About the Founders

Sara Woodyard

Hello and Welcome! My name is Sara Woodyard and I have been a 5th grade teacher for the past three years. I have had the pleasure of working with the most amazing group of students on the south side of Westminster, Colorado. I come from a school that is often overlooked by district officials due to low test scores and high levels of English Language Learners, but I have yet to meet a group of children as excited about learning as them.

I graduated with my Bachelor's in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2008. While I was working as a teacher I also attained a Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in November of 2010. While at my former school I took on leadership roles by serving as grade level chair and helping raise money to improve technology in the building. Through the joint effort of the staff, we raised enough money to purchase Mimio interactive boards for all of the teachers in the building. This helped increase student engagement and enthusiasm for learning. (For more information on Mimio

boards, check out this site.

I have a myriad of hobbies such as reading, writing, and swimming, but my favorite is horseback riding. If I could go horseback riding everyday I would. I ride both English and Western and am currently learning how to jump. I tend to

favor working with Arabians. It's a bit late in life to learn this kind of

horsemanship but it is something I have always wanted to learn. Riding

makes me calm and centered. While I do not own my own horse yet, I spend a

lot of time at a barn as part of a co-op. I know that I cannot have a life without

horses.

My boyfriend Justin is a big part of my life. He is a fellow

educator who will finish his Master's shortly and specializes in

middle school social studies. We have been together for four years

and have a little family with our dog Luna and three cats. We are

lifelong learners and happy to be on this journey together.

Stephanie Peters

My name is Stephanie Peters, and I live Glenwood Springs in the glorious Roaring

Fork Valley of Colorado. For the past three years I have taught kindergarteners, second graders,

and dozens of English Language Learners for the Roaring Fork School District RE-1. Before gaining

the opportunity to work with these spellbinding children, I was student teaching and earning

my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Northern Colorado.

As soon as I can, I will be returning to school to further my ability to inspire and educate

America’s youth.

My favorite areas of learning are children’s literature and child

psychology. I love understanding children who are struggling with hard times.

It is the best feeling in the world to have a child give you a giant hug and

say,“You get it.” Above all things, I pride myself on the ability to

empathize with my students no matter what they are going through.

Here in the mountains, my favorite things to do aside from teaching are just enjoying

the little things. Nothing compares to a sunny day of reading on my porch, having a dinner full

of laughter with a group of friends, or taking my silly little chihuahua, Calla, for

bouncy walks by the river. In the winters I enjoy skiing at our small local resort.

My favorite teachers growing up were the ones who

would allow me to express myself in the way I felt I best

could – through art. Since I started mentoring students of

my own many years ago, I have always encouraged them to

be artistic and creative in their own work and play. In

2010 I hosted my first art show in downtown Glenwood

Springs and was delighted about how many people came

to support me and share my success. My students were thrilled for me, and I told them that

they should follow their dreams just like I had and one day they could do even bigger and

better things.