Kindergarten - Section A
Tracy Gross
Education:
- BA from San Diego State University
- Training Professional education courses at Florida Atlantic University, Mary Lewis Writing seminar, Harry Wong classroom management and ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) endorsed.
Experience:
From the sandy beaches of Florida to the rocky mountains of Colorado. This Kindergarten teacher has experienced new heights in her career! With five strong years as a kindergartner educator I bring a sense of adventure, a love of learning and an innovative approach to my classroom.
Personal:
When I’m not molding the minds of the future, I find myself on the ski slopes, snowshoeing with my dog and fiancé, and continuing my overall education. I believe that my early contact with our youth is key to their overall educational achievement and success. I truly believe that the foundation I set makes a difference in each and every student’s lives. This is what keeps me continually motivated and striving to be a better leader and educator.
Your Vision for SCCS School:
As we look toward to the future, the fundamentals that I implement in my classroom not only stay with my students for that year, but are the groundwork for their entire educational career. As a primary educator, this is paramount for my motivation to succeed in the educational field.
Kindergarten - Section B 
Melissa Horton
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN.
- Currently working in the Alternative Licensure Program through Mountain BOCES.
Experience:
- Permanent Substitute teacher at Gypsum Elementary School in both Kindergarten and 4th grade classrooms.
- Long-term substitute in 2nd grade and 6th grade homeroom/ upper school Language Arts teacher at SCCS.
Strengths:
Creativity, enthusiasm, ability to collaborate with others, love for kids, and passion for education.
Personal:
I have lived in five states (Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Colorado) and on two continents (N. America and Europe). Although I was born in Oregon, I spent the majority of my childhood, in the Chicago land area. Higher education brought me to Minnesota and then I moved to New Jersey for 3 years and worked as a nanny. After spending a couple of winter seasons teaching ski school at Beaver Creek, I decided to make the Vail Valley my permanent home and have been here now full-time for three years.
Passion / Interests:
I am an avid photographer and love being behind a camera. I love to cook and I also enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring Colorado and recently decided that even though I really like winter here, I like summer even more. I enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, running, and would like to learn how to telemark ski. Traveling is also a passion of mine. This summer I had the opportunity to be on both coasts when I traveled to Oregon and then to Martha’s Vineyard, and I also spent some time with my family in Minnesota.
