KUNSMILLER CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY
Imagine and Achieve
MAIN OFFICE: 720-424-0200
2250 SOUTH QUITMAN WAY
DENVER, COLORADO 80219
MEET THE KCAA ADMIN TEAM
Peter Castillo, Principal
As I begin my fourth year as Principal here at KCAA I am completely overwhelmed with how far the school has come! We have created and established so many wonderful traditions and community relationships that it is hard to comprehend that our school did not even exists just four years ago. This year we continue to grow, evolve and thrive. Our school continues to increase its arts performance calendars, increase its proficiency base and increase its community relations not only through Denver but across the country. Our First Friday performances bring in over 400 community members monthly, our school has increased on our School Performance Framework every year since its creation and we were recently selected to present at a national conference for the Arts School Network in Chicago IL! The most exciting part is that there is so much more to come!
Erin Dreeszen, Secondary Assistant Principal
Erin Dreeszen is the Secondary Assistant Principal for Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy. She is very excited to be at KCAA, building and expanding the secondary program after spending two years as the administrative assistant at Denver School of the Arts. Mrs. Dreeszen has completed her M.Ed in Teacher Leadership and B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Trained in the Montessori philosophy, Mrs. Dreeszen spent 6 years working in a charter K-12 Montessori school as part of her 8 years of multi grade level experience prior to administration. . Mrs. Dreeszen is happily married with three children, two dogs, 6 rabbits and 4 chickens, and those just are the animals at her house!
Greg Isaac, Elementary Assistant Principal
Greg Isaac is the KCAA Elementary School Assistant Principal in addition to supporting all KCAA programs from Kindergarten through High School. Mr. Isaac earned his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska and served as the head of school for a private K-8 school in Parker, Colorado for four years. He holds a B.A. in History from Azusa Pacific University in Southern California and earned his teaching certification through the University of Denver. Mr. Isaac taught in England at the American Community School in Egham, Surrey, where he received certification in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. Prior to coming to KCAA Mr. Isaac served with KCAA’s founder, Dr. Diana Howard, at the DPS Gifted Magnet school, Polaris-Ebert Elementary. Mr. Isaac enjoys reading, playing the guitar, meeting with the elementary student council, and singing songs with students.
Stuart Ritchie, Dean of Students
Stuart Ritchie is the Dean of students responsible for all student safety and security matters. He leads the RIO (Restorative Intervention Office) team, provides instructional supervision to secondary math instructors and also serves as the KCAA Athletic Director. He came to KCAA after leaving DPS for one year to serve as Assistant Director of Vista PEAK K-8 in Aurora. Prior to that Mr. Ritchie was the Math Fellow coordinator at Collegiate Prep Academy and Dean of Students at Montbello HS where he was also the National Geography teacher of the year. Mr. Ritchie has a BA in Economics/Anthropology from DU and a Masters of Education in Instructional Curricular Design from University of Colorado. Mr. Ritchie enjoys technical rock climbing and recently became an Ironman by completing Ironman Mt. Tremblant in Quebec Canada.
Cori Herbst-Loehr, Dean of Arts
Cori Herbst-Loehr has been the Digital Media Arts teacher at KCAA for the last 5 years, and this year joins the administrative team as the Dean of the Arts supporting arts instruction and arts programming at KCAA. Mrs. Loehr graduated from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design with a BFA in Sculpture and Classical Art and a concurrent BFA in Design. Mrs. Loehr practiced graphic design professionally for a number of years, before receiving her education degree from Metro State and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Denver. Mrs. Loehr enjoys cooking, camping, traveling, experiencing great art and movies, spending time with friends and most of all lazy days hanging out with her son and husband.
Lynn Kellogg, Assessment Coordinator
Lynn Kellogg...