Meet our Teachers

Teachers at the Colorado Virtual Academy are among the best in the state for online education. They are your partners in your children’s education, and are available every school day to help you and your children through any challenges you may face. Here are a few of the regular education and special education teachers you’ll get to know at the Colorado Virtual Academy.

Northern Region

Laura Harvey, Northern Region Lead Teacher
Laura has been with COVA since 2003. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.A. in Social Science and Early Childhood Education, and a license in Elementary Education. During college, she worked at a before-and-after school program and a preschool. After graduating, she received her first teaching job with the Adams 12 School District. During her first year of teaching she participated in the Partners in Education program, which allowed her to work on her master’s degree at the University of Colorado while teaching full time. She earned her master’s from CU-Boulder in Instruction and Curriculum. This will be her ninth year of teaching in Colorado.

Northern Region - Flat Irons

Julie Forland, COVA Teacher, Reading Specialist
Julie brings to COVA 13 years of home education experience, including five years of experience using the K12 curriculum. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with an Elementary Education emphasis from Colorado Christian University and holds a Colorado teaching license. Julie has given monthly workshops for novice home-school parents in the Denver area. She has home schooled her own children since 1993.

Deb Sudbeck, COVA Teacher, Math Specialist
Deb has 13 years’ teaching experience in grades 2-6. She has taught in Indiana, Virginia, and Colorado in a variety of settings, including multi-age classrooms, at-risk schools, and a co-teaching inclusion model involving special needs students. Deb received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Indiana University. This is her third year with COVA. She serves as the Math Specialist for the Flatirons Region.

Rachel Zierlein, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Rachel has taught in elementary schools and is currently a virtual school teacher. Rachel graduated from Metro State College of Denver with her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and English. She worked in day care while finishing her degree and then went on to teach second and fifth grades. In her first year with COVA, Rachel taught Art and History in the satellite classroom for grades one through eight. Rachel has now taught in the virtual academy for two years, helping to support our families with community in the Flatirons Region.

Northern Region - Longs Peak

Kathleen Kearney, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
This is Kathleen’s first “official” year as a COVA teacher. Prior to joining COVA, Kathleen worked as a third grade teacher in a rural public school for three years. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Kathleen is excited to be part of such a dynamic, state-of-the-art educational option in Colorado.

Renae Kubitz, COVA Teacher, Writing Specialist
Renae has 12 years of teaching experience at the elementary level. She received a bachelor’s degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and a master’s degree in Reading Education. She has tutoring, coaching, and home schooling experience.

Cynthia Salzano, COVA Teacher, Math Specialist
Cynthia has taught in the classroom and tutored children and adults in reading, writing, and mathematics. For the past 10 years she has taught her children at home while offering support and encouragement to other home school families. This is her third year as a COVA parent, and her second year as a COVA teacher.

Sheila Stevens, COVA Teacher, Reading Specialist
Sheila received her Bachelor of Science degree from California State University at Sacramento in 1995 and her teaching certification from National University in California in 1997. She holds valid teaching credentials in Colorado and California. She is entering her third year with COVA.

Northern Region - Grand Mesa

Karla Durmas, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Karla has 13 years’ teaching experience. Eleven of those years were in a traditional classroom setting, and she is entering her third year with COVA. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education (K-8) with an emphasis in Early Childhood from Concordia College. She also holds a master’s degree in Reading and Literacy from Walden University. She has experience not only with the traditional elementary student, but with pre-school, gifted and talented students, ADHD, special education, curriculum writing, and teacher training.

Debbie Lund, Elementary Math Coordinator and COVA Teacher
Debbie received her Ohio teaching licenses for Elementary Education (K-12) and High School General Science (7-12) after graduating cum laude from Ohio State University. She now holds a Colorado professional teaching license. She has several years of teaching experience in both Ohio and Colorado, including schooling her own three children at home for seven and a half years. Debbie has been on both sides of the COVA learning experience, starting as a COVA parent during COVA’s first year of existence, and joining COVA as a teacher in 2002. Since then, she has served as a Western Slope teacher, a lead teacher, and the elementary math coordinator. She has been the elementary math coordinator for two and a half years.

