Contact UPES Staff (PDF)
Deb Yagmin, Ed.D., Principal Ute Pass Elementary
Dr. Yagmin graduated from Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri with a music education degree. After five years in the Air Force, she attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington earning a Master’s in Education degree and later her doctorate in educational leadership and curriculum from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Deb was the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) representative to the Colorado Department of Education’s No Child Left Behind communications committee in 2003.
Mrs. Mowery
Candy Mowery is the GATE teacher at Ute Pass Elementary School. She has taught in the Manitou School District for the last five years, and before that in Denver Public Schools for 35 years! Yes, you did the math right?this is her 40th year teaching! And still she cannot imagine life without her students! Candy is a native of Denver, graduating from South High School and attending the University of Colorado on a Shakespearean Drama Scholarship! Candy received her first education degree in English at the University of Western Washington in Bellingham, WA! She has received numerous other degrees in Elementary Education, Curriculum and Instruction and Gifted/Talented Education from the University of Northern Colorado! Her favorite subject to teach is Shakespeare, but she also loves writing plays, Destination ImagiNation, Greek, modern and classic theatre, and reading! Her husband, Loyd, teaches American Literature at Cripple Creek/Victor High School. She has four grown children, all teachers! And the two that are married, married teachers! Well, her oldest is a Principal now, after teaching Middle School English for many years! Candy is a huge volunteer: as the Regional Director for the Pikes Peak Destination ImagiNation, and she and Loyd are missionaries to the Honduras during the summer! Do you want to help/support her in either of these endeavors?
Mrs. Christensen
Staci has been teaching fourth and fifth grade multi-age for 14 years at Ute Pass Elementary. It is a pleasure for her to come to work each day to work with her students in all academic subject areas. She received her Teacher Certification from the University of Southern Colorado and her Masters degree in Gifted and Talented Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado. She is a native to Colorado Springs, is married, and has three dogs. Staci enjoys the outdoors, running, practicing photography, and good books.
Mrs. Hitchcock
Randi Hitchcock has been teaching PE since 2004 and has been at Ute Pass since 2006. She loves all sports especially volleyball and running! Her favorite units to teach in PE are volleyball, cooperative games, HEART maze, juggling and field day! Randi is a graduate of Fountain-Ft. Carson High School and an Alumni of the University of Maine, Orono. Her coaching background includes volleyball and track and field. Some of her favorite things about Ute Pass is that she can name every student, students draw and color posters for her door, and she also likes learning about all of the after school and weekend activities that the students participate in!
Mrs. Haeseker
Kathryn Haeseker is currently a Reading Interventionist teacher at Ute Pass Elementary School. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska and a Master’s Degree from Indiana University. Kathryn loves to read, hike, and travel in her spare time. Her husband, John, and Kathryn are avid Nebraska Cornhusker fans.
Mr. Barbera
Michael Barbera is in his fifth year as first grade teacher at Ute Pass Elementary School. He enjoys the challenges and creativity of all of his students and can’t imagine life before first grade. He has a Bachelor of University Studies degree from the University of New Mexico and a Masters degree in Education from Regis University. Prior to teaching, Mr. Barbera was a custom goldsmith and co-owner of Barbera/Light Works, a design studio.
Mrs. Fryt
I am a Manitou Springs school district alumnus, K-12. After graduating from Manitou, I attended the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado State University seeking a degree in Art. In the pursuit of Art, I spent a semester over in Italy studying art and language near Florence. As a result of my studies, I ended up staying in Italy for 21 years, working as a graphic artist, tour guide, and starting a family. My return to Colorado came after my father passed away in ‘02. I have been working as a Paraprofessional both at Manitou Elementary and Ute Pass Elementary since ‘03. I am presently working at Ute Pass Elementary in the Title I department. My husband is a Manitou Alumni and classmate; my daughter Federica, is a sophomore at Manitou High School. I enjoy horseback riding, skiing, and traveling.
Ms. Luna
Cindy Luna has been around for a long time, over 20 years, working in Special Education and loving it. She started in Pinedale, California and moved to southern Colorado in the year 2000. After working in LaVita and Aguilar, she moved to Colorado Springs where Dr. Yagmin pulled her job application and asked her to come on board here at Ute Pass Elementary. Cindy feels she is working with an outstanding team and hopes to continue for a long, long time.
Mrs. Hainds
As secretary, Dani has had the privilege of working and watching over the students of Ute Pass Elementary for 16 years. She is a Colorado native (with the exception of 7 years in Alaska) and graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in Political Science and Sociology. She has three daughters, all Manitou graduates, Chandra (2000), Christa (2000), and Katelyn (2004). She and her husband Mike are avid runners and love living in the mountains with so many great trails right out their front door.
Mr. DiFiore
Mr. DiFiore is in his fifteenth year of teaching fourth and fifth grade students at Ute Pass Elementary. He attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and his teaching certificate in 1995. He loves teaching and working in our wonderful small school where the students call him Mr. D. He has lived for eighteen years in Manitou Springs with his wife and two children. He loves to travel and share those experiences with his students. His other interests are hiking, biking, gardening, and reading.
Ms. Cody
Kelli Cody is a Special Education Para for the past 3 years at Ute Pass Elementary. Before coming to UPE, Ms. Cody had taught art in New York and New Hampshire for eight years. Ms. Cody is married to Robert and has 2 children, Barrett and Haven, both are students at UPE. Ms. Cody loves being in the classroom and spending her days with the students.
