MACKulty

I have been so impressed with the kindness and enthusiasm of the teachers and staff at Mackintosh. Just being on the campus makes me smile. I feel that my child will be in the best hands, in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Mack Parent

Stephanie Deitz

Head of School
Stephanie Deitz

Stephanie Deitz brings over 27 years of experience in education, blending a dynamic leadership style with a deep commitment to creating joyful learning environments. Her career has been as diverse as it is impactful, spanning roles from Assistant Head of Academic Programs to Division Head, curriculum developer, and even co-founder of a successful green business. She’s also co-authored a book that’s all about making reading irresistible for kids—just ask her the secret!

Stephanie’s philosophy centers on building a tight-knit school community where everyone—students, teachers, staff, and families—feels right at home. She’s all about nurturing each child’s unique talents and fostering a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.

Outside of school, you’ll find Stephanie hitting the trails with her dog Daisy, finding her zen in yoga class, or getting lost in a good read. She is delighted to contribute her expertise and enthusiasm to the vibrant Mack Boulder school community, where she continues to inspire and lead with unwavering dedication.

Alice Murphy

Director of Lower School
Alice Murphy

Alice grew up in Centennial, Colorado, then moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University in 2005. She began volunteering in schools after Hurricane Katrina and immediately knew she had found her calling. She graduated from Tulane with a B.S. in Environmental Biology and Environmental Policy and a B.A. in German, then went on to earn an M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans. Before joining the Mack community in 2019, Alice worked in education for 10 years in New Orleans, teaching 3rd-6th grade. Alice’s goal as an educator is to foster the development of skills that will empower students to successfully pursue their individual passions and engage in shaping a better world. Outside of school, Alice loves to walk her dog, Ditto, play board games, and do CrossFit!

Libbi Peterson

Director of Middle School
Libbi Peterson

Libbi Peterson came to Mack in January of 2021 as the 5th – 8th learning support specialist before she transitioned into the role of Middle School Director. Prior to Mack, she served as the Middle School Assistant Principal at Peak to Peak Charter School for nearly six years where she led efforts in restorative justice and social emotional learning. Libbi also taught middle and high school language arts and literacy intervention in Denver, Loveland, and Broomfield and has worked in the roles of teacher-leader, classroom management coach, and adjunct professor. As a youth instructor for the Boulder Writing Studio, she designed curriculum, led summer programs, and mentored students. Libbi double-majored in German and Communication at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and earned her M.A. in Education from the University of Colorado-Denver with a certificate in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. In 2019, she earned her principal licensure from Colorado State University – Global. Her teaching career began in Houston where she was a corps member with Teach for America. Also a writer, Libbi was published in The Denver Post as a member of the Colorado Voices Panel, in issues of the literary magazine, Motherscope, and is a 2022 cast member for the show, Listen to Your Mother.

Originally from Nebraska, she loves corn on the cob and fireflies. Outside of school, Libbi enjoys spending time with her husband, Ben and two daughters, Linnea and Willa. Together they love to ride bikes, hike, read, and garden.



Elizabeth Rippey

Director of The Orchard Center and Learning Support
Elizabeth Rippey

Liz joined the Mackintosh faculty in 2014 as a Fourth Grade teacher. After a few years in the classroom, Liz moved into our Literacy Specialist role, coaching teachers and supporting students. Before moving to Colorado, she spent eight years inspiring young minds in North Carolina and Georgia.  She received her BA from Loyola University in Baltimore, MD and her MAT from Queens University in Charlotte, NC. With a passion for literacy, Liz furthered her training in Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop at Teachers College of Columbia University in NYC and with Orton Gillingham training in Charlotte, NC. Her love of teaching continues to go beyond the classroom as she has presented at several conferences including The International Reading Association, Palmetto Reading Council, and GISA. She is also a founding faculty member of the Trinity Teaching and Learning Center. When she’s not at school, she can be found spending time with her three daughters and her husband, Kyle.

Jenny Strode

Director of Enrollment Management
Jenny Strode

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Jenny had a successful first career in sales where she rose to the level of corporate management. Her subsequent work with the park district, helping to build after school and summer camp programming, sealed her love of working with children. She was the Administrative Assistant and Dorm Parent at Oregon Episcopal School for over ten years. Jenny moved to Boulder in January 2015 to join the Mack team and assumed the position of Director of Enrollment Management a year later. She loves meeting so many amazing families and bringing them into the community.

