Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Nicole relocated to Colorado in 2004. Nicole has been teaching for 24 years. She started in a public school in the Chicago area, and then taught at a Core Knowledge charter school in Littleton.

She helped open Ben Franklin Academy and taught second grade until 2023. She recently transitioned into middle school where she currently teaches sixth grade social studies. Nicole graduated from Concordia Lutheran University with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education, specializing in English and Language Arts.

Her youngest is at Montana state and eldest lives in California. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys biking, going to concerts, skiing, and hiking. Most of all, Nicole loves to teach children. Nicole describes herself as a very open person and urges you to feel free to contact her.

Nicole is there for the parents and the kids: “Together we are a TEAM!”

Birthday (month/day): 11/15

Favorite Restaurant: Los Dos Portrillos

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Chick-Fil-A or In & Out Burgers

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: Golfing

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: My family members

Favorite Starbucks drink: Frozen Strawberry Açaí Lemonade Refresher

Chocolate or Fruit?: Milk Chocolate

Favorite place to shop: Costco, Golf Galaxy

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite sports team: Colorado Avalanche & Chicago Bears

Hobbies: (bowling, golf, etc…): golf, pickleball, skiing

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Humility

My family includes…: My Wife – Pranadda, Daughters – Belyn, Paitra, Danielle, Son & Daughter in law – David & Clare, Grandchildren – Stella & Henry

Staci Erbaugh is delighted to continue her teaching career at Ben Franklin Academy. Staci’s journey as a teacher started as a young child as she fondly remembers writing on the teacher’s chalkboard and playing school. Her passion for education and children led her to attend Colorado State University & The University of Colorado at Denver for her teaching license. This will be her ninth year in education. 

In her free time, she loves spending time with her daughter, Jessica. Staci enjoys reading, hiking, yoga, photography, and playing tennis.

Staci feels grateful to join this community and the BFA family. She values the strong relationship between students, teachers, and parents. Staci’s goal is for students to become successful lifelong learners.

Birthday (month/day): April 29

Favorite Restaurant: La Hacienda, Smokin Fins, Mici 

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Chick Filet, Kneaders

Favorite Snack Food: Chips and salsa

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: going for a hike

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: pedicures, flowers, and coffee

Favorite Starbucks drink: a vanilla latte with almond milk 

Chocolate or Fruit?: chocolate

Favorite place to shop: Target, The Container Store, Nordstroms Rack, Ann Taylor Loft, Black and White, Amazon 

Favorite color: Green

Favorite sports team: Broncos and Rockies

Hobbies: (bowling, golf, etc…): Hiking, Yoga, Tennis

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Sincerity

My family includes…: My daughter, Jessica and my 14-year-old dog, Lucy. 

Birthday (month/day): 12/14 

Favorite Restaurants: Prost, Postino

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Chick-Fil-A

Favorite Snack Food: Fruit

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: Hiking 

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: Blueberries

Favorite Starbucks drink: Oatmilk Latte 

Chocolate or Fruit?: Fruit 

Favorite place to shop: REI, Dicks

Favorite color: Yellow 

Favorite sports team: Rockies, Broncos

Hobbies: Hiking, Exercising, Reading Classic Literature 

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Tranquility 

My family includes…: Virginia, Noah, Gwen, Grant, Phoenix (Goldendoodle), and 3 cats.

Celeste is originally from Southern California, and she and her husband moved to Colorado to raise their family. She has two teenage sons who keep her busy with sports and activities, and she has enjoyed living in Colorado for 14 years. In her free time, Celeste enjoys spending time with her family outdoors, reading, and hiking.

While attending college in California, Celeste earned a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a JD from Chapman University. After moving to Colorado and staying home with her young children, she began working as a kindergarten aide at BFA in 2016. Celeste completed an alternative teaching licensure program from Colorado University and started teaching 7th grade at BFA in 2019. She is thrilled to start another year at BFA!

Celeste loves working with middle schoolers at BFA and appreciates their kindness, humor, and willingness to work hard and try new things.

Birthday: April 19th

Favorite Restaurant: Jax Fish House

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Qdoba

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: hanging out with my family outdoors.

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: getting my nails done, being with friends and family. 

Favorite Starbucks drink: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Chocolate or Fruit?: both!

Favorite place to shop: Nordstrom and Target

Favorite color: orange

Favorite sports team: LA Dodgers

Hobbies: paddleboarding, running/walking/hiking, watching my kids (and professionals) play sports

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Sincerity

My family includes…: my husband and two teenage sons.

Kevin is excited to begin his ninth year of teaching.  Kevin has been at BFA from the beginning and spent the first eight years in third and fifth grades. He joined BFA as a second career teacher, having spent the previous years in business.  He looks forward to providing the education, leadership, and guidance to assist with each student’s present and future success. Kevin also coaches the girls and boys basketball teams.

Kevin graduated high school at Regis Jesuit.  After high school, Kevin graduated from Colorado State University and later earned his master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix.

A Colorado native, Kevin lives with his wonderful wife, Sarah, and daughters, Chloe (age 10), Carly (age 9), and Charlotte (5) in Parker.  Kevin looks forward to another great year at Ben Franklin Academy.

