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Staff Members
Andrew Bissland
Andrew has been managing daily operations at KidsTek for the past four years. He leads a team of instructors teaching after school technology classes in both the Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools districts.
He has over fifteen years of experience working to improve the lives of children and families in underprivileged communities. He has managed several programs for children and teens in Colorado Springs and Denver. He has served two terms as an AmeriCorps*VISTA; one in Michigan with an adult literacy program in 1994, and more recently in 2005 managing a group of VISTAs that implemented service-learning programs in schools throughout Colorado.
Andrew has a B.A. in Mass Communications and a B.S. in Secondary Education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Contact Andrew at: andrew@kidstek.org
Carolyn Matthews
Carolyn assists the Program Director in supervising instructors, substituting in the classroom, developing curriculum and outcome measures, and serving as a liaison between KidsTek, host schools and partner programs.
She has worked with students of assorted accents over the course of her career. Carolyn was a camp counselor in her home state of New Jersey and at an outdoor adventure camp in Northern Ireland. In Colorado, she worked with many schools and students as a member of Denver Zoo’s education staff and as an instructor through the Denver Parks and Recreation. Carolyn also works with college-age students with special needs at College Living Experience-Denver.
Carolyn earned a Bachelor’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Arts and Sciences from the University of Colorado. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Denver.
Steve Kessler
Steve performs a number of functions for KidsTek-- he teaches teens at Montbello High School in Denver, substitute teaches at other sites as needed, and has been instrumental in securing donations of time, money and equipment for KidsTek from the local community. Steve grew up in Los Angeles and received his B.A. in Speech Communications from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. He has taught a variety of topics in both classroom and informal settings for different age groups. Currently, Steve teaches religious school and owns a computer consulting company. He was awarded the 2006 Chidush award that recognizes local educators who creatively design and execute innovative Jewish educational experiences and share them with the community.
Andrew Hoyle
Andrew recently graduated CU-Boulder with an undergraduate degree in instrumental music education with a business minor. In addition to his student teaching experiences over the past four years, he has taught English and mathematics in Ghana and Trinidad & Tobago while assisting the nonprofit organization Arts Education International with its performing arts curriculum. Andrew is a private music tutor, and works for KidsTek after school at the Cole Arts and Science Academy, and Manual High School in Denver, where he teaches a computer elective course.
Yardley Erminice
Yardley has lived in Colorado for the last four years, moving here in search of new beginnings. She is a recent graduate of Metropolitan State College of Denver with her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. She also has her license in Elementary Education. Yardley has been working with children for over ten years, believing that as a teacher, she gets to help children be successful in life. She is currently working as a paraprofessional for the Cherry Creek School district in their special education department. Yardley teaches KidsTek after school classes at Vaughn Elementary and Sable Elementary in Aurora.
Kayla Pulley
Kayla graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, with a degree in Biopsychology. For the past four years, she has volunteered with a hippotherapy program for kids with special needs and has directed activities for summer day camp programs in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In her free time, Kayla enjoys horseback riding, dancing, gaming and volunteering. She teaches for KidsTek at Johnson Elementary and Pioneer Charter Schools in Denver.
Dorhan Cobb
Dorhan Cobb is a media producer with 10 years experience in audio production and audio engineering. Dorhan has conducted various music workshops and after school programs in the Denver area. He also works as a writer, producer, and DJ. Dorhan works for KidsTek at West Middle and Central High schools in Aurora.
Jennifer Bates
Jennifer teaches for KidsTek in their summer program at Adams City Middle School. She earned a B.B.A. from Mesa State College in Travel, Tourism and Commercial Recreation Management and received her M.A. from University of Colorado Denver in Elementary Education. She currently holds her license in Elementary Education. She has been working with children for almost 10 years and feels children are truly her passion. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, family and nephew.
Erik Carlson
Erik grew up in Wisconsin where he worked for the family land surveying business as a computer technician. After 8 summers he decided that engineering was not for him, so he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin to become a teacher. As a student, he worked for the college IT crew and graduated with a B.S. in Social Sciences. Most recently, he’s worked for the St.Vrain Valley School District, and is currently teaching for KidsTek at Scott Capenter and Shaw Heights Middle Schools in Adams County. He and his wife have recently purchased a 100 year old house in Longmont.