Staff
Bobby Young, M.Ed.
Head of School
Having previously served in leadership roles at esteemed educational institutions around the world, I bring with me a wealth of experience and a passion for fostering excellence in education. I have dedicated over 15 years to U.S. public school education, holding positions such as Principal, Assistant Principal, Curriculum Coordinator, and Teacher. In addition, I served for 5 years as a residential leader with Outward Bound USA. I have also had the opportunity to serve as the Principal at The International School Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago and the Curriculum Coordinator at Boston International School located in Wuxi, China. Both of these experiences provided me with valuable insights into the diverse needs of students from a global perspective. My educational journey led me to earn a Master’s of Educational Leadership from Colorado State University, where I conducted research on student engagement, emphasizing the importance of incorporating project-based experiential learning into classroom instructional design.Irene Nissen, B.Sc.
Director of Technology & Operations
I did not follow a traditional path to working in the K-12 world! I earned my bachelor’s degree in Restaurant and Resort Management from Colorado State University with the intent to work in the hospitality industry. After several years working in hotels and entertainment, I realized that my heart was not in this world as I thought and gradually made my way into K-12 education through the pathway of school libraries and technology support. I have spent the last decade of my career learning and supporting all aspects of technology integration and innovation in the k-12 sector. I firmly believe that by supporting meaningful integration of technology in the classroom I can help to facilitate learning opportunities in which students create meaningful connections, spark lifelong interests, and establish 21st century skills that are imperative for success in the workplace. During my career as a K-12 Technology in Education Leader, I have had the opportunity to provide direction during three separate school expansion projects including interior design work,Jenny Findlay, M.A.
Director of Development
I received my Master’s Degree in Teaching and English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and taught at multiple levels of both middle and high school, in New York and New Jersey, before our family made the move to Colorado. Holistically, my time at Columbia as student, teacher, curriculum-geek, and all-round education enthusiast, refined my educational philosophy and shaped my vision of education in the 21st century. I believe scholarship must be accessible to students of every background, ability, learning style, and modality. I believe excellence in education is based on maintaining a balance among academic rigor, creativity, and plain old fun- through which the urge to inquire about our world and delve into self-discovery is nurtured and valued. I believe in dynamic, experiential, and interdependent learning that fosters solid relationships among students and their peers as well as with teachers, the local community, and the greater society at large.Kate VanderLeek, M.SW., LSW
School Counselor
My family and I are originally from Michigan where I began my career in school social work. After obtaining my Masters in Social Work with an emphasis on working in the school setting, my passion for working with students began. After moving to Colorado, my career eventually guided me to a charter school in Fort Collins where I spent the next 6 years developing my skills. I am thrilled to be a part of the Compass community and continue to support students in their educational journey. When not spending time in the school, I enjoy the outdoors with my husband and two daughters biking, hiking, running, camping, and paddle boarding.Rhondda Walker, Ph.D.
Teacher-Advisor: Special Education
I have 30 years experience in public education and special education, most recently having worked for the last five years at Loveland High School. I have lived her in Ft Collins for half of my life and am raising my 16 year old here. I am very familiar with Compass and have worked with several of these founding teachers in the past. I’m ready to be a part of this amazing group of people!Debbie Bush, M.Sc.
Office Manager
I grew up with a love for science and biology that led me to earning my Veterinary Science degree. I worked as a solo veterinarian practitioner in my country, Colombia. I moved to Mexico to continue with my education where I did a master’s program in Animal Nutrition. I came to the USA to study Epidemiology and worked as a veterinarian epidemiology for several years with the USDA. I paused my career to raise my kids and came back to the work force in the field of education. I feel privilege to see how the middle and high school students are growing, learning, and finding their paths for their future. I feel very fortunate to work with so many passionate leaders and teachers who offer such a unique and rich learning opportunity to the students at Compass.Marty Wiseman, Certified A and P Mechanic
Facilities Manager, Mechanics & Carpentry Instructor
I was born in Cheyenne and raised here in Ft. Collins. I am an "old school" mechanic who has worked on a wide variety of mechanical items, from cars to heavy equipment, including high-speed robots and Brewing/packaging machines. I learned a lot from my dad, watching and helping him build and race stock cars. I am a former U.S.Marine and I worked on the Harrier Jump Jets. After my service, I attended aviation school, achieving an Airframe and Power Plant Mechanics Certificate. This led me to several industrial jobs around Ft. Collins. I have found a new life teaching shop classes, and working with the kids, here at Compass and I am so grateful for this opportunity!Amanda Boeder, M.Ed.
