Stories from the Journey
The strength of our school community is built on the continued commitment of faculty, students, and families to support each other as they learn and grow. Here are stories of the people, places, and experiences that make up the Aspen Country Day School journey.
Trisha Lavery
August 20, 2026
Trisha grew up in Lake Placid, New York, and moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2023 to work in education at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. She holds
Emma Higginbotham
September 21, 2022
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Emma moved to Aspen in 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a master’s degree from University of Colorado Denver. What makes
Debi Bender
August 2, 2021
Debi is originally from Wilmington, Delaware, where she taught art in public schools for a decade and was named Teacher of the Year in 2009. She is the former arts
Alex Tiernan
March 24, 2021
A born and raised Carbondalian, Alex Tiernan has worked at Aspen Country Day School for over a decade in Physical Education and as Global Program Coordinator. He studied marketing and
Heidi Hemstreet
March 24, 2021
Heidi moved to Aspen in 2002 to work as a private teacher for a family. She’s originally from Jupiter, Florida, and has both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Special Education
Kelsey Dunn
February 2, 2021
Kelsey arrived in Aspen in 2017 after three years teaching PE and Outdoor Education in Dallas, Texas. Originally from Waterbury, Conn., she earned an undergraduate degree in movement and sports
Jenna Hawksley
February 2, 2021
View Staff Member Jenna has a BA in elementary and special education from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island and a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of
Kimberly Bakker
January 13, 2021
Ms. Kim started at Aspen Country Day School in 2003. She grew up in Holland, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music, Art and Literature from Hope College.