Central Region

Molly Kennedy, Central Region Lead Teacher
Molly has been teaching at the elementary level since 1989. She taught preschool for three years and then taught third, fourth, and fifth graders in DPS and Jefferson County for 10 years. She was also an instructional reading coach in Jefferson County for a year. She graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in English and a teaching license. She went on to get her master’s degree in Elementary Education in the Arts. She has been with COVA since 2004 and is thrilled to be working with this amazing organization.

Central Region - Lookout Mountain

Amy Arndt, COVA Teacher, RTI Specialist
Amy has been teaching with COVA since the fall of 2002, and is currently the Response to Intervention (RTI) Specialist for the Central Region (Lookout Mountain and Mountain View). Prior to COVA, Amy was a reading specialist in Kentucky, and taught third grade using the Core Knowledge curriculum at a local charter school. Amy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Science from Murray State University in Kentucky.

Karen Beach, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Karen brings nine years of classroom teaching experience to COVA, including one year as a coordinator and teacher of successful cooperative ventures among COVA families. She graduated in 1982 from Colorado Christian University with a B.A. in Elementary Education and additional studies and student teaching work through the University of Colorado, Denver. Karen has home schooled three of her four children during their middle school years. She loves the curriculum and is excited to be at COVA.

Jennifer Ingalls, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Jennifer comes to COVA with five years of experience with the MN Virtual Academy (MNVA). Prior to teaching for MNVA, she taught Title 1 in a suburb of Minneapolis. Jennifer graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with a degree in elementary education supported by a minor in special education. This is her first year at COVA, and she is very excited to be able to work for such an incredible online program.

Lora Wacker, COVA Teacher, Reading Specialist
Lora earned a Master’s of Education degree from the University of Colorado with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction. Lora is excited to be starting her third year with COVA. She previously taught in both charter school and public school environments. Lora also has experience working with gifted and talented students. She has been working with children in an education setting for nine years.

Central Region - Mountain View

Marah Merrill, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Marah graduated as valedictorian from Colorado Christian University (summa cum laude) with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts/Elementary Education. She holds a Colorado professional teaching license and has taught with COVA since its infancy in 2001. Marah previously taught at the Academy of Charter Schools and also has experience with home schooling, tutoring, and private music/instrument teaching experience.

Sarah Miller, COVA Teacher, Math Specialist
Sarah been teaching for five years at the elementary level. She has taught mostly primary grades, but has experience with the upper grades as well. Sarah has taught in private schools and did some substitute teaching in the Cherry Creek school district. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Sarah is very excited to be with COVA for another year.

Janell Murray, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Janell has been teaching in public and private schools, as well as home schooling, for the last 21 years. She graduated from Biola University with a degree in Elementary Education and has taught in both California and Colorado. This is her third year with COVA. Her four children have been COVA students for two years.

Joy Nowakowski, COVA Teacher, Writing Specialist
Joy has nine years of teaching experience in public and private schools. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. She holds a Colorado professional teaching license and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. This is her second year with COVA.

Lynne Sommer, COVA Teacher, Math Specialist
Lynne is honored to be entering her third year as a COVA educator. She received her master’s degree in the Arts of Teaching from Colorado College in 1997, and has almost 10 years’ experience teaching in public schools. Lynne received her undergraduate degree from Kenyon College with a major in Anthropology and a minor in African Art History. As an educator, She has extensive experience in gifted education, writing and math.

Southern Region

Tamela Verlare, Southern Region Lead Teacher
Tamela has served as an educator since 1991. She earned her B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Bernardino. She holds teaching licenses in California and Colorado. Tamela has been with COVA since 2003 and enjoys supporting the school and community in the Colorado Springs Region.

Southern Region - Cheyenne Mountain

Anita Chancellor, COVA Teacher, Reading Specialist
Anita is a third-year COVA teacher and reading specialist. For four years she has been a COVA parent. She has also worked as a reading and cognitive skills tutor for the last three years. Anita taught the intermediate elementary grades for seven years. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education at Christian Heritage College, then went on to complete her master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at SDSU. She is currently pursuing studies in elementary literacy at UCCS.

Corinne Gorsch, COVA Teacher, Math Specialist
Through her position as a Title I reading and math teacher, Corinne has taught students in each of the elementary grades. She served as a fourth grade classroom teacher before becoming an Achievement Coach. Corinne lived in Littleton as a child, but graduated from high school in the Chicago area. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education from Lincoln Christian College and her teaching degree from Illinois State University. Corinne has taught in Colorado for seven years and is thrilled to be joining the COVA team this year.

