Meet our Staff!
Ms. Chelsea
Director
cminshull@wwahomeschool.org
My name is Chelsea Minshull and this is my 4th year as the HSC Director!
I am originally from upstate NY, Rochester to be exact. I moved to Colorado in 1998 after visiting a few times and realizing how beautiful and sunny it is! I live in Westminster with my two daughters, Ella (14 years old) and Audrey (12 years old) and our dog Chloie and cat, Princess Cleopatra. My parents moved here in 2009 after realizing I wouldn’t be moving back to NY! It’s nice having an extended family close by.
Before working as the HSC Director, I taught as a prek teacher, was the director of The Sunshine House, and an Assistant Director at Primrose School at Standley Lake. I joined Woodrow Wilson Academy as the Enrollment Secretary in 2017 and also taught Food Experience (an elective for 8th graders), and tutored 1st-5th graders after school. I have been known to moonlight as the WWA staff appointed make-up artist and “glitter girl” when needed!
My motto at our magical HSC world is to make sure that all feel loved and safe first, then the fun and learning is successful!
Ms. Antoinette
Clinic Aide
aroybal@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! I’m a Colorado Native. My husband and I moved to Arvada in 1993 and started our family soon after that. Both my son and daughter have served 7 years (each) in our U.S. Military. I have a degree in Elementary Education and have worked in the healthcare field for over twenty years. I enjoy going to the movies, bike riding, reading, and I love to write. One of my favorite hobbies is cooking and eating with my family. I’m happy to be a part of the HSC and Woodrow Wilson Academy Family. Most of all, I feel extremely lucky to be a part of the lives of our future adults. My goal everyday is to make sure our students are safe and happy. I thank our homeschool community for the opportunity to help and serve.
Ms. Andrea
Art Teacher
adickkut@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! I am Ms. Andrea, your Visual Art Instructor. I am excited to begin my third year as a teacher with Woodrow Wilson Academy’s Homeschool Connection.
My teaching experience has been with ages K-Adult in both public school and private studio settings in the states of PA, IL, AZ and CO. I currently hold a Colorado Professional Teaching License with a K-12 Art Endorsement and have a BA in Fine Art/Education from Wartburg College, Iowa.
Skill areas include painting, 3-D sculpture, and design/illustration. I have exhibited and sold my art professionally, including the illustration of an award-winning children’s board book, “Mommy Loves Baby” - by author Troy Muilenburg. I organized and showcased the “2018 Imagine! Connections Exhibition” at the Boulder Dairy Arts Center; an annual arts support event/sale for disabled adults.
I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two lively Dachshunds named Copper and Moose. I have two grown children, a daughter residing in Colorado and a son in Arizona; both raised in the Parker, CO area.
In my free time I love to hike and make art in my home studio! My goal as an educator and artist is to encourage the importance of art in everyday life as we learn, reflect, create and connect to one another.
Mr. Dan
Physical Education Teacher
dteel@wwahomeschool.org
Hello everyone! My name is Mr. Dan. I will be instructing physical education classes this year. I am a Colorado native and enjoy spending all of my free time outdoors playing in the mountains with my wife and dog. I graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins with my Health and Exercise Science degree. I am passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same. My hobbies include mountain biking, snow skiing and snowboarding, rock climbing, camping and hiking 14ers.
I returned to CO after living 7 years abroad in Ecuador! I began teaching English to children and graduate students in Quito and believe this to be my greatest accomplishment yet!
I am looking forward to working with all my students while educating them on the several aspects of what a balanced lifestyle is. The main goal of the PE classes is to give the students the correct tools to know how to live a high quality lifestyle.
Ms. Tiffani
In House Sub / EA
twhitney@wwahomeschool.org
Hi, I’m Tiffani and I am thrilled to be joining the HSC team. I’m a Colorado native and absolutely adore Colorado and the outdoors. I live in Arvada with my husband of almost 10 years and our two wonderful and energetic little ladies, Quinn (6 yrs) and Paige (2.5 yrs). My most recent job was being a stay-at-home mother to my girls, but before that, I spent more than 7 years teaching sewing to both children and adults at Fancy Tiger Crafts, a sewing and knitting haven in Denver. I love working with my hands, crafting, cooking, knitting, and especially sewing and embroidery. My love for textiles knows no limits. I have a passion for the arts in all senses of the word. I’m a graduate of the Denver School of the Arts, majoring in vocal music and minoring in musical theatre, and touring with the international leadership program, Up With People where I became passionate about my positive voice for change and inclusion. I’m excited to get to know you all.
Ms. Jamie
Kindergarten Teacher
jwilliams@wwahomeschool.org
My name is Jamie Williams (Ms. Jamie) and I teach Kindergarten at HSC. I graduated from Adams State College and have had the opportunity to work with many different children in various settings. I have been at The Home School Connection since 2007.
When I am not at Home School Connection, I am having fun at home with my husband and our two beautiful daughters.
