Meet the Middle School Team

List of 9 members.

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  Mrs. Lori Hull 

  Denver Academy

  Head of Lower School

  (303) 777-5870 ext 208

  Bio

  Lori Hull has been at Denver Academy since 1984 and has served as the Lower School Head since 2004. During her tenure, she has taught high school and elementary school, worked as Director of Admissions, and coordinated the Elementary Division. Lori works closely with her assistant, Angela Guzdar. 
  
  

  Ms. Hull received her degree in Elementary Education/Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She thinks the best part of her job is getting to know our awesome students.
• 

  Mr. Matt Dastin 

  Denver Academy

  Dean of Middle School East

  (303) 777-5870 ext 234

  Bio

  Mr. Dastin became part of the DA family in 1998. He first worked at the High School in what was then the Progressive Division and proudly helped create a much-needed jobs program. Matt was appointed Middle School Dean in 2004. In his tenure, he has shared a classroom with many interns and trained numerous well-qualified teachers. He sees the potential in each student and strives to make them all lifelong learners.

  
  

  Mr. Dastin earned his B.A. in English from St. Michael's College.

   
• 

  Ms. Amy Thomson 

  Denver Academy

  Dean of Middle School West

  (303) 777-5870 ext 304

  Bio

  Ms. Thomson grew up in Montana where she received a B.A in English from Montana State University.  After teaching high school English for two years at Helena High School, she moved to Denver and joined the Denver Academy family in 1996.  Since then, Amy has been teaching in the middle school and has dabbled across other divisions, but remains a loyal fan of the young and impressionable middle schooler.  Amy has been honored with two Denver Academy awards: Teacher of the year in 2001 and Denver Academy's Wings of the Future award in 2014. 

  
  

   
• 

  Mr. Charles Beckwith 

  Denver Academy

  Middle School Teacher

  (303) 777-5870 ext 269

  Bio

  Mr. Beckwith has worked at Denver Academy since 2008, with a focus on the English and science curriculums. He seamlessly conflates his wilderness experiential training with daily lesson plans. A lover of the outdoors, Charles enjoys exploring the resplendent nooks of Colorado with his trusty sidekick, his dog Banjo. In 2014, Mr. Beckwith received the DA's Teacher of the Year award.
   

  Mr. Beckwith graduated from the University of Colorado, Denver with a B.A. in Political Science.
• 

  Mrs. Vanessa Fritzsche 

  Denver Academy

  Middle School Teacher

  (303) 777-5870 ext 331

  Bio

  In her career, Ms. Fritzsche has worked in a small, local Catholic school as well as large, urban, public high schools. She enjoys the smaller school setting that DA provides so she can work more effectively with each of her students. Vanessa also co-chairs Experiential Education week with her colleague Virginia Hermann.
  
  Ms. Fritzsche graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a B.A. in Language Arts. She earned her M.A. in Secondary Teacher Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado, Denver.
• 

  Mr. Andrew Green 

  Denver Academy

  Middle School Teacher

  (303) 777-5870 ext 296

  Bio

  Mr. Green has nearly a decade of teaching experience. He has also served as the Dean of Students and Director of Admissions at another Denver private school. During the summers, you can find him on the tennis courts at Hiwan Country Club Evergreen, where he works as the head tennis pro.
  
  Mr. Green earned his M.S. in English Education from Syracuse University.
• 

  Ms. Ashley Kelemen 

  Denver Academy

  Middle School Teacher

  (303) 777-5870 ext 267
• 

  Ms. Emily Popper 

  Denver Academy

  Middle School Teacher

  (303) 777-5870 ext 283

  Bio

  Emily Popper comes to Denver Academy from The Churchill School & Center in New York City, where she taught English, Math and History to students with language-based learning differences (2009-2016). Her intention as an educator is to create a safe space for all students—one that emphasizes respect, pride and teamwork—wherein ideas are explored and risks taken without fear of judgment. 
  
  

  Beyond the classroom, Emily acted as Middle School Student Council Coordinator, Head Coach and site leader for Girls On the Run and Assistant Director of Middle School Performing Arts. Emily is ecstatic to be joining the DA community and to embrace the Denver lifestyle!
  
  

  Emily graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Theatre. She earned her master’s degree in Educational Theatre and English from New York University.
• 

  Mr. Joseph Senne 

  Denver Academy

  Middle School Teacher

  (303) 777-5870 ext 335

  Bio

  Since 2005, students have loved having Mr. Senne as their teacher. Joe was lauded as the Denver Academy Teacher of the Year in the 2008-2009 school year. In addition to molding young minds, Joe coaches DA High School baseball and spends many of his summer days supervising--and having fun with--DA day campers.
  
  Mr. Senne earned his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado.