St. Elizabeth's

Kindergarten Lead Teacher - Kim Gerlitz

Kim is an experienced and certified elementary school teacher, mostly in kindergarten and pre-kindergarten classrooms.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and studied abroad in Sweden at the Vaxjo University.  Kim has been active in: various church volunteer organizations, as a summer camp counselor, nursing home assistant, and was recipient of a prominent leadership award and the Aliss Scholarship grant.  Kim holds a State of Colorado teacher's License with endorsements in Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

First Grade Lead Teacher - Jodie Bratten

Jodie graduated summa cum laude from Whittier College in California where she was awarded Outstanding Distinction in her child development major. At graduation she was also awarded the President's Scholar Athlete of the Year. She has studied abroad at the University of Wollongong in Australia and was Graduate Teaching Fellow at Broadoaks Children's School in California. After returning home to Denver, she took additional training to become Colorado certified through the Stanley British Primary preparation program for teachers. At Graland, she taught kindergarten and second grade. Jodie finished her Master's degree in Educational Psychology in May 2008.

First Grade Assistant Teacher – Carrie Brady

Carrie graduated with a BA in History from CU, Boulder.  After spending some time traveling and teaching abroad, she realized a passion for education and attended ASU in Tempe to earn a teaching certificate.  For the past several years Carrie taught fourth grade for Aurora Public Schools, but resigned when her son, Merrick, came into the world, May 29th, 2008.  Carrie and her husband, Ryan, just purchased a condo right by the Park Hill golf course, which is a terrific commute for Carrie- four minutes total!

Combined First/Second Grade Teacher- Judy Wagner

Born and raised in Denver, Judy comes to us with thirty-six years of teaching experience. She graduated from Western State College with a BA degree in Elementary Education. Her experience includes six years at Graland Country Day School, two in the Roaring Fork School District at Carbondale Elementary, twenty-four in the Cherry Creek School District, and four in the Minturn/Vail valley for Eagle County Schools. Having taught second grade for the majority of these years, it is considered her expertise. She is passionate about children’s literature and thoroughly loves modeling the joy of reading through her library of children’s picture books.

Combined First/Second Grade Assistant Teacher- Karis Shockley

Karis Fox Shockley was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado.  She moved to Denver in 2008 after graduating from C.U. Boulder with a B.A. in arts and sciences.  She received her degree in speech language and hearing sciences with a minor in linguistics. Karis has always been passionate about acting, singing and dancing.  She has shared these talents for the past ten summers as a camp counselor for a children’s theater group.  Last year, she was at a Montessori school in Denver, where she worked with children ranging in age from six weeks to six years old.  Karis is in the process of applying to graduate school, where her goal is to receive her masters in speech pathology. She hopes to begin school in fall 2010.  Karis loves going home to Boulder to see her family; she is the oldest of five. 

Extended Day Director / Internal Communications Coordinator - Danice Giles

Danice came to us from Marietta, Georgia, where she taught for nearly 30 years at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas University in Elementary Education with a major in Special Education.  Danice holds Georgia and Colorado teachers' licenses with endorsements in Middle, Elementary, and Early Childhood Education.  She was formerly the Director of the Horizons Student Enrichment Program in Atlanta, and is continuing that commitment with the Colorado Academy Horizons Program in Denver.

Specialty Teachers

Music - Gretchen Timmer

Gretchen has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hastings College in Nebraska with majors in K-12 Music Education and Piano/Organ.  She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska with emphasis in Elementary Music Education and Piano.  Gretchen has also done postgraduate studies in Orff, elementary methods, multiculturalism, gender equity and awareness, folk dance and movement.  She recently worked for the Cherry Creek School district where she taught grades K-5 vocal and general music, chorus, recorder and hand chimes.  She was previously Youth Choir Director at St. John's Cathedral in Denver and is presently the Accompanist for Choristers Choir of Young Voices of Colorado.

Art - Karen Kelly

Karen is a gifted artist and teacher and is ideally suited to foster our mission and focus on the arts. She has extensive experience teaching art to students age three through adult. She has established highly successful art programs for over 20 public and private schools in the metro Denver area.  Karen has created and implemented art curricula and age-appropriate art projects around famous past and current artists, cultural studies, architecture, landscapes, animals, still life, etc. For seventeen years, Karen was the owner/director/instructor of a fine arts school in Littleton, which she sold in 2007.  She has an undergraduate degree from Colorado State College and a graduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and has studied ancient architecture and sculpture in India.

Spanish / Physical Education – Rachel Levine

Rachel is in her second year at SES and fills several important positions.  She graduated with degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Vermont, and she is currently studying Anatomy and Physiology in preparation for graduate studies in the field of medicine. She was taught first grade for Americorps in Northern California. Rachel loves Colorado and all the outdoor/indoor sports it offers.  Important to her are family, friends, children and Vermont. 

Physical Education - Sue Johanning

Sue is a graduate of Colorado State University, with a BS in Commercial Physical Education.  She has a Masters degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado, Health Science Center, 1997, and is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).  She has completed multiple continuing education courses including manual therapy, stabilization and rehabilitation programs for adults and children.  Sue has developed and implemented numerous exercise and sport specific programs for adults and children, emphasizing injury prevention.  She enjoys working with children, and feels that physical education is essential to a child's well-being and development.

Chaplain / Faith Studies - The Rev. Susan Greenwood

Mother Susan came to Colorado in 1969 to begin a teaching career.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters in Reading for Second Language Learners.  She retired from her career as a bilingual elementary art and reading teacher in 2006 in order to go to Episcopal seminary.  She attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City where she discovered that grandmothers could learn new tricks and earned a Masters of Divinity Degree.  She was ordained priest in the Diocese of Colorado in 2006.  Mother Susan loves spending time with her family, playing with her two pet bunnies, reading and sometimes dressing in a gorilla suit.

Administration

Head of School / C.E.O. - Walter McCoy

Walter began teaching in Orleans Parish Public Schools, taught history at Jesuit High School in New Orleans, chaired the History Department at Casady School in Oklahoma City, was Headmaster of the Wightwood School in Branford, Connecticut and Head of School at St. Francis Episcopal Day School in Potomac, Maryland.  Walter has two Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Secondary Education in Social Studies and a Master of Arts degree in History Teaching from the University of New Orleans.  He has accomplished postgraduate studies in Latin American History at Tulane University.  Walter's wife, Carolyn, also an experienced independent school educator, served St. Elizabeth's as acting principal during the early start up years.

Director of Development - Ramsay Stabler

Ramsay has worked in independent schools since 1979, as a teacher of history, math, and English; coach of various sports; head of the middle school; headmaster of St. Anne's Episcopal School in Denver from 1994 until 2006. He received his BA in history from Williams College (MA) and his Masters in School Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University (NY). He has served on the board of a variety of local non-profits, including St. Elizabeth's School. He and his wife, Holly, have been married for 29 years, and they have four sons.

Administrative Assistant - W. Joseph Schwairy

Joe has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services in counseling, mental health, and non-profit administration from Metropolitan State College in Denver.  He is an experienced and skilled graphic designer, computer guru, impeccable organizer, and humorous extraordinaire. Joe is currently in discernment leading to ordination to the Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church.