Mr. Pletsch
Jonathan Pletsch is a paraprofessional in the Special Education department at Ute Pass. He moved to Colorado ten years ago after earning an English degree from the University of Illinois, and he has recently returned to school to obtain a Master’s in Elementary Education. Mr. Pletsch enjoys camping, hiking, running marathons, attending music concerts and watching movies with his wife, Hethyr, and his dog, Garr.
Mrs. Romano
Beth Romano is currently in her ninth year teaching art at Ute Pass Elementary School. She is a thirty- year veteran in the teaching field, having taught in both private and public schools in elementary education, gifted, and art education before joining the Ute Pass team in 2001. She is married to Jim Romano and has four daughters, all graduates of Manitou High School. Beth and Jim have a two-year-old granddaughter and love spending time with her. Beth loves painting in her free time, as well as singing and playing the flute and cello. She is involved in music ministry in her church and working with a local organization for adolescents, in the arts. She loves teaching at Ute Pass Elementary School and finds the small school setting a perfect environment for getting to know families in the Ute Pass and Manitou communities.
Mrs. Grieb
Lynn Grieb has been teaching at Ute Pass Elementary since 1994, with a couple breaks to have children of her own. Lynn was born in Virginia, moved to Colorado to attend Colorado State University, fell in love with the Colorado mountains and never left. Lynn has taught kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades and now has settled into pre-kindergarten, which she really enjoys. She is married and has two wonderful children who attend UPE. Lynn loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog, hiking, running, biking, skiing, camping, and reading.
Mrs. Rockwell
Mary Kay has been teaching elementary school for 8 years. She received her B.A. in History from the University of Kansas and her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. After spending nearly 20 years in legal publishing, as an editor and publisher, she decided to return to school to become a teacher. She attended DePaul University’s Teacher Education Program in Chicago while working for the American Bar Association, and became certified in Colorado in 2001. After teaching third grade in Harrison School District for one year, she joined the staff of Ute Pass Elementary School where she has taught both second and third grades. She is committed to making the entire Ute Pass staff and student body dedicated Kansas Jayhawk basketball fans.
Mrs. Nimz
Kathy Nimz is in her 15th year serving as School Counselor for Ute Pass Elementary School. Kathy attended Manitou Schools, and graduated from MSHS. She went on to graduate from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy. She loves school so much she also has two Masters Degrees, one from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for a Masters in Social Work, and one from Bridgewater State College for a Masters in Education in Guidance and Counseling. Prior to working at Ute Pass Elementary she has worked in Counseling and in Hospital Social Work. Working with the kids at Ute Pass is a pleasure. She also enjoys hiking, reading and family trips. She is married, and has two wonderful daughters who also attended Manitou Schools.
Ms. McNeal
Tina McNeal has been teaching 3rd grade or a 2/3 combo here at Ute Pass Elementary for 7 years. Prior to coming to the Manitou district, she taught in Colorado Springs and in Kansas City, Kansas. She has taught all grades K through 5 during her 12-year career. Ms. McNeal completed her teacher training at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1995. UCO has been preparing teachers since 1890. Ms. McNeal is very passionate about math and strives to create, if not a love, a better understanding of mathematical thinking among her students. Her daughter, Nichole, lives in Denver where she attends college. Her dogs, Buddy and Shelby, however, still live at home.
Mrs. Ferguson
Kym Ferguson has been teaching kindergarten at Ute Pass Elementary for 10 years. She taught for her first three years in Texas after graduating from the University of Houston. She grew up in Colorado and has two daughters one at Manitou Springs H.S. and the other in college. Kym likes to hike, cook, read and has too many pets to count! She loves teaching in such a wonderful small school.
Ms. McCloskey
Ms. Debra McCloskey has been the Media Tech/Librarian at Ute Pass Elementary for nine years. Throughout those nine years she has had many opportunities to attend fuller education conferences such as the week long Technology In Education, Colorado Association of Librarians, CCIRA, Librarian Days, Bureau of Education and Research courses such as 21st Century Strategies for Strengthening Your School Library Program and district education courses. The responsibilities of this position are ever changing and challenging, teaching Information Literacy and supporting our teachers curriculum. She states that it is an honor to be part of the Ute Pass faculty and a significant part of each and every child’s journey through their elementary years.
Mrs. Woloszyn
Emily Woloszyn has been the music teacher at Ute Pass Elementary for the past ten years. She comes from a musical family so music has always been a big part of her life. Emily truly enjoys teaching music at Ute Pass Elementary. The children have performed over twenty musical events directed by her. Emily has been involved in elementary education for more than thirty years. She has worn many “hats” as an educator. Some of the things she has done include- 3rd and 1st grade teacher, teacher of science for gifted and talented children, preschool through 5th grade substitute teacher, teacher’s aide, reading/math tutor, and private flute and recorder teacher. Emily has lived in Manitou School District since 1991. She has two grown children- both are Manitou graduates. In her spare time Emily enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and playing her flute.
Mrs. Reiter
Debra Reiter has been the Computer Tech at Ute Pass Elementary for the last six years. She maintains the technology at the school and enjoys working with the students while integrating technology into all subject areas. Prior to moving to Colorado she and her husband, Douglas, owned one of the top rubber stamp manufacturing companies until they sold it, to retire, in 2001. She is ever searching for new technology tools and enjoys working on numerous family trees.
