As Front Range Christian School grows, we are excited to introduce you to new hires, some familiar faces moving into new positions, and some restructuring to meet the needs of our students, with specific emphasis on strengthening our junior high program. Watch the video to hear the reasoning behind some of the changes, and read below to meet those helping us with this restructuring. We hope you share our excitement for the future of FRCS!
In their own words…
These names/statements are listed alphabetically by title
Director of Discipleship: Brian Gehr
My name is Brian Gehr, and I am grateful to be stepping into the Director of Discipleship role at FRCS this coming academic year. I had the privilege of attending a Christian elementary school and a Christian high school in my hometown of Albany, NY. Some of my closest friendships were forged in those contexts, and I can point to the effect these institutions had on both my faith and my education. I am eager to contribute toward the work God is accomplishing at Front Range Christian, specifically in helping students grow in their relationship with God – learning to know him more and becoming more like him as his disciples.
Before moving to Colorado, I served as the Director of Discipleship at a non-denominational church in NY. I hold two Bachelors’ degrees from Gordon College, as well as an MDiv and a ThM in New Testament from Denver Seminary. My wife is also a graduate of the Seminary, and we are expecting our first child this summer (it’s a boy!). We are looking forward to joining the FRCS community!
Director of Student Experiences: Jeremy Wall
I am so excited to be stepping into my new role as Director of Student Experiences at FRCS. I have been blessed to be a part of this family and community for over a decade. FRCS is truly a special place for students to be known, where they can cultivate their love for others and impact the world for Christ. My hope is to continue to create and lead engaging student experiences and activities outside of the classroom that support, steward, and enhance the student culture at FRCS. Experiential learning opportunities such as Practicum, GO!, J-term, and retreats are unique to FRCS and give the students the opportunity to put into action the virtues that are instilled into them in the classroom as a Christian Scholar. I am also looking forward to being more involved with the leadership of the junior high community to encourage students in their character, social, and emotional maturation. My passion is to expand students’ growth and development using adventure, wonder, and the outdoors through my background in Adventure-Based Psychotherapy. I can’t wait to see all that God continues to unfold at FRCS.
Director of Student Guidance: Sierra Downs
Though stepping out of the classroom is certainly bittersweet, I am so very excited to transition into serving the Front Range Christian community as our Director of Student Guidance next year. I have always been a futurist who loves possibilities and goal-setting, so being able to come alongside our students in their individual journeys toward graduation feels like the perfect fit. I look forward to connecting with FRCS families and getting to know students even better in the coming year as we partner in preparing our graduates for their next steps!
Sierra is filling the Guidance role as Jeremy Wall moves into his new role as Director of Student Experiences.
Elementary Art Teacher: Elana Dowty
Hello Front Range Christian School! My name is Elana Dowty. I’m the new elementary art teacher. I’m very excited to be joining the team at FRCS to help raise the next generation of Godly leaders and teach them to be more creative.
I grew up in Northeast Wisconsin. In 2011, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with my Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education. I have six years of experience teaching Preschool – 8th grade Art.
In 2017, I took a giant leap of faith and moved from Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Estes Park, Colorado, to go to Bible school. After I completed the one-year program at Ravencrest Chalet, I moved to Denver and married a wonderful man named Trevor. Trevor and I will be celebrating our third wedding anniversary this summer. I’m currently back in college as a student studying Interior Design through Arapahoe Community College (ACC). I love being creative in many different ways and growing in my art and design skills. My favorite type of art is painting. I have painted murals.
I feel so blessed to be teaching K-6th grade art at FRCS this next 2022-2023 school year. Since it’s a part-time job, I will continue to study Interior Design at ACC part-time.
I look forward to meeting everyone that is part of the great community at FRCS.
The Elementary Art Teacher is a new position, and Melissa Leapley will move into teaching at the Jr/Sr High exclusively.
