Homeschool

Brooke Sassi

Lively Arts Homeschool Director

br******@je.us

I have been involved in the public Waldorf movement for a decade, with my three children moving back and forth between homeschooling and “regular” school as our needs fluctuated through the years at Mountain Song Community School in Colorado Springs. I have many years as a Waldorf homeschooling parent under my belt and am happy to be a support to other families who have chosen this beautiful journey as well.

My formal training is in education, having served several years as the reading interventionist at a rural K-12 school east of Colorado Springs, and providing dyslexia assessment and services to local students. I am currently completing my Ph.D. in education leadership at the University of Denver, and presently serve as the president of the Board of Directors at Mountain Song.

In my free time, I love to dance, sing, garden, and look at the stars!

Alissa Minatta

Administrative Assistant

al********@je.us

Alissa is so excited to join the Lively Arts community! For the past seven years, she has taught 1st-5th grade on MPCS’ main campus. Throughout this experience, she was continuously reminded of how compassionate, welcoming, and engaged Mountain Phoenix families are. Over the years, she has heard about how the home school is such a special place where families can form meaningful relationships and access public Waldorf education in a way that fits their needs. She is thrilled to be a part of this!

Alissa lives with her husband and cat in Georgetown where they take advantage of the beautiful scenery by hiking, paddle boarding, and skiing/snowboarding. She also loves to spend time with family, including her adorable 2.5yr old nephew!

Erica Knox

Early Childhood Teacher

er****@je.us

Ms. Erica is a Colorado native, growing up and currently living just down the road in Lakewood, Colorado. She graduated from The University of Colorado Denver with a Bachelor’s Degree in French with the intention of going on to teach high school. However, after having her own children (two of which are current MPCS students and one MPCS alumnus who will graduate high school in the 2021-2022 school year) she fell in love with the wonder of early childhood. Ms. Erica is ECT certified by the state of Colorado and thrives in continuing her education by attending numerous trainings in subjects ranging from “The Potentials of Cardboard” to

“Environment Design”.

Ms. Erica has worked in an early childhood school setting for 15 years in many capacities including; teacher, trainer, and administrator. She has been a member of the MPCS faculty since 2018. She is excited to be joining the Lively Arts Homeschool program as a member of the Kindergarten teaching team. Seeing each moment of discovery as an opportunity for learning, she believes that children hold newness, wonder, creativity and hope. She believes that healthy, whole individuals make happy collaborators and she recognizes education as a collaboration between caretakers, a teaching community, the child, and their classmates. Above all, Ms. Erica regards listening as the greatest act of love, therefore working to create a safe classroom space where all members feel heard!

Ann Dennehy

Early Childhood Teacher

je**********@je.us

Ann has been in early childhood education for 20 years. She began as an assistant at a Montessori school in Conifer in 2001. As a single mom it seemed a natural course of action to study child development and pursue an occupation that would support the growth of her daughter, Juniper. In 2003, Ann received her primary teaching certification from The Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, CO. She taught at the Montessori School of Evergreen and then for 10 years at Cornerstone Montessori in Golden.

Ann took a hiatus in 2017 and began working at a local organic farm. There she developed curriculum and lead a farm camp for children 7-10. During this time, she began volunteering with Jeffco Public library at a local pre-school as a “story-time lady.” Ann also began working as a substitute teacher at Mountain Phoenix Community School where her daughter Lyla started first grade. Pre-COVID, Ann taught as an assistant in the Dandelion classroom in the ECE department of MPCS. The last year and her experience with the Waldorf philosophy lead Ann to a greater appreciation of a rhythmic home-based life as a global citizen and she is thrilled to be part of the Lively Arts Homeschool.

Ann is an amateur naturalist and bird watcher. She recently had her poem, Magdalena Lagoon, published in the Spring/Summer issue of the Cold Mountain Review.

Stephanie O'Friel

Grades 1 & 2 Teacher

sj@je*****.us

Stephanie O’Friel is the first and second-grade teacher at Lively Arts Homeschool A Colorado native from Littleton, she enjoys being in nature, gardening, cooking healthy food, and traveling! She is married, has three children (2 current and 1 MPCS alumni), and an Australian Shepard named Leia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Biology, a master’s degree in Holistic Nutrition, and has also completed the Explorations Course in the foundational studies of Waldorf education.