Outside of work Jenny is an avid photographer and gardener and loves to experience the beauty of Colorado off-roading in her Jeep with her partner.

Margot Angstrom

Director of Community Engagement
Margot Angstrom

Planted in the Rocky Mountains, Virginia native Margot, MEd, has educated children and adults for over two decades, using an interdisciplinary and inquiry-based approach. Margot thrives in collaborative, creative, start-up spaces. In Jackson, WY, Margot was Head of Middle School as well as an inceptive faculty of the Journeys School (now Mountain Academy), guiding and building the school through its first 10 years.

In 2015 Margot helped Teton Science Schools start the Place Network, a network of rural schools committed to increasing student engagement, academic outcomes, and community impact. She developed innovative, place-based curricula that promote core academic content, design thinking skills and community engagement. As a coach, she provided teachers with the tools and training to leverage the power of place to drive student growth and learning.

Featured in a number of local magazines and blogs, Margot decided to cast her net further and in 2020 published Let the Kid Guide: Putting Nature Back into Our Lives, her first book. In this creative guide for kids, both young and young at heart, she shares her mud and boots approach for connecting with people and place.

Jesse Aerni

Director of Operations

Jesse brings a wealth of experience in operations, serving most recently as Assistant Director of Operations for University Advancement at Metropolitan State University. The hiring committee felt that Jesse’s breadth of experience working in nonprofits and educational institutions – from data services to donor relations to event coordination – as well as his degree in accounting made him the perfect person to assume this new role at Mack.

Jess Dauchy

Contract CFO
Jess Dauchy

Jess Dauchy (she/her/hers) is thrilled to have joined the Mack Boulder community. A cheerful math nerd, Jess holds a BS from Haverford College, She started her professional career as a high school math teacher; teaching in public, independent, and charter schools in the Washington DC area as well as in the Front Range. Struck by the increase in charter schools and seeing a need for school expertise in financial and operational planning, Jess left teaching and earned an MBA from the University of Colorado.  She then spent 6 years at the Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS), where she designed systems and structures that allowed the school to grow from a start-up middle school into a fiscally-sound CMO, with a sister school in Los Angeles.  Most recently, she has served as the Director of Operations for Access Fund, a national nonprofit organization based in Boulder, CO that protects and conserves nationwide climbing areas. Although she has loved working for an organization focused on conservation, Jess remains passionate about education and is excited to return to a role where she can work closely with a vibrant school community. When not at work, Jess loves to hike, climb, and ski in the mountains with her husband Nate and her two Labradoodles, Ada and Copper.

Sarisa Rawley

Office Manager and Director of Enrichment and Summer Camps
Sarisa Rawley

Sarisa joined Mackintosh Academy Boulder in 2019. Prior to working at Mack, Sarisa managed a rental property, had her own meal prep business, and worked in sales. She has also been working with children most of her life. She started out as a mother’s helper at a young age, babysat all through school, and was a nanny for six years. Sarisa has an unusual ability to connect to kids of all ages. Her playful nature and knack for meeting children at their level is why kids and parents are drawn to her. Sarisa is thrilled to be working at Mackintosh Academy because she knows that an experiential environment helps children learn and grow best. Sarisa believes in integrating health and fitness into every aspect of her life, and that an active body is essential for a healthy mind and spirit. Sarisa is grateful to have grown up near Boulder and to have experienced other cultures by traveling. Some of her favorite places she has traveled to are Panama, Brazil, Israel, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In her free time Sarisa enjoys cooking, weight lifting, snowboarding, yoga, and exploring new places.

Jen Deiley

Marketing & Social Media Manager

I grew up with a love for art, travel and the outdoors, spending my childhood skiing, biking, climbing, hiking, camping, and enjoying time at the beach. After studying graphic design in New Hampshire, I moved to Boulder in 1995 and worked at Mike’s Camera, managing the B&W darkroom and later the digital imaging department. I then joined a small design agency on Pearl St. before leaving to start a family. During my daughter’s years at Mack, I was deeply involved in the school community as a volunteer, classroom representative, MPC member, and helping with various marketing projects.

Today, I am proud to be a part-time staff member at Mack, contributing as a photographer, Social Media and Marketing Coordinator, and more. When not capturing the Mack Magic, I working with freelance clients, and love spending time with my husband, daughter, and two cats, or engaging in activities like photographing, paddleboarding, kickboxing, and planning our next family adventures.

