Skip to Main Content

Faculty & Staff Directory

Showing 75 results

Orzechowski-Price, Kat

Middle School English Teacher

Profile

Orzechowski-Price, Kat

Middle School English Teacher


M.Ed., Southern Utah University

Post-Graduate Certificate Applied Linguistics, University of Birmingham

B.A. English Language, San Francisco State

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have nine siblings.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

I would be a shapeshifter because I would love to see the world through the eyes of others.

What is one thing you've learned from students?

You learn best when you can be yourself around others.

What did you want to be growing up?

A teacher

What draws you to working with students?

I find that helping others find their confidence and comfort in the world to be one of the most important roles that anyone can play. This is why I work with students.

What is your favorite spot in the world?

My favorite place in the world is Bongeunsa Buddhist Temple in Seoul. It was created and had worked as a temple since 794 and was originally known as Gyeonseongsa. When I lived in South Korea, this was the place I would go to refocus and find balance.


Kat began her teaching career in 2006 in South Korea working with middle, elementary, and collegiate level students. While there, she earned a post-graduate certificate in Applied Linguistics. In 2013, she returned to the United States and continued her education in Language Arts Education at Southern Utah University. While earning her MAed in Utah, she worked as an English teacher at a therapeutic boarding school. She relocated to Colorado Springs in 2018 to work as a public high school teacher for four years before joining The Colorado Springs School.

Palmer, Rebecca

Lower School Art Teacher

Profile

Payne, Misty

Learning Support Coordinator

Profile

Payne, Misty

Learning Support Coordinator


B.A., English with a Minor in Secondary Education, Texas Woman’s University

Playe, Erik

College & Career Counselor

Profile

Playe, Erik

College & Career Counselor


M.A., Liberal Studies, Wesleyan University

B.A., English, Saint Michael's College

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?
I would be able to ripen an avocado just by touching it. I would even be able to bring avocados back from being overripe by touching them. I could make a dent in world hunger this way and also make guacamole at any moment.

What is one thing you've learned from students?

Patience...maybe. I am still working on it.

What did you want to be growing up?

A Jedi and a waterskier.

What draws you to working with students?

Their energy and never wondering if I am doing something meaningful.

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS and why?

I love that we are the Kodiaks. I have been a Wildcat, a Purple Knight, a Winged Beaver, a Cardinal, a Sun Devil, a Hawk and a Warrior, and now I am happy to be a Kodiak.

What is your favorite spot in the world and why?

Pagosa Springs, CO. My wife, Kelly, and I have a piece of property in Pagosa where we camp. It's our happy place.

Erik was born and raised in Northampton, MA, where he graduated from the Williston Northampton School. He attended St. Michael’s College in Vermont, where he majored in English Literature and minored in Spanish. He earned a master’s degree in Liberal Studies, with a focus in Humanities, from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. For the past 13 years, he has been teaching English and/or has served as a college counselor at three U.S. independent schools and at an international school in South America. He served, most recently, as Director of College Counseling, Academic Dean, and Softball Coach for a boarding school in Arizona. Erik and his wife, Kelly, are excited to be moving to Colorado Springs. Kelly is a horticulturist, who is starting her own business in resilient landscape design. Kelly and Erik enjoy hiking, snowshoeing, biking, gardening, and birding together. Erik loves teaching and working with high school students. He hopes there will be no livelier place on campus than his college counseling office, and is excited to share his enthusiasm with students and families at The Colorado Springs School.

Pratt, Rachel

Lower School Creative Dramatics and Middle School Drama Teacher

Profile

Pratt, Rachel

Lower School Creative Dramatics and Middle School Drama Teacher


B.A., Music Theatre, Colorado Mesa University

Reynolds, Kaja

Visual Arts Teacher

Profile

Reynolds, Kaja

Visual Arts Teacher


M.A., Instruction and Curriculum, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

B.F.A., Ceramic Art, University of Washington, Seattle

B.A., Anthropology, Bates College

What is your role at CSS? I am the Visual Arts teacher for grades 3-12. I teach a variety of Art electives in the Upper School such as Ceramics, Jewelry-Making, Printmaking, Video Production, and Digital Photography.

What is one of your favorite memories at CSS? One favorite memory is when guiding a student in class they said, “Mrs. Reynolds, you are like a magician - you are amazing!”

What did you want to be growing up? I wanted to be two things: a musician and an artist. I wasn’t sure what kind of artist, but I wanted to become famous for my art! I played the cello when young, and I wanted to learn how to play the guitar and sing so I could be in a band.

What draws you to teaching? I grew up with a Mom as an artist and a Dad as an architect. We often went to museums, and I would think about how I could share my love of art with others. In addition to creating my own artwork, teaching became a rewarding way to share my love of art with young people. I get incredible joy from creating, making, discovering, and exploring different mediums of art, and I wanted to share that passion with students.

