EdNews Parent Experts

Experts are listed in alphabetical order by first name and by area of expertise – Healthy Schools, Teaching and Learning, and Safe Schools. Click on photos to see bios and previous posts. Click here to ask a question. For more information, contact EdNews Parent editor Julie Poppen.

Healthy Schools Experts

Ann Cooper

Nutrition services director

Ann Cooper

Nutrition services director

Ann Cooper is an author, chef, educator and enduring advocate for better food for all children. Cooper serves as director of nutrition services in the Boulder Valley School District. She is co-founder of Lunch Lessons LLC and the Food Family Farming Foundation's The Lunch Box Project: Healthy Tools for All Schools.

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Cathy Schmelter

Nutritionist

Cathy Schmelter

Nutritionist

Cathy Schmelter is a registered dietitian, school health consultant working under An Ounce of Nutrition, and author of the book “Cutting thru the Nutritional Jungle - A Survival Guide to Feeding Kids” for parents of elementary school-aged children. Previously, she was the wellness coordinator for Denver Public Schools.

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Chris Marchioni

Healthy living

Chris Marchioni

Healthy living

Chris Marchioni, a family medical doctor, has developed and taught health education programs for parents, childcare professionals, educators and students. She is the author of the Be Well, Learn Well curriculum and several children's books.

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Clayton Ellis

PE teacher

Clayton Ellis

PE teacher

Clayton Ellis teaches physical education at Aurora Central High School. He was selected 2010 High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. He is vice president for physical education and sport for the Central District American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

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Daniel Searing

Pediatric allergy doctor

Daniel Searing

Pediatric allergy doctor

Daniel Searing is a pediatric allergist at National Jewish Health in Denver. His expertise is in asthma, allergy and atopic dermatitis. In addition to his clinical practice, he is currently doing clinical research in asthma treatment and medication adherence.

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Tod Olin

Childhood asthma

Tod Olin

Childhood asthma

Tod Olin is a pediatric pulmonologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, where he is the director of the Pediatric Exercise Tolerance Center. He also works with Denver educators to develop physical education programs. As a parent, he is passionate about understanding the diagnosis and treatment of breathing problems in exercise for small children.

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Family psychologist

Jan Hittelman, a licensed psychologist with 20-plus years experience working with children and families, has written for the Daily Camera, the Boulder Valley School District and Rosen Publishing Group. He is the founder of the Boulder Counseling Cooperative and director of Boulder Psychological Services.

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Kevin Everhart

Child psychologist

Kevin Everhart

Child psychologist

Kevin Everhart, Ph.D., clinical child psychologist, is a member of the CU faculty in the Department of Psychology where he teaches child development, developmental psychopathology, theories of personality and cultural diversity. He lives in Denver with his wife and two daughters, who attend school in DPS.

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Lisa Meltzer

Child Psychologist

Lisa Meltzer

Child Psychologist

Lisa Meltzer, assistant professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Health, is the only pediatric psychologist in Colorado who is board certified in behavioral sleep medicine. She focuses on bedtime problems in young children, difficulties falling/staying asleep in school-aged children and circadian rhythm sleep disorders in adolescents.

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Nancy Buck

Child Psychology

Nancy Buck

Child Psychology

Nancy S. Buck is a developmental psychologist, author and the founder of Peaceful Parenting. For more than 20 years she has been a senior faculty member of the William Glasser Institute and has trained thousands of educators and parents in choice theory psychology, reality therapy and Glasser Quality Schools. She is the mother of twin sons and lives in Denver.

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Steve Sarche

Psychiatrist

Steve Sarche

Psychiatrist

Steve Sarche has run a private child and adult psychiatry practice in Denver since 2004. He also consults at Children’s Medical Center and at Craig Hospital as well as serving as the medical director at Forest Heights Lodge, a residential treatment facility for boys in Evergreen. Sarche has two young sons.

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Theresa Byrne

Health expert

Theresa Byrne

Health expert

Theresa Byrne aims to empower and inspire children and adults to embrace their uniqueness and live healthy lives. She is the national health and self-defense expert seen on SPIKE TV’s recent series, Don’t Be a Victim. She is the creator of “Finding Your Voice,” “Practical Self Defense,” and “Holistic Power for Heathy Living” self-empowerment programs for kids/adults.

