3rd Grade

Blue Spruce Classroom

Ms. Stacey

I moved to Durango in 2012 for the gorgeous scenery, small town feel,  and active lifestyle. I am starting my 10th year teaching in this amazing place and can't wait to grow alongside my students. I have been with Juniper since it opened in 2017 and am excited to continue the journey! I earned my Bachelor's of Science in education from Wilmington College of Ohio with specialties in English Language Arts and Science.  I am also an Orton-Gillingham trained reading instructor.  I attained my Master's Degree in Teacher Leadership from Fort Lewis College in the Summer of 2021.  Teaching is my calling and my passion.  Building a strong sense of belonging and community is one of the first priorities in my classroom!  I also love getting kids actively learning in the great outdoors, and Durango is the perfect place to do so!

4th Grade

Painted Turtles Classroom

Ms. Erica

Hi all! I’m excited to kick off another year at Juniper. This school and community truly mean so much to me. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arizona Global Campus. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of working one on one with students, teaching kindergarten, 6th and 7th grade science, and now my favorite, fourth grade!

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Outside of the classroom, you can often find me mountain biking, road biking, skiing, reading, or cooking. What I value most about teaching are those “ah ha” moments when a concept finally clicks for a student. Those moments inspire me to keep growing, learning, and becoming the best teacher I can be.

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My door is always open, stop in and say hello!

5th Grade

Bighorn Sheep

Classroom

Ms. Schwartz

Ms. Schwartz is excited to join The Juniper School as a 5th grade teacher! She recently moved to Durango from Paonia, Colorado, where she taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in a Waldorf-inspired school. Her teaching career has also taken her around the world, including several years teaching in Guatemala and Colombia. She holds a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming and is passionate about creating a classroom where students feel known, supported, challenged, and excited to learn.

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Ms. Schwartz loves hands-on and experiential learning, creativity, humor, and building a strong classroom community. Outside of school, she enjoys yoga, reading, cooking, live music, exploring her new Durango community, and spending time with her dog, Jomama. She is thrilled to be part of the Juniper community and is looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, laughter, and adventure with her 5th graders!