District Leadership

Our Leadership Team is comprised of the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, CFO, four building Principals, Director of Student Success, Director of Technology, Director of Food Service, Director of Transportation, Manager of Facilities, Director of Connect14 and Athletic and Activities Director. The Leadership Team is responsible for the daily operations of the school district and for the successful implementation of all student programs and services.

It is our goal to provide exceptional service to every student, parent, and employee each and every day.

Eric McMartin, Interim Superintendent

I was born and raised in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, just east of Eugene. My mother, aunt, and grandmother were all educators and so I have continued the tradition. After graduating high school I attended Lane Community College then transferred to and earned my Bachelor's Degree in Education from Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR. Upon graduation, I took my initial job search east and received an offer to teach 1st grade in Harrison School District. I spent the first 10 years of my career in HSD2 as a teacher, instructional coach, and district assessment coordinator. Following this tenure in Harrison I spent the next five years as the K-12 Assessment Coordinator in Widefield School District. Immediately prior to being hired in Manitou Springs, I served as the assistant principal of Bricker Elementary, again in HSD2. I earned my Master's Degree from UCCS while training to be an administrator. In my time outside of work I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife, Melissa, and our two children; Henry (11) and Claire (7) as well as mountain biking, trail running, and skiing. Though I've only been a Mustang a short amount of time, this position feels like home. Thank you to everyone in the school district and community that have welcomed me with open arms.

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Suzi Thompson, CFO

suzi Suzi was born and raised in Colorado, primarily in Woodland Park. After 7 years working in the corporate world, she realized that she wasn't fulfilled and needed to work in public service. Her mom was an elementary teacher and Suzi always had a passion for public education. She began her career in public education at Jeffco Public Schools in the Denver metro area as a Budget Analyst and finished her tenure at Jeffco as the Director of Budget & Treasury. Suzi moved to be closer to "home" and started her career with Manitou in 2017. Suzi earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Regis University in Denver. During her free time, Suzi enjoys watching sports, working out, traveling and spending time with family.
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Kolleen Johnson, Director of Student Success

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Kolleen has been an educator since the 1997-1998 school year. In her tenure she has taught PK-21 year olds. She began her career teaching students in special education especially those with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Kolleen has served as an Assistant Principal at Manitou Springs High School and now is the Director of Student Success for the district. Kolleen has lived in Manitou since 1997 and is married to RIck a 1992 graduate of Manitou Springs High School, she has two daughters that have attended District 14 schools since kindergarten. When not at work, Kolleen enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and following politics.
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Maria Masone, Manitou Springs Elementary School Principal

maria Maria Masone loves children and loves learning! She is a long-time Special Education teacher who believes all students can learn. She has a deep love of the Manitou Springs community and is proud to work alongside the talented staff at MSES. Maria spent her early years as an educational advocate for students with significant medical and educational needs as a Special Education mediator through the Arizona Department of Education. She has enjoyed her tenure at MSSD for the last 17 years as a Special Education teacher, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal. Maria is committed to whole child education at MSES and leading with her heart!

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Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Elementary School Principal

powell Jackie Powell grew up in Illinois where she attended Eastern Illinois University for a bachelor’s degree in Special Education with a dual endorsement in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. After teaching for 6 years in Illinois, Jackie moved to the Ute Pass area. She then obtained a Gifted Education specialist license and a master’s degree in Culturally Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) from CSU-Pueblo. She received the principal’s licensure through Wester State University.
She has taught Special Education, General Education, Title 1 Intervention, and served as a Literacy and Special Education coach. In 2018, Jackie began her career in administration as an assistant principal at Venetucci Elementary School. After two years in that role, she became the principal at Sunrise Elementary in Widefield School District 3, where she has served since 2020.
Jackie is a strong advocate for environmental education and outdoor education, while cultivating authentic relationships built on deep levels of trust. Her own children have attended Ute Pass Elementary since 2017, and she believes wholeheartedly in the benefit of children learning in the beautiful Colorado sunshine as much as possible! With extensive training in restorative practices, trauma Informed teaching, and instructional strategies, Jackie is ecstatic to collaborate and grow with the Ute Pass Elementary and Manitou Springs School District staff. When not playing basketball at recess, spending time in classrooms, or appreciating the incredible work educators do on a daily basis, you can find her reading, hiking, or camping- sometimes all at the same time! Jackie looks forward to using her core values and beliefs to extend the great work already happening at Ute Pass Elementary.
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Dustin Cady, Manitou Springs Middle School Principal

