Faculty & Staff
A Team That Understands The Needs Of Gifted Children
We recruit and hire teachers who are certified professionals and who have special training, experience, or advanced degrees in gifted education. Our faculty members are active in both regional and national organizations for gifted education.
In order to meet the needs of gifted students, the faculty and staff must understand the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of gifted children. Professional development and training are key elements in the successful fulfillment of the school's mission. Teachers understand the purpose and importance of using innovative, targeted approaches with learners. They are easily able to discuss and advocate for the varied learning needs of gifted students. These educators are firmly committed and dedicated to the school's philosophy and have a finely tuned understanding of the needs of gifted students.
15 Average years of teaching experience
65% hold or are pursuing master's or doctoral degrees
25%+ licensed as teachers of gifted education
Get to Know the Faculty
Get to Know the Faculty
Meet Our Staff & Administration
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Craig Harrer, Director
He/Him/His
Director of Ricks Center
B.S. Business Administration and Marketing, University of Northern Colorado
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction, University of Colorado at Denver
Admin license from the University of Denver, Ritchie Program for School Leaders
EdD, University of Denver (in progress )
craig.harrer@du.eduCraig is a lifelong innovator, teacher, coach and champion for change in the field of education. He specializes in creative solutions that exist "outside the box." Craig's passion is the implementation of shared leadership structures that create socially just, equitable and sustainable school teams. He is a student focused and community driven leader. A Denver native, Craig's visionary approach helped develop and run the Denver Green School, an innovation school in Colorado for over 6 years. As a consultant he has collaborated with Denver Public Schools to create new school leadership competencies and implement growth and guidance systems. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at the University of Denver. Craig has served in many roles throughout the education sector, including working as a paraprofessional, technology and special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, lead partner and leadership consultant in his over 25 years of educational service.
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Heather Vaughn, Associate Director of Upper School
She/Her/Hers
B.A. Elementary Education, University of Mississippi
M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction and Gifted Education, University of Mississippi
Ed.S. Educational Psychology, University of GeorgiaOriginally from the Memphis area, Heather is from a family of avid football and Elvis fans. With most of her career dedicated to curriculum development and teacher training, Heather has served as a district administrator, a district specialist, an educator in the classroom, and a college professor. She has been recognized by the National Association for Gifted Children and the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented for her contributions in creating and championing exemplary services for gifted students. Heather is zealous about education advocacy, cultivating community, and inspiring agency in all learners. Outside of Ricks, she enjoys getting lost outdoors, being immersed in the arts, taking frequent trips to the library, and watching football.
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Jessica Kennedy, Associate Director of Lower School
She/Her/Hers
Early Childhood Program Director
B.A. Psychology, University of Denver
M.A. Early Childhood Special Education, University of Colorado at Denver
jekenned@du.eduJessica has worked in early childhood education for over 15 years. She has taught and worked with all age groups from infants to school-age children. This year marks her sixth school year at Ricks, and she previously was a Master Teacher at Fisher Early Learning Center on the University of Denver campus. Jessica enjoys working with young children and their families as they begin their school journeys. She enjoys going on adventures with her family, reading, biking, and playing board games in her free time.
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Bernadette Howell, Associate Director of Operations
She/Her/Hers
Bernadette.Howell@du.eduBernadette Howell brings over 20 years of clerical/administrative experience and knowledge as well as nearly 10 years in a school setting. Her journey through life has taken her everywhere from a bookkeeper trainer to a CFO to working in schools. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience including her devotion to superior customer service and an appetite to always learn! Her most rewarding journey has been the one she started with her husband, Joe, 23 years ago. They have been blessed with two children. When she is at home, she enjoys cooking and hanging out with her four fur babies!
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Amy Jacobs, Assistant Director of Enrollment Management
She/Her/Hers
Assistant Director of Enrollment Management
B.A. Psychology, University of Colorado
M.S.W. Social Work, University of Denver
amy.jacobs@du.eduAmy was born and raised in Colorado and has been in education for nearly 25 years. She joined the Ricks Center as the Assistant Director of Enrollment Management in the fall of 2013. Her experience includes outreach in both formal and informal educational settings. Amy started as a school social worker in the Cherry Creek School District. She then spent 13 years at the JCC as the Director of Camp and Youth Services. In addition to program supervision, she was responsible for outreach and for the recruitment of all program participants. She also served as the Visitor Services Manager at the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL) where she oversaw the educational outreach for all school and group visits. Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her family and her giant schnoodle, ski, workout, cook, and watch anything sports related.