Jaime Philp

Facilities Manager
Jaime Philp

Jaime came to the United States from Santiago, Chile as a baby and grew up in New York. Younger years were spent in Queens until his family moved to Eastern Long Island for 20 more years. He moved with his family to Colorado in 1991 where he jumped into the residential construction business. He operated his own business for 25 years until the floods of 2013 brought him to Mackintosh Academy to rebuild the lower part of the building. Now, we can’t get rid of him. He’s applied his love of children and his love of working with his hands to the Mack family. On any day we can find him unplugging toilets or building decks, teaching kids about reptiles or filling in on carline, working with outside contractors or vacuuming floors. All he does, he does for the sake of the kids  –  to provide a cool environment for them to learn.

Kelsey Mills

Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Kelsey Mills

Kelsey first fell in love with Mackintosh while working as an after-care assistant during college. After she graduated she joined the Mack faculty as an assistant teacher in 4th grade. Kelsey has found her home in the wonder and magic of the kindergarten classroom. When not teaching, Kelsey can be found snuggling up with a good book, taking a dance class, or nurturing her adventurous spirit with travels (just visited her 30th country!). Kelsey grew up in Kansas City and graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with degrees in psychology and business in 2020.

Ivy Kapaun

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Ivy Kapaun

Ivy has been caring for children for over twenty years as a childcare provider, literacy interventionist, and classroom teacher. While teaching kindergarten, she was given the opportunity to develop a cross-curricular program, allowing her to work closely with classroom teachers to incorporate visual arts, physical education, music, and performing arts into the classroom experience. This program gave her the perspective that children need the opportunity to grow, learn, explore, and discover their own passions. This is the vision Ivy sees at Mackintosh Academy and is excited to be part of.

Ivy is a Colorado native who enjoys singing, dancing, crafts, reading, exercising and all things nature. She loves exploring, watching her boys play sports, and enjoying downtime with my husband, boys, and kitty.

Amy Barnett

1st Grade Teacher
Amy Barnett

Amy taught in Florida and Boston before moving to Colorado where she taught kindergarten for seven years. The majority of her teaching was in Denver Public Schools at Carson Elementary, a school that serves gifted students. She earned an English degree from Michigan State University and completed a graduate teacher certification program at Grand Valley State University. While staying home with her sons the past eight years, Amy has pursued her passion for teaching as a reading tutor. The enthusiasm, fun, and compassion that kindergartners bring to the classroom every day make kindergarten her “happy place.” Reading inspired children’s stories with her boys, decorating cookies, and traveling to her native state of Michigan are some of her most enjoyable experiences outside of the classroom.

Brooke Bell

1st Grade Assistant Teacher
Brooke Bell

Brooke is excited to join the Mackintosh community this fall. She is a Colorado native who returned to her home state to raise her family after graduating with a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Elon University, NC and living in Portland, OR. She received her MA in Educational Psychology from CU Denver and is a graduate of the Stanley British Primary teacher preparation program. She has 12 years of experience in progressive education classrooms ranging from preschool to fourth grade, the majority of it spent at Horizons K-8 charter school in Boulder. She is passionate about mindful practices, green smoothies and Colorado skies. She is known to get obsessive about what to pack for her next travel adventure. Spending time with her husband and two teenage children is a joy, and she always feels a great sense of accomplishment when they are all home for family dinner.

Shadden Khan

2nd Grade Teacher
Shadden Khan

Shadden was raised in Potomac, Maryland, of North African and Anglo-Southeast Asian descent. Fluent in French, she attended French immersion schools before graduating from the Ohio State University with a degree in World Economy and Business and Economics. 

After working in marketing for a time, she decided to pursue her passion for teaching. While studying education at Capital University, she worked as a job coach for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Shadden moved to Colorado in 2016. She taught at an International Baccalaureate (IB) accredited school where she found a love for inquiry based learning. In addition to IB, Shadden has spent much of her teaching experience learning and educating based on the science of reading. Additionally, she has worked in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with a focus on social justice and awareness.

When she’s not teaching, Shadden enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time with her husband, Mark and daughter, Alia.

