Caprock Academy > Staff & Faculty > Staff Directory

Staff Directory

	Fumi Aoki Education Assistant - 3rd Grade Work Email: f.aoki@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Fumi Aoki was born and raised in Japan. She came to the United States and worked as a student assistant in the Japanese class at Colorado Mesa University. Ms. Aoki has a bachelor's degree in International Culture at the Shizuoka University of Art and Culture. She also completed an associate of art's degree in Social Science at Colorado Mesa. Ms. Aoki enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, camping, gardening, and yoga.

	Cory Bickmore 5th Grade Teacher Work Email: c.bickmore@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography A nerd by birth, Cory Bickmore would plow through books. He enjoyed camping in the desert and the mountains. He is an excellent daydreamer. Mr. Bickmore has a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Brigham Young University in Youth Leadership and Youth and Family Recreation respectively. Mr. Bickmore stares at stars, pets cats, still reads nerdy books, and, most importantly, will pull a student's leg if he can.

No Logo Available	Jessica Blehm School Nurse
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Biography Jessica Blehm grew up in Grand Junction and didn't realize how amazing Western Colorado is until she moved to LA. Mrs. Blehm has a BS in Nursing from Biola University located in La Mirada, CA. She is a member of the inaugural class of the Torrey Honors Institute, a great books undergraduate program at Biola. When she's not working, Mrs. Blehm can be found running, hiking, biking, camping, reading, and being a mom.

	Sara Bowers Kindergarten Work Email: s.bowers@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Sara Bowers was born in Vail and grew up in the mountains near Dillon. She moved to the Grand Valley and graduated from high school. Mrs. Bowers attended Montana State University in Bozeman and completed her bachelor of arts degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education at the University of Northern Colorado. Mrs. Bowers enjoys hiking, skiing, and riding her horses. She is a volunteer for Colorado DiscoverAbility where she helps challenged kids explore the outdoors. She is a Certified Ski Instructor. Through her love of horses, she is a barrel racer at local and national events.

	Chambry Bruton Education Assistant - 1st Grade Work Email: c.bruton@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Chambry Bruton was raised near Mesa on the same property all of her life. Her family also has a ranch near Vega Reservoir where they raise cattle. Ms. Bruton attended Northeaster Junior College in Sterling. She continued her education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie where she earned an associate of arts degree in Animal Science. Ms. Bruton enjoys quilting, hiking and cooking.

	Joshua Cassellius Spanish Teacher Work Email: j.cassellius@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Joshua Cassellius was born and lived in Wisconsin until he was 2 years old. Naturally that makes him a Packer fan! At that time, his parents went to Spanish Language school and moved the family to Mexico where his parents have been missionaries ever since. Growing up in Mexico, Mr. Cassellius not only learned the Spanish language fluently, but also fell in love with the beautiful Mexican culture. He lived in Mexico until he graduated from high school. Mr. Cassellius has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with minors in Leadership and Biblical Studies. While in college, he was involved in several leadership roles including Discipleship Leader and Resident Advisor. Mr. Cassellius enjoys bowling, fishing, and, in the last couple of years, has developed a love for running. He ran a marathon with his wife and hopes to run more. The couple enjoys spending time with their young son.

	Tasha Castillo SPED Teacher Work Email: t.castillo@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Tasha Castillo grew up in the Grand Valley and although she has lived several other places, she and her husband chose to raise their children here. Mrs. Castillo has a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from Mesa State College and is in the process of earning an master's in Special Education. Mrs. Castillo loves to travel and be outdoors but mostly she loves being a wife and mother. She has two daughters who attend Caprock. Mrs. Castillo is refreshed in the outdoors-camping, hiking, four-wheeling, snowmobiling, and boating all while being with her family. Among her other enjoyments are reading, jewelry-making, and loving animals. She is actively involved in getting stray cats spayed and neutered. If Mrs. Castillo had all the money she needed, she would travel and find ways to help people.

	Zema Chambers 4th Grade Teacher Work Email: z.chambers@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Zema Chambers was born and raised on the Western Slope of Colorado. Being from a teacher's home, she experienced the 'teacher side” of education during her early years of life. Mrs. Chambers worked in the nonprofit sector for 35 years. She met and married her husband while attending college in Los Angeles. After a brief time in Albuquerque, N.M., her family moved to Grand Junction. Homeschooling her own three children for a cumulative 20 years, she has taught all grade levels. For 15 years, she wrote, produced, and directed theater, which included children, teenagers, and adults. She also taught music and history in a private school. Mrs. Chambers, graduating magna cum laude, has a bachelor of arts degree in Organizational Management of Human Resources from Colorado Christian University. She also trained as a Life Coach from Laurie Beth Jones, Inc. Sitting around a kitchen table with good coffee and friends, Mrs. Chambers enjoys listening to the stories and journeys of people. She has enjoyed travel to England and Canada. She finds her greatest joy in helping others find their passion and live their lives significantly.

