Every school has some new faces each school year. This year is no different at Nederland Elementary School (NES). Sandy Klink and Cassidy Gillard have both joined the special education team and filled a crucial role supporting students at NES.

Sandy Klink came to Colorado from Mt. Baldy, California. Klink earned her bachelor of arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She received her elementary education and special education credentials from University of La Verne, California.

Klink taught special education for 15 years in California and one year in Adams 12 school district in Colorado before coming to Nederland Elementary.

She loves working with children and seeing how her students learn and grow.

Klink moved to Colorado to be closer to family and now lives in Gilpin County. She loves living in the mountains.

Outside of teaching Klink enjoys skiing, especially at Eldora and Copper Mountain. She also loves hiking. Klink has completed the Six Pack of Peaks in both Southern California and Arizona.

Klink also loves to travel. Europe is her favorite place to go so far with Iceland, England and Ireland topping the list.

It is wonderful to have Ms. Klink on the staff at NES.

Cassidy Gillard was a paraeducator a few ago at Nederland Elementary. She has now returned as a paraeducator in the special education program.

Gillard grew up in Vermont and moved to Colorado in 2010. She has also lived in Valdez, Alaska, and worked at the heli-ski lodge in the Chugach Mountains for two seasons.

Gillard says, “I started my paraeducator journey in the intensive autism program in Burlington, Vermont. Since moving to Colorado I have worked with children with intensive needs in various capacities including with the YMCA, privately in-home care, and most recently at Coal Creek Elementary in Louisville.”

Gillard has a degree in special education from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Gillard says that she loves learning from kids. She says, “They have so much more to teach me than I could ever imagine, and it is so cool to get to hear about the world from the brilliant perspective of a child.”

Gillard loves to spend time outdoors hiking, camping and exploring. She also loves to go snowboarding and hang out with her dog, Mojito.

It is great to have Ms. Cassidy, as the students call her, back at NES.