Teacher: High School Mathematics, Middle School Robotics
Growing up in Southern California I always loved math, but I lost my enthusiasm by the time I graduated high school. Not because the content was too difficult, but because the way I was taught was so boring and tedious. In college, I rediscovered how interesting, challenging, and collaborative math could be and I never looked back. I decided to earn my Bachelor's in Mathematics and my Master's in Education so I could change the way math was being taught. I strove to bring my students applicable, hands-on challenges that change the way they think about and approach math. After 5 years, a life pivot took me to Switzerland, and after a year there another pivot landed me here in beautiful Fort Collins. I am so grateful to continue my teaching and learning journey at Compass, where student-centered learning and collaboration are some of the foundational values our school is built on.Bonnie Cowen, M.Ed.
Teacher-Advisor: High School Humanities, Venture Project Planning & Instructional Coach, Compass Historian & Yearbook
After graduating from Kent State University, I moved to Colorado to fulfill a year-long volunteer service commitment. Ultimately, I was hired to develop an adolescent program for a homeless shelter, and it was in that role of teen advocate and school liaison that I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I saw first-hand that having an adult who believed in them was essential to positively changing the trajectory of children’s lives. Equally important, I wanted to inspire in children a desire to learn. As a result, I earned a Post-Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education and a Masters of Education in Instructional Leadership from Colorado State University. I spent the next 15 years teaching social studies, and while I taught core courses (American History, World History, Civics, Sociology), I spent the majority of my career teaching both Advanced Psychology and International Baccalaureate Psychology. I served as Exam Reader/Grader for the The College BoardKayla Crowe-Stover, M.A.
Teacher-Advisor: Middle School English Language Arts, College English Instructor, Compass Council Student Leadership & Special Events Coordinator
I was fortunate to be hired for an English teacher position in Poudre School District immediately after completing my bachelors degree at Colorado State University. Being a young teacher was both challenging and rewarding, but what I discovered early on in my career was that I had something to learn from every student I taught. Each student’s unique story became a part of my own story as we built relationships together. Now, twelve years later I have interacted with students in a variety of different settings: as an International Baccalaureate and general education teacher, as a coach and dance teacher, as a theater choreographer, as a sponsor for poetry and service clubs, as a Compass summer prototype teacher. In that time, I also become a parent to two remarkable children. In each of these diverse settings, I realized that kids want to tell their stories in one form or another. As teachers, we have the privilege to be co-creators in these narratives,Dawn DuPriest, M.Ed.
Teacher: Mathematics & S.T.E.M - Middle and High School, College Computer Science Instructor
After working as a software engineer for almost a decade, I followed my heart and became a math, science, and technology teacher in Poudre School District. I’ve been a middle school teacher for my entire teaching career and I enjoy working with students as they grow into who they are as people and learners. During my time attending conferences, interacting with other educators online, experimenting with my own teaching and getting to visit other schools and classrooms, I became passionate about learner-centered education. I always enjoy working on rich and authentic projects with my students, and I can’t wait to make this kind of learning my full-time job. I am a lifelong learner myself.I’m a fellow in the National Education Association’s Teacher Leadership Initiative, and I was the Fort Collins Rotary Clubs’ PSD Teacher of the Year in 2012. I became an Allen Distinguished Educator in 2016, an opportunity awarded to teachers with innovative programs in Engineering,Sagar Gaire, M.Sc.
Teacher: Middle School Mathematics & Science
Originally from Nepal, I came to the US to pursue an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts at St. John's College, where I studied the great books of the Western Civilization for four years. The Socratic way of learning I experienced in college has influenced the way I think about education. After college, I taught Geometry and Physics at a high school in Arizona for a year. Then, I pursued a Masters in Mathematics at Miami University in Ohio, where I also worked as teaching assistant for Business Calculus classes. I am very happy to start teaching at Compass, where the learning is so unique and innovative. Besides teaching, I like reading, hiking, soccer and other outdoor activities.Dominique Montano, M.Sc.
Teacher-Advisor: High School Science & Art
dominique@compassfortcollins.org
I was raised in Colorado and growing up in the mountains of Idaho Springs, I fell in love with the natural beauty, activities, and wildlife all around us, and knew from a very young age that I wanted to study animals when I grew up. I yearned to focus on the mysteries of nature and what we did not yet understand, and the immense power we have as scientists to be curious and ask the most important question of 'why?' The ability to understand the world around us, to grow beyond our own perspective and understanding, and to discover tools and mechanisms with which to explore the unknown is a fundamental part of being a scientist, and that ability to be curious over being knowledgeable is an adage I try to impress when it comes to the importance and fun field that is science! I learned these key tools through my degree in Zoology at Colorado State University, working in a physiology lab and growing increasingly interested in the vastly different ways animals move and interact with their environment.Adriana Paredes, M.Ed.
