KUNSMILLER CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY
Middle School Program
Imagining and Achieving since 2009
Martha Burgess - martha_burgess@dpsk12.org
6th Grade Exploratory Language Arts and Middle School Performing Arts
Martha Burgess is one of the teachers who helped found Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy in 2009. Her love for the performing arts began in elementary school and lead to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theater Performance from the University of South Dakota. In 2007, Mrs. Burgess earned a Master’s degree in Drama Therapy from Kansas State University and joined the charter Denver corps of Teach for America. She became a registered Drama Therapist and was inducted into the National Association for Drama Therapy in November of 2011. Mrs. Burgess has been awarded the Mile High teacher of the year in 2007 (Rachel B. Noel) and 2012 (KCAA). This will begin her second year as a teacher leader through the Differentiated Roles pilot which allows her to visit and collaborate with other teachers to increase technology integration in their classrooms. She believes that the arts are an amazing tool for building self confidence, social awareness, and empathy for others. Mrs. Burgess is happily married to a fire fighter from Canada named Rio and together they love to play with their dog, Sadie, hike, and work on projects around the house.
6th Grade - To access the 6th Grade Website, Click Here
Clay Jessen - clay_jessen@dpsk12.org
6th Grade Math
Clay Jessen has been teaching math at KCAA since the opening of the school. He loves it here and is thrilled to work with the enthusiastic and hardworking students at KCAA. Mr. Jessen is also a student, currently pursuing his Master’s in Teaching through Denver Zoo and Miami of Ohio University. In his free time, he likes photography and learning Spanish, watching movies with his wife, and going on hikes with his dog Pompeii.
Gregory Jock -
6th Grade Social Studies
Mr. Jock
Raylene Kaufman -
6th Grade Language Arts
Ms. Kaufman loves teaching 6th grade Language Arts because she loves to see her students' eyes light up when they connect with a text or share an idea for their own writing! She draws on the inspiration of her students when writing poetry, short-stories, and novels. Recently, she has become involved with a local reading program with her dog called "PAWS for Reading". She writes short articles for pet therapy newsletters to share her experiences with children, books, and her dog, Minnie. She is a graduate of Knox College and The University of Mississippi, and this will be her 15th year of teaching.
Molly O'Malley - molly_omalley@dpsk12.org
6th Grade Science
Science and Art together, oh my! Kunsmiller is such a great place to learn about these things that I love. I grew up here in Colorado, back when Highlands Ranch still had real cows on it. After college at CSU, I spent several fun years working for the National Park Service. It was a exciting way to see the west and live in beautiful places. I landed in San Francisco and even spent a few years working on Alcatraz for the Park Service. I starting teaching in San Francisco and also worked at the Exploratorium Museum. After 18 years in California, I returned to be near family here in Colorado and obtain my Masters Degree at CU, Boulder. I I love to travel, read, sea kayak and garden. My son Miles is the light of my life!
Renee Sullice - renee_sullice@dpsk12.org
Middle School Science
My name is Renee Sullice and I am thrilled to be teaching at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy because I am a firm believer in the arts playing a major part in a child's development. I have been teaching since the 2000-2001 school year, in Denver where I have taught French, Journalism, and Language Arts. After I taught in Denver for seven years, I moved to teach in JeffCo where I taught Language Arts, Reading, English as a Second Language, and English Language Development classes. In 2009, I found the time and ability to pursue my master's degree, and I graduated in January 2013 with an MA in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in Linguistically & Culturally Diverse. I always longed to come back to Denver, I guess because it is my home. From the time I was twelve years old, I have lived in the Sloan's Lake area, and Denver is truly where my heart is.
Richard 'Franky' Wade - richard_wade@dpsk12.org
Middle School Science
Mr. Wade is from Biloxi, Mississippi and is a proud southerner! He grew up in Mississippi and went to Mississippi State University and is a proud alumni. Mr. Wade majored in Biological Education with a concentration in Secondary Education. He has been teaching for 15 years in cities of: Memphis, TN, Tampa, FL, New Orleans, LA, Louisville, KY and Gautier, MS. He has taught subjects ranging from 6th grade science to College Prep Human Anatomy & Physiology. When he is not teaching, he likes to workout out and stay active, go to the movies, enjoying the outdoors, playing with his two pugs, and watch and support SEC college sports and the New Orleans Saints. It is an honor to be working at KCAA and looks forward to a great year!!!