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 a part 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 a part 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! 

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. 

I'm so excited for another fantastic 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 of 48 years. I have a BA in elementary education and a MA in Curriculum and Supervision with a minor in Literacy.

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! I have been a Durango educator since the 1980's working in various roles, but always focused on nurturing the social and emotional development of our beautiful Durango elementary and middle school students. That’s the work that I love and have been immersed in for decades now.

​As the part-time Social Emotional Learning Specialist here at Juniper, I work closely with our school counselor, teachers, support staff and administration to support all our student’s diverse social and emotional needs.  I love this school and am looking forward to, once again, being a part of this inspiring community of dedicated staff, amazing students, and incredibly supportive families! 

Hi- I’m Sue Kaplan, a paraprofessional for my third year at Juniper. 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 young adult daughters. I love to hike, paddle board and walk with friends on the Animas River Trail. I love supporting students at Juniper! 

I moved to Colorado from New Hampshire 15 years ago to attend Fort Lewis College, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Along the way, I fell in love with Durango and all it has to offer. I’m an active person who loves the outdoors and spending time with my husband, daughter, and our dog, hiking, skiing, fly fishing, paddle boarding, and enjoying the beauty of Southwest Colorado.

This will be my 12th year teaching and my ninth year at Juniper. I’m excited to step into my new role as the MTSS and GT Coordinator, where I’ll work with students in small groups across grades K–8 to provide targeted intervention and support our Gifted and Talented programming. I’m excited for this opportunity to continue supporting our students and helping them thrive!

Hi! My name is Autumn, and I’m so happy to join The Juniper School community! Born in West Virginia, I became a Colorado transplant in high school and later earned my undergraduate degree at Fort Lewis College. After heading off to Portland, Oregon, to earn my master’s in School Counseling from Lewis & Clark College, the magic of La Plata County pulled me back home 16 years ago. Since then, I’ve had the absolute joy of supporting students at local schools like Fort Lewis Mesa and Sunnyside Elementary.

When I’m not at school, you can usually find me camping, hiking, backpacking, gardening, creating or embarking on fun outdoor adventures with my partner. At home, life is wonderfully filled with two dogs, two cats, and a bundle of chickens! La Plata County is such a special place to live, and I can’t wait for an incredible year of growing, learning, and making memories with the wonderful school family at Juniper!