Ya’aa’teeh! 

My name is Ms. Sherri. I originate from Arizona off the Navajo nation from a special place call Wide Ruins. I moved to Durango in 2017. I’m apart of the Fort Lewis College alumni, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I am a mother to 2 sweet boys, Shane and Isaiah. I love spending time with my family, napping, hiking, and running the trails of Durango. I’ve been apart of the spirited Juniper School community for 3 years as a paraprofessional. I’m also a Native American liaison for the Juniper School with the district Title IV. With the new school year, I’m looking forward to building relationships with students and families! 

I'm so excited for another wonderful year at Juniper! Originally from the Denver area, I moved to Durango in the 70's to get my teaching degree, but decided to stay and raise a family when I met Ken, my husband now of 46 years. We have two wonderful boys who were lucky enough to grow up in this beautiful part of Colorado. We feel so blessed to be able to call Durango home for almost a half a century!

This is my 3rd year as a part of Juniper's stellar SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) team, but have been a Durango  educator in some capacity since the 1990's: 20 years as a 9-R elementary classroom teacher, 11 years as the 9-R district professional development and curriculum coordinator, 5 years as a mindfulness teacher, and 6 years working for La Plata Youth Services as a Restorative Practices facilitator at the middle and elementary school levels. I honestly cannot think of a better place to wind down my long educational career than here at Juniper with our amazing staff, great students and incredibly supportive families!

My name is Anna Perreault, and I am excited to join the Juniper Crew this year as a paraprofessional! I started my teaching experience as an Educator at the Texas Zoo in Victoria, Texas. I graduated in December of ‘24 with a Bachelors in Biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi before moving into the Durango area to be closer to family. I am passionate about wildlife biology and love to spend time with my family. My hobbies are birdwatching, embroidery, and reading. I am so excited to join the community and learn more about the Durango area!

I’m Lesley Ogburn, the counselor at Juniper School. I’ve been an elementary school counselor for 19 years, and am a certified mindfulness/meditation teacher. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology, with school counseling, as my area of specialization. I am passionate about using mindfulness, brain science, and trauma informed practices to guide my work. My husband, Matt, and I have lived in Durango for 14 years and love our community! I love snowboarding, paddle boarding, rafting, camping, hiking, spending time on the beach, and swimming in the warm waters in Costa Rica in the summers. I’m grateful to be a part of the Juniper family!

My name is Korinne Orris and I am excited to revamp my teaching career as the new Special Education teacher at Juniper.

Coming from a background in Early Childhood Education (ECE) where I worked in many capacities with children ages birth-6 has helped to prepare me for this next endeavor.  I began my career working in ECE after graduating from Fort Lewis with a BA in Psychology and a minor in French.  Having no idea what to do with a psych degree led me to taking a position as an Assistant Preschool teacher in Steamboat Springs.  I knew quickly that was the path I needed to pursue and continued my education, eventually becoming Director qualified. During that time I relocated in search of my mostly permanent place to call home.  I found myself back in Durango where I have now planted my roots. 

After working in ECE for 20 years, I was ready to make a change and find something more aligned with my role as a mom which led me to seeking my Masters of Arts in Special Education.  Having completed my student teaching here last year has set me up for a successful and seamless transition to this role.

I am also a proud Juniper parent!  My step-daughter Kylie is an alumni currently attending Escalante, my oldest son Rhyker is in 4th grade, my daughter Katalina is in 1st grade and my youngest Maverick is finishing his last year of preschool at Florida Mesa.  We love living here for the same reason as many, the plethora of outdoor activities and beautiful scenery. 

Hello Hello! I am incredibly excited to be joining the Juniper School this year, doing a little bit of everything as a “Super Sub” and Para! After growing up in Missouri, I attended the University of Arkansas, where I graduated with a B.S. in Educational Studies. My passion for education has primarily led me to work in outdoor and informal education spaces, which is part of the reason I moved to the mountains as quickly as possible after graduating! I love trail running, reading, biking, swimming, skiing, exploring mountains with my friends, and eating lots of yummy food afterward. Being back in the world of education full-time has made my heart happy, and I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful school!

I moved to Colorado from New Hampshire 13 years ago to attend Fort Lewis College where I received my bachelors in elementary education. Aside from the schooling I fell in love with all Durango had to offer. I am a highly active person who loves the outdoors. I spend my free time with my dog and Husband hiking, skiing, fly fishing, paddle boarding, and enjoying all the beauties of nature Durango has to offer. This will be my 10th year teaching and seventh year at Juniper. I am excited to be stepping into a new role at TJS. This year I will be the MTSS and GT coordinator, working with students in intervention cycles and growing the school's Gifted and Talented program!

Hi- I’m Sue Kaplan and I’ll be a paraprofessional this year. I’ve spent most of my life working in education including many places here in Durango, where I’ve lived since 1997. I have degrees in early childhood and an elementary teacher license from Fort Lewis College. I have two teenage daughters that I love to spend time with. I love to hike, paddle board and walk with friends on the Animas River Trail. I’m super excited to join the Juniper team!