Our Team

Michelle is a Colorado native and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Metropolitan State College with a minor in Reading, and she earned her teaching credentials in 1994. She has 17+ years of experience in education. Michelle has been with Accelerated Schools since 2012 in many different positions, including in the classroom, enrolling students, and on the admin team. She recruits and enrolls new students and provides academic and behavioral support for students and parents. When she is not at school, Michelle enjoys studying genealogy and traveling.

Evan Simpson was born and raised in Colorado and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He has worked as a youth counselor and mentor for traditional schools as well as outdoor education programs and is now in his thirteenth year of classroom teaching. As Principal, his goal is to create the best possible learning environment for our diverse body of learners. He works to have students engaged in their own education by helping them find their passions and interests.

Joshua Warren is the Assistant Principal at Accelerated Schools and a lifelong educator with a passion for helping students and teachers grow. He began tutoring mathematics at the age of 14 and has spent more than a decade in the classroom teaching students with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds. Before entering education full-time, Josh worked as a software designer, an experience that continues to shape his analytical approach to problem-solving and instruction. He believes that every student can succeed when they feel understood, challenged, and supported.

As Assistant Principal, Josh is committed to fostering a school culture built on trust, collaboration, and continuous growth. He values strong relationships with students, families, and staff, and strives to create an environment where both educators and learners can thrive. Originally from Houston, Texas, Josh relocated to Colorado with his partner of more than 22 years and is proud to be part of the Accelerated Schools community.

Raechel teaches all-school Expressive Fine Arts, and high school Art History. She also co-teaches High School Psychology. Raechel has a Bachelor’s in Art with a Minor in Psychology and has worked as a barber, hairstylist, and painting instructor. During her time in college, she received several scholarships and joined a few honor societies. One of the scholarships she earned allowed her to study Studio Art and Art History in Barcelona, Spain. Raechel believes that learning is a lifelong process and is very eager to share that with the young people here at Accelerated Schools. In addition to Raechel’s ability to teach diverse subject matter to a wide range of students, her grandmother taught at Accelerated teaching math and chemistry. Since then, the history and community of the school has held a special intrigue for her.

Aisling O’Brien recently joined Accelerated Schools as an English Language Arts and social studies teacher. She is from Dublin, Ireland but has lived in the United States for the last six years. Aisling has worked as an educator at second and third level for over two decades, specializing in English and the Humanities. Her background includes several years teaching the AP and IB curricula. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree, she also earned a Master’s degree and has spent some time working on a Ph.D. in Sociology. Aisling enjoys spending time outdoors in nature and embraces every opportunity to travel the world. She has both lived and worked in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Rome, Italy. She is an animal lover so unsurprisingly, she adores her two rescue cats.

Kate Oh has always wanted to experience traveling around the world and living in different countries. As soon as she received a Bachelor’s in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder, she decided to go back to South Korea to become a bridge between Korea and the US to help promote Korean brand products to the US. She started teaching English to students and adults to communicate and write essays and business letters.

Later, she played a central role and took a leadership role in marketing and establishing business partnerships in different sectors, such as Information Technology and Biotechnology. She has taught ESL for over 20 years and has always had a passion for education. She transitioned her career to work in an International School in South Korea in 2010. She also earned her leadership in International School Marketing, Admissions and Recruitment, Business Management, Strategic Planning, Accreditation Processes, Exchange Programs, and Community Outreach.

Kyle Pepper serves as the Middle School Social Studies and High School History teacher, Enrollment Counselor, and Activities Coordinator at Accelerated Schools. Kyle is originally from Houston, TX and moved to Colorado in August 2009. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Human Resource Management from the University of Denver.

Kyle has over ten years of experience in teaching in private and public schools all over the Denver Metro Area and has been working at Accelerated Schools since August 2019. When he’s not teaching, Kyle loves to snowboard, attend concerts, and hang out with his wife and two dogs (and soon to be daughter!). Kyle’s favorite thing about teaching is seeing students experience those “lightbulb” moments when students master a new concept or become interested in and/or passionate about the subject matter.

Julia Potocnjak-Overn serves as the Lead Science Teacher at Accelerated Schools in Denver, Colorado. With a robust background in molecular biology, neurogenetics research, and community outreach, Julia brings a dynamic, hands-on approach to STEM education. She specializes in creating inclusive, project-based learning experiences—ranging from forensic science, genetics labs to water filtration and sustainable agriculture projects—tailored to support all learners, including neurodivergent students. An advocate for accessibility in science and mental health equity, she also co-founded community programs and secured critical nonprofit grant funding.

Julia is also a member of the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Civil Rights Division-Americans With Disabilities Act Office. Her priority is making transit options accessible to youth, young adults who face barriers in getting to school, work or transition programs while dealing with physical limitations or neurodiverse challenges. This work is based on her own experiences navigating RTD systems in Boulder County with mobility challenges.

Zach Saipe grew up in Denver and attended a few different alternative schools all the way through university, which set him up to take a unique, largely project based, approach to education. Zach studied Environmental Studies at Naropa University and Education at Adams State. Outside of teaching, he has been active in sustainable and community agriculture and is always taking steps to bring that practice together with what he teaches at a school level.

Once, while traveling through Central America, Zach wound up in a Panamanian hospital for several nights. Though not sharing much language with the Panamanian Indigenous nurses, he felt genuinely cared for and comfortable in an otherwise harrowing situation. This feeling of comfort and support has led him to spend time living abroad, learning about other cultures and ways of life. It’s his goal to inspire his students to go out into the world, to meet people, and to have first hand experiences.

Debby has a Masters in Education from Framingham State University in Massachusetts. Debby started her teaching career in Fairfax, VA, where she worked for 13 years as a Kindergarten, First, and Second-grade teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. Debby was the Science Lead teacher at Flint Hill Elementary in Vienna, VA, where she helped her school become a Green School. Debby moved to Denver in 2013 and recently left Denver Public Schools, where she worked as a First Grade teacher for three years.

Craig is a skilled tradesman with over 21 years of experience in new home construction. He spent 13 years serving as Facilities Manager at Bear Creek Church in Lakewood, Colorado. Craig also worked with special needs students twice a week from the local High School by offering a Community Living course, which helped to prepare the students for living independently.

John Jarvinen is a Colorado native who recently returned to Colorado after spending the last few years overseeing sales for a major renewable energy firm. He brings a dynamic and diverse background having worked as the Varsity Chess Coach for a city-wide chess program, a youth mentor in outdoor education, and a nationally touring musician. John’s leadership extends to the non-profit sector, where he directed fundraising efforts for organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Rocky Mountain PBS. He studied Film at Montana State University and attended Berklee College of Music with a focus in piano performance. In his free time, John enjoys skiing, playing music, and spending time with his wife watching sumo wrestling.

Kayla Presnal is the Office Manager at Accelerated Schools. She is a Colorado native and earned a Bachelor of Psychology degree from Metropolitan State University and a Master’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Development from Capella University. Kayla has been with Accelerated Schools since Fall 2022 and has a wide range of roles at Accelerated Schools. These roles include day to day finance operations such as Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, updating social media for the school, and many other administrative duties. She is also responsible for maintaining office and classroom supplies and equipment. Kayla’s favorite hobbies include reading, nature walks in the mountains with her dog and family, and finding a local dog friendly patio to enjoy the Colorado evenings with her husband and baby. Her favorite part about working at Accelerated Schools is the opportunity to help foster students’ educational growth.