upper school faculty 2019-2020

1702 North Murray Boulevard • Colorado Spr ings , CO 80915 • Phone: (719) 313-4488 • Fax (719) 313-4491 • www.MacLarenSchool .org

Mary Faith Hall(Head of Upper School/Executive Director)

M.A. Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, 1997 B.A. Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, 1991

Robert Adler B.A. Classics-History-Politics, Colorado College, 2017

Toni Baker B.S. Biology Composite Teaching, Brigham Young University, 2005

Erin Blake B.S. Special Education and Hearing Impaired Education, Ball State University, 2005

Pamela Burrell B.F.A. Printmaking, University of Massachusetts, 1994

Benjamin Burtzos M.A. Political Science, University of Toronto, 2018B.A. Political Science and English, Colorado College, 2011

Dahlia Caratini M.B.A. Human Resources Management, University of Phoenix, 2007B.A. Speech, Communications, and Humanities, University of Puerto Rico, 2002

Brent Como B.S. Education, Missouri State University, 2010

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“The goal of Thomas MacLaren

School is to develop young men

and women who are fully human

and fully awake to the world.”

– excerpt from our Mission Statement

UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY 2019-2020



Timothy Pingel M.A. Education, University of Notre Dame, 2019B.A. History, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, 2017

Maryrose Pokorny B.A. Psychology, Benedictine College, 2018

Fatema Rahman M.S. Physics: Nuclear Physics, University of Dhaka, 2000B.A. Education, National University, Gazipur, Bangladesh, 2003B.S. Physics, University of Dhaka, 1999

Keith Redpath D.M.A. Violin Performance, University of Minnesota, 2002M.M. Violin Performance, Wichita State University, 1995B.M. Violin Performance, Eastman School of Music, 1993

Madalyn Rilling M.A. Political Science, University of California, Berkley, 2014 B.A. Political Science, Colorado College, 2012

Thomas Roberts B.A. Philosophy, Colorado College, 2017

Lisa Shannon M.S. Accountancy, University of Colorado, Denver, 1998 B.A. Business Administration, Covenant College, 1995

Laura Shorey B.A. Elementary Education, University of Missouri, 1996

Michael Skaggs B.A. Liberal Arts; Governors State University, 2002

Kaitlin Smith M.M. Flute Performance, California State University at Fullerton, 2015B.M. Flute Performance, University of Denver, 2011

Shannon Triplett B.S. Biology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, 2016

Joseph Chase Unruh M.A. Classical Languages (Latin), University of Missouri, 2010 B.A. Classics, University of Missouri, 2003

Ann Van Horn M.A. Educational Studies in Higher Education, Claremont Graduate University, 2008B.A. French Literature, Colorado College, 1985

Trevor von Boeck B.A. Philosophy, University of Chicago, 2019

“The teachers are alive to the world

and help my child become ever more

awake, reflective, and learned about

the world in which she lives. It is

not just for the gifted, but for all.”

– MacLaren Parent

60% of faculty members have earned a graduate degree


“Thomas MacLaren School has raised the bar for excellence in education. As a student

at Thomas MacLaren School for three years, our daughter has learned how to think

deeply and critically about subject matter and communicate her thoughts effectively

through written and oral means. We could not be more pleased with this school.”

– MacLaren Parent

Amy Cooper B.A. General Studies (Natural Sciences), Harding University, 2011

Grant Cooper M.M. Music History and Literature, M.M. Piano Performance, Baylor University, 2012 B.M. Piano Performance, University of Texas at Tyler, 2007 A.A. Music, Kilgore College, 2005

Kimberley DeCelles B.A. Humanistic Studies, Saint Mary’s College, 1986

Andrew Falcone B.S. Electrical Engineering and Mathematics, Grove City College, 2010

Dakota Fuller M.A. Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, Annapolis, 2016B.A. American Studies, Hillsdale College, 2011

Laura Gonzalez B.A. Philosophy, Indiana University – Purdue University, Indianapolis, 2014

Elizabeth Grey Master of Arts in Teaching, Hamline University, 2017 B.A. English and Psychology, University of Minnesota, 2011

Kristin Grieshaber B.A. German, Wittenberg University, 2004

Catherine Hanson M.A. Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy, University of Denver, 2004 B.M. Viola Performance, University of Denver, 1993

Michael Hanson M.M. Violin Performance, secondary emphasis in conducting, University of Denver, 1996 B.M. Violin Performance, secondary emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy, University of Denver, 1995

Melinda Harder J.D. Washburn School of Law, 1980 B.S. Political Science, Kansas State University, 1976

Robert Holiday Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 2006 B.S. Chemistry and Physics, Reed College, 1998

Emily Hooser M.S. Zoology, Oklahoma State University, 2012B.S. Biology-Ecology, Baylor University, 2010

Kara Hrbacek B.A. Theology and Philosophy, St. Thomas University, 1994

Lauren Huffman B.A. Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, Annapolis, 2016



Lindsey Hullinger M.A.T. Latin and Classical Humanities, University of Massachusetts, 2019B.A. Psychology and Linguistics, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2014

Joshua Kelly B.A. Classical Studies, College of William and Mary, 2014

Grace Koch M.A. The Teaching of Latin (MAT), University of Colorado, Boulder, 2017 B.A. Classics and Ancient Studies, St. Olaf College, 2015

Amy Kolb D.M.A. Oboe Performance, SUNY Stony Brook, 1999 M.M. Oboe Performance, Cologne Conservatory, Germany, 1991 B.M. Oboe Performance, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1985

Andy Kolb D.M.A. Cello Performance, SUNY Stony Brook, 1998M.M. Cello Performance, University of Miami, 1995B.M. Cello Performance, Eastman School of Music, 1993

Abigail LaBadie M.A. Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, 2015 B.A. English, University of Portland, 2010

Benjamin LaBadie Master of Theological Studies, Boston College, 2016 B.A. Classics, History and Politics, Colorado College, 2010

Paul Lilley M.S. Mathematics/Mathematics Education, Montana State University, 2012B.A. Mathematics/Music, Colby College, 2002

Kathryn Maslow B.A. Mathematics and History, University of Minnesota, 2012

Yoshimitsu Nagaoka B.S. Mathematics, University of Alaska, 2016

Monica Nieves M.A. Music, University of Minnesota, 1990B.A. Music Performance, Western Illinois University, 1988

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“My son came into Thomas MacLaren with all of these feelings

of inadequacy and expected life at MacLaren to be what he had

always experienced at school. He didn’t want to have anything

to do with it, but what he has found is so much the opposite of

what he expected that he loves school. His good qualities and

efforts have been recognized and praised. His teachers have

challenged him to be his best in every way, and he has risen to the

challenge. He feels respected and valued. All of his emotional

obstacles to learning are being overcome, and he is thriving.”

– MacLaren Parent


upper school faculty 2019-2020

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