Instructional Aides

Diane is excited to join the BFA staff as an afternoon kindergarten instructional aide.  She's spent the past 14 years teaching mostly primary Spanish at Platte River Academy, another Core Knowledge Charter School.  She will continue that role at Platte River, teaching classes in the mornings.  She has had the pleasure of working for and alongside many BFA administrators and teachers:  Bob Barber, Diana Simpson, Susan Klee, Rhonda Walton, and Ali Hinkle.
Diane is originally from Kansas, but has called Colorado home since 1985.  She lives in Highlands Ranch with her husband, Ken.  Her two sons are college students: Eric is a junior at the Colorado School of Mines studying Electrical Engineering and Energy.  Andrew is a freshman at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs studying Business and Music. 
Diane loves working with elementary students.

Tina Dorsch

Tina is excited to be an Instructional Aide at Ben Franklin Academy working with the fantastic Kindergarten team.  She has worked and volunteered for years at Platte River Academy.  Tina worked with Susan Klee at Platte River as her Teacher’s Aide for 3 years, and as a Hot Lunch Supervisor for 4 years.  She loves being with Kindergartners

Tina moved to Colorado in 1995 from Southern California where she was born and raised.  She absolutely loves Colorado and has proven to be an amazing place to raise her family.  Tina and here husband have 3 children that keeps them busy and active.  Her favorite pastimes are reading, walking, boating, watching her 2 boys play sports, shopping with her daughter, and spending time with her family and friends.  Tina feels blessed and is very excited to be a part of Ben Franklin Academy.

Kate Crespo

Kate is excited to be part of the fourth grade team at BFA as an Instructional Assistant. Kate earned her master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix in 2010 and received a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from New Jersey Institute of Technology, where she played basketball and soccer.

Kate has been married for six years, and has two children, a son who will be starting Kindergarten at BFA, and an infant daughter.  Kate grew up in New Jersey and feels lucky to have called Colorado home for the past seven years.  Kate enjoys exercising, long walks, watching and playing sports, and spending time with her family and friends.  She can't wait to help kids enjoy learning at BFA.

Carolyn F. Quinn

Carolyn is looking forward to joining the BFA second grade team as an Instructional Aide.  Carolyn earned her Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She has taught Spanish through an enrichment program to students in kindergarten through eighth grade, substituted in public and private schools, and worked in a child care setting while in college.  Before she had children, she worked the telecommunications industry as a network designer, manager and a corporate trainer.

Carolyn was born in New Jersey, raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but Colorado is home.  She and her husband, Kevin, have three daughters Serena (age 10), Sofia (age 8), and Sian (age 5).  All three of Carolyn's girls will be attending BFA this year.

She enjoys movie nights, baking, and sledding with her girls, cooking, photography, and knitting.  They also have a dog named Bronson, a mixed breed of golden retriever / lab, and a Russian tortoise named Squirt.

Carolyn feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to help the students at Ben Franklin Academy.

Courtney Berry

Courtney is excited and looking forward to being a part of the 5th and 6th grade teams at BFA.  She has spent the last 4 years getting hands on experience in elementary classrooms.  Courtney has a passion for education, primarily Human Development and the Differentiated Classroom, and enjoys watching a child as they come to fully understand difficult concepts. 

She is married with 2 children; a daughter who will be in 4th grade and a son who will begin 1st grade, both attending BFA.  She has a very active family and enjoys all things outdoors.  When not outside, Courtney can be found surrounded by family or reading a book.  A few of her favorite things:  running, cycling, swimming, skiing, cooking, movies, and playing games. 

Michelle Swierczek

Michelle works in the first grade classroom.  She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where she was also a swimmer for the Huskers.  She grew up in San Diego, California, has been married for 16 years, and has 4 kids.  In her (limited) free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and martial arts.  She feels truly honored to be a part of such an amazing school.  