Elementary Learning Specialist: Tricia Ratts
My name is Tricia Ratts and I am excited and honored to be joining the learning specialist team at FRCS. It has been a joy getting to know the staff, students and families in this welcoming community, what a special place to be a part of! Thank you for the opportunity to partner together to help the students here. I consider teaching to be an immense honor and privilege, not only because I get to help children learn and grow in all areas, but teaching in a Christian school allows me the chance to impart that knowledge and all of those learning experiences through the lens of God. It’s a blessing to guide and train up the next generation to be all that God has planned for them to be in this world.
I have been in education for 13 plus years wearing many different hats, PK-8th, including: substitute teacher, K-8 Art, 3rd Grade, 6th Grade and as an elementary interventionist for several years. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas. Early in my career, I earned a Masters of Education: Curriculum and Instruction with Creative Arts in Learning degree from Lesley University. Most recently, I completed my Masters of Education: Reading Specialist Endorsement from Regis University.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family outdoors jeeping, geocaching, fishing and exploring. We also enjoy watching sporting events and local theater productions, with the hope of one day being in a production together! Reading, worship songs, boba tea, meeting new people (everyone has a story) and gardening also fill my cup. Best of all, both of our children will be attending FRCS in the fall at the jr/sr high and I am thankful to have them so close. I look forward to meeting you!
“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way.” – George Evans
Tricia is replacing Cathy Van Donselaar who retired this year. She begins full time in the fall.
Facilities Team: Darin Sundeen
Facilities Team: Darin SundeenI have been part of the Front Range Christian community for 10 years. I have had the privilege of coaching Football all of those 10 years and a couple of those years coaching basketball. Four of those years my daughter, Sienna, attended school; she graduated in 2021. I was blessed to become full time staff on the facility support team in March of 2022. What I love, and have always loved, about FRCS is the genuine love and passion of Christ shown to and through the students, parents, and staff! The excellent education and teaching of the Gospel is amazing, as I am seeing that first hand as my daughter just finished her first year of college.
Darin replaced Christian Fachathaler who left FRCS in pursuit of other opportunities in March.
First grade Teacher: Abbey Ramirez
My name is Abbey Ramirez though you might hear my students refer to me as Mrs. Abbey. I will be beginning my first year as a full-time classroom teacher next fall at FRCS, although I have been gathering experience in substituting for the 2021-22 school year. I am so incredibly excited to be joining the FRCS community!
I earned my Bachelors in sociology with a minor in biblical studies at Biola University and shortly after dove into earning my Masters in Elementary Education through Grand Canyon University. My favorite subject to teach is science because I love exploring and encouraging my students to investigate.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the mountains, and watching Marvel Movies with my husband, Wilmer. I love the outdoors, that is where I feel the greatest connection to God, in the midst of His creation.
Genesis Center Coordinator: Braden Wehr
Hello! My name is Braden Wehr, and I currently teach 8th grade science at a middle school in Colorado Springs. I am moving to Littleton because I am getting married in July. I am super excited to move in order to start a life with my soon-to-be wife. I am also extremely excited about becoming the Coordinator of the Genesis center. This space lives and breathes my passions in education. I want students to have hands-on, project-based learning that will help them to build skills that will serve them in the future! Another fun fact about me is that I actually graduated from FRCS in 2018. As a former student, I know how much the staff care about the students that enter this building, and I could not be more excited to join the faculty and continue building that type of culture.
This is a new, full time position that will allow us to expand elective offerings and have a presence in the Genesis Center throughout the day.
Junior High Discipleship: Nicole Funk
These past two years of teaching at FRCS have taught me so much about what I love. My time here has reaffirmed how much I love education, spiritual formation, Biblical Studies, and most of all, discipleship. I have also (somewhat unexpectedly) learned that I deeply care about junior high schoolers. Since I was hired at FRCS, it has been my hope to be more involved in the Discipleship Program. I am incredibly honored that I have been asked to step into a new role as the Junior High Discipleship Lead. I am so excited to craft a more intentional and robust culture of discipleship at the Junior High level and to walk alongside Junior High students, High School dGroup leaders, and staff members as we all pursue what it truly means to follow Jesus.