Jen Antognoli

2nd Grade Assistant Teacher
Jen Antognoli

Jen Antognoli grew up in Colorado Springs at the base of Pikes Peak. She has enjoyed teaching and learning alongside children for as long as she can remember.  Jen earned her Masters degree in Education Psychology from CU-Denver. She began her teaching journey at Stanley British Primary School in Denver as well as Paddington Station Preschool. Jen enjoys studying human brain development and resonates with the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. She loves to highlight the strengths of each of her students!

Jen loves being in nature and has summited 11 of Colorado’s 14ers (mountains above 14,000 ft. in elevation). Her favorite outdoor experience so far was a three day trek  along the Sacred Inca Trail in Peru to Machu Picchu!  Jen is also a Certified Master Parent Coach and is the founder and owner of Summit Parent Coaching, LLC. In her free time she enjoys supporting families who are seeking more harmony and cooperation within their homes.

Jen and her wife, Liz, are proud parents to Luca who is a spunky kiddo thrilled to attend Mackintosh. Their family loves to explore national parks as well as learn about other countries and cultures.

Natasha Gutshtein

3rd Grade Teacher
Natasha Gutshtein

Natasha received her BA in Psychology from Dartmouth College and her Master’s Degree in Education from Fordham University.  She began teaching in New York City in 2007 and taught in NYC public schools over the next decade – second grade for two years and fourth grade for seven years.  She also taught a mixed-grade class in a small Waldorf-inspired private school in Costa Rica for one year.  In 2017 she relocated to Boulder, drawn to the possibility of adventures in the mountains and connection with fellow nature-lovers.  In Boulder, she returned to her first career in journalism and for the next five years produced educational/documentary content at a local production company but dreamt about teaching at least a few nights a week.  

Coming to the realization that teaching was her true calling, Natasha decided to return to the classroom and began to explore the educational landscape in Boulder.  She heard about the amazing community at Mackintosh Academy and felt an immediate resonance.  Natasha sees her principal role in the classroom as being a nurturer of her students, not only cognitively, but also emotionally and socially.  She believes in fostering an environment where students can experience the joys of learning through inquiry and active discovery and be guided to live thoughtfully and compassionately.  To this end, she involves her students as co-creators of a tight-knit community where their voices are honored, while maintaining a loving and restorative approach to classroom management.

She has been dedicated to facilitating social-emotional learning since the start of her career as it has always been so clear to her that this is the foundation for all growth.  She is particularly drawn to working with gifted students and believes that her highly personalized, child-centered approach to teaching is particularly well-suited to creative learners. 

When not teaching, Natasha loves to hike, sit by creeks, go to concerts, dance, and do yoga.  She’s hoping to pick back up her studies of the guitar so she can play for her students at Mack this year.  Natasha was thrilled to accept the invitation to join Mack and is very excited to become a part of the Mack family!

Sarah Pratt

3rd Grade Assistant Teacher
Sarah Pratt

Sarah first connected with Mackintosh Academy by applying to be a substitute teacher in the fall of 2023. She has a unique background in education, having taught backpacking and leadership courses in the wild places, like the Wind River Range in Wyoming. Through her experiences as a substitute teacher, Sarah discovered a passion for teaching and connecting with children. She is excited to join the dedicated team at Mackintosh Academy. When not in the classroom, Sarah can be found rock climbing, running, hiking, backpacking, skiing, traveling, or spending time with her dog and cat.

Nicole Coenen

4th Grade Lead Teacher
Nicole Coenen

Nicole was born and raised in Wisconsin and has been enjoying life in Colorado for three years now. She loves visits back home spending time on the lake with her close family and friends. Nicole settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Marquette University. After graduating from the school of Health Science in 2018, Nicole started her own business where she delivered caretaking with a play-based therapy approach to children with social, sensory and behavioral needs. Nicole has a strong passion for meeting each child where they are at and working as a team to meet their goals. She moved to Colorado in search of adventure, skiing and most importantly, furthering her education through the CU Denver masters program. As a recent graduate from the Friends School Teacher Preparation Program, Nicole is thrilled to be starting her next chapter at Mackintosh. Although Nicole will now be a teacher, she likes to consider herself a “forever student,” meaning there is always more to learn!

Anna von Pechmann

4th Grade Assistant Teacher
Anna von Pechmann

Anna was born in New York City and raised in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2018, Anna moved to Fort Collins to pursue a degree in Journalism and Media Communications with a minor in Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University. She competed on the CSU Climbing Team and her love for the mountains was ignited. As a recent graduate of the Friends School Teacher Preparation Program, Anna is excited to begin the next step of her journey as a 4th grade assistant teacher at Mackintosh.