Teacher: High School Spanish, Middle and High School Art
adriana@compassfortcollins.org
I was born and raised in Mexico City. I was fortunate to attend a truly bilingual school where English was taught every day, half day, and we had different subjects taught in this language. Since I was little I yearned to connect with people from other cultures and believed that the only way to really know a culture and its people, was to live in its country. I came to the States in 1994 with my 8-year-old son. It was going to be a six months adventure, instead, it became a radical change of life for both of us. I have two master's degrees, one in Education, and another one in Psychology. Once upon a time, I was a clinical therapist for children with learning disabilities. I started painting as a teenager and continue to do this every day! I started teaching in Mexico City in 1991 and have continued to do this since then. I have taught in all kinds of schools; private, public, international, Waldorf, charter schools, private lessons, etc. You may even find me as a painting instructor at Pinot's Palette!Kyle Peters, M.Ed.
Teacher-Advisor: Middle School Science
Growing up in the beautiful mountain town of Bailey, I developed a profound love for nature and the great outdoors. Inspired by this passion, I pursued a degree in Environment and Sustainability/Biology at Western State Colorado University, where I delved into the complexities of our natural world. After completing my college education, I embarked on an unforgettable journey of travel and exploration, spanning over a year across Central and South America. Upon returning to the United States, I immersed myself in the field of environmental science, working as a scientist involved in designing, implementing, and improving testing procedures for air, soil, and water remediation efforts across Colorado and beyond. In 2022, fueled by my desire to make a meaningful difference as an educator, I took the leap and enrolled in the esteemed Master of Education Program at Colorado State University. Blending my background as a scientist and my dedication to education,Wendy Rose, M.Ed.
Futures Counselor: College & Career
I had been wondering for years how I can help people find a creative and life-affirming path in an increasingly complex world where the stakes high and we need more innovators. After earning a degree in school counseling, I worked for 16 years in career and pathway planning in higher education at Colorado State University and University of Wyoming. Working at universities, I worked hard to help students stay flexible and confident in who they are, but I always wished students had been given opportunities earlier in their educations to really explore their aptitudes, interests, and career options so that they had what they needed to make informed choices in their courses of study and efforts to find internships. Compass showed me that secondary school education could be different and really prepare students to be both autonomous and compassionate with others and with themselves. I believe students need to learn a lot more than how to take a test or regurgitate information.Emmanuelle Roussel, B.A.
Teacher-Advisor: Middle School English Language Arts, Clubs Coordinator
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. At first, I completed a business degree in Management, mostly to appease my family. However, I went back to school shortly thereafter to get my teaching certification as I knew that was where my true passion lied. Since then, I have never left the classroom. I began by teaching fifth grade Language Arts and Social Studies in the Houston public school system. I then taught middle school English, English as a Second Language, and was an advisor at an International Baccalaureate school for fourteen years. My experience in an international school with nearly 60 nationalities and cultures has significantly reshaped my vision of education. It became clear to me that teaching also meant listening to others and sharing our knowledge in a harmonious balance. We reach our objectives as teachers when others feel good about learning. In an ideal world, teaching would be sharing our passion with others. Nevertheless,Kaylie Stenhouse, B.A.
Teacher-Advisor: Middle School English Language Arts & Social Studies
Originally from Boulder, Colorado, I attended Colorado State University where I completed bachelor’s degrees in French and Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts. After completing my undergraduate studies, I worked a variety of jobs, including being a barista, baker, and theater set painter, before going through the Friends Teacher Preparation Program to gain my teaching license. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree at University of Colorado Denver. As an educator, I believe in creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where students can thrive and meet their full potential. My approach involves fostering a love for learning by creating authentic learning experiences that allow students to develop their own understanding of course content. I am thrilled to be teaching at Compass Community Collaborative this year!Torrie Thomas, M.Ed.
Teacher-Advisor: Middle School Social Studies
I went to Elon University for my undergrad in History and I received my Masters in Education with the intent of creating a classroom that did not reflect the experience many of us have had with history class (beyond boring and taught by the football coach because it was "easy" to teach). My first year of teaching was at the high school level, but was interrupted by COVID. I then switched into middle school at a charter in Greeley, where I grew to truly love being in middle school and interacting with middle school students. When I learned about Compass I was exhilarated by their approach to education -- not only a challenge to the student, but to the teacher as well! I am so happy to continue my own education within this community, and to provide an inclusive and positive environment to tackle how history impacts us today!