dustin Dustin is honored to serve as principal of Manitou Springs Middle School. He grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Dustin has a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of Oregon, a master’s degree in culturally and linguistically diverse education (CLDE) from CSU-Pueblo, and his principal licensure through Western State University. He began his education career teaching English internationally to middle and high school students in Seville, Spain. Since 2010, Dustin has been an educator in the Pikes Peak Region. Some of his past roles include 5th grade teacher, 3rd-7th grade CLDE teacher, and middle school boys and girls basketball coach. Most recently, Dustin served as an elementary school assistant principal in Harrison School District Two. Dustin’s core value of service to others is coupled with a deep sense of responsibility to help all students reach their full potential. When he is not at school, Dustin spends time with his toddler, Will, and his wife, Mary, who is also an educator. He loves to go trail running and fly fishing on the weekends. Dustin is a positive, connecting, committed school leader who strives to bring out the best in all members of the school community. Go Mustangs!
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Anna Conrad, Manitou Springs High School Interim Principal

Raised in the mountains of Colorado, Anna Conrad is thrilled to return to a small-town community as she transitions to the Interim Principal role at Manitou Springs High School. After graduating summa cum laude from Whitman College, Anna completed Teach For America and taught at Harrison High School (HHS) for eight years. During her career, she has taught six different English courses (including International Baccalaureate) and two AVID classes (a college and career readiness course). In 2016, Anna earned her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Critical Pedagogy in Urban Education from the University of Colorado, Denver. Furthermore, she attended the University of Denver Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program to earn her Principal’s License in 2018. Throughout the last five years, she has led curriculum writing and editing work as well as authoring a social-emotional curriculum specifically supporting freshmen. In addition to teaching students, Anna has deeply enjoyed partnering with staff as the HHS Instructional Coach (two years) and the HHS AVID Coordinator (three years). Anna is thrilled by the opportunity to learn alongside Manitou staff, students, and the community in partnership of pursuing Deep Learning, Relationships, and Opportunity, principles that closely mirror her personal core values of leadership, learning, and love. Outside of the classroom, Anna has been the Varsity Volleyball Coach, Junior Student Government Advisor, and Minds Matter at Harrison Site Director. In her free time, she loves backpacking, Nordic skiing, doing yoga, and reading. Anna was honored with CSML Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2018, HSD2 Teacher of the Year in 2019, and was a finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year 2021.
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Cathrine (Cat) Olimb, Director of Technology

cat Cathrine Olimb has been working at Manitou Springs School District 14 since 2005. She has a Business/Marketing degree from Wang Business School in Oslo and a degree in Graphic Design. Cat have lived in Oslo, Stockholm, Tel Aviv and The Hague. While living in Israel she was the Director of The American Embassy School and in The Netherlands she worked as the Technology Coordinator at the American School of The Hague. Cat brings more than 20 years of experience in the field of information technology and has a diverse background in both education and private industry. Cat has two children both graduates from Manitou, Anders graduated from CSU with a Business Degree and Emilie graduated from Virginia Tech with an engineering degree. Cat is an avid skier, mountain biker, hiker and she loves to camp.
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Sarah McAfee, Director of Human Resources

Sarah Sarah McAfee is honored to join the Manitou Springs School District community and serve as the Director of Human Resources. She is an experienced educational leader with a track record of building genuine relationships with students, teachers and families. Sarah has positive energy and a thoughtfulness that focuses on the importance that teachers and staff make the biggest difference on a child’s educational experience. Sarah is dedicated to supporting the district's core values. She believes that all people have brilliance and that in order to reach full potential we need to maximize the genius in all of us.