Jim Parker

5th Grade Lead Teacher
Jim Parker

Jim joined Mackintosh Boulder in 2012, its second year. He comes with a deep background in experiential and constructivist education having taught for over five years at The Odyssey School in Denver, CO as a classroom teacher and the Adventure Coordinator providing place-based learning for K-8th graders. Jim graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Environmental Geology in 1998 and is a graduate of The Stanley British teacher preparation program. Jim’s passion in education is creating memorable experiences in which his students can construct their own understanding of the world and their place in it. When not in the classroom, you can most often find Jim out in the mountains and deserts of Colorado and Utah. His love of climbing, backpacking and travelling takes him and his family into the outdoors to explore, learn and adventure.

Lia Mazzei

5th Grade Assistant Teacher
Lia Mazzei

Lia grew up in Boulder and has lived in several cities in the US and beyond including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Florence. Most recently, Lia was in Lugano, completing an internship at The American School in Switzerland. Lia graduated from University of Colorado with a degree in Elementary Education. In her free time, she enjoys paddle boarding, sewing, traveling and trying to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle archive. Lia is excited to bring her experiences and passion for education to the Mackintosh community!

Jesse Carlucci

6th Homeroom, Middle School L&L Teacher
Jesse Carlucci

Jesse Carlucci is a long-time educator with a love for ideas, community, and adventure. During his undergraduate work in History at University of California, Irvine, Jesse worked as a tutor in a local community college writing center. This sparked a passion for education that still burns today. During his time in grad school where Jesse studied Philosophy and Theology, Jesse continued to tutor and teach technology. After his return trip to UCI for a teaching credential, Jesse taught AP US History, AP Language and AP Human Geography as well as British and American Literature. During his time as a High School educator, Jesse also served as a Dean of Students, working with families and other administrators to ensure that students’ educational life was fruitful and healthy, not just “successful”. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Jesse stepped down from his career as a high school teacher to home school his son Elijah in second and third grades. Jesse loves to read, camp, walk in the woods, ride gravel trails, and spend time with his family doing any of these things…or simply playing video or board games together.

Sarah Rudeen

6th Homeroom, Middle School Math and I&S Teacher
Sarah Rudeen

Sarah joined Mackintosh Academy – Boulder in 2017 as a Teacher Candidate through the Friends School Teacher Preparation Program and graduated with her Elementary Education teaching license. Prior to working in Boulder, she taught in various capacities in science and environmental education in the Denver Metro Area. After earning her BS in Environmental Studies at Southern Oregon University, Sarah spent nearly a year working and traveling in Central and South America. She also spent several years working on small farms and at farmers markets in Oregon. Sarah is thrilled to be starting Mack Boulder’s new farm program as the inaugural Mack Farmer! Outside of teaching and farming, Sarah enjoys dancing, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her loved ones.

Anna Blinstein

7th Homeroom, Middle School Math Teacher
Anna Blinstein

Anna comes to Mack Boulder after 17 years of teaching middle and upper school math to students in independent schools in the Bay area and Chicago, developing a pedagogy steeped in fostering student exploration, aha moments, and creative problem solving. Anna graduated with a Masters in Math Education from Stanford University and a Bachelors in Mathematics and Molecular Biology from Northwestern University, where she realized she had a passion and love for math teaching. When she’s not working with students in the classroom, Anna is busy running, climbing, doing yoga, reading, or cooking new recipes with her family. She’s excited for the next chapter of her teaching journey at Mack!

Dr. Stan Polley

7th Homeroom, 5-8th Science Specialist
Dr. Stan Polley

From an early age Stan has followed an insatiable interest in the beauty and complexity of the world. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Drew University. After working as a polymer chemist for two years, he went on to the University of Wyoming, earning his PhD in Molecular Biology. His doctorate focused on cancer biology, specifically the role of the infamous tumor suppressor gene retinoblastoma/pRb in cell cycle regulation. During the third year of his graduate research, life threatening blood clots formed in his leg and abdomen. This experience inspired Stan to prioritize joy and service, which for him meant teaching. He graduated and took a position at Loveland Classical Schools where he taught elementary and middle school science for four years. Stan’s high classroom engagement, innovative curriculum, and high academic standards have earned him both local and national recognition. He has now been a part of the Mack family for two years and he enjoys challenging Mack’s young scientists to push their academic limits through curriculum focused on experiential learning and hands-on experimentation. In his spare time, Dr. Polley and his wife Dana enjoy traveling the world, running, hiking, cooking, geocaching, writing music, and volunteering.