Mickey Jensen, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Mickey graduated from Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She has previous experience teaching in the elementary and college classrooms, as well as in private clinics and with home schooling. She earned her M.A. in Counseling from AGTS. This is Mickey’s third year working with COVA.

Raylene Speechley, COVA Teacher, Writing Specialist
Raylene has 15 years of teaching experience at various grade levels. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Colorado. Raylene also received her Master of Arts degree in Gifted and Talented Education from the University of Colorado. She is a professionally licensed teacher in the State of Colorado. This is her fourth year with COVA.

Southern Region - Pikes Peak

Jamie Cicco, COVA Teacher, Math Specialist
Jamie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a minor in Psychology from San Diego State University and holds teaching licenses in both Colorado and California. Her experience includes teaching in elementary through high school classrooms, reading intervention, private tutoring in math and reading, and has over 14 years of experience working with families and children. The position of helping families experience success with schooling at home is her passion and considers it an honor to be called a COVA teacher.

Donna Heinrich, Elementary Reading Coordinator and COVA Teacher
Donna is a Colorado-licensed teacher with private and public education experience. She has served as a public school teacher for 10 years in Maryland and California, and as a supervisor for student teachers in the Teacher Education Program at UCCS for two years. She earned her Colorado principal’s license in 2003. Donna holds a Master of Science degree in Curriculum/Instruction from California State University Fullerton and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loma Linda University. In addition, she has considerable training in reading, writing, and assessment. This is her sixth year with COVA.

Jessica McAllister, COVA Teacher, RTI Specialist
Jessica attended Colorado State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Spanish. Soon after graduation, she pursued a career in education, and received an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in educational technology. She was able to apply her learning in class to a group of third graders. Jessica taught third grade for three years in a Core Knowledge setting and found that the curriculum aligned extremely well with her educational philosophy. With the similarities of Core Knowledge and K12, coupled with her experience with educational technology, it is with great enthusiasm that she embarks upon this, her second year as a virtual teacher with COVA.

Ted Schieffelin, Project Manager and COVA Teacher
Ted has been in education for more than 15 years. He has taught students from second grade through high school in Cameroon, South Korea, New Mexico, and Colorado. He is currently in his sixth year with COVA, assisting the administration as Project Manager. A Colorado native, he supports his wife in the home schooling of their six children and enjoys hunting, fishing, reading, and woodworking.

Lisa Weaver, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Lisa has been involved with education for more than 13 years. She graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Supervision and then received a graduate teaching license from the University of Northern Colorado. She has taught her children at home for seven years and has been a part of COVA for five years.

Southern Region - Spanish Peaks

Heather McCasland, Elementary Writing Coordinator and COVA Teacher
Heather graduated from USC in 1996 with a B.S. in Social Science, an elementary teaching degree, and a minor degree in Reading. She taught preschool for one year and substituted for a year before spending four years at Fremont Elementary School in Florence, Colorado, where she taught third grade. Heather received her master’s degree in Elementary Education, focusing her studies on leadership and special education, from Adams State in 2001. She is currently a student at the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut, where she is working with an editor on articles and children’s books. Heather is currently in her sixth year with COVA, and is the fundraising coordinator and the Elementary Writing Lead Specialist for the school.

Sandy Provenza, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Sandy has several years of experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and tutor. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) in Psychology and Elementary Education from the University of Southern Colorado. Sandy holds a professional teaching license in Elementary Education in Colorado. In addition, her training and experience include preschool, gifted and talented education, multi-age classroom, and remedial reading instruction. This is her sixth year with COVA.

Southern Region - Sleeping Ute

Lauren Geraghty, COVA Teacher, Community Specialist
Lauren has served as an educator since 1983, beginning as a preschool teacher while she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from the University of Arizona. She has taught students of all ages in art, drug awareness, adventure, Christian studies, and elementary education. Prior to joining COVA in the summer of 2003, Lauren was employed by a small group of COVA parents to teach their kids in their stead, while offering one-to-one language therapy for dyslexic students on Fridays and during the summer. She has earned teaching licenses in Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.