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 Pre-K 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
Health & Safety Manager
aroybal@wwahomeschool.org
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 am currently enrolled at MSU Denver, pursuing a degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Psychology. I enjoy going to the movies, 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 fifth 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, sculpture, and design/illustration. I have exhibited and sold my art professionally, including the illustration of a few children’s books.
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 swim 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 healthy balanced lifestyle is. The main goal of the PE classes is to give students the correct tools to know how to live a high quality lifestyle.
Ms. Tiffani
Home Ec Teacher
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 daughters. We enjoy camping,being in the mountains and attending sporting events.
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
Educational Assistant
jwehling@wwahomeschool.org
My name is Jessica Wehling (Ms. Jessica) and I am an 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. I also love spending time with my many pets at home. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 guinea pigs, and a green cheek conure. 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 Arts, ‘Flying Eagle’ and ‘Dance Out Loud’.
I have been teaching at HSC since the Fall of 2008. As a martial artist, I’ve studied Tae Kwon Do and Wushu. I am a 5th degree black belt. I own and operate Full Circle Martial Arts-Colorado’s Premier Kids School, which holds Zoom and in-person classes at Family In Christ’s activity room several Saturday’s each month. I have a dance and music background so I like creating classes that allow me to teach dance and martial arts.
I homeschooled my daughter and it was the best experience! My daughter attended HSC for many years and she has recently graduated from CSU in Fort Collins.
When I’m not teaching martial arts I play guitar, piano, drums, write songs, dance and take cool photos of people.
I LOVE teaching at HSC because I love spending time with young students and I 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!
Email: dpaige@wwahomeschool.org 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. Shannon
Science Teacher
sgray@wwahomeschool.org
Age: 32
Pets: One small dog, one old box turtle, a few bins of bugs
Married
From: Georgia//Lived in Colorado for over 10 years
Subject: Science
Favorite Food: Fried Okra Favorite Drink: Cinnamon Latte
Favorite Show: Steven Universe Movie: My neighbor Totoro
Favorite Game: Zelda games
Hello HSC Families, I am excited to join the HSC team and be the science teacher this school year!
I have spent the last five years teaching at Butterfly Pavilion and working with conservation efforts in the communities of Westminster. My studies and specifications focus on entomology and nature conservation sciences, but I look forward to teaching a broad range of sciences to my classes this coming year. We will learn about the rock layers and the importance of minerals from the earth. We are also going to have fun experiments to prepare for the science fair in the late fall. If you have any questions you can find me at sgray@wwahomeschool.org. I will occasionally send out google forms to my families for upcoming science experiments that may involve messes or allergens from ingredients.
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 continuing this year as one of the STEAM (Lego Story Creators and #UnBored Games) 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 another awesome year at HSC!
Ms. Kim
Social Studies Teacher
Events/Student Scheduling
kross@wwahomeschool.org
Hello! My name is Kim Ross, an 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 began teaching elementary education in 2004, a career that I am very passionate about.
I have been lucky enough to live the Colorado life since 2005. 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. I am celebrating my 10th year at HSC! I teach the student newscast class as well as other tech and social studies classes.
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! I am a STEAM Teacher and Administrative Secretary for HSC. I graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Since then, I’ve interned, assisted and taught in various educational settings. I am passionate about working with kids of all ages and feel so lucky to be a part of a team that helps children grow to be kind, empathetic and well rounded adults. I love hiking and my favorite places to visit are Flagstaff Mountain, Staunton State Park and Rocky Mountain. I’m an avid reader and am mostly interested in Non-fiction and Biographies. I live in Denver with my (soon to be) Husband and sweet cat Opal. I’m getting married this September at Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder and could not be more excited. 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. Keri
Kindergarten EA
Hello. My name is Ms. Keri (Campbell). I am the Kindergarten EA. For the past 3 years, I have been working at Kids Discovery Day Preschool in the PreK classroom. Prior to that I was a Kindergarten EA at Lincoln Academy for 6 years. I love working with 4 to 6 year olds. The kids energy and curiosity keep me smiling all day. I live in Arvada with my husband, 3 teenagers, 2 dogs, a cat and a turtle. We have a very busy household with lots of sports to keep us moving. We also foster puppies to make our house even fuller! I love the mountains for hiking, boating and skiing. I spend many hours in the garden to keep the weeds away! I am excited for the school year!
Ms. Rachel
Instructional Coach
rbartels@wwahomeschool.org
My name is Rachel Bartels and this is my 2nd year working at HSC but my 8th year being involved with the program. I have 3 kids, Brendan (13), Juliana (11), and Christian (8), who have all been at HSC for as long as they can remember. We love the inclusion, options, staff, and friendships that have been fostered here!
I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in second grade and that is still true today. I received my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from CU Denver after graduating from the University of Northern CO with a degree in Elementary Education. I started my teaching career at a Denver magnet school for refugees and immigrants. While at this school, I earned my National Board certification in Reading and Writing. I also developed the SmartBoard curriculum for 3rd grade math in DPS. I taught for 10 years before moving into the homeschool world. I’ve loved homeschooling my kids for the last 10 years!
I am a native to Colorado and have spent most of my life in Arvada, where I still live with my husband, Barrett, our kids, dog (Teddy), cat (Pazza) and a few fish. I adore Colorado and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else! I currently homeschool my 2 youngest kids and my oldest is starting at WWA after aging out of HSC, so you’ll see me at HSC on Tuesdays and I’ll be behind the scenes the other days. In my spare time I love to travel, read, garden, bake, camp, and spend time with my family outdoors. We can most often be found at a soccer field where I have coached for many years.
I look forward to seeing you at HSC, where your student is loved and safe!