Brenda Parker

8th Homeroom, Middle School I&S Teacher, and Student Experiences Coordinator
Brenda Parker

Brenda joined the Mackintosh Community in 2016. She has been working with middle school students in the Boston and Denver area for twelve years teaching all subject areas. She moved into leadership positions in the last two schools she has worked and is now a Middle School Co-Director at Mackintosh. Brenda graduated from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH with a degree in Natural Science. She completed her teaching program at the University of Denver in 2008.

Brenda started her teaching career at an outdoor education center in Peterborough, NH. She delighted in teaching middle school students environmental education and guiding students through adventure elements and ropes courses. Wanting to have a larger impact on children at this age, she took her craft in to the classroom.

Brenda lives in Lafayette with her husband, Jim, and their two daughters. The whole family are avid rock climbers and spend weekends working on or living in a Sprinter van which they converted themselves. Recently they acquired a raft and are now spending time taming the rivers of Colorado.  Summers you can find them on the road somewhere in America – looking for adventure in the rivers, mountains and canyons.

Mary Anne Miner

8th Homeroom, Visual Arts Specialist
Mary Anne Miner

Since early childhood Mary Anne felt a strong connection for creating art. She persistently sensed a calling towards the teaching profession. Mary Anne grew up in a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. She attended Marquette University. Then traveled Europe extensively as an exchange student and earned her B.A. in Advertising and Marketing. She continued her passion for art and photography at the Maine Photographic Workshops and received a M.F.A. at Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia. In 1996 Mary Anne moved to Boulder, CO but her Colorado adventures were cut short due to a teaching opportunity in Bridgeport, Connecticut where she taught high school Art, Photography and Ceramic classes for 5 years. Mary Anne’s heart longed to go back west, and in 2002 she accepted a teaching position in Shonto, Arizona located in the heart of the Navajo Reservation as the Talented & Gifted coordinator and lead instructor. It was here that she met her husband and had two daughters. She received her full endorsement in Gifted Education and spent 9 wonderful years in Shonto teaching K-8 GT and Art classes but she and her husband felt a strong desire to raise their young family while living the Colorado dream.  In 2011 Mackintosh Academy announced a school in Boulder, Colorado and Mary Anne immediately recognized the lifelong opportunity to teach at such an exceptional school, with outstanding children and in a stunning location. These extraordinary aspects magnetically drew her here and she couldn’t be happier!

Ari Melinger-Cohen

Middle School Math Teacher
Ari Melinger-Cohen

Ari joined Mackintosh Academy – Boulder in 2023 after 10 years as a private educator in math and science. He holds an M.S. in Geophysics from UC-Berkeley. He has pursued diverse endeavors in his career, including researching the physics of Earth’s interior, touring internationally with a folk band, starting a recording studio. However, teaching has always been at the core of his interests, as a way to give back to the community. When he is not teaching or busy making music, he can be found running on trails and following animal tracks.

Anabelle Peña

School Counselor
Anabelle Peña

Anabelle grew up in San Antonio, Texas before moving to Colorado to pursue her master’s degree in Social Work. At the University of Denver, she concentrated in Children and Youth, with a certificate in Animal-Assisted Social Work. Throughout her education, Anabelle has been passionate about creative and experiential therapies that help utilize people’s interests in their social-emotional learning. She has worked in a variety of settings working with children and their families, and is excited to continue doing so on the Mack team as the new School Counselor. After hours you can find Anabelle reading, baking, or playing with her pet dog and bunnies!

