KidsTek Staff
Andrew Bissland
Andrew has been managing daily operations at KidsTek for the past seven years. He leads a team of instructors teaching after school technology classes in both the Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools districts.
Carolyn Matthews
Carolyn supervises instructors, substitutes in the classroom, develops curriculum and outcome measures, and serves as a liaison between KidsTek, host schools and partner programs.
Sarah Brabeck
Sarah relocated to Denver from California, where her professional involvements with schools included helping to administer foreign language programs to adults, and within the classroom as a K-12 substitute teacher.
Courtney Wade
Courtney received her Bachelor's degree in International Business from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. She has also completed courses at the Art Institute of Colorado and received certificates in Web Design and Development and Search Engine Marketing. Courtney loves to travel and has spent time studying in Spain and teaching English in South Korea. For the past two years she has volunteered with World Heritage placing foreign exchange students with host families. Courtney teaches for KidsTek at East and Mrachek Middle Schools in Aurora. She loves to spend her spare time with her husband, family and friends.
Nina Amey
Nina Amey has been a community college professor for 15 years. She has worked in the Computer Information Systems departments at both Arapahoe Community College here in Colorado and Scottsdale Community College in Arizona. She has taught everything from basic Windows to Microsoft Server Administration as well as CompTIA A+ hardware certification training. Nina has spent quite a bit of time lately designing web sites and developing custom MS Office templates for individual clients. Nina currently teaches two courses for KidsTek: a Cisco CCNA Discovery class at both Central and Hinkley High Schools in Aurora, and a business computing class at North High in Denver. She enjoys skiing and travelling with her husband and daughter.
Michelle Lovato
Michelle Lovato attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. For the past several years she has been a substitute teacher for several school districts in and around the Denver area. She has been able to experience and teach at several schools and in grades ranging from Kindergarten-12th grade. Michelle currently works in the library at Virginia Court Elementary in Aurora and teaches for Kids Tek at Sable and Vaughn Elementary schools in Aurora.
Annie Barocas
Julie Siwanowicz
Julie Siwanowicz has been involved in education and technology fields for over 20 years. She has worked as a Software Test Manager and Systems Analyst for Pearson Education in the development of student information management systems. Her education background includes teaching technology and business classes, as well as holding administrative positions at the district and state levels. Julie has a BS in Business and a MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix, an MA in Secondary Education from Arizona State University and Career and Technical Education (CTE) certifications in Business, Marketing and Information Technology. Julie currently teaches both a CompTIA A+ certification class and a Cisco CCNA Discovery class at High Tech Early College. In addition to keeping up on the latest technology education trends, Julie enjoys playing the piano, cooking with her family, and reading.
Jessica Koscielski
Jessica is originally from Valdez, Alaska. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and minored in Peace and Conflict Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jessica is currently pursuing a master's degree at the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work. She teaches for KidsTek at University Prep in Denver. In her spare time Jessica enjoys biking and hiking with her dog and exploring Colorado.
Ellen Farnsworth
Ellen is currently a teacher at the Denver School of the Arts and at Denver School of Science and Technology where she teaches Drama. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix. Ellen loves teaching. She originally comes from Los Angeles and moved to Denver in 2005. She was a substitute teacher for 3 years and has taught all grades. She is happy to be a part of the KidsTek team. She is currently working at Paris Elementary with 4th and 5th grade students.
Jeff Bowling
Jeff was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Biopsychology. Jeff's love for service-learning has taken him throughout the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Fiji Islands. He recently moved to Colorado from Michigan following two years of teaching computer applications and psychology at a private high school where he also coached the 7th and 8th grade baseball team. Jeff is very passionate about his Detroit Tigers, Lions, and Red Wings, and enjoys playing sports, golfing, boxing, exploring, and adventuring in his free time
Gerardo Juarez
Gerardo is currently in his last year at Metro State University of Denver Majoring in Speech Communication with a Minor in Human Services. He originally comes from Los Angeles and moved to Denver in 2008. His work background is in human services and has worked with disenfranchised youth and families. He has also worked with various after-school enrichment programs. Gerardo teaches for KidsTek at Fletcher Primary with 1st grade students. In his spare time he likes to watch movies and attend film festivals.
Robin Mest
Robin has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and is currently working towards her Licensure and Master's in Special Education at the University of Colorado-Denver. While pursuing her teaching license, she has been able to student teach at several schools in the Denver metro area. She has previously worked as a behavioral therapist and tutor for children with special needs. Additionally, she has worked for several nonprofit organizations that work in the early childhood education field. Robin is excited to be a part of KidsTek and currently teaches K-4th grade students at SOAR Green Valley Ranch. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, going to the mountains, and watching sports.
Ryan Gudmundson
Ryan Gudmundson (Mr. G to his students) was born in Canada, and spent the first 11 years of his life in Vancouver, British Columbia. After then living in California for two years, his parents moved to Colorado, which he’s called home ever since. He graduated CSU in 2006 with a BA in history with a social studies teaching concentration. He first taught middle school social studies at Academy Charter School in Castle Rock for four years before making the move to teaching computer technology. He has since earned a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix in 2010 and currently teaches middle school technology classes at Castle Rock Middle School during the day. Ryan is very excited to be a part of the KidsTek team and looks forward to sharing his passion of educational technology with our students.
Craig Nason
Craig has been involved in nonprofit organizations both locally and abroad for more than ten years. He is currently pursuing his Master's of Nonprofit Management at Regis University. With a Bachelor's degree and background in music education, Craig is excited to be teaching with KidsTek at a school like Escuela Tlatelolco where creativity and the arts are valued. When he's not working, Craig loves spending time with his wife and four children.
Darius Orr
Darius is from Denver and is a senior at Grandview High School. He participated in the Aurora Youth For Success summer program for the past three years, and was enrolled in a KidsTek class during the summer of 2012. Darius had always had a keen interest in technology, and through KidsTek, he discovered he wanted to learn more about computers and share his knowledge, too. Darius joined the KidsTek staff this fall, enthusiastically helping students at Mrachek Middle School in Aurora.
Jerod Burton
Jerod is from Denver Colorado and is a student at High Tech Early College. He is working as a sysadmin intern for Denver Public Schools with KidsTek Instructor Julie Siwanowicz. His duties include repairing the school's netbook computers. Even though he is only in high school, Jerod is currently pursuing both a CompTIA A+ and a Cisco CCNA certifications, with the goal of earning each before he graduates. Jerod has always been interested in computers and technology and also likes playing video games and reading manga comics in his spare time.