This is a new, part-time position. Nicole will continue to teach Junior High Bible (7th Grade).
Junior High Learning Specialist: Kaley Sferra
My name is Kaley Sferra, I’m a firefighter wife, mom of 2 littles, and have a love for helping people. I have been a speech therapist for the last couple of years and have enjoyed helping those who struggle. I love building connections and relationships with people in general, but especially with youth. I enjoy going on walks and hikes with the family, camping, and game nights (especially if the menu includes tacos)!
I’m so blessed with the opportunity to be the Junior High Learning Specialist. I’m excited to walk along side those who are needing a little bit of help, to make them feel proud and confident about themselves, and being apart of the team to help these kids grow into amazing human beings.
Kaley is replacing Leah Pirozzi who is moving into the Junior High Math Teacher position.
Junior High Math Teacher: Leah Pirozzi
My last four years as the Junior High Learning Specialist have been such a blessing to me. I work with an amazing team and support the most wonderful students. However, as a former teacher, I miss having a classroom of my own. Therefore, I am excited to announce that I will be joining the FRCS Math Department in the fall. My heart is in Junior High, and I cannot wait to share my love of math with the upcoming seventh and eighth graders.
Leah is moving back into the classroom to fill the vacant Junior High Math Teacher position.
Kindergarten Teacher: Kristin Trimble
Teaching kindergarten brings me great joy! I love being able to help build strong educational foundations for young learners. I’m most looking forward to being in a place where we can explore the stories of the Bible together and learn more about what it means to follow Jesus!
Kristin is moving to full-time and will replace Malia Higdon who is leaving FRCS at the end of this school year.
Part-time Bible Teacher: Caleb Sanburn
Hey everybody! My name is Caleb Sanburn, and I couldn’t be more excited to be teaching Junior High Bible at Front Range Christian School this Fall! A little bit about me: I was born and raised in central Indiana (which means I am a HUGE Indianapolis Colts fan) and made my way out to Colorado back in 2017 to attend Colorado Christian University. While at CCU, I fell completely in love with the study of Scripture. Few things in the world bring me joy like sharing, discussing, and learning about God’s Word with others. For the last couple of years, I have been working with middle school students through the youth ministry at Authentic Life Church. I love to learn with and share the awesome truths of Scripture with the 8th grade class this coming year.
I’m praying that next year we will all know God and His Word in greater intimacy. I cannot wait to meet you all this coming Fall!
Caleb is freeing up time for Nicole Funk to step into the Junior High Discipleship Lead position.
Secondary School Art Teacher: Melissa Leapley
I am so excited to have the opportunity to move my focus fully onto the Jr/Sr high Art program. With the ability to direct my time and energy on these students I will be able to guide my students to higher capabilities in their creative and artistic talents. Our fine arts department is growing rapidly and it was time to establish more directed learning opportunities for both sides of the school, this will be achieved with multiple art educators. I am excited to collaborate with our new Elementary Art teacher, here to cultivate our school with curious, creative and talented makers, just as our Creator made us to be.
Senior High Learning Specialist: Heather Jones
My name is Heather Jones. My husband and I moved to Colorado about 7 years ago. Since then, we adopted our four beautiful children from foster care. From the first day we stepped on the campus of Front Range Christian, we knew it was something special!
I am so excited to step into the Senior High Learning Specialist position. Mrs. Wiersma has created an incredibly effective program and I look forward to building upon her faithful ministry. One of my greatest passions is student success and self-efficacy. I desire to see each and every student learn to overcome obstacles thus growing in perseverance that will serve them the rest of their lives. I desire to model endurance and faithfulness one math problem or vocabulary quiz at a time.
I am also excited to work with the parents of the students I will serve. As a mom of children with a variety of special needs, I understand what it’s like to be on the other side of difficult meetings. I desire to approach each meeting with hope and excitement for each child’s unique gifting from God.
Heather is replacing Lia Wiersma who retires at the end of this school year.