Blaise grew up in Texas, but went to high school here in Colorado. After college in Texas, he spent the next 9 years living and teaching in Indonesia. During his time there, he taught from 1st grade all the way to 12th grade IB. In 2019, he and his family moved back to Colorado and began his teaching career here stateside. He is a husband and a father to an amazing little girl. In his free time, he loves powerlifting as well as any outdoor activity, and is a huge Star Wars nerd.

Christine is excited for another great year at Ben Franklin Academy as the seventh-grade science teacher. Christine has taught middle school for over 20 years. She received both her BA in Psychology and her Teaching License from CU Boulder and her MA in Education Administration & Supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Christine has lived in Colorado her entire life. She enjoys staying active around Highlands Ranch as well as traveling to new places with her two daughters, who attend school at Mountain Vista High School and the University of Colorado in Boulder. She appreciates all that Colorado has to offer, including the parks and recreation, the mountains with skiing and boarding during the winter months, and hiking and paddleboarding during the summer months.

Christine is grateful to be part of the BFA community. She looks forward to meeting all of her students and helping them maintain a love for education.

Birthday (month/day): October 22

Favorite Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Qdoba

Favorite Snack Food: Trail Mix

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: In the mountains 

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: Anything with frosting

Favorite Starbucks drink: Caramel Frappuccino 

Chocolate or Fruit?: Neither- any type of gummy candies

Favorite place to shop: Amazon or Athleta

Favorite color: Red

Favorite sports team: Broncos

Hobbies: (bowling, golf, etc…): Soccer, skiing, hiking, paddleboarding, traveling and trying new things

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Humility

My family includes…: Two teenage daughters and way too many other animals in one house

Warren Astler serves as the 8th-grade science teacher at Ben Franklin Academy, who is deeply passionate about science and STEM education. He brings a wealth of experience to his role, having spent 10 years as a third-grade teacher and 26 years as a middle school science and STEM instructor, including time as a STEM Director at various K-8 schools. Mr. Astler is dedicated to nurturing the curiosity and potential of his students and appreciation of science and STEM disciplines through engaging and innovative educational experiences.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Denver. He is endorsed as a Secondary Science Instructor by the State of Colorado, highlighting his expertise and commitment to education.

A native of Colorado, Mr. Astler enjoys traveling, going to movies, and outdoor activities such as golfing.

His deep appreciation and enthusiasm for the wonders of science and the impact of STEM education have the goal of inspiring and empowering his students, fostering a lifelong love of learning and discovery. His passion aims to encourage them to explore and understand the world around them.

Birthday: 5/29

Favorite Restaurant: Los Doe Potrillos, Angelos, The Melting Pot

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: None

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: Traveling, Going to a Movie, Golfing, Resting/Doing Absolutely Nothing

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: Notes, Cards, anything with Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate

Favorite Starbucks drink: Pink Drink

Chocolate or Fruit?: Both

Favorite place to shop: Amazon, Cabellas

Favorite color: Green, Blue, Black

Favorite sports team: Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets

Hobbies: Golf, Basketball, Movies

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Moderation and Humility

My family includes…: Kimberly: Wife, Izzy: Stepdaughter

Jared is excited to continue his teaching career at Ben Franklin Academy. He graduated from Hastings College as a student athlete in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and an emphasis in History. Jared is passionate about Social Studies and the pursuit of challenging students to embrace the subject to be able to better understand the present.

Birthday (month/day): July 18

Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Noodles and Company

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: Going to the gym 

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: A smoothie

Favorite Starbucks drink: Double chocolate frappuccino 

Chocolate or Fruit?: Fruit

Favorite place to shop: Dick’s Sporting Goods

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite sports team: St. Louis Cardinals (Go Redbirds)!

Hobbies: Watching baseball, lifting, running, and exploring the Rockies

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Resolution and Humility

My family includes…: My Mom and Dad (Ellen and Chris), Sister (Erin), and Brother in Law (Eric)

Lisa is excited to return for her twelfth year at Ben Franklin Academy as the 8th grade math teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Lehigh University and completed her Master of Arts in Teaching at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. As a teacher, Lisa aims to inspire her students to become critical thinkers and creative problem solvers. She incorporates real-world applications of concepts to help students appreciate the mathematics all around them. Prior to teaching, she put her problem solving skills to the test for 3 years as a civilian operations research analyst for the US Navy.

Originally from New Jersey, she enjoys spending time outdoors in all seasons and is thrilled to now call Colorado home. When she’s not in the classroom, Lisa plays ice hockey, spends time in the mountains hiking and skiing, and enjoys volunteering. She is an avid traveler and reader, both of which fuel her passion for learning new things.

Birthday (month/day):  May 15

Favorite Restaurant: Old Blinking Light

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Corner Bakery or Panera Bread

If I had an unexpected day off, I would spend it…: enjoying the outdoors or curled up with a great book (or both!)

On a bad day, these would cheer me up…: a nice note, ice cream

Favorite Starbucks drink: Hot Chocolate or Vanilla Bean Frappuccino

Chocolate or Fruit?: Fruit

Favorite place to shop: Any bookstore, Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite sports team: New York Rangers

Hobbies: (bowling, golf, etc…):  Playing hockey, skiing, reading, traveling, volunteering, working out 

Favorite Ben Franklin Virtue: Sincerity and Humility

My family includes…: my dad along with my brother and sister-in-law