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Teaching
& Learning Experts

Aaron Richmond

Education psychology

Aaron Richmond

Education psychology

Aaron Richmond is an associate professor of human development and educational psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He completed his master’s degree in applied psychology from Montana State University in 2002, and in 2006, received a doctorate in educational psychology with an emphasis on human growth and development from the University of Nevada-Reno.

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Amy Turino

Educator

Amy Turino

Educator

Amy Turino has taught for the past 10 years and has a passion for student-centered learning that includes hands-on experiences. She is director of education at RAFT Colorado, a resource for educators. She is completing her doctoral studies at the University of Denver in curriculum and instruction.

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Ann Morrison

Teacher educator

Ann Morrison

Teacher educator

Ann Morrison is an assistant professor of teacher education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She was a public school teacher and administrator for 10 years before entering higher education, where she teaches literacy instruction for diverse learners and classroom assessment. She has two teenage sons.

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Carrie Heaney

Math teacher

Carrie Heaney

Math teacher

Carrie Heaney is the math department coordinator and an eighth-grade math teacher at Sky Vista Middle School in Aurora, located in the Cherry Creek School District. She is the 2009 recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

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Freddy Burciaga

Preparing for college

Freddy Burciaga

Preparing for college

Alfredo “Freddy” Burciaga is director of financial education at College In Colorado. He has served as a financial aid counselor at several Colorado universities. College In Colorado operates a free hotline for assistance at (720) 264-8580.

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Ilana Spiegel

Educator

Ilana Spiegel

Educator

Ilana Dubin Spiegel has been a literacy staff developer for the Denver-based Public Education and Business Coalition for more than 15 years. The former teacher coaches educators and parents nationwide on research-based literacy instruction. She enjoys reading and writing with her four children, ages 5 to 13.

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Kathee Jones

Gifted education

Kathee Jones

Gifted education

Kathee Jones is a board member of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented and serves on the Colorado State Advisory Committee for Gifted Education. She is the parent of three children, all now in college after pursuing a variety of educational options. She blogs at Gifted Journey.

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Kathleen Luttenegger

Educator

Kathleen Luttenegger

Educator

Kathleen Luttenegger, PhD., is an assistant professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver where she teaches undergraduate, licensure, and graduate courses in the teacher education program. As a single parent, Luttenegger keeps busy raising her very spirited daughter, whom she adopted from Guatemala.

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Marques Ivey

Parent engagement expert

Marques Ivey

Parent engagement expert

Marques Ivey is a member of the boards of the National PTA, the Colorado PTA, and the Vista Peak Elementary PTA. He and his wife Stacey have three children and live in Aurora. Ivey is also the drummer for the all-attorney charity band Phoenix Rising.

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Michele Patterson

Parent involvement expert

Michele Patterson

Parent involvement expert

Michele Patterson is president of the Jeffco PTA and sits on the Colorado PTA board of directors. She is a passionate advocate for children, parent involvement and public education. She and husband Jim live in Westminster. They have two children in college and one in high school.

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Sarah Brenkert

Educator

Sarah Brenkert

Educator

Sarah Brenkert holds a master's degree in early childhood and elementary education from Bank Street College in New York City. A mom to Liam, 3, and Vivian, 3 months, Brenkert is the director of education at the Children’s Museum of Denver, where she guides the museum’s school and public programs.

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Susan Ryder

Teacher

Susan Ryder

Teacher

Susan Ryder is an English teacher at Estes Park H.S. In her 18 years in the classroom, Ryder has taught students grades 8 through 12, and adult learners. Ryder was the 2007 Colorado Teacher of the Year, and is an active member of the Colorado Education Association (CEA). She enjoys hiking with her boyfriend and her puppy, Belle; photography; and curling up with a good book.

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Susan Scheibel

Gifted education expert

Susan Scheibel

Gifted education expert

Susan Scheibel is a mother, grandmother and advocate for gifted and talented individuals in our schools and in our culture. She earned an education doctorate, specializing in gifted students, and is past president of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented. She teaches graduate students at Regis University and at the University of Northern Colorado.

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