Faculty & Staff Directory

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?
If I were a superhero I would have teleportation ability and I would definitely take my students to places where they could have a first-hand experience of the topics we see in class every day.

What is one thing you've learned from students?
One thing I've learned from students is the importance of feedback and recognition, it can truly make a difference in someone's day and life even, no matter how big or small the milestone is.

What did you want to be growing up?
I come from a huge family, so I was always surrounded by kids, older and younger, and I always felt compelled to take the lead or call the shots, and I would always find myself teaching them something. So teaching just came naturally to me.

What draws you to working with students?
Their ability to learn and their immense potential to shape and reshape the world as they see and experience it.

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS and why?
One thing I enjoy about CSS is the passion for teaching my colleagues showcase. They inspire me to raise the bar continuously.

Alfonso brings more than a decade of experience in language teaching. He enjoys using my professional skills as an educator to contribute to students' integral education through the teaching of a second language. He strongly believes in providing opportunities for students to partake in today's interconnected world and culture and in all the positive effects that speaking a second language could have on the way our brains work. Outside of work, he enjoys being active. He loves hiking and mountain biking with family and friends.

Dr. Ryan Kelly's career path started with a love for teaching chemistry and a desire to pursue it as a career. He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) to pursue a master’s degree in science instruction and curriculum. He continued his love for the outdoors and triathlon and joined the coveted CU Triathlon Team. Continuing a career in education in high-level science and mathematics, he eventually ascended to the administrative level.

After further growth, Dr. Kelly became the Head of the Upper School at Carrollwood Day School (CDS) in Tampa, Florida. While leading their Upper School through programmatic expansions, he continued to further his leadership knowledge by taking part in Harvard University’s Principal Training Program for New and Aspiring School Leaders. He was also named a fellow of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Aspiring Heads’ Institute. Dr. Kelly was then named the Associate Head of School, and shortly thereafter, he became the Head of School at Carrollwood Day School.

During his time at Carrollwood, he pursued further education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership. Dr. Kelly’s dissertation focused on the STEM and Entrepreneurship programs at his school and how they impacted the students in grades 5 through 12.

After the doctoral program and working at Carrollwood for more than 12 years, Dr. Kelly expanded his career to China as the Founding Head of School of BASIS International/Bilingual School in Chengdu, Sichuan, part of a family of BASIS schools throughout the United States, Thailand, and Europe.

Dr. Kelly begins as Head of School for CSS on July 1, 2024.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
You might be surprised to know that, despite my appearance, I'm a proud father of six, and interestingly, the youngest and only boy in our family. I've had the unique coincidence of living in towns named Springs both in South Africa and now in the USA. And for a quirky tidbit – I enjoy munching on garlic just for the (bitter) fun of it!

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?
My power would be teleportation, allowing me to travel the world instantly and without cost. This ability would not only feed my love for exploration but also allow me to visit my mother back in Zimbabwe every weekend.

What is one thing you've learned from students?
One vital lesson I've learned from students is the transformative impact of encouragement and support. Witnessing their ability to achieve remarkable feats with positive reinforcement truly astounds me. Another lesson is the importance of staying young at heart and embracing a perpetual state of learning. This approach keeps me humble, curious, and open to new perspectives, profoundly shaping my teaching methods and continually challenging my knowledge base.

What did you want to be growing up?
As a child, my aspiration to be a pilot was fueled by the enchantment of flight, captivated by a local fairytale song about soaring like a bird among the clouds. Though my career took a different turn, this dream fostered my ambitious nature and a deep-seated love for travel and discovery. It ingrained in me a spirit of freedom and adventure that continues to influence my life and aspirations.

What draws you to working with students?
My passion for working with students stems from a desire to share my knowledge and serve as a resource for future generations. I enjoy taking on seemingly complicated subjects like Physics and making them simple to understand and exciting to think about. The chance to inspire and guide the next generation of leaders and innovators is incredibly rewarding. Spending time with young people is super cool - their fresh ideas and energy keep me on my toes; it's never a dull day in the classroom!

