MEET OUR TEAM Our team of Alternative Licensure Instructors (ALIs) and education professionals are ready to share their real experience and guide you towards your goal every step of the way. Together we offer over 60 years of experience as professional learning leaders and educators and have built a learning community that mentors and empowers new teachers towards a successful teaching career built upon culturally responsive and inclusive teaching practices. Dr. Suzanne Arnold, Director of ASPIRE Before entering higher education I taught science at the Milton Hershey School, a school for children in financial need. As the Director of ASPIRE I am responsible for the over-site of all licensing activities including developing instructional programming, scheduling, implementing, delivering & evaluating our program. I am also a member of the Continuing Professional Education team. Erin Bache, Alternative Lincensure Instructor I have a B.A. and M.A. in Special Education with endorsementsin Special Education & Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education. I also taught in Eagle County at a center-based elementary program for students with severe needs. Jennifer Fox, Alternative Lincensure Instructor I have been with ASPIRE for 3 years and have an M.A. in Special Education. I taught special education in Washington, D.C. at a 6-12 charter school. I supported 7th grade students while also coaching soccer and tumbling. Dr. Julia Kantor, Alternative Lincensure Instructor I started my career in elementary education, teaching 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders in a New York City public school. I then earned my PhD in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction at CU. I am deeply interested student voice, equity and diversity in education. Ashley Marrotta, Alternative Lincensure Instructor Specialty in Early Childhood Education. I've taught prenatal to college and everything in-between, focused on Early Childhood Education, Family Education, with a focus on linguistically and culturallydiverse students and families. Sam McNitt, Alternative Lincensure Instructor I am a graduate of UC-Denver’s Initial Professional Teacher Education program and spent eights years as a secondary English and ELD teacher in Aurora Public Schools. I have been with ASPIRE for 3 years. Evan McClintock, Senior Alternative Lincensure Instructor I have been with ASPIRE for 3 years. I have worked in education for 20 years including teaching fifth grade & working with practicing & prospective teachers. I went on to graduate school to study mathematics education. Deirdre J. Morgenthaler, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator I work with both the ASPIRE & EDU programs assisting with the design & implementation of online learning environments, marketing & outreach. I am pursuing my doctorate in education at UC Denver with a focus on media literacy in k-12 education. Leslie Prock, Alternative Lincensure Instructor I have worked with ASPIRE for 2 years. I taught Spanish, History & Leadership inLos Angeles before becoming a History coach at UCLA. I joined the Teacher Education program at UCD & have worked in teacher development for 7 years. Dane Stickney, Alternative Licensure Instructor Dane transitioned into the classroom after 10 years as a newspaper reporter. He helped found STRIVE Sunnyside Middle School where he taught writing & social studies, & served as the Curriculum Curator and English-Language Acquisition Trainer. Greg White, ASPIRE Program Coordinator Before coming to ASPIRE I was a teacher in Gunnison, Colorado. As the Program Coordinator for ASPIRE, I support our candidates & staff towards successful completion of the program. I have a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Secondary Education. What our Candidates have to say… I love that I am able to apply everything I learn throughout the modules right to my classroom. I am gaining effective teaching strategies and everyone is tremendously supportive. Jennifer, ASPIRE Candidate