Get To Know Your Teachers and Mentors
Travis Aldrich
Head of School
travis.aldrich@thepeakschool.org
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction
University of Vermont
B.A. American Civilization
Middlebury College
Places I have lived: Cornwall,VT | Old Forge, NY | Deerfield, MA | Estes Park, CO | Boulder, CO | West Hills, CA | Portland,
OR | Albuquerque, NM | Kauai, HI
Professional Highlight: The Galloway Family Excellence in Teaching Award
Interests: Playing with my two children | Reading | Fly-fishing | Skiing | Rafting | Canoeing | Soccer| Lacrosse | Basketball | Camping
Melanie Benedict
Associate Head of School
melanie.benedict@thepeakschool.org
B.S. Business Administration & Finance University of Florida
Early Childhood & Small School Director Qualification
Red Rocks Community College
Places I have lived: Gainesville, FL | Solana Beach, CA | Naples, FL | London, England | Riverside, CA | Breckenridge, CO
Professional Highlight: Manager of the Year, Vail Resorts 2008
Interests: Skiing | Mountain biking | Paddle boarding | Photography | Reading
Jessie Hoehn
Director of Admissions
jessie.hoehn@thepeakschool.org
Association Montessori Internationale Certificate
Working towards Sustainability degree at Colorado Mountain College
Places I have lived: St. Louis, MO | Old Greenwich, CT | Tipp City, OH | Alma, CO | Breckenridge, CO
Professional Highlight: Founder of Bristlecone Montessori School
Interests: Yoga | Camping | Mountain Biking | Snowboarding | Skinning up the mountain to watch the sunrise | Hiking with my rescue pups | Live music | Hanging out with kids | Vegan Baking |
Emily Shepardson
School Operations Manager
Welcome Office Coordinator
welcomeoffice@thepeakschool.org
Working towards a Bachelors in Communications from the University of Colorado Denver
Places I have Lived: Denver, CO | Boulder, CO | Breckenridge, CO | Silverthorne, CO
Professional Highlight: Working the Bombers Ski program as both an instructor and supervisor and getting to know local families.
Interests: Trying new things! | Photography | Skiing | Meditative walks in nature | Gratitude Practices | Biking | Synchronized Swimming
Liz Roush
Academic Dean
Senior Sustainability
liz.roush@thepeakschool.org
PhD in Sustainability Education from Prescott College
M.A. Curriculum & Instruction
University of Denver
Graduate Residency in Environmental Education Teton Science Schools
B.A. Spanish & Environmental Studies
Colgate University
Places I have lived: Denver, CO | Hamilton, NY | Jackson, WY | Seville, Spain | Frisco, CO
Professional Highlight: I am also an Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at Colorado Mountain College.
Interests: Skiing | Adventuring | Cooking | Reading | Crocheting | Watching birds
Anna Cartner
Director of Marketing and Development
anna.cartner@thepeakschool.org
Master’s in Education in Curriculum and Instruction | University of Phoenix
B.S. Management Information Systems | Clemson University
Places I have lived: Lincolnton, GA | Clemson, SC | Anderson, SC | Lake Wateree, SC | York, SC | Evans, GA | My Camper around the U.S. | Silverthorne, CO
Professional Highlight: Working in marketing and development to help drive mission-driven companies and organizations forward.
Interests: Sailing | Weight Lifting | Hiking | Walking my dog | Snow skiing
Steven Craig
Upper School Literature
steven.craig@thepeakschool.org
B.A. in English
Colgate University
M.A. in English
University of Vermont
Places I have lived: New England | Washington, D.C. | Denver, CO | Summit County, CO
Professional Highlight: I started my teaching career at the Berkshire School, a Mass. boarding school. I also have taught at Vail Mountain School and Mullen High School in Denver. But what I am most proud of is being a founding trustee here at The Peak School.
Interests: Skiing | Mountain biking | Playing guitar | Writing (I published a novel entitled Waiting for Today).
Amy Bittle
Middle School Humanities
amy.bittle@thepeakschool.org
B.A. in Political Science
Colorado State University
M.A. in Education
Western Colorado University
Teacher Licensure in Secondary Social Studies
Western Colorado University
Places I have lived: Lakewood, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Salzburg, Austria | Salida, CO | Silverthorne, CO
Professional Highlight: Leading climbing, backpacking and rafting trips at a non-profit focused on empowering young women in the outdoors.