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS?
What I most enjoy about CSS is its tight-knit community, where connecting with everyone is easy, fostering a sense of familiarity and belonging. The school's scenic location, set against mountains, adds to its charm. The students' positive attitudes and eagerness to learn and be challenged create an inspiring environment. Moreover, the supportive and caring nature of the staff, parents, and the broader community truly makes CSS a special place to be part of.

What is your favorite spot in the world and why?
That would undoubtedly be our family's rural home in Mukaro, Gutu, Zimbabwe. It's a place where the saying 'there's no place like home' truly comes to life. Surrounded by hills and a serene savanna environment, time seems to slow down here. It's my personal retreat for self-connection and reflection, a haven where I can contemplate life and my choices, and find a sense of renewal unmatched by any other place I've experienced. It's a slice of tranquility that always brings me back to my roots. If I had to choose another favorite, I'd also mention my love for the mountains here!

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I sang professionally for the Michigan Opera Theater at the Detroit Opera House as a child through my teen years.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?
I’d love to have the ability to teleport, so I could travel all over the world more efficiently!

What is one thing you've learned from students?
Have fun! Learning happens best through exploration and play!

What did you want to be growing up?
I always knew that I wanted to do something in music, whether that be performing or teaching.

What draws you to working with students?
I love the joy that comes from my students and their eagerness to learn.

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS?
I love seeing all the smiling faces on campus because it makes me feel welcomed.

What is your favorite spot in the world?
Paris is probably my favorite spot in the world because the architecture is so beautiful and my birthday happens to fall on Bastille Day!

Emily is a composer, pianist, and educator who recently relocated to Colorado Springs from the San Francisco Bay Area. She spent the last three years teaching K-8 performing arts and music composition at an independent school in Menlo Park, California. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Emily began her professional music career at an early age singing for the Michigan Opera Theater Children's Chorus. Emily holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition and a minor in Piano Performance from Columbia College Chicago. In her professional career as a composer, she experimented with extended techniques using acoustic instrumentation and a digital approach to sound. Her compositions have been performed by various New Music ensembles in Chicago. While at Columbia, she also began teaching so she could share her joy for music with students of all ages. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every student is capable of expressing the skill of creativity through collaboration and curiosity.

What is your role at CSS? My roles at CSS are English Department Chair, Upper School English teacher, Capstone Program Director, National Honor Society Faculty Adviser, Senior Class Sponsor, Full STEAM Ahead Program Director, and Upper School Community Service “tracker.”⁣
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⁣What is a favorite memory at CSS?⁣ ⁣Wow! There are more than I can sort through to find just one, so I’ll just write down a few to capture some of my favorites: Protecting Mr. Benson through the streets of Hoi An; laughing hysterically with Natalie R. as she bailed water into our canoe on the Mississippi; Matt B. hunting our AP class with a super soaker as we reenacted “The Most Dangerous Game”; purposely putting stressed seniors to sleep by reading Romantic poetry (Julie S.C.); and many, many CSS Revue skits!⁣
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⁣What draws you to working with students?⁣ I am reassured by some of the standard conventions of human development that I can rely on from year to year, including the look of wonder on a student’s face when they face a brilliant realization or make a brilliant stride forward — those AHA! moments keep me going and produce more and more of my own AHAs!⁣
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⁣What is one thing you enjoy about CSS and why?⁣ I love the campus itself. I have missed driving by the pond every day and spotting ducklings or turtles or great blue herons, along with several grazing deer or the occasional bear in the field or by the creek. I enjoy looking out of my classroom window at the changing leaves on the trees on the quad and seeing the other buildings full of so many great people whom I admire and care about.⁣
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⁣What is your favorite spot in the world?⁣ ⁣That’s easy! A bookstore or a library. I feel inspired and calmed by being surrounded by books.⁣