Staphanie has worked at Mountain Phoenix Community School since 2019 as the Aftercare Program Manager & School Enrichment Coordinator. Being a long-time MPCS parent and employee, she has deep roots within our community and looks forward to continuing her growth and sharing her experiences with her class. Stephanie says “it is such a blessing to have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with you and your children!”.

Eliza Bethany

Grades 3 & 4 Teacher

el*******@je.us

Eliza Bethany holds the 3rd and 4th-grade class. She is a Waldorf-certified teacher and has taught grades 1-5 on the Mountain Phoenix main campus (plus a few repeats!). The homeschool movement has intrigued her for many years, and she has been impressed with how the Lively Arts program has developed and thrived. She is honored to be part of the Lively Arts team and to continue this journey with your children’s well-being and creative growth as her guide. Other aspects of her background include the visual arts, outdoor education, and bookselling. She has two grown children and a cat named HaHa.

Melanie Vigil

Grades 5 - 8 Teacher

me*******@je.us

Melanie Vigil is excited to join the Lively Arts Home School community. She was raised in a large musical family and brings with her over 20 years of experience teaching and loving music. Her hobbies include gardening, hiking, and spoiling her grandchildren

Megan Aikman

Practical Arts Teacher

me******@je.us

Megan came to Colorado nearly 20 years ago when she and her husband heard the siren song from the East Coast. She grew up in Maine, received her BA in Latin and Classical Studies from Brandeis University, and later earned her Masters from CU Boulder in Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology. After working in museums for numerous years, her original plan to teach through exhibit programming took a different turn after the birth of her two children, both Mountain Phoenix students.

The love of fiber arts runs strong in Megan’s blood. Both grandmothers were craftswomen; one was a Home Economics teacher in the 1950s, and the other taught Megan the nearly lost art of tatting when she was 2-years-old. Megan taught herself to knit when she was 10 and hasn’t stopped since. She is adept at knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, embroidery, and hand sewing.

Megan is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Homeschool Practical Arts program, as well as assist with the full-time grades students.

Karen Eberle-Smith

ART TEACHER GRADES 1-8

ka************@je.us

Karen has more than 20 years of experience teaching art to children of all ages. Much of that time was working with students in non-profit organizations. Karen believes art helps students to become life-long lovers of learning.

Karen is a multimedia artist who periodically shows her art in the Denver metro area. As an artist, she is constantly learning new materials and styles for creating her art.

Her undergraduate studies were in sculpture and modern dance. She graduated from SUNY Potsdam in New York State, and she spent a year studying at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston and a semester abroad in England. Karen recently completed her Masters of Arts in Arts Education at University of Northern Colorado. Her thesis explored what curriculum best creates questioning learners.

When she is not making art or sharing her love of art with others, Karen can be found spending time with her husband and two children. She also loves gardening and plans someday to learn to play the guitar.

Nicole Rohnke

Student Support

ni*******@je.us

Nicole grew up in Castle Rock, Colorado back in the days when it was mainly open fields and roaming cattle. She then went on to college at the University of Montana in Missoula where she received a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in public administration. After becoming a mother, Nicole began assistant teaching in a private Montessori school in Evergreen. Eventually she ventured on to receive her Upper Elementary Montessori Training at the Center for Montessori Training in NY.

Her educational journey eventually brought her to Mountain Phoenix where she developed a rich background in student support, social and emotional learning, and the federal civil rights law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Nicole will share her time building relationships and connections at both the MPCS main campus and the Lively Arts Homeschool Program.

In her personal time, Nicole enjoys time with her family, as well as hiking with her dogs, reading, horseback riding, gardening, traveling, snowboarding and any kind of home fix-it and design projects.

Brooke Sassi

Lively Arts Homeschool Director

Alissa Minatta

Administrative Assistant

Erica Knox

Early Childhood Teacher

Ann Dennehy

Early Childhood Teacher

Stephanie O'Friel

Grades 1 & 2 Teacher

Eliza Bethany

Grades 3 & 4 Teacher

Melanie Vigil

Grades 5 - 8 Teacher

Megan Aikman

Practical Arts Teacher

Karen Eberle-Smith

ART TEACHER GRADES 1-8

Nicole Rohnke

Student Support

NOW ENROLLINGPreschool - Grade 8

NOW ENROLLING
Preschool - Grade 8