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Maggie Wright, Extended Day Coordinator and Summer Learning Director
She/Her/Hers
B.A in special education, University of Northern Colorado
Margaret.Wright@du.eduMaggie has spent her entire career working with youth. From Girl Scouts to Denver Public Schools, she has worked and built programs that engage students' inner passions. Maggie has been the Extended Day and Summer Programs Manager at Ricks since August 2017. She came to Ricks from Denver Public Schools' Department of Extended Learning, where she spent five years developing inclusive inquiry-based programming. As the Summer Programs Manager, Maggie and her team of graduate students from DU have created inquiry-based programming that challenges students to find and explore their passions in the world around them. She loves making jewelry, playing with her five cats, and watching the Colorado Avalanche with her family in her free time.
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Ana Candelaria, School Psychologist
She/Her/Hers
School Psychologist
PhD. Child, Family and School Psychology University of Denver
Ana.candelaria@du.eduAna has spent her entire career working with children, teens, and young adults in various educational roles. She started as a coach for sports camps, then became an early childhood educator, including four years at the Fisher Early Learning Center on the DU campus. After teaching at Fisher and finishing her school psychology training, she began her career as a school psychologist in Denver Public Schools and worked in elementary and middle schools throughout the Denver area for eight years. During her time in DPS, she became incredibly passionate about restorative justice approaches, cultural responsiveness, and helping schools to establish strong home-school connections. After several years in DPS, Ana returned to teaching; this time at the graduate level, training future school psychologists as a clinical assistant professor in the Child, Family, and School Psychology program in the Morgridge College of Education at DU for two years. Ana will be starting her fourth year at Ricks and is excited to continue her work at our wonderful school! Originally from California, Ana has made Colorado her home; in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and daughter, reading, and watching sporting events.
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Peggy Jurgs, Reading Specialist
She/Her/Hers
Reading Specialist
Margaret.Jurgs@du.eduPrior to coming to Ricks, Peggy spent a long and successful career with Denver Public Schools. She spent the earlier part of her career as a first grade bilingual teacher where she delivered instructional content in Spanish while her students acquired English. Peggy then became an Instructional Coach enhancing teachers' knowledge and performance in the areas of English Language Acquisition and Elementary Literacy strategies in Reading and Writing. Peggy has a strong passion for reading and helping students become strategic readers through a balanced literacy approach. She is trained in Reading Recovery, F.A.S.T. and Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes; all are approaches to helping students refine their ability to decode the printed word. Peggy is also knowledgeable with Readers and Writers Workshop model, which places emphases on students' comprehension abilities. When not working with students, Peggy can be found walking the local golf courses, reading debut novels and spending time with her family.
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Duncan Dotterrer, Innovation and Instruction Specialist
Innovation Specialist
Duncan is a talented educator with a passion for developing enriching experiences for his students. He has worked with gifted learners for over seven years. He holds two Master’s degrees in education and is a certified linguistically diverse educator. Over the past four years, he has created and developed The STEAM Lab, a successful gifted education program at Stevens Elementary in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Through project-based learning activities he has helped gifted students with diverse backgrounds find their voice. Projects have included designing satellites and submarines, coding using FIRST Lego and FTW Robotics mini drones, transforming the classroom into an art gallery, a newspaper and an architecture studio to name a few.
Duncan is a father of two, ages three and six. He enjoys learning about the world anew with his family and spending time outdoors playing tennis, biking, playing the drums and swimming
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Amy Biro, Lead Teacher, 5th Grade Liaison, Restorative Practices Specialist
She/Her/Hers
B.S. Political Science & Journalism, Ohio Wesleyan University; M.Ed. Teaching and Learning, DePaul University
Professional Teacher Certification –Elementary Education K-6, Social Studies 7-12, Special Education Generalist 5-21; Gifted and Talented Specialist 5-21,
Social Emotional Scholarship award winner RAK 2015
Leadership Academy Cohort 2016: University of Denver
Conflict Center Restorative Justice Cohort 2019
Restorative Justice Education: Creating a Culture of Care Cohort 2021-2023; SEL Facilitator Certification, 2024Embarking on her 11th year at Ricks, Amy Biro has been in education since 1996. She started her career teaching third grade in Chicago Public Schools where she developed her love for learning and a passion for understanding the developmental and social-emotional needs of children. With teaching experience spanning kindergarten through high school, Amy believes in fostering the voices of children both academically and socially. Her philosophy is rooted in constructing ideas alongside students and responsive pedagogy, weaving skill and creativity into self-expression, content area topics, and community building. Before happily returning home to Denver in 2008, she enjoyed additional teaching opportunities in New Haven, CT, and Veracruz, Mexico. After school, she spends time walking her two little dogs, tending to her chickens, practicing yoga, and laughing with her husband, family, and friends.