Ang Barrington

Performing Arts Specialist
Ang Barrington

Angelyn “Ang” Barrington (she/her) is beyond excited to begin her journey with Mack as the K-8 Performing Arts teacher! After receiving her vocal performance degree from Belmont University in Nashville, Ang spent a year traveling the U.S. performing in schools for children. She then moved to Florida, leading music and drama in various faith communities, where she met her now husband, Bo. Ang missed her life in the theatre and began teaching at Riverside Children’s Theatre in Vero Beach for kids from aged 2 through high school. With the welcoming of their first child, Olivia, Ang chose to be a full time Mom and worked alongside Bo in a college setting in Charleston, SC. There, Ang was asked to be the vocal director at the Charleston Youth Company. However, after a year in Charleston, life called the Barrington’s to Wales, UK. While there, two more Barrington’s were added to the crew, Noah and covid baby Luke. When the community they were leading in Wales decided to not embrace full inclusion, Bo and Ang made the tough decision to move back to the states, and wanted to be in an area where inclusion and diversity were welcomed. When the opportunity at Mack was offered, Ang and her family felt they had hit the jackpot! They are all beyond excited to immerse themselves within the Mack family, and use Ang’s love of performing arts to walk alongside kids and their families to discover identity, find passion, know they belong, and have fun!

Ang was born and raised in upstate New York before getting the traveling bug. She loves candles, essential oils, and spending time with her husband and three children. Outside of Mack, you will find Ang with her family at playgrounds, museums, or playing/watching basketball or football (the correct name for soccer) with Bo and kids. Go Leeds!

Carolina Miralles

Spanish Language Specialist
Carolina Miralles

Carolina has an on-going love affair with languages. She has been a joyful teacher for 19 years and holds a Baccalaureate Degree in Spanish and English Philology from the University of Valencia, Spain. She has been writing poetry and literature for more than twenty years, and has been an art and literature critic and a free-lance journalist. Carolina has taught Spanish in Colorado at High Peaks, Foothill, Bear Creek, Crest View, Eisenhower and Flatirons elementary schools. She has been teaching in Front Range Community College in the evenings  since 2010. She came to Mackintosh Academy Boulder in 2011 and immediately fell in love with the school. Carolina comes from a small town in the Mediterranean sea, her valley surrounded by orange trees and rice fields. Her passion for languages started at age 7 when she learned Latin by herself. That has led her to enjoy and share different cultures and countries. She speaks seven languages and still wants to learn many more. When she is not teaching, you can find her reading or writing under a tree, hiking in the sun, dancing in the rain, telling stories under the stars and cooking for friends and family.

Heidi Jaeckel

K-4 Science Specialist and K-4 Design Specialist
Heidi Jaeckel

Heidi was drawn to education because of her passion for building relationships and connections with people – especially children. Heidi got her B.S. in Genetics from University of Wisconsin Madison. She LOVES science (and Wisconsin!). But, in the biotech and research world, the relationship piece was lacking. Heidi found her way to the Friends’ School Teacher Prep program in Boulder and got her teaching license in 2010. She completed her M.A. at CU Denver in Educational Psychology in 2012. Heidi has taught at Mack Boulder since the beginning in 2011. She has held many roles from lead teacher (grades ⅔ and 3) to assistant to now K-4 Science teacher. What keeps her going is the energy of our amazing kids, the fun we have learning together, the creative and unique path we are chartering and the support of our amazing staff and community. Her other passions include cross-country skiing, running, mountain biking, and spending time with her family.

Katelyn Jackson

Librarian
Katelyn Jackson

Katelyn is delighted to be returning to Mack after living and working in Sweden as a teacher librarian at the International School of Lund Katedralskolan for the last three years. Originally from Durango, Colorado, Katelyn moved to study ballet at University of Utah and began her professional life as a ballet dancer performing and teaching with Boulder Ballet. 

It was teaching ballet that led her to the Friends School teacher preparation program where she earned a teaching license and a MA in Educational Psychology from University of Colorado Denver. Katelyn began her teaching career at Mack in 2012 teaching in the primary grades and then remained in first grade for eight years. She is looking forward to working with the incredible students and staff once again in this new role where her love of books and reading can take center stage.

Mike Holloway

Physical Education Specialist
Mike Holloway

Mike is excited to return to the Mack family after a three year stint teaching PE and coaching at the Tower Hill school, in Wilmington Delaware. Prior to this 3 year period, Mike was the PE instructor and coach at Mackintosh for 5 years. After teaching over 20 years and working at several schools, Mike can say there is no school as special as Mackintosh! Mike is a graduate of Elon University in North Carolina, earning a bachelors degree in K-12 Physical Education. Mike enjoys running, hiking, crossing 14ers of the list, and spending time with his wife Katie and young daughter, Lucy.

