Faculty & Staff Directory
Thomas Cleary
Director
Thomas Cleary has 19 years of teaching experience in Elementary, Middle School, and High School. He taught for nine years at CCS, and nine years in American curriculum schools in India and Mali, W. Africa. He is credentialed and experienced in elementary general education, secondary math, and secondary science. He has a BS in Environmental Geology and a Master’s in Educational Leadership, both from Colorado State University. He is also certified as a Master Environmental Educator through the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. Prior to becoming a formal educator he spent 15 years as an outdoor instructor and wilderness course director. His commitment to Crestone and experiential education brought him back to CCS with the desire to build upon its mission and core values: stimulating experiential and academic programming that includes nurturing the whole student and their relationships and responsibilities to self, community, and environment. His goal as a school leader is to create a supportive atmosphere where students and staff feel safe to explore, grow, and learn. Thomas is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys rock climbing, river rafting, skiing, bicycling, and soaking in hot springs with his wife and two young adult children.
Office and Business Manager
Lynn Nehez Office and Business Manager Email: lnehez@crestonecharter.com
Lynn Nehez is the Business Office Manager. She comes to CCS from Georgia where she spent 30 years as the founder and director of a Montessori school which included securing the schools non-profit status. She and her husband relocated to the valley in 2022. Lynn is passionate about education and is excited to support the growth and development of programming at CCS. Lynn is a certified Montessori teacher for ages 3-6 and 6-12 and taught for seven years in her school in Georgia. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Information Systems from Georgia State University and her Master of Education Degree from Loyola University, Maryland. Lynn has extensive experience in finance, human resources, and running a school.
Counselor
Collette Fisk School Counselor
Collette grew up in Arkansas and attended Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri where she earned a B.S. Degree in Psychology. She is currently finishing an M.A. in Clinical Counseling at Adams State University and is excited for graduation in May 2025! She has 20 plus years of experience working as a regional program manager to create and grow new children's food nutrition initiatives with mobile food services in rural Colorado and Eastern Tennessee. She is a passionate advocate and agent of change and strives to provide support to anyone struggling with mental health challenges. Collette meets weekly with grades K -8th teaching Social and Emotional Awareness classes. She is also always available to provide a safe confidential space to listen to students. Collette enjoys naps and sleeping in on the weekends.
Special Education Coordinator
Jeanne: Jeanne Weider, Special Education Coordinator and School Psychologist
Jeanne Weidner has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work in 1990, an Alternative Teaching certification, and a School Psychologist degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2001. Jeanne taught in Texas schools grades 4-8 in Language Arts, Reading and Social Studies. She went back to school for School Psych Education in 2013 working in Iowa schools focusing on behavior issues and academic achievement helping students to achieve their highest potential. Jeanne guides intensive instruction for students to bring back to the classroom. Jeanne enjoys kayaking, hiking, reading and dancing.
Instructional, Curricular, and MTSS Coach (ICMC)
Hillary Clayton, Curricular, Instructional, and Multi Tiered Systems of Support Lead
Hillary Clayton is the Teachers Instructional Coach at Crestone Charter School. Hillary has worked in education for over a decade as a Secondary Science and Math teacher. Hillary received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Ohio State University, majoring in International Relations and Diplomacy, Spanish, and Globalization Studies. Hillary then went on to receive her Master's Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University after working for an educational Americorp Program. Hillary's efforts in supporting teachers ultimately supports students.
She has a vital role in supporting teachers with their professional growth, curriculum planning, and implementation. She collaborates daily with teachers to meet them where they are and finds ways to best support students. When she is not at school you can find her at the Stables feeding goats and horses.
All School Experiential Education / HS Math remediation and support
Early Elementary
Jane Elliott- Kindergarten First grade teacher
Jane has been passionate about learning and teaching her whole life. Jane has a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Dominican University, San Rafael California and a Master of Counciling and School Counseling from Phoenix University. She has a total of twenty-nine years of teaching experience. Jane has always been interested in alternative approaches to education that include travel, project-based learning, community service, and creativity. She has extensive experience teaching children in the elementary grades, with unique expertise in reading, writing, and math instruction. She sums up her teaching philosophy: “The most important gifts we can give a child are the abilities to explore, self-reflect, evaluate, and ask questions and seek answers. As educators, it is our job to lead children toward this.”
Early Elementary Aide
Nate Wood: Kindergarten and First grade Aide
Nate Wood is a Classroom Aide for the Kindergarten/First grade classroom. Nate attended University of Florida, and has seven years of experience in education in a Pre-K setting. Nate is a new father of a one year old baby girl and takes pride in showing up for his family and the youth community. Nate’s experience brings gentle guidance and structure for our K/1 students, all while honoring their individual gifts, magic and abilities.
Primary
Cary Yang: Second and Third grade teacher
Cary Yang is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and has lived in Crestone since 2019. Cary has a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Mathematics and literacy as a Specialist Teacher from the University of Minnesota. Cary has 20+ years experience as a highly qualified public education teacher. Cary teaches with structure, eloquence and fun. Her students excel in the classroom and well as on camping trips and trips to the climbing gym. Cary believes it takes all of us working together to support the students. Cary enjoys riding her bike, the color blue and trips to Minnesota lakes.