Janet Harlow

Janet is an Instructional Aide for the 5th and 6th grade teams.  She comes to BFA with a diverse background that has always included children.  She is a single mom, of two.  Both her children are now in high school; a daughter that's a junior, and a son that's a freshman.  Janet is active in the community.  She spent several years as one of the group leaders for AWANA and led the Sparks group (ages 5-7) for many years.  She also taught a basic drawing class for homeschool kids.  One of her favorite activities is keeping score for her son’s baseball teams. 

Janet has lived in Colorado since 2006, after 18 years ears in Texas.  She enjoys drawing with graphite and charcoal, painting with oils, and reading.  She loves watching sports: baseball, football, and basketball, especially when it comes to watching her son or nephews play.  She also works with my daughter on her art or read the pages from her book. 

Carolyn Dutton

Carolyn began her journey in the field of education in 1990 when she graduated from Southwest Texas State University to teach special education.  In '92 she was one of five teachers accepted into the Dyslexia Therapist Training Program at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.  During this two-year intensive training program she became passionate about literacy and helping all children achieve their highest potential as readers, students and ultimately, thriving citizens.

In 1994, she became a Certified Academic Language Therapist and moved to Denver to be closer to her family in Highlands Ranch.   During the next 15 years, she obtained her Master's Degree in Education and enjoyed a wide variety of challenges and experiences as a Learning Specialist at The Children's Hospital.

Carolyn worked with The Dyslexia Center as a therapist and volunteer for the past two years.  When her daughter was invited to attend Ben Franklin Academy, she was deeply grateful and quickly realized that Ben Franklin Academy was not only the sort of school in which she wanted her children educated but also the sort of school in which she wanted to teach.

Amy White

Amy is excited to be a part of the BFA first grade team.  For the last few years she has worked with children at the Littleton YMCA.  Prior to this she was an instructional aide and a preschool teacher for a private school.  Amy is originally from California, and now calls Colorado home.  

Dana Tromeur-Nach

Dana is an Instructional Assistant to the third grade team! For the past two years, she has been  employed on a part-time basis for the Douglas County School District as an Educational Assistant.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Art from William Paterson University in New Jersey.

Dana and her family moved to Colorado two years ago from New Jersey and absolutely loves it here!  She loves the scenery, the sunshine, and the people.  Her and her husband have 3 amazing kids, a dog, 2 cats, and a hamster! 

Andrea Caldwell

Hello! My name is Andrea Caldwell and I am thrilled to be a part of BFA!  I look forward to helping make a difference in children's lives and see the growth over the school year!  I received my degree from Colorado State University where I studied Human Development and Family Studies. I then received my teaching license from Metropolitan State College.  I taught KDG in Cherry Creek Schools for six years and focused on reading and writing with primary children. I am a Colorado native and I have been married for 15 years. We have been blessed with three children who all attend Platte River Academy.   I love to spend time with my family, watch my kids sporting activities, attend church, run, read, travel and spend time with friends.  I look forward to a wonderful year at Ben Franklin Academy!Hello! 

Sharon Furnier

Sharon previously worked with kindergarten through 5th grade students at Trailblazer Elementary as an Educational Assistant. Before that she worked as a preschool teacher. She is curently a student at  ACC and expects to recieve her degree in 2012.

Sharon moved from California to Colorado seven years ago and loves everything about being here.  Her children have grown up and flown the nest. One daughter lives in Los Angeles and works as an archivist and a son is currently serving in Afghanistan as an Army medic.  With her kids gone, she is free to dedicate my time to the children of Ben Franklin Academy. Sharon is excited to be a part of this incredible team.  In her spare time she walks the block, reads, watches way too many sports, and spends countless hours doing her homework. 

Nannette Preciado

Nannette is excited to be an Instructional Aide at BFA. She has worked at Bear Canyon Elementary as a Instructional Aide and Health Room Assistant and at Ranch View Middle School with Nutrition Services. Nannette moved  to Highlands Ranch in 1995 from California. Nannette and her husband have two children, Rob and Lauren. Rob attends  University of Northern Colorado and Lauren Mountain Vista High School. Nannette enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with her family. She is very excited to be part of Ben Franklin Academy and loves working with the Kindergartner students.