Staff

Michael Henderson

Executive Director

As the 2022-23 school year begins, this is Michael's seventh year as a charter school Executive Director. Previous to his work in charter schools, he served two public elementary schools as their principal, served as the director of federal programs for a large school district in Arizona, and spent time in the classroom as a middle school English language arts teacher. Midway through his career, Michael worked for Intel Corporation in their Human Resources division. He holds degrees from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. This is his 26th year as an educator!

In 2013, Michael was recognized as the Cesar E. Chavez Administrator of the Year and named a Rodel Exemplary Principal. He served on the Si Se Puede Foundation Board of Directors from 2010 to 2017, an organization that encourages its Latino student participants to be stakeholders in their community. His greatest sources of pride emerge when collaboration amongst educators produces authentic and meaningful growth and joyful learning experiences for kids!

Outside of education, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, Andrea, and their three adult sons. He is committed to daily movement, a learner, traveler, and advocate for all children.

Vera Acuna

Director of Finance and Facilities

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Vera joined the Global Village Academy Collaborative in March 2021. She is passionate about being a public servant and extremely happy to do her best for the GVA community.
Vera has twenty-plus years of accounting experience, in which over seven years were in the public sector/non-profit finance world. She has a Master's in Professional Accountancy from CSU Denver. She is also an active member of AGA (Association of Government Accountants) and ANAFP (Association of Nonprofit Accountants and Finance Professionals).

Vera was born and raised in Russia. She still speaks Russian fluently and knows a bit of German and Spanish. Her dream is to learn French and revisit Paris.

Vera and her family just moved back to Colorado from Texas, where they spent nine years. She is delighted to resume hiking and camping in the Rocky Mountains. Vera has two beautiful daughters and four dogs.

Teri Baker

HR Administrator

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Teri has worked as a Human Resources professional for the past twenty years, starting with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, followed by four manufacturing companies, including Hunter Douglas, and lastly, a consumer goods wholesaler, Teton Waters Ranch Sausages. Recently, she decided to try something new as an Early Child Instructional Partner for Jeffco Schools and gained a whole new appreciation for teachers and the children they teach.

Teri has a BS in Business Administration from Kearney State College in Nebraska and a MA in Human Resources Development from Webster University. She also has a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from HRCI and an SCP certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.

Teri grew up on a farm in Nebraska and has spent the past thirty years in the Denver area. She and her husband have two dogs and love the outdoors, camping. They have traveled domestically and internationally, visiting 17 countries so far.

Chuck Carillo

IT Director

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Chuck Carillo is the IT Director for Global Village Academy Collaborative and Academies. He leads a small team that supports the Denver area's three Global Village Academy Charter schools. Chuck has been in the information technology field since 1998. He has been providing IT support for Global Village Academy K-8 schools since August 2013. Chuck’s parents were teachers, and his dad was also an elementary school Principal, so working in the education field, runs in the family.

Chuck is a Colorado native, and he and his wife have three adult children and five grandchildren. Chuck is an avid runner and also enjoys mountain and fat biking. Chuck has both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Science in Information Systems.

Lin Fang

Director of World Languages

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Lin has worked as an educator for over ten years in the U.S., China, and Thailand. When Lin worked at GVA schools for the past seven years, she participated in curriculum development, modeled best practices to teachers, mentored and coached interns and new teachers, and served as a lead teacher. Lin has experience in dual language education at the elementary level in the U.S and China. She taught Mandarin Chinese as a second language to middle school students in Thailand. Lin has enjoyed working with children, parents, and staff from various cultural backgrounds. Lin is passionate about dual immersion language education as she believes language helps people communicate and understand each other. She is committed to promoting inclusion and diversity in schools for students and staff.

Lin’s academic credentials include a MA degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages at Hunan Normal University in China and a MA degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Denver.

Outside of work, Lin enjoys dancing, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Ben Foster

IT Support Specialist

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Ben is originally from Oklahoma and moved to Colorado in 2005. He served in the US Army from 1994 to 1996. Ben has an undergraduate certificate in Cybersecurity from Colorado State University.

He is married with two children and two grandchildren. In his free time, Ben enjoys off-roading in his Jeep.