	Shannon Chance Education Assistant - 6th Grade Work Email: s.chance@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Shannon Chance born and raised Vilonia, Ark. Mrs. Chance loved being outdoors and often practice tornado drills during school days. She enjoyed the simple freedom of being able to play in the woods with her dogs. Mrs. Chance attended the University of Central Arkansas. Later, she moved with her family because of her husband's occupation. She has completed her paraprofessional certification. Mrs. Chance enjoys reading and gardening. She sews a variety of clothing items and also embroideries. Camping with family and dogs is a frequent happening at the Chance home.

	Lori Chandler SPED Teacher Work Email: l.chandler@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Lori Chandler was born in Minneapolis, MN but spent most of her childhood in Everett, WA. After graduating from high school she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where she met her husband, Jeff. Lori has a degree in Psychology from CU-Denver. Later she received her education license in Special Education from Western State College. Lori has taught at Caprock Academy since it opened. Lori and her husband have three children. She enjoys reading, taking walks and traveling.

	Joyce Chovancek Education Assistant - 7th Grade Work Email: j.chovancek@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Born in the hills of Somerset, Ky., Joyce Chovancek was moved by her parents to Beavercreek, Ohio (she still cheers for Ohio State University). She left there to attend Olivet University to major in Education and minor in Sociology/Psychology, while being a resident assistant and teaching at a Child Care Center. It was there that she met her husband, Larry. After being married, Mrs. Chovancek and her husband moved to Kansas City for her to work while Larry completed his master's degree. They moved to Canada where they ministered for more than 30 years. While in Canada they had the blessing of two children. Their daughter is married, parent of a son, and an editor in Los Angeles. Their son is a captain in the Army and after two tours in Iraq is serving with his wife, and daughter in Germany. (So that means that she is the proud grandmother of two toddlers.) While in Canada, Mrs. Chovancek worked as an Educational Assistant in the public school system for a dozen years, and then as Resource Teacher for nine years at BCS. At BCS, she had the fun of having a grade eight homeroom and supporting all the wonderful identified students from kindergarten to grade 12. Mrs. Chovancek leads the children's ministry at her church, and enjoys many hobbies such as reading, crafts, hiking, etc. She can be found teaching “Clowning” during Goal Hour.

	Heather Clementson Health Tech Work Email: h.clementson@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Heather Clementson was born and raised in the Midwest. Her family relocated to Grand Junction where she graduated from New Horizons Christian School and went on to attend Mesa State College. After college. Mrs. Clementson worked at a private Pediatric office for 8 years and 2 ½ years in the Emergency Department at St. Mary's Hospital. She has spent the last 2 years taking care of all the wonderful children at Caprock. Mrs. Clementson's passion is her family! She and her husband have 2 beautiful girls, Rylan and Katelyn, who attend Caprock. She loves spending all her time with them reading, playing, painting, making crafts, and baking.

	Andrew Collins 7th Grade Teacher Work Email: a.collins@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Andrew Collins was raised on a large farm and ranch in Eastern Oregon. While his family worked tirelessly on their land, they also traveled extensively throughout the world. In high school, Mr. Collins traveled all over Europe singing with his school's choir. Mr. Collins has a bachelor of science degree in Family Psychology from Corban College in Salem, Oregon. He also has a master's degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande. Mr. Collins is married and has two boys. As a family they enjoy hiking, camping, jeeping, and music

	Correne Coty Registrar Work Email: c.coty@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Correne Coty grew up on the eastern plains of Colorado and spent much of her childhood on her grandparent's farm. She has a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. In 1994, she married her husband, Kevin. For 10 years the Cotys called Craig their home, but with a change in her husband's career, they chose to move to Grand Junction. Mrs. Coty volunteered to help with the Caprock Academy enrollment process in the early days of the school and has been actively involved ever since. Mrs. Coty has felt very fortunate to work with such dedicated teachers and privileged to know so many wonderful students and their families. She has enjoyed seeing everything come together through the amazing community at Caprock Academy. The Cotys have two children who attend Caprock Academy, Karen and Marcus. Mrs. Coty can also be found refereeing volleyball or coaching girls' basketball.

