Dr. Jenny Brown, Principal
My name is Jenny Brown and I have served as a school administrator for 13 years. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame and went onto pursue my master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin, Madison while working as a third grade teacher. As I worked as an elementary school principal in the suburbs of both Massachusetts and Illinois I began my doctoral studies, which I completed in the spring of 2015.
I am proud to have served as the principal of Gold Rush Elementary School since August of 2012. I feel fortunate to be part of such a tremendous school community! I believe that educating children is a true partnership and I value how our parents, teachers, students and support staff collaborate daily to support each individual child. I also value our warm school environment and our collective commitment to foster critical thinking and civic responsibility.
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Libby Bergner, Assistant Principal
I am so fortunate to be a part of a community that is dedicated to making learning a joyful, lifelong experience for students and staff. I believe every child is unique and possesses the ability to do great things in the world. I believe in developing this potential by celebrating differences, fostering creativity and collaboration, and establishing strong relationships with students and their families. I believe children should be in a safe place where they can express their opinions and nurture their own ideas.
This is my 17th year in education and have spent most of my time as a classroom teacher. I have taught every level from preschool to sixth grade, with the exception of third. I was part of the core team that opened Gold Rush in 2008. Here, I have taught sixth and second graders. This will be my fourth year in administration and I feel truly honored to continue serving Gold Rush in this capacity. Thank you for entrusting your children with us. I love this community and live here in Parker with my husband and four children. We are a very busy family and enjoy sports, traveling, and being with relatives. I am very excited and look forward to working with students, families, and the community to make this an incredible school year!
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Bree Roon, Professional Learning Specialist
I am honored and excited to serve as the Professional Learning Specialist (PLS) at Gold Rush Elementary! This is my 19th year in education and I have been lucky to have had many diverse experiences during that time. I have taught in Glenwood Springs, Denver, Parker, and also a few years in Long Beach, California. I have served as a first grade and second grade classroom teacher, a K-6th grade ESL teacher, reading interventionist, Spanish literacy interventionist, and as a teacher coach/evaluator. This year, I am blessed with the unique opportunity to support our school as PLS while also job-sharing a second grade classroom.
I strongly believe that all students need a safe, caring environment that fosters both academic and socio-emotional growth by scaffolding and challenging each student. Having taught in many places, I can truly say Gold Rush embodies these beliefs and is the most amazing place to be! I am so thankful to be part of this community as a teacher, a parent, and now as a PLS. Gold Rush is a family, and my own family is so fortunate to be a part of it!
My role on the leadership team includes the following:
Staff Developer: Plan, prepare, and implement staff development based on student data, teacher needs, and best practices in instruction and assessment. I also communicate information on resources such as instructional materials, training opportunities, and district information.
Mentor: Provide support for new teachers to meet state and district induction requirements. I also mentor all teachers through professional development opportunities.
Coach: Assist teachers with informal goal setting and provide support of student learning through observation, modeling, co-teaching, feedback, and data analysis.
Facilitator: Assist with processes and meetings at school and district levels. Collaborative Member of the Building Leadership Team: Collaborate with our leadership team in planning, preparing, and implementing professional learning opportunities based on school and district goals.
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Digger, Positive Behavior Specialist
Hi! My name is Digger, and I am the mascot at Gold Rush Elementary, home of the Golden Retrievers! The golden retriever was selected by children to be our mascot because we are kind, loyal, smart and service oriented (just like our students). I have the wonderful job of spending time with the class that earned the most golden tickets for the week. Students earn golden tickets for making good choices and going for the GOLD, which means they are following our school rules: Give respect, Own your actions, Listen and learn, and Do your best.
Each day, the Words of Wisdom read during morning announcements help students think about making positive choices. It is a really close call each week determining where I will spend my time, our students are so well behaved!
If you would like to know more about ethical behavior at Gold Rush, please refer to the Parent Handbook!