With almost two decades of experience in Colorado Springs area schools, Sarah joins us most recently from Falcon School District 49, where she served the past seven years as the Principal of Odyssey Elementary School. Prior to her time in D49, Sarah spent time in Douglas County School District as a principal, and Harrison School District where she served as an instructional coachand assistant principal.

Originally from Massachusetts, she attended undergraduate school at New England College. Soon after graduating Sarah began her educational career when moving to Colorado in 2002. She earned a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and her principal licensure from Adams State College. Sarah loves to spend time with her family and friends, walk her to two doodles, read, run and spend time in the mountains.

Paula Faucette, Director of Food Service

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Paula joined the District as Nutrition Services Director in 2005. She has been part of the food service industry for over 30 years. Paula is Chef of the Culinary Class she teaches for our high school students, and is active in Connect 14, as well as being active in the Wellness Committee, District-wide. She is married and has four children, three of whom are married, and four grandchildren. She loves to spend time with her family and her two pups.
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John Harden, Director of Transportation

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John has a long history with MSSD 14, he graduated from MSHS in 1988 he was very grateful for the opportunity MSHS gave him in is pursuing his career in Mechanics. John Joined the district in 1992 as the custodian at UPE. In 1993 he joined the transportation department and has been there since. John believes transportation is vital to education. He takes pride in making sure students with transportation needs are met. John is a team player and enjoys working not only with his staff but with all other departments in MSSD14. When not working to get kids to and from school safely, John loves to travel. His goal is to visit ever country in Europe.
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Stuart Cross, Manager of Facilities

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Stuart was born and raised in Colorado Springs and has worked in Manitou Schools since 2010. He started his time in Manitou working for the YMCA at Manitou Elementary, before moving into a Custodial role to join the District. From there, moved to Grounds, Grounds Coordinator, Day Tech Coordinator, and now the Manager of Facilities. Through his time in the District he has developed a love for the community and passion for service. His knowledge and experience in each position in Buildings and Grounds has generated a deep understanding of how valuable each position is and how to best organize the department to align with the Districts mission for success, and looks forward to building MSSD14 into a showcase District in the region. Stuart has hobbies that include his photography business, bicycles, cars, motorcycles, and mechanics.

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Danny Tramel, Director of Arts and Community Wellness & Connect 14 Coordinator

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Danny Tramel was born in Fort Hood, Texas and moved to Colorado Springs at the age of eleven. After graduating from Palmer High School, Mr. Tramel attended the University of Northern Colorado to study music education with an emphasis in classical guitar. During his time there, Mr. Tramel also joined the Army as an electrician in the Reserves and then transitioned to the Colorado Army National Guard as a bandsmen. After college, Mr. Tramel was fortunate to receive a teaching position at Manitou Springs Middle School where he taught band and created the orchestra program 6-12. Outside of school, he has played in multiple bands, as a solo acoustic musician, and performed in state and national country music competitions. He earned his Masters degree in Educational Leadership from UNC in 2020 and transitioned into the role of Director of Arts Integration and Community Wellness in 2021. Mr. Tramel enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Stephanie, and children; Janette and Eli, as well as fly fishing, camping and all things outdoors.
[email protected]

Cameron Jones, Director of Athletics/Activities

cameron Cameron has worked in MSSD14 since 2003. Over that time he taught Physical Education/Health, served as Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Interim Principal at Manitou Springs Middle School and is now the District Athletic /Activities Director. Along with his teaching and administration experiences, he also has coached girls and boys basketball, track and field, softball and baseball. Cameron earned his B.A. and teaching credentials at The University of Northern Colorado in Kinesiology and later his M.A. in Educational Leadership. Cameron has two kids and his beautiful wife is a school counselor. Cameron enjoys hunting, fishing, playing "old man" sports and spending time with his family.

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