	Debbie Dilbeck Education Assistant - 3rd Grade Work Email: d.dilbeck@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Born and raised in Sacramento, Calif., Debbie Dilbeck moved to Grand Junction in November 2007 with her husband and daughter. Their daughter, Rebecca, started kindergarten in 2008 when Debbie was a regular volunteer in her classroom. After a while, her volunteering morphed into a regular position that she really loves: being an educational assistant. Prior to her move to Colorado, she worked as an administrative assistant for a large company where she met her husband, Rick, in 2000. They married in May 2001 when she gained a step-daughter, Amanda, who recently graduated from nursing school in California. Debbie really loves working at Caprock and looks forward to her daughter continuing her education here through high school. On weekends and breaks, they enjoy the outdoors by camping, fishing, riding four wheelers, and target shooting. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, baking, and spending time with her family.

	Pennie Dillon 1st Grade Teacher Work Email: p.dillon@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Pennie Dillon grew up in Littleton attending Chatfield Sr. High where she would meet her future husband, Justin. She knew early on that she wanted two things out of life: to be a mom and to be a teacher. Mrs. Dillon graduated with honors from Mesa State College with a bachelor's degree in English Literature/Elementary Education. She moved back to Littleton to be closer to family. She taught third grade at Leawood Elementary in Littleton and then took some time off from the classroom to raise her two daughters, Paige and Ella. Shortly after, the Dillons moved to Bend, Ore., after a change in her husband's career took them out of state. In Oregon, Mrs. Dillon helped design a curriculum for a private preschool/kindergarten and thought she would be there forever -- until her husband was relocated back to Grand Junction in August 2006. Mrs. Dillon feels very fortunate to be a part of the exciting energy of something big in education happening here at Caprock where she absolutely loves working with the staff, the parents, and the children. She truly feels proud to be part a community that is dedicated to educating such amazing children!

	Julie Dollar 1st Grade Teacher Work Email: j.dollar@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Julie Dollar grew up in southern California. She has a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Biola University in La Mirada, Calif. The Dollar family moved to Grand Junction in June 2003 and fell in love with the area. Mrs. Dollar began her Caprock Academy career as an education assistant in March 2008. Julie and Stacy Dollar have three children all of whom attend Caprock Academy. The whole family loves the wonderful outdoor activities Grand Junction has to offer.

	Teresa Drake 5th Grade Teacher Work Email: t.drake@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Teresa Drake was born and raised in Belton, Mo., a small town south of Kansas City. She has a bachelor of art's degree in Criminal Justice from Central Missouri State University. She moved to Page, Ariz., on Lake Powell where she met her husband, Mike. While in Page, Mrs. Drake earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Northern Arizona State University. She taught fourth grade and kindergarten in Page. Moving to Grand Junction, the Drake family found Caprock Academy where all three children attend. Mrs. Drake is one of Caprock Academy's original teachers and, for the first few years, could be found working with second graders. Moving to fifth grade, she values the thinking skills her students bring to classroom discussions. Mrs. Drake enjoys time with her family and, particularly, she could spend weeks on a boat at Lake Powell if she could.

	Aaron Erkman Math and Technology Teacher Work Email: a.erkman@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Aaron Erkman grew up in the Grand Valley and enjoyed competing on his high school's academic team. He has traveled to Eastern Europe and visited Servia, Montenegro, Romania, and Hungary. Mr. Erkman has a bachelor of art's degree double majoring in Math and Chemistry with a minor in Physics. Mr. Erkman lives in the Grand Valley with his wife. He enjoys most outdoor activities, especially hiking, biking, climbing, and kayaking. He often might be found in one of the area's ultimate Frisbee courses. He also considers himself a “weekend warrior” triathlete.

	Joe Fanning Dean of Students Work Email: j.fanning@caprockacademy.orgINTERNET
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Biography Mr. Joe Fanning is a retired United States Navy officer. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelors of science in Mechanical Engineering, and from Auburn University at Montgomery with a masters of Political Science. While his Navy career took him around the country and the world, he has lived in Colorado since 2000 and Grand Junction since January 2008. His wife, Claudia, is a market researcher and independent consultant. From 1984-88, he was stationed on a destroyer and two mine sweepers in the Navy's surface ship fleet. He then went to flight school and was designated a Naval Flight Officer. For much of his career, he flew as the mission commander of the carrier-based S-3 Viking, flying missions in all of the world's oceans, the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea. His final tour in the Navy was as an exchange officer at the United States Air Force Academy, where he taught military strategy and political science. He retired in 2004, and prior to joining Caprock Academy, was the assistant director of Columbia College's Aurora, Colo., campus. Mr. Fanning tries to spend his time outdoors, whether riding his off-road and street motorcycles, hiking, skiing and snowboarding, or target shooting.

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