Meet Your Kindergarten Team

Welcome to GVA 2020/2021

English Teachers

Tabitha Brown

My name is Mrs. Brown and I teach Kindergarten English at Global Village Academy in Northglenn. I have been teaching primary students since 2004 in preschools and public schools in the Denver Metro area. Prior to teaching I worked in as a database manager. I joined GVA-N in 2017.

I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and have lived in Hawaii, California and Germany before moving to Colorado in the 1998. I hold my Masters in Education and speak German and am working on Spanish.

I love working with young children and am passionate about teaching the literacy process. I work hard to create an environment of independent learners who care about their classroom community.

Kindergarten English2020 AAE Advocacy Fellow

Nicole Nedbalski

My name is Mrs. Nedbalski. I have been teaching Kindergarten at GVA since 2018. I have also taught preschool.

I grew up in Thornton and went to school in Fort Collins before moving back. I have my undergrad degree in Human Development and Family Studies and my Master’s is in Education. My husband and I have a two year old puppy that keeps us busy.

I have always loved teaching and being with kids. I work hard every day to be the best for my students and to build a classroom full of kindness where everyone feels welcomed.

Kindergarten EnglishColorado Native

Verna Rolland

My name is Mrs. Rolland and I will be your teacher this year. This is my second year teaching kindergarten English at Global Village and I love it! I hold a Master’s in Education and I am working on becoming fluent in French..

I’ll tell you a few things about me. I grew up in Alamosa, Colorado (near the Great Sand Dunes). I lived in London for 2 years and worked in a great school there with children your age. Before I taught elementary school I taught yoga to adults, children and families for 12 years.

I have 3 children, ages 13, 7 and 3. I love taking photos, reading, practicing yoga, going to museums, traveling and spending time with my family.

In my classroom we build a strong community and work together to learn and grow. I look forward to getting to know your family!

Kindergarten EnglishWorld Traveler & Colorado Native

Immersion Teachers

Roxana Albujar Ortiz

My name is Roxana Albujar I would like to take the opportunity to share a little about myself. I am originally from Peru. I`m married and I have 3 boys. I have a Master Degree in Education with a Major in Teaching and Education Management. I have 18 years of experience working as a teacher in Peru. In my free time I love cooking, dancing salsa and spending time with my family.

I am very passionate about teaching children and forging an honest relationship with them. I truly appreciate the values of Global Village Academy and strive to help each student build a sense of confidence and to enable them to grow into happy, successful members of society.

Kindergarten Spanish

Andrea Westwick

My name is Andrea Westwick. I am from Colombia and I graduated in pedagogy. I have dedicated the last 15 years to working with children. As an enthusiastic bilingual teacher with passion for children and hands-on experience in promoting learning spaces that encourage creative thinking in children, my goal is to motivate students in ascertaining their inner strengths, abilities and the activities that truly inspire them. I have been living in Colorado for the last 11 years, I have fallen in love with this amazing state, for the people and the diversity of cultures that I found here. It feels like a second wonderful home.

I live with my husband and our 6 years old daughter and 3 dogs. I love to spend time with my family, traveling and eating. Thank you in advance for the opportunity to let me be part of the lives of your children, I hope to contribute in their academic and personal formation.

Kindergarten Spanish

Li Shang

My name is Li Shang. My Students like to call me Shang Laoshi which means Teacher Shang (in Chinese). I have been a Kindergarten Chinese language immersion teacher at GVA-N for 5 years.

Here are a few things about me. I play an ancient traditional Chinese instrument called Gusheng. I enjoy yoga and running for exercise. Painting is my favorite hobby, do you like to paint? I was working as an elementary educator in China before I became a Colorado elementary teacher.

I love my family and my two sweet cats (Socks and Boots). My husband is a special education teacher works at an elementary school. Everyone is special and talented at different area, so are you.

I’m so excited to get to know you and work with you this upcoming school year.

Kindergarten Chinese ImmersionNative Chinese speaker CO Elementary Teacher

Larysa Abiina

My name is Larysa Abiina. Eight years ago my family came to Colorado from Belarus. I have a Masters degree in Philology and Education. I have a lot of educational experience working with kids of different ages.

This is my 7th year in GVA Northglenn as an Elementary Russian Immersion teacher. I love my job. I love our united school team and my young students.

Together, we will accomplish this important and exciting mission of leading our children into the world of knowledge.

Kindergarten Russian

Special Teachers

Renee Kleck

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults:

● Understand and manage emotions● Set and achieve positive goals● Feel and show empathy for others● Establish and maintain positive

relationships, and● Make responsible decisions

Students meet one class period (45 minutes) once per week for Social Emotional Learning lessons and leave the class with tools they can use that promote academic and social success.

Social Emotional Learning

Coach T

GVA students who participate in Physical Education (PE):

● Apply their knowledge by actively demonstrating understanding of content in movements, sports, fitness, health, teamwork and sportsmanship.

● GVA’s goal is for all students to develop and sustain lifelong physical activity and a healthy, fulfilling life.

● Students meet for PE once per week for a 45 minute class.

Physical Education

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Each subject is part of the greater whole lesson plan. The concepts work together in hands-on and minds-on activities that make Science and Math fun and engaging while developing critical thinking and innovation.

Our STEM classes meet once per week for 45 minutes.

STEM

Daniel Ravita

Music classes at GVA provide many benefits to students, including:

● Enhanced language capabilities● Mental processing and problem

solving● Increased confidence● Stress relief

In addition to Music classes once per week for 45 minutes, students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular performing arts activities, such as band and musical theater.

Music

Lauren Vara-Good

Students in Art explore cultures and art through:

● Multiple mediums● Collaborative school-wide

projects● Studying master painters,

illustrators, and global artists.● Integrated cultural themes.

Art classes at GVA deepen cultural and self-understanding and give students an appreciation for and ability to create art. Classes meet once per week for 45 minutes.

Art

Special Education Teachers

Rachael Bromley

Hi! My name is Ms. Rachael and I am the Special Education teacher and case manager for Kindergarten and 1st-grade.. I have been teaching at GVA since 2017 and am loving every minute!

I grew up in a small town 30 minutes outside of Madison, Wisconsin. I moved to Denver shortly after graduating college and I am currently working towards a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership.

I love Colorado and all that it has to offer. My boyfriend and I enjoy going to concerts and in the summer you can typically find us camping, hiking., and exploring this great state!

As a Special Education teacher, I collaborate and work closely with all of the general education teachers. We work together to meet the needs of our students and to make sure they feel successful!

Kindergarten Special Ed Teacher

Caitlin Eggleston

Hi! My name is Cait Eggleston and I am the Special Education Department Chair. I have been working in Special Education at GVA since 2015. I have worked with grades K-8, and working as the Special Education Coach since 2019.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and working towards my Masters in Educational Leadership. I grew up in NH and moved to Colorado in 2005. I met my husband here and we now have a 1-year-old daughter.

Special Education Department Chair

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