Interests: Rafting | Skiing | Camping | Mountain Biking | Yoga | Reading | Running | Cooking | Music
Aydan Cleary
Upper School Humanities
aydan.cleary@thepeakschool.org
Bachelor’s in Secondary Education: Social Studies Concentration
Places I have lived: Monument CO | Bellingham WA | Fort Collins CO | Denver CO | Frisco CO
Professional Highlight: Graduating with a teaching license, fulfilling a lifelong goal of becoming a teacher.
Interests: Fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, and wrangling
Erica Larson
Middle School STEM
erica.larson@thepeakschool.org
B.S. - Environmental Science
M.A. - Curriculum and Instruction in Science
Colorado Professional Teacher License
Places I have lived: I am a Colorado native! I have traveled extensively, but have lived in Colorado most of my life. It is my home and I love it here!
Professional Highlight: I have been an educator for twenty years. I have been an elementary classroom teacher, an adjunct college instructor, and a curriculum developer for a STEM education company. I am excited to be at The Peak School because I am passionate about STEM, outdoor education, and I love working with the kids and families of Summit County!
Interests: I love spending time outdoors with my husband and two kids. We enjoy hiking, skiing, kayaking, picnicking, and riding bikes. We are also passionate about travel and experiencing new places, people, and culture.
Claire MacMurray
Middle School Math
claire.macmurray@thepeakschool.org
Master’s in Life Science, Université Paris Cité; Bachelor of Arts and Science, Quest University Canada
Places I have lived: Silverthorne, CO; Squamish, BC; Amsterdam, NL; NYC, NY; Cambridge, MA; Toronto, ON; Paris, France; Barcelona, Costa Rica, and Leadville, CO
Professional Highlight: Founder of a philosophic discussion group for doctoral students in science (at the University of Toronto), English tutor in France, contributing author of a couple of evolutionary theory published articles.
Interests: Outdoor fun-time adventures in Summit County (i.e. galavanting), friends and family, poetry/literature/film, great conversations around meals, coffee, tea (+cooking and baking); building and maintaining relationships (that make life feel really meaningful), saunas/swimming/walks, star-gazing, very passionate about breakfast, bit of a Francophile
Marissa Rahn
Spanish
marissa.rahn@thepeakschool.org
B.A. in Spanish Education and Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Places I have lived: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Costa Rica, Spain, California, and Colorado
Professional Highlight: Living and teaching in Galicia, Spain
Interests: Camping, hiking, pickleball, trying new things outdoors, traveling, Zumba, crafting, my cat, Community, band, piano
Bennett Grossman
Upper School Math
bennett.grossman@thepeakschool.org
BA (Major in math and physics) from Wesleyan University
Places I have lived: Boston MA, Middletown Ct, Edinburg UK, and Breckenridge CO
Professional Highlight: Guiding backpacking trips for students around the world, and becoming a teacher!
Interests: Climbing, backpacking, skiing, cooking, reading
Isadora Smith
Spanish
isadora.smith@thepeakschool.org
BS Foreign Language Education (Spanish) University of Kansas
Places I have lived: Barrington, IL Lawrence, Kansas (Rock Chalk!!), Nancy, France, Perpignan, France, Avon (the shortest place I've ever lived for 2 months) Silverthorne
Professional Highlight: Immersing myself in another educational culture while teaching English in France.
Interests: Traveling, hiking, sunsets, paddle boarding, kayaking, roller blading, ice cream, language learning and cultural immersion
Genevieve (GG) Giarusso
Upper School Science
gg@thepeakschool.org
B.A. Biology with Organismal Studies, Masters of Science Education University Northern Colorado, CO
Places I have lived: Central, NY, Lanesboro, MN, Wickenburg, AZ. Jackson, WY, Eagle County, CO
Professional Highlight: Earning a Masters Certificate through the Colorado Alliance of Environmental Education
Interests: Running, Skiing, creating art, and playing outside with my dog Bean!
The Peak School also works closely with…
Lindsay Lesch | Academic Ascents, LLC
Orton-Gillingham Certified Tutor for Dyslexia
You can reach Lindsay via her website or via email at academicascents@gmail.com .
Board of Trustees
Mike Cartner, Chair
Dan Wolf
Kip Blakely
Collin Williams
Moni Mills
Laura Horvath
Paul Krummen
David Washenfelder