Ben Wolf

Orchard Center Teacher
Ben Wolf

Ben has spent five years as a classroom teacher  at Mack and is thrilled to transition into The Orchard Center. Ben has his Master’s in Learning Development and Family Sciences and spent the last year completing certifications in OG, ALTA, and IMSLEC.  He is eager to contribute to The Orchard Center’s mission of providing students with dyslexia the opportunity to maximize their potential by strengthening their overall academic performances. Ben has pursued education through the entirety of his career. Spending time working at various summer camps, international teen service trips, directing and leading wilderness programs, coaching climbing, and teaching English as a foreign language Ben has always loved working with students. During his time as a classroom teacher, Ben developed a keen understanding of differentiated learning, instilling a holistic approach to education that encompasses the whole student. His expertise in literacy intervention, informed by the Orton-Gillingham approach, has proven successful in enhancing students’ reading and writing abilities. He is well-versed in effective lesson planning and program management, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored learning experience. Ben lives in Denver where he and his wife, Claire, were born and raised. Ben enjoys a slow morning with a good cup of coffee, and when he is not teaching, he spends most of his time climbing, traveling internationally, backcountry skiing, backpacking, canyoneering and constantly working on creating the best espresso.

Cailen Maloney

Orchard Center Teacher
Cailen Maloney

Cailen joined the Mackintosh faculty in 2021 as the fourth grade Orchard Center teacher, and she is thrilled to be returning again to also teach second, third, and eight grade. Prior to Mackintosh, Cailen guided young learners for four years in grades K-2 in Georgia, Colorado, Thailand and online to ESL students. Her passion for literacy started at a young age, but it wasn’t until her first year teaching where she felt empowered to support her students with learning differences. She received early intervention training, which helped target her instruction by assessing and monitoring student growth throughout the year. She also received Orton Gillingham training to learn how to best support her students. By applying the Orton Gillingham principles, she saw tremendous success in her learners with dyslexia. With this passion, she continued her training in literacy with the Kendore Kingdom certification with a focus on phonemic awareness and spelling. Since joining The Orchard Center, Cailen has received advanced Orton Gillingham training in Morphology to support students in Grades 4-12. Her experiences working as a classroom teacher at a private, alternative school in Thailand, shaped her vision for her teaching. This is to foster a safe learning environment, nurture compassion and empower students to advocate for themselves and the world. When not in the classroom, you can find Cailen sipping tea, practicing her dancing skills, or enjoying nature. Cailen loves The Orchard Center’s model and what it’s doing for students.  She is looking forward to partnering with her new students and families this year.

Whitney Johansson

Orchard Center Teacher
Whitney Johansson

Whitney Johansson is a lifelong educator. She earned her Elementary Education Teacher’s License from CU and was recognized for being in the top of her class. Whitney went on to study the Orton-Gillingham approach extensively, finding gems in the different approaches from different organizations. Through this training, Whitney witnessed the remarkable impact that multi-sensory, direct, explicit instruction can have and how through this instruction, students’ brains can be activated in varying ways so that their learning and processing style is honored and attended to, whether the subject is literacy or math or beyond. As a Literacy Specialist, she aims to connect with the whole person and hold them and their learning in the highest regard. Whitney is a nature and art enthusiast, so you will find a trail of paint smudges and plants following her, inside and outside of the classroom.

When she is not teaching, you will find her frolicking in her garden, playing the ukulele, sewing up a storm, reading about literacy, hugging her dogs and cats, smooching her daughters, and dreaming of their next adventure.

Keely Harrison

K-3 Learning Specialist
Keely Harrison

Keely was welcomed into Mackintosh Academy as a Literacy Learning Specialist in 2021. Prior to Mackintosh, she taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade in both public and private schools in three different states and abroad. Her passion for literacy and quest to find the very best instruction and environment for students began at the beginning of her teacher career while student teaching in New Zealand, a country with a long history of literacy rich learning environments. She received her BA in elementary education from the University of Kansas and her Masters of Education in Literacy Studies from the University of Colorado. Her experiences working as a classroom teacher at the International School of Prague and The Nueva School in California truly shaped her vision of education, which aligns perfectly with Mack. This is to provide meaningful experiences to nurture the hearts and minds of our children and create a joyful learning environment. Keely has furthered her literacy training with Readers’ Workshop at Teachers College of Columbia University, Orton Gillingham Academy Associate Level Coursework, and ongoing Structured Word Inquiry courses with former colleagues at The Nueva School. When she is not at school, Keely can be found skiing, rafting, backpacking, camping, or hiking with her three children and husband, Cameron.