News

For the 2025-26 school year, Denver Academy is excited to welcome new full-time faculty and staff. New staff positions at DA this year are an Associate Head of School (see article above) and an Associate Director of Development. All new faculty and staff, as well as returning employees taking on new roles this school year, were on campus in July as part of a three-week teacher training program focused on Denver Academy's approach to teaching and learning.

Our new High School Athletic Director Mark Leadbetter brings a strong background in education and athletics, having served as a high school teacher, athletic director, and coach at the high school, club, and collegiate levels. He has also worked with regional youth sports organizations and coached with the Olympic Development Program. His coaching experience includes the collegiate level, serving as Head Women’s Club Soccer Coach at Regis University. Coach Leadbetter holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Miami University and a master’s degree in Sports Management from Colorado State University.  

Molly Nuanes is the new Associate Director of Development. Born and raised in Denver, she spent the first decade of her career in art museums, creating interpretive materials for kids and families and live programs for adults. She also led programs for high school students where they collaborated with artists to create exhibitions and events. Most recently, Molly was Director of Operations at La Napoule Art Foundation, where she managed general operations as well as programs, grants, and fundraising. Her workplace joy comes from collaborating with people and crafting fun and exciting experiences. Molly earned her B.A. in Art History and Political Science from Tulane University and her M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Denver. Outside of work, she loves to travel, cook and bake, spoil her nieces and nephew, and hang with her partner and their silly dog, Rooney.

Originally from Massachusetts, Ms. Conroy earned her bachelor's degree in English and Secondary Education at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. After spending some years teaching English and then working as a special education teacher in an inclusive English classroom, she moved to Colorado, where she earned her M.A. in English Literary Studies at the University of Denver. While in Colorado for the past five years, Ms. Conroy continued to teach English and support students as a special education teacher, worked as a writing consultant at DU, and spent some time as a floral designer. She is an avid learner of different subjects and topics, and she enjoys supporting students on their learning journeys.

Mrs. MJ joined DA from Los Angeles, though she originally hails from Vermont. With a background in teaching students in grades K–4, Mrs. MJ is passionate about helping elementary learners discover how they learn best. She loves weaving mindfulness and yoga into daily routines, believing these practices nurture both focus and well-being. Deeply committed to social justice, Mrs. MJ strives to create inclusive classroom spaces where every student feels a sense of belonging. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bates College in Maine and her M.Ed. from the University of San Francisco. Outside the classroom, you’ll often find her cooking, knitting, or exploring the outdoors with her husband, daughter, and mini-Australian shepherd. 

Olivia relocated to Denver from Atlanta, where she dedicated three years to teaching at a school specializing in dyslexia and language-based learning differences. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida State University. Additionally, Olivia is certified in the Orton-Gillingham approach at both the Classroom Educator and Associate Levels. Her passion for teaching shines through her commitment to helping students achieve their goals. Outside of the classroom, Olivia enjoys reading, hiking, and skiing.

A native of Miami with roots in Nicaragua, Mr. Narvaez has a deep passion for Spanish and languages. He creates an engaging learning environment where students feel inspired to explore the richness of the Spanish language and culture. His enthusiasm for teaching goes hand in hand with his belief that learning is a collaborative experience, where both students and teachers inspire and learn from one another. An avid traveler, Mr. Narvaez enjoys immersing himself in new cultures and cuisines, further enriching his understanding of the world. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Florida International University and earned his teaching certification through the ASPIRE program at the University of Colorado Denver.

Born and raised in Denver, Mr. Stefaniak began his journey at DA as a fourth grader and continued through 12th grade, proudly graduating as a Mustang in 2018. His love for the school, its mission, and its people inspired him to return, this time as a teacher. Mr. Stefaniak earned his B.A. in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State University of Denver. He now brings his passion for learning and dedication to students into his classroom every day. Outside of teaching, you can often find him soaking up Colorado’s great outdoors—whether hiking mountain trails, discovering hidden gems around Denver, or cheering on local sports teams (with a special place in his heart for the Denver Broncos).

During DA’s annual faculty and staff celebration in mid-May, we honored employees celebrating milestone anniversaries at our school. Included among the honorees this year was DA Head of Lower School Lori Hull, who just completed her 40th year with DA!

 

"I'm proud to have been part of the amazing Denver Academy community for 40 years," she says. "I look forward to a bright future!"

 

During her tenure, Mrs. Hull has taught high school and elementary school, worked as Director of Admissions, and coordinated the Elementary Division. She has served as the Head of Lower School since 2004. Congrats, Mrs. Hull!

DA’s Summer Program continues through July 3, 2025. The program features academic classes, day camps, tutoring, and academic coaching for students with a wide range of learning profiles in grades 1-12. It is open to both DA and non-DA students. 

Join us throughout the year as we explore timely and thought-provoking books that center on emotional, intellectual, and social well-being. Sponsored by the Denver Academy Parent Association (DAPA), this series brings together the Denver Academy community in shared learning and reflection.

Denver Academy was featured on a recent episode of A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity. The film crew visited our campus in mid-November. 

On Saturday, April 26, the DA community came together in festive botanical dress at the Denver Art Museum and raised more than $350,000 to support tuition assistance at DA. This went beyond our goals for the Masterpiece in Bloom Gala and was one of our best fundraising events to date! Though we worked on some masterpieces together (making bouquets, painting by number, and watching an artist’s creation happen before our eyes), the true work of art is our community’s collaborative effort to support our school.

Visiting London and the Dominican Republic, checking out Denver's sports venues, and experiencing the art and history of downtown Denver... these were just a few of the Experiential Education Immersives opportunities for DA middle and high school students before Spring Break. 

 

Our Experiential Education Immersives offer students a unique opportunity to “learn by doing and reflecting” while mingling with students from other grades/divisions, working with teachers from other grades/divisions, and fully immersing themselves in transformative experiences. 

 

At DA, Experiential Education is part of the curriculum throughout the school year and is designed to provide students with a wide range of academic, personal, physical, community, and social challenges outside the regular classroom. 

Learn more about Experiential Education at DA here.

Denver Academy will conduct a school-wide Lockdown Drill for students and employees tomorrow, Wednesday, March 12 at 8:30 a.m. We ask that all students please be on time tomorrow morning.
Note: No one will be allowed to enter or leave the campus between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.

 

If you would like your student to opt out of the drill, please let us know by contacting your student’s homeroom teacher no later than today, Tuesday, March 11. Students opting out of the drill should not arrive until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.    

Thank you!

At the beginning of the season, I said that the Denver Academy Mustangs Varsity Boys Basketball Team had something that no other Denver Academy team has had in a long time. The expectations for the team were high. Last year, there was hope, and it was proved right with a four-game improvement over the team two years ago. Thanks to that improvement, the Mustangs garnered the aforementioned expectations placed upon this year’s team.

Tuesday night’s Varsity Boys Basketball game between the Denver Academy Mustangs and the Front Range Christian Falcons was one that was circled on players’ calendars since the schedule came out in October. The Falcons got only one win last year against the Mustangs during the district playoffs. It was a heartbreaking loss, and one the Mustangs almost came back and won. 

DA Basketball Team athletes in grades six through eight recently trained with the Denver Nuggets through TeamFIT. For a full hour, DA students ran a workout and basketball shooting drills with Nuggets players Zeke Nnaji and Hunter Tyson.

TeamFIT through the Denver Nuggets is designed to provide Denver Metro area students in grades three through eight with tools and instructions for physical, nutritional, and emotional wellness. Photos courtesy of Garrett Ellwood.

Our high school basketball season is in full swing! Check out our full athletics calendar here and cheer on your Denver Academy Mustangs.