I love teaching kindergarten because it is full of discovery and excitement. We cover so many topics in kindergarten and it is so fun to hear a kindergartener’s view on why things work the way they do. It is exciting for me to watch the wheels spinning inside a student’s head and to see the light bulb light up once the ideas presented become understood in a student’s mind.
Ms. Jessica
Kindergarten EA
jwehling@wwahomeschool.org
My name is Jessica Wehling (Ms. Jessica) and I am a Kindergarten Educational Assistant here at HSC. I started working at HSC in October, 2020. Before working at HSC I worked at the Children’s Museum in Denver for about 4 years and I also worked in the Veterinary field for 5 years. I love getting to work with children and I love getting to hear their stories and all their different ideas. It’s so exciting getting to see how much they grow and how much they learn. I am really looking forward to this school year!
During my free time I love hanging out with my two children (my son and daughter) and my amazing husband. We also enjoy plenty of time outside which includes camping, hiking, and going to the park. I also really enjoy mountain climbing and doing pretty much anything outdoors. My favorite indoor activities are reading, watching movies, and drawing.
Ms. Paige
Martial Arts Instructor
dpaige@wwahomeschool.org
Hello HSC students and parents!! I’m Dana Paige- known to my students as “Ms. Paige”. I am both excited and honored to be teaching ‘Martial Art’s, ‘Abacus Math Adventures’ and ‘Stomp It!’ this year. I have been teaching at HSC since the Fall of 2008. As a martial artist, I’ve studied Tae Kwon Do and Wushu. I have a dance and music background so I like creating classes that allow me to teach movement and martial arts. I teach Abacus math which became a wonderful foundation and experience for my daughter when she was young and I was homeschooling her.
I am currently a 5th degree black belt. I own and operate Full Circle Martial Arts-Colorado’s Premier Kids School, which went virtual with classes held on Zoom since March 2020. This summer we were able to add an ‘in person’ class and students continue to train with the mix of Zoom and ‘in-person’.
My daughter formerly attended HSC, is a 1st degree Black Belt, and is a college student at CSU in Fort Collins. I homeschooled my daughter through middle school and it was the best experience for us! When I’m not teaching martial arts I play guitar, piano, drums, write songs, dance and take cool photos of people.
I LOVE teaching Martial Arts, Abacus Math Adventure, and Stomp It! because I love spending time with young students and want each one of them to feel confident and happy about all of their learning adventures.
I look forward to each new year at HSC where I will get to meet new students and I also get to see my awesome students from last year!
FCMA website: www.fcmacolorado.com
Mr. Wolf
Martial Arts/STEAM Teacher
nwolf@wwahomeschool.org
Hello everyone! My name is Nick Wolf and I am a martial arts and coding teacher at the Home School Connection. I have been training in Taekwondo since the age of 8 years old, and currently hold a 4th degree black belt in Shimsan Taekwondo, as well as in Haidong Gumdo, the Korean sword arts. I started coding in college at Regis University while pursuing a Computer Science degree. From there, I found out about Scratch, and was able to share my love of coding with my students as well!
I own and operate Superior Martial Arts in Conifer, Colorado with my brother. We work with students of all ages and ranks to share the joy of learning Taekwondo together! Taekwondo, and working with my students, are always the highlights of my day. I love seeing a student finally get something they have been struggling on for a while!
My coding company is called MindDance, and we teach coding in Scratch to elementary aged students across the Denver metro area. Scratch is a coding language developed at MIT for young coders. We host Scratch Lab, a fun and creative environment for kids to learn how to code and share their creations with each other!
When I'm not teaching, I enjoy working on my coding projects, reading a good book, and going hiking in our beautiful Colorado weather. I am looking forward to meeting a new group of students this year!
Ms. Amanda
Music Teacher
acrumley@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! My name is Amanda, and I am so excited to be teaching all things music, including Choir, Ukulele, and directing music in our Musical Theater class at HSC! I am originally from New Mexico and received my Bachelors of Music Education (voice) from the University of Northern Colorado. I also hold my Master’s degree in Jazz Voice from Roosevelt University in Chicago. I am a professional singer and perform in choirs, as a singer/songwriter, and in solo classical and contemporary settings. I also play piano, guitar, old-time fiddle and ukulele, of course!
I am a passionate educator, and have taught classroom general music and choir for many years in the Los Angeles area as well as in Denver. I have also taught private voice and piano since 2005. I hold my Orff Level 1 Certification and I love using the Orff philosophy of “Sing, Say, Dance, Play, Create” in every class I teach. Choir has been an integral part of my life from a young age and I enjoy helping my students discover and grow in their own voices while connecting and collaborating with others. Musical expression is deeply personal yet something which connects us all.
Other than hearing live music as much as possible, I am a big baseball (Dodgers) fan. I love being outdoors hiking, biking, and walking, and spending time with my two incredibly wonderful cats.
Ms. Hayley
Drama Teacher
hcotton@wwahomeschool.org
My name is Hayley Cotton (Ms. Hayley) and I am your Theatre Arts teacher at the Home School Connection! I currently hold an MA in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Before moving to Colorado in 2016, I worked as a teaching artist and professional actor in various cities across the country, including Minneapolis, MN, Oakland, CA, and Milwaukee, WI.
