Monica LaSalle, Nederland.  Nederland has historically been known for change. People come and go, learning lessons and moving on to new adventures. The Boulder Valley School District and Nederland Elementary School are no exception.

In the past year, they have lost a few old teachers and taken on a few new. Here is a glimpse of who has come along to join our bustling community:

Kim Hodge is the new Intensive Learning Classroom (ILC) and Intensive Classroom Affective Needs (ICAN) teacher. She hails from Edinboro, PA and originally got a Science degree from Edinboro University and worked as a lab tech for 12 years before going back to pursue Elementary and Special Education. She then pursued her Master’s Degree from Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, PA. Kim became interested in moving to CO after several years of ski trips with her children; she fell in love with the area so much she visited six times in the last year before committing to relocating. She was drawn to NES because her passion for studying human behavior and behavior modification found a home in her position. Kim looks forward to continuing to pursue her favorite outdoor hobbies of hunting, fishing, kayaking and hiking as well as having her family relocate and join her in CO.

Last year, BVSD began a new program of providing counselors in elementary schools. This year, Kristen Kron has come to NES to fulfill that roll. She brings a Master’s Degree in School Counseling Clinical Mental Health from University of Colorado. A 16 year Boulder resident, Kristen had spent 10 years in the St. Vrain School System as an elementary school teacher. She was drawn to the position with NES due to her familiarity and love for the Nederland community after many years of visiting and because she liked Principal Reckert immediately upon meeting her during her interview. Kristen intends to indulge her passion for the outdoors through her recent acquisition of the IKON pass.

Sara Sandstrom-Kobi has committed to filling the ELD position this year. Sara is originally from Indiana and grew up in South Dakota and Wisconsin.
While most of her experience teaching is in Secondary Education Social Studies, she also taught in Slovakia for years. Sara has also taught in Charlotte, NC, Houston, TX and Leadville, CO. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies Education from Concordia University-St. Paul, MN and her Master’s Degree from CU-Boulder in ELL/Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity. Sara spent 8 years out of the classroom and is now excited to not only have her own children enrolled at NES but also to get back to teaching.

Fourth grade teacher Katie Volkmar is in her sixth year as an educator. She has three children, two dogs and a husband. The family lives in Boulder. She says she is excited by the project-based, experiential philosophy at NES.

“This is the right time and the right place for me. The students spend time outdoors. I love the view out of my classroom window.” Volkmar earned her BA in American literature and her MA in English at Middlebury College in Vermont. She acquired her teacher license at CU-Boulder.

Before teachers can even begin teaching, the NES custodial staff goes to work polishing floors, washing windows, getting last year’s gunk off the desks and shelves and cubbies. This year, NES has a new chief, custodian.  William Rosenbaum who lives in Lafayette but doesn’t mind the commute.

“I moved here from New York four years ago. I hate New York. I find the kids to be nicer up here, more respectful. Everything is going well so far.”

Rosenbaum had worked for the BVSD for the past four years, at Fairview High School and at Ryan Elementary. The NES office staff are already calling him, “Mr. Everything.”

NES and the Nederland community are fortunate to be a draw to such remarkable, talented people. We look forward to benefitting from the newest arrivals!

(Originally published in the September 13, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)