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Santiago Grado

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND TEACHER

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Language & Education Training Center (1990-2002), Principal of Elementary and Secondary Schools, as well as Director and Board Member for Charter Schools. Vice Chair for the Colorado Association of Latino(a) Administrators and Superintendents, and Educational Leadership Mentor for Principals and Assistant Principals and aspiring teachers that want to become leaders.

 

Santiago R. Grado is an enthusiastic, motivated and powerful advocate whose entrepreneurial instincts and clarity of vision have carried multiple projects through rapid and continuous growth.

  

Santiago started his first business, a school for at-risk, dropout, expelled and migrant students, and has been an unstoppable advocate for children and parents ever since. From being an Executive Director for Hollingsead International, an Aerospace company, Santiago transitioned into the Educational arena starting as a teacher for A+/Network + certification and Economics for the Arizona Alliance of Business. He quickly moved into creating a computer-aided software program teaching English as a Second Language, which led him in establishing, The Language & Education Training Center where he succeeded in providing ESL, CTE and GED instruction for 12 years before moving to Morrison, Colorado.

 

Santiago is distinguished by his passion for ethical business practices, his focus on collaborative team-building, and his commitment to meeting higher student achievement and student/teacher buy-in. His contagious enthusiasm instills him and his team members with extraordinary energy and dedication in an environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged. Santiago does not just set out ambitious goals, he motivates people to deliver. 

 

Santiago has achieved outstanding personal and team results. He finds his greatest motivation in coaching others to perform above and beyond expectations.  His success formula for Excellence in Execution is | 10% Strategy (Improvise - planning it) | 40% Consistency (Adapt - sticking to it) | 50% Execution (Overcome - getting it done)

 

A Motivational & Dynamic Transformational Leader, Santiago enjoys mentoring students, parents, teachers and administrators. He transmits key concepts in Business Innovation supported by smart adoption of technology (Blended Learning) with emphasis on increasing student achievement, gaining student, parent, teacher buy-in and ownership, and helping those individuals who have dropped out of school regain their opportunity for a second chance.  

Loriann Grado

TEACHER AND NURSE

Loriann Grado is the co-owner, a CDA certified early childhood teacher and nurse at Aspen Park Montessori. She has been a woman’s health nurse for close to 30 years, working specifically in Labor and Delivery over the past 26 years.  Working in such a dynamic atmosphere, she has learned many important and invaluable lessons.  Working in a fast paced and demanding environment, multi-tasking and critical thinking are a few of the vital skills required to safeguard the patients’ health and safety.  Loriann would have to, on a daily basis, evaluate various scenarios and act quickly in emergency situations.  Ultimately, she is responsible for two lives, the mom and baby.
 
Loriann has taught and oriented many new-experienced nurses over the years.  She is certified to teach fetal monitoring and has taken lead roles as relief charge nurse and unit-based counsel coordinator. Teaching is truly a passion of hers, and one that she wishes to nourish.
 
Loriann knows that communication is key to any successful endeavor and makes this a core component at Aspen Park Montessori.  Forging healthy relationships with fellow team members, parents, and children is vital to establishing trust and confidence.  Once these qualities are established, anything is possible, and the sky is the limit.
 
Since 2019 when the school opened, Loriann has had the opportunity to work in the classroom as well as help run the school.  Working with other teachers has given her the opportunity to learn about early childhood teaching methodology and practice.  As she aided and helped in the classroom, she found a passion in working with young children.  She finds it rewarding to see the enthusiasm and joy each child demonstrates as concepts and new materials are understood and learning moves to the next level.  She considers it an honor to be a part of your child’s education.   As a result, Loriann went back to online school to become a certified early childhood teacher.  Loriann recently was awarded her certification as a CDA (Childhood Developmental Associate).  Loriann is now certified to teach early childhood.  She is now working toward her Director’s license. 
 

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Benjamin Grado

INFANT TEACHER

Benjamin is the youngest child of Loriann and Santiago Grado that gives from his heart and cares deeply about children. He is the epitome of a kind, gentle, compassionate, and empathetic soul.

Ben went to High School here in our beautiful mountain community, Conifer. Throughout High School, Ben had a passion for sports, specifically Springboard Diving. This helped mold him into the driven, passionate and hard working young adult he is today. He received an athletic scholarship to attend The University of Arizona where he began his studies in Nursing. Athletics however, provided different opportunities for Ben and he got his B.S in Psychology with a double minor in sociology and human nutrition.

After college, Ben truly ran away with the circus as he was offered a job to perform in one of Cirque Du Soleil's top shows in Las Vegas, the "O" show. After 5 years, Ben began to focus his thoughts into building a family he has longed for. It was at this time that Ben moved back to Colorado to begin his journey of starting a family. On his own in 2020, Ben welcomed his first child Evie into the world through the process of IVF. Ben had a big year in 2024, marrying his husband Bryan and welcoming their second child into the world, Theo. Both Evie and Theo attend APM, truly making it a family affair.  

 

During the years Ben has been in Colorado, he has worked into management roles with businesses that engage with children as that has always been a passion Ben has had. Ben has incredible patience and understanding as he partakes in every activity at school, bringing much to the classroom. All the children truly love him as do staff at APM.

Ms. Jessica

TEACHER AID

Hello! I'm Ms. Jessica, a Bailey native and proud mom to a nine-year-old boy. Growing up on a small cattle ranch just outside of Bailey, I developed a love for animals and the outdoors. When I'm not with my son, I enjoy spending time with my family and our animals.

 

After high school, I moved to Denver and discovered my passion for teaching as an assistant preschool teacher from 2014 to 2018. After a brief career change, I returned to the field in 2020, and I'm thrilled to be back!

 

Fun facts about me: I was Park County Rodeo Queen in 2013-2014, barrel raced for seven years, and was actively involved in 4-H for 13 years, raising and showing cattle, chickens, pigs, sheep, and horses! My favorite colors are purple and turquoise, I love Italian and seafood, and one of my favorite places is Maroon Bells.

 

I genuinely enjoy working with children and find it incredibly rewarding to watch them learn and grow. I can't wait to meet your little ones and be a part of their journey!

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Simi

TEACHER AID

Hello, my name is Simi. I have extensive experience in childcare, having worked as a nanny, managed both large and small daycare centers, taught preschool, volunteered with the National Sports Center for the Disabled teaching skiing. Additionally, I had an in-home daycare for several years and most recently I was an ISP in a kindergarten classroom.  I am dedicated to continuous professional development through training and classes to keep up with advancements in childcare and education.

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My educational philosophy integrates diverse curriculum aspects, with a strong belief that play is the most effective tool for teaching. My goal is to nurture children's social and emotional skills, problem-solving abilities, and cooperative interactions while fostering their independence and critical thinking. I achieve this through role play, engaging learning environments, and inclusive crafts for all children. Observing children's growth and the application of acquired knowledge in their lives is deeply rewarding for me.

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In my personal life, I enjoy attending music festivals, camping, spending time at rivers and lakes, exploring new places, and being with friends and family.  I have two children, aged seven and three, as well as two dogs. Having resided in the area for many years, I am enthusiastic about joining the Aspen Park Montessori team and strongly support its vision.

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Aspen Park iMontessori does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

©2019 by Aspen Park iMontessori.

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