My personal teaching philosophy revolves around the idea that theatre education has the power to cultivate life skills which can be used both on and off stage. I believe that my job as a theatre educator is not necessarily to create the most talented theatre artists, but rather to create well-rounded and loving human beings who will ultimately make our world a better place.
Ms. Julia
Science Teacher
jrosenstein@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! I am Julia Rosenstein. I have a Bachelor’s of Science from Colorado Christian University. I have been part of the Woodrow family for 11years, as a spouse. My husband of 27 years, teaches 5th grade at Woodrow Wilson Academy. This is my second year of teaching science here at HSC. Science is a passion of mine, and I love being able to share my passion with the students.
I grew up in California and moved to the deep south in 2003. I lived in a small town, Pass Christian, MS until August 29, 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit my house. We weren’t sure where to go and decided to move our 3 kids, dogs, and cats to Erie CO.
Having grown up a very shy student, I was always too embarrassed to ask questions to teachers. That means I struggled all through school, until I was paying for college, and decided my questions needed to be answered. This made me realize there were many students just like me! It is my philosophy to be approachable.
In science, we explore many different topics such as chemistry, anatomy, physics, inventions, weather, space, and of course dinosaurs. We have as many hands-on activities as possible so that each student has the same opportunity to have a passion for science like I do.
I look forward to having another fantastic year!
Ms. Kate
STEAM/Social Studies Teacher
kgrigsby@wwahomeschool.org
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Hello, students and families! My name is Kate Grigsby (Ms. Kate), and I am thrilled to be joining HSC as the new STEAM (Creative Design and Fun with Numbers) and Social Studies (Spanish) teacher. I have taught in various capacities for the past 20 years, including music, Spanish, theater, and lead first, second, and fourth grade. I have a bachelor’s degree from UNC in vocal music performance, as well as a Master’s in Education from Regis University. In addition to teaching, I love being outdoors and working in my garden, spending time with my daughter Ella and our many pets, and playing and listening to music. I’m looking forward to getting to know you!
Ms. Kim
Social Studies Teacher
kross@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! My name is Kim Ross, the HSC Social Studies teacher. I was born in New York and raised in Omaha, NE, where I earned my BS in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I have been lucky enough to enjoy living the Colorado life for 16 years now. This is my 17th year teaching in elementary education, a career that I am very passionate about.
My family is very active with the outdoors, and we truly love what activities and experiences Colorado has to offer. My 3 boys keep me busy with mountain biking, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, and more!
I have always been a “History Buff’, and love learning about our world around us. I most specifically love learning about the wonders of our amazing state of Colorado. I look forward to teaching students about Colorado and the world around us. I am equally excited about providing learning experiences around citizenship and leadership. I am truly excited to be a part of the Homeschool Connection for Woodrow Wilson Academy.
Ms. Kelly
STEAM/Social Studies Teacher
kmathews@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! I am a Colorado native and received my degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. This year I am teaching Spanish 1 and 2 as well as Newscast.
I first came to HSC as a parent when I was homeschooling my two daughters several years ago. I love the freedom of tailoring lessons to the unique needs of my students and to show them how fun learning can be!
When I’m not teaching I love spending time with my two daughters, two dogs, two cats and two birds as well as cooking, hiking and working in my garden!
Hello! My name is Emily Kotz, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the HSC team! I graduated in 2022 from The University of Houston after majoring in Elementary Education. I moved to Colorado shortly after and became an EA at HSC. I will be teaching part time as a STEAM teacher and I'm beyond excited to see where that takes me! I'm getting married in September 2023 to my Fiancé Hayden. Together, we share the sweetest (sassiest) cat I've ever met, Opal. I enjoy reading, hiking, thrifting, camping and finding new yummy places to try!
My goal everyday at HSC is to show up with the utmost gratitude and patience. I believe that these two things are vital to being a great Educator.
I'm excited for what's to come and feel so lucky to be here at HSC!
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Ms. Natalie
1st - 6th Grade EA nmaggert@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! My name is Natalie Maggert. I am so excited to be joining the HSC staff as an Educational Assistant! I have lived in Erie, Colorado my entire life, and am incredibly blessed to live close to so much of my extended family. I enjoy doing anything and everything outdoors, and love documenting my adventures through photography. I am currently attending Colorado Christian University, and expect to graduate in 2024 with a degree in Biblical Studies. I love spending time in the kitchen baking pies, tarts, breads, and trying all kinds of new recipes. I enjoy attending as many concerts as my budget can afford and equally enjoy curling up on the couch with a good book! While I do not have any children yet, I am the proud mom of 18 houseplants that keep me busy and on my toes! I absolutely love working with students of all ages, and am thrilled to spend the school year with the students, parents, and staff at HSC!
Ms. Rachel
1st - 6th Grade EA rbartels@wwahomeschool.org