What would people be surprised to learn about you? They might be surprised to know that I created my own business, called Mountain Clayworks, where I was a professional potter for 12 years, making and selling my work locally at Commonwheel Artist Co-op in Manitou Springs, as well as making special orders for people such as dinnerware sets, mug sets, etc. Two years ago, I created another business called Colorado Karma Jewelry by Kaja, where I make beaded, leather, and forged copper jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. I sell my jewelry locally at a wonderful Artists Cooperative called EclecticCO, located in downtown Colorado Springs.

Rivas, Megan

Extended Care Teacher

Profile

Romero, Anastasia

School Counselor

Profile

Romero, Anastasia

School Counselor


MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Colorado Christian University

BS, Psychology, Colorado Christian University

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
One thing most people are surprised to learn about me is that I am adopted.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

I would want powers to slow down time to give not only myself and my family more time together, but everyone time to just be themselves without the time crunches of the fast-paced world we live in.

What did you want to be growing up?

When I was little, I always wanted to be Cinderella, but as I grew up I always wanted to just be able to help others. This is what drew me into the mental health field.

What is your favorite spot in the world?

Anywhere with my wonderful family: my husband and 2 girls.

Anastasia is the CSS School Counselor as well as the owner of Watchful Dove Counseling PLLC. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate and National Certified Counselor. She obtained her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University. Anastasia also obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Colorado Christian University. Anastasia is a Colorado native and Colorado Avalanche fan. She enjoys the beauty Colorado has to offer through walking and spending time in local parks with her family.

Schilperoort, Alex

Physical Education Teacher

Profile

Schilperoort, Alex

Physical Education Teacher


M.A., Educational Psychology, University of Colorado at Denver

B.A., Sociology, Whitworth University

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have? Hands down, flying! Can it get any better? Assuming you don’t have a fear of heights, I suppose.

What did you want to be growing up? A professional soccer player in the World Cup. I’ve settled for adult recreational soccer games, but I’m pretty happy with that.

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS? I love the tight-knit community that is characteristic of CSS. The smaller class sizes allow for deeper relationships with students and parents. This, along with an amazing group of colleagues, is just a few, but really important, factors that keep me coming back every year.

Siegel, Lea

Director of Operations

Profile

Siegel, Lea

Director of Operations


B.A., Business, Virginia College

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have had two different series of rabies shots! I love animals, and sometimes rescuing them comes with a shot.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?

Teleportation. I love the notion of being able to magically go back in time or into the future to experience firsthand what life was like and to be able to better understand people and places.

What is one thing you've learned from students?

I have learned kindness from my students. Small gestures can make people feel noticed and important. Saying hello or remembering something specific to a person can immediately build a bridge. Lessons learned: Smile more, and be kind!

What did you want to be growing up?

A novelist

What draws you to working with students?

Working with students allows me to draw a new purpose daily. I love the changing environment and the opportunity to try new things throughout the day. It is a rewarding experience when students have "light bulb" moments and I like being able to contribute to that in any way I can.

What is one thing you enjoy about CSS?

I was drawn to our experiential learning models. I fully believe that being able to emotionally be connected to your responses to the world around you better prepares you for life. I love that we invest in students' actions and thought processes through travel and hands-on experiences. I am excited to get to know everyone and become an active part of our community.

What is your favorite spot in the world?
My favorite spot in the world is the British Isles. I love the beauty, history, and architecture of Ireland and Scotland. I am an avid reader, and favor novelists from this region.

Takacs, John Paul

Upper School Mathematics Teacher

Profile

Takacs, John Paul

Upper School Mathematics Teacher


B.S. Mathematics, Pacific University

Spacial Dynamics IS12

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I started college as a music major with no interest in math. After taking my first college math class with a very inspirational professor, I fell in love with it and switched majors.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?

Definitely being able to fly. Mostly for the view and areal perspective.

What is one thing you've learned from students?

I have learned never to take myself too seriously. I will make mistakes from time to time, and I always encourage students to call me out on them. I think it would be hard to teach and be overly worried about self-image.

What did you want to be growing up?

I wanted to be a music teacher or join the coastguard.

What draws you to working with students?

I have always been a teacher in some form or another. I think I enjoy teaching math because it's fun in a way that people often don't see. It's a subject where I feel I can make a difference and pass along some of my enthusiasm.

What is your favorite spot in the world?

My airplane. I have no favorite geographical place but I always feel at home in the air.


John Paul received his BS in mathematics from Pacific University where he also studied education and music. During this time, he completed and graduated from the Spacial Dynamics five-year training in movement and movement analysis, which has been a great aid to him in the classroom. In addition to teaching Math and Physics during the school year, he flies competition aerobatics in the summer. This is a sport that he believes has shaped him as a person and something that drives him to pursue new learning opportunities and push himself to the edges of his comfort zone.

Thomas, Joe

Technology Manager

Profile