Angela Krauss

ENCORE Manager & GVAC Administrative Assistant

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Angela utilizes the organizational skills she developed during her 20-year background with billing and collections to manage the GVA after-school enrichment programs called ENCORE. She began her position in 2012 and is passionate about contributing to one of the best charter school models in the country. The Encore program provides students with a broader educational opportunity with various engaging classes after school.

Her family is one of the founding families at Global Village Academy Aurora. Her oldest son began Mandarin Chinese in 1st grade. All 4 of her children have been GVA students. She is passionate about language learning and the rich culture at the heart of GVA.

Michael Martinez

IT Support Specialist

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Michael recently joined the IT team as an IT Support Specialist. He has been in Information Technology for over 10 years and has an Associates Degree in Computer-Aided Design.

Michael is a Big Broncos Fan and loves spending time with his family. He also enjoys camping and visiting the mountains. He is a self-proclaimed "Nerd at Heart "and watches a lot of anime with his daughter.

Alicia Macica

Director of Teaching and Learning

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Alicia has worked as an educator for over twenty years in Colorado and Arizona. For the past nine years, Alicia has worked in the Poudre School District as an English Language Development Instructional Coach at Eyestone Elementary, a district MTSS Coordinator, and most recently, the Elementary Literacy Facilitator in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Alicia has experience in teaching at the elementary level in Kyrene School District. She has experience as a middle school language arts teacher and ELD teacher in Chandler Unified School District.

Alicia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Ottawa University, holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University, and is currently finishing up another Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration certification at the University of Wyoming. In 2006, Alicia achieved her National Board Certification in Early Adolescence-English Language Arts from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and successfully renewed the certification in 2016. Her expertise includes early childhood and K-12 literacy, curriculum and instruction, English Language Development, systems change efforts, MTSS, READ Act implementation, design and evaluation of professional development, Cognitive Coaching, and building teacher leadership and capacity.

Alicia’s deep passion for education is grounded in the belief that all students have the right to an exceptional education. As a lifelong learner, Alicia strives to keep up with best practices in instruction and supports educators while applying these strategies in their classrooms. Alicia is passionate about fostering teacher efficacy and building capacity among educators.

Alicia and her family moved to Colorado in 2009. She and her husband have two children, ages 12 and 13. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, scuba diving, listening to music, reading, and camping.

Christine Toulouse

Director of Marketing and Communications

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Christine has an extensive 30-year career in marketing and advertising. She began her career at a daily newspaper in the San Diego area. After her move to Colorado, she expanded into co-operative and solo direct mail advertising. She successfully helped launched one of the Denver area’s first daily deal platforms in 2010. She continued to develop her digital marketing skills, including email marketing, social media, and web content development. Christine began working with the GVAC office in July 2013. Her career at GVAC allows her to share her love of language immersion education with the community and prospective and current GVA families.

Christine discovered Global Village Academy Aurora in 2009 and quickly enrolled her daughter in Mandarin Chinese. Her daughter was one of the first “legacy” students to graduate from GVA Aurora at the end of 8th grade. During high school, her daughter continued her language learning by taking Spanish and French classes and continued to study Mandarin class. She is now a Freshman in college.

Christine enjoys yoga, hiking, live theater, cooking, and time with her family in her free time.

Sherry Whitlock

Accountant

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Sherry has worked with charter schools as an outside contractor since 1999. Before working for the GVAC, she was the Senior Accountant in the business office for a group of charter schools She did all aspects of accounting and reporting that were needed for each of the schools. Sherry loves being involved with all of the schools she has worked with. Excited to learn about charter schools, she enrolled her daughter in a charter for Kindergarten and remained a charter student until she graduated.

Thomas Yelken

IT Support Specialist

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Thomas has worked as an IT Technician for Altura Elementary and The Medical Center of Aurora.

Thomas is a Colorado native and has lived in Aurora, CO, all his life. He has two kids & a dog (Marley a boxer); Tyler is 8 yrs old, and Grace is 6 yrs old. He enjoys the outdoors, gardening, and playing the guitar and piano. He also ran a small Urban Farm Business where he would sell his locally grown fruits and vegetables at farmer's markets. His favorite sports teams are the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche. Thomas is also passionate about learning and keeping up with new technology.