Primary Aide
Chris Emerson Second and Third Grade Aide
Chris hails from the Bay Area of California and moved out to Colorado in 2013. He spent a decade in the Boulder area where he received a master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University. In Boulder he served a wide variety of folx for about six years with an alternative mental health treatment organization called Windhorse Community Services. He also spent two years working in after-school childcare with elementary school age kids around this time. He moved to Crestone in 2024. In his free time he likes to make art/memes, listen to music/dance, have fun with friends and play outside.
Intermediate
Daya Scheide Fourth and Fifth Grade Teacher
Daya came to Crestone in 2011 to teach at the Crestone Charter School because he is passionate about CCS’s mission to provide experiential learning to the community. Daya earned his Master’s Degree at the University of Pittsburgh and completed his alternative teaching licensure at the Community College of Santa Fe. You’ll usually find him with a guitar or ukulele in his hands. Every day in his classroom begins and ends with joyful music. Daya has worn many hats at the Crestone Charter School, including Middle School and Intermediate lead teacher, music teacher, and theater teacher. He brings passion, personality, and creativity to every hour he spends with his students. Daya likes to ski, hike and play the bass with his band Chronic Joy.
Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies
Middle School
Denise Vargas is the Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. She comes to us from Pueblo, CO, as the Middle School ELA/SS Instructor. She earned a Master's Degree in Applied Natural Science and a Bachelor’s in Biology. She began her teaching career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lesotho, South Africa (1987-1991). Her eclectic teaching philosophies range from Paideia which implements socratic seminars to Montessori that allows her to guide the child following their curiosity and natural development. Denise is thankful for her ability to teach a variety of subjects to a diverse population of students including elementary, Middle School, High School, and the General Educational Development test to adults. Her passion for the natural world allowed her to be an outdoor educator at the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center in Pueblo/Beulah areas and the love of children granted her the opportunity to create fun programs at the Pueblo Library. Most of all, Denise is connected to Crestone through her spiritual practice and has traveled here since 2002 and considers Crestone as her second home.
Middle School Math and Science
Tiffany Curtin Middle School Math and Science
Tiffany Curtin teaches middle school Math and Science. Tiffany has a bachelor’s degree in History and Psychology from Cleveland State University. Tiffany received her teacher licensure in Ohio and taught English Language Arts in Florida for the 05 to 06 school year. In the fall of 2006, Tiffany enjoyed teaching in an outdoor classroom in rural Ohio. She has 5 years experience in managing home care for individuals with developmental disabilities. Tiffany opened an exercise school teaching Aerial Arts from 2013 to 2020. While teaching English online through VIPKid, Tiffany moved to Colorado in 2021, settling in the San Luis Valley in 2023. Tiffany feels honored to continue her teaching journey here in Crestone.
High School Language Arts and Social Studies
Sam Goering was born in Durham, North Carolina and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland just outside of Washington, DC. Sam attended the University of Maryland where he earned a B.A. in English with Minors in Creative Writing and Philosophy. Sam is in his eighth year of teaching and combines traditional standards-based teaching methods with experiential, project-based, holistic, and integrated approaches. He describes his pedagogy as learner-centered, culturally responsive, democratic, and anti-oppressive. He has a passion for the humanities, music, the outdoors, and adventurous learning. Sam puts student choice and collaboration at the center of his teaching practices, designs fun projects that incorporate authentic, employable skills, and enjoys seeing his students grow into responsible young adults. He is fascinated by game-based and simulation-based learning, and loves team-building activities and role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Sam is a saxophonist and band kid at heart, and he believes music and the arts to be one of the best things in the world for healing, emotional processing, and brain development.
High School Mathematics and Science
Robin Chestnut comes to us with a Doctorate in Mathematics from University of Colorado Boulder. He is from California. Robin came to Colorado when he was 18, staying for snowboarding and his band The River Arkansas. Robin has years of teaching in undergraduate settings and experience in tutoring students of all ages. He connects with students in the classroom and from behind his drum set with enthusiasm!
Physical Education Teacher
Technology Coordinator and Instructor
Umesh Dhakal K-12 IT Coordinator
Umesh is from the beautiful Himalayas of Nepal. He has been living in the US for the last five years. The mountains of Colorado remind him of his home country. Umesh brings IT experience working as a Java Developer and Network Support Specialist. Umesh graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and Information Technology, 2022. Umesh helps the school, students and staff in all technological aspects. Umesh is a nature-loving person who likes hiking, camping, surfing, cycling and golf. He engages enthusiastically with his students and is often found playing soccer with staff and students.
Office Admin assistant
Facilities Manager
Custodian
Sammy Prien is CCS’s second custodian. At the risk of over-stating, he is passionate about cleaning. He co-founded a cleaning service in Denver where he worked both on the floor and behind the desk, successfully building a thriving business which he later sold to his business partner. Moving to Crestone has brought his skills to CCS and he has settled into one building, working with April, and getting to know the children and teachers.