coming soon!
Email: ljcarlstrom@aurorak12.org