Building Wellness Teams


UPES = H.E.A.R.T

Picture of UPES Co-LeadersHeart Blurb:
Heart is Ute Pass Elementary's Wellness Group. Heart’s goal is to promote staff and student wellness through writing and supporting School Health Improvement Plans (SHIPS) that center around the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model. Heart is composed of teachers, students, and community members who are passionate about wellness practices.


The Heart team meets monthly to plan and brainstorm around school wide events, school wide needs, and district-wide initiatives. If you are interested in joining or offering your ideas to HEART, contact the building co-leaders: Mia Sacco (1st grade teacher) at [email protected] or Mel Riffle (6th grade teacher) at [email protected]





  • Designed and purchased hallway signs to be utilized building wide as brain break spaces
  • Funded benches and tables for outdoor learning spaces
  • Promoted professional development practices around environmental teaching
  • Funded Buddy Classroom activities and field trips to promote school wide collaboration
  • Organized school-wide events to promote community engagement (Whole school field trip)
  • Purchased and installed Peace Pole



MSES = Mustang Might

picture of the MSES co leader team - mightyJessica Larsen


Maddie Goldman
Hey there! My name is Maddie Goldman. I grew up in a small town outside of Boston and moved out to Colorado many years ago to attend Colorado College! Since graduating, I have had the pleasure of teaching first grade, second grade, and am now settled in as a fourth grade teacher. I have been teaching at MSES since 2017, and I am not planning on leaving anytime soon. This school district is one of (if not) THE BEST! I joined PHC and the Wellness Team via Mustang Might my first year here and have been constantly inspired by their commitment to promoting both student and staff health and wellness. I think that having healthy minds, healthy bodies, and feeling safe are essential in a school community that fosters deep learning opportunities, so when the privilege to become a Wellness Co-Leader arose, I was thrilled and honored to join!






MSMS = HealthStangs



MSMS Healthstangs imageEric Holt
 Eric Holt is very excited to be a part of the Manitou Springs Family! He graduated from the University of North Texas with a M.Ed. in Counseling with a focus on Play Therapy and the use of expressive modalities. Eric has been a counselor in a variety of settings including adolescent residential treatment, Early Childhood intervention, and (his favorite of all) Middle Schools. Supporting students, in partnership with school staff and families, is a high priority for Eric, as he believes that the best learning happens when both internal and external conflicts/anxieties are resolved in the context of a safe, objective relationship. In Eric’s spare time, he enjoys time with family, playing music, and hanging out in Manitou's great backyard any chance he can get.

Evan Johnson
I grew up in Minnesota and graduated from North Dakota State University with a B.A. in Social Studies Education. I've worked as a teacher for ten years and as a camp counselor for eight summers. I love that our district is focused on helping youth be happy and healthy in addition to providing education.

At our Building Wellness Co-Leader meetings, we've planned fitness and emotional wellness events, created biking-related events and classes, and brainstormed initiatives to help students make healthy choices involving screen time and social media. We've worked with local organizations such as PaC-Man, Kids on Bikes, TESSA, Diversus, and High Trails.
If you have any ideas about how we can help our students with physical or mental health, let's talk!

[email protected]
[email protected]


MSHS = MInd, Body, Spirit



Jill and Lawrence pictureJill McCracken
Jill is a Colorado native, and enjoys all things Colorado outdoors. She and her family of five enjoy skiing, hiking, rock climbing, camping, and exploring this amazing state and also the US National Parks. Jill received her master's degree in special education from Regis University, and has been teaching special education since 2002. She has been teaching at Manitou Springs High School since 2014. Her children are all Mustangs as well, and their family is so grateful for this community. Jill was a part of the MSHS Wellness Team in 2014 and 2015, and returned in 2024 as a MSHS co-leader to share her passion for wellness, health, and physical activity with the Manitou Mustang community.



Lawrence Housley
Lawrence has worked in education as a teacher for eight years. He has been working at MSHS for four years now and has served on the Building Wellness Team for three years now. While he is not teaching history, he is outside climbing, trail running, backpacking, or playing in the snow. He has passion for physical health and fitness which is what keeps him motivated to encourage health for students.