Connections

Our Connections Teachers develop classroom content that incorporates diversity, interdisciplinary curriculum, and 21st century skills. Our talented teachers, all experts in their fields, endeavor to meet the needs and encourage the creative passions of each and every student through innovative lessons in art, foreign language, music and physical education.

• 

  Art

  Students will focus on the technical application of materials, finding their creative voice and confidence through experimentation and persistence.

• 

  Foreign Language

  Students in 4th grade-8th grade will learn to speak, read, and write in the chosen language and cultivate an appreciation for its culture and history.

• 

  Music

  Students will learn multi-cultural music that tells a story from countries across the world through rhythm and beat.

• 

  Physical Education

  Students will participate in activities that incorporate physical movement and social and emotional wellness.

 

Meet our Connections Teachers

Innovation

• Duncan Dotterrer, Innovation Specialist

  MA Teaching, Metro State University of Denver

  MA, Linguistically Diverse Education BUENO Center, CU Boulder 

  BA, Psychology, University of Colorado Denver

  duncan.dotterrer@du.edu

  Duncan holds two Masters degrees in education and is passionate about enriching the lives of gifted students through rigorous, hands-on project based learning experiences. In the Innovation Lab, Duncan works with students on many different STEM projects using tools such as: FIRST Robotics, 3D printing, computer programming, computer aided drafting (CAD), and Hydrogen fuel cells. Mr. D. also fosters partnerships with University of Denver faculty and staff to elevate learning experiences for all students at Ricks.

 

Foreign Language

• Bouchra Rifki- French

  She/Her/Hers
  French Teacher
  B.A. French and English Linguistics, Caddi-Ayyad Univeristy (in Morocco)
  M.A. in Educational Psychology, Univeristy of Colorado at Denver
  Bouchra.rifki@du.edu

  Bouchra is originally from Morocco and moved to France as a young child, where she lived for seven years. Since coming to the United States, Bouchra has taught French at the elementary, middle and high school levels. She likes to help students experience the joy of learning a new language while also accumulating a strong knowledge about the French culture. Bouchra is trilingual in French, Arabic and English. In her spare time, Bouchra likes to spend time with my family and travel to other countries experience the cultures different from my own.

• Francisco Gallegos - Spanish

  B.S. Elementary Education TESOL, CLDE

  M.A. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (Spanish Specialization)

  Francisco.Gallegos@du.edu

  Francisco Gallegos honed his skills as a bilingual elementary educator working exclusively in Title I schools with Latinx students. He engages students through multiple disciplines like music, drawing, dancing, literacy, mathematics, and science. He always strives to build trust with students in order to help them develop and grow in a constructive way. Fun and learning go hand in hand in his classroom where he empowers students by teaching them to embrace the community around them. 

• Miwako Winters - Japanese

  She/Her/Hers
  Japanese teacher
  B.A. in English Literature and Japanese pedagogy (in Japan)
  M.Ed. in Self-design with focus on differentiated instruction, Regis University
  Licensed in Japanese, Language Arts, and Linguistically Diverse Education in Colorado and Japan
  miwako.winters@du.edu  

  Born and educated in Japan, Miwako began her career as an educator, teaching English in Japan for over ten years. After moving to the United States, she has taught various levels of Japanese at a community college as well as in multiple high schools and middle school within the Denver Public Schools and Cherry Creek School Districts.

  Miwako developed and implemented a Japanese curriculum for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and has taught Gifted and Talented students for over twenty years. Her dedication to education has been recognized through several awards, including the Excellence in Education award from the Aurora Gateway Rotary (2019) and the Colorado Japanese Language Education Association (2010).

  At Ricks, Miwako enjoys providing differentiated instruction tailored to each student’s needs, helping them progress at their own pace in a supportive and engaging environment. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with her granddaughter.

 

Music

• Carol Smith

  She/Her/Hers
  Music Specialist
  B.A., Piano Performance, Carthage College
  carol.smith@du.edu

  This will be Carol's 26th year teaching at Ricks. Along with her 30 years of music teaching experience, Carol has studied graduate level piano at Florida State University, piano and choral conducting at the Lamont School of Music, as well as gifted education through the Morgridge School of Education at DU. She is a licensed Musikgarten instructor and participates in Orff teacher training workshops. In addition to sharing her passion for music with gifted children, Carol enjoys teaching singing classes for disabled adults, providing piano performances at nursing homes, and teaching her private piano students. Carol loves to play piano, hike in the mountains, golf, and spend time with her family.

 

Physical Education

• Shane Cronin

  BA, History and Sociology l Praxis (5091) Physical Education Content Knowledge, American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer

  shane.cronin@du.edu

  Shane Cronin began working with young people at 19-years old as the Head Track & Field Coach with South Suburban Parks and Recreation. Mr. Cronin has been a school teacher since 2020. Mr. Cronin has a passion for teaching as a vehicle to fulfill a family motto of "we are here to help others." Mr. Cronin approaches his work with Agape love, often defined as "a desire for the absolute best outcomes for another person." Mr. Cronin has taught core content classes in Physical Education, Social Studies, Aerospace, and MAKERSPACE.

  A fun fact: Mr. Cronin's grandfathers had unique career experiences, including being on the guidance system development team for the SR-71 Blackbird while it was top secret and working with aircraft at Area 51. Mr. Cronin's other grandfather was the commander (Adjutant General) of the Central Nuclear Air Defense Command in Europe during the Cold War at Kaiserslautern Army base in Germany.

  Mr. Cronin currently competes in the Champions Football Conference as a Running Back, Wide Receiver, and Special Teams players. Mr. Cronin is a former four-time USA Track & Field All-American Sprinter.

 

 

Art

• Absinthe Algaire

  M.Ed., Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Early Literacy

  MA, International Teaching

  BA, Psychology

  absinthe.algaier@du.edu

  As a third-culture adult, Absinthe brings a global perspective and a deep appreciation for diverse ways of seeing the world into her teaching. A dedicated visual arts educator, she blends creativity, empathy, and hands-on engagement to inspire students to explore, experiment, and express themselves with confidence. She lives in Denver with her partner, Brandon. In her spare time, she enjoys pampering her dog, Lemon, sampling different cuisines, traveling, and spa treatments.