Our Team

Dr. Drew Coleman, Ed.D

Dr. Coleman recently served as Associate Chief of Schools for Early Childhood Education and Elementary Schools at Denver Public Schools (DPS) and has dedicated his career to ensuring every student has the opportunity to achieve academic excellence. He brings more than 20 years of school leadership experience and a lifelong passion for public education to Jeffco.

Dr. Coleman's journey in education began in Shreveport, La., where he knew from a young age that he wanted to be a teacher. He earned his Bachelor's degree and teacher certification from Louisiana State University – Shreveport before entering the classroom as a fifth-grade teacher. He also obtained his Master's Degree from Louisiana State University -Shreveport. From the classroom he expanded his impact by serving as an instructional coach, assistant principal and principal, all in Louisiana. He then served as Principal Supervisor and Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development for Alamogordo Public Schools in New Mexico.

Since moving to Colorado in June 2021, Dr. Coleman has held key leadership roles in Denver Public Schools, first as Regional Assistant Instructional Superintendent and later as Associate Chief of Schools. As Jeffco’s Chief of Schools, he will oversee student achievement, school leadership, school effectiveness, student discipline, and athletics and activities across 138 school communities. Dr. Coleman earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University – Texarkana. As the proud parent of a Jeffco graduate, he understands the vital role families play in student success and is committed to strengthening the district’s partnerships and working collaboratively with the community. Outside of work Dr. Coleman enjoys traveling, hiking, camping and spending time with family.

Samantha Hollman has served school communities for over 28 years. Prior to her current role, she was the Community Superintendent for several of Jeffco's articulation areas and liaison to the Teaching and Learning Department. She was also principal at Mitchell Elementary in Golden for nine years. She enjoyed working as an instructional coach and teaching before becoming a school administrator. 
 
Samantha is a graduate of Bear Creek High School and Regis University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and minor in elementary education. She continued her education at Lesley University earning a master’s in education degree in curriculum and instruction and then completed the administrative leadership and policies studies program at the University of Colorado-Denver. Samantha is focused on developing growth for equity and achievement, enhancing collaboration and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. Samantha is a proud Jeffco parent with all four of her kids graduating from Jeffco high schools.

Tayo Adeeko began her career in education as a founding elementary school teacher in Crown Heights, Brooklyn (NYC), teaching second and third grade. She also worked as a founding school administrator at a charter school in Washington, D.C. These experiences in urban education guided her research interests in education policy, school systems and governance as a graduate student at Ohio State.

Tayo is a proud Jeffco graduate. She earned her undergraduate degree in political science and international affairs from the University of Colorado Boulder. She has a masters of education in elementary education from Hunter College and a doctorate in education from Ohio State University. 

Tom Burns has dedicated over 25 years to serving Jeffco Public Schools. Before joining the School Leadership team, he spent nine years as principal of Falcon Bluffs Middle School. His career in education began as a Social Studies and Digital Media teacher, later transitioning into administration as an assistant principal at Chatfield Senior High School.
A proud graduate of Columbine High School, Tom earned his bachelor's degree from Metropolitan State University and a master’s degree from Lesley University. He is deeply committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and promoting a growth mindset throughout school communities.

Tom Burns serves as the Community Superintendent for the Conifer, Evergreen and D’Evelyn articulation areas.

Brenda Carlson has worked in public education for over 40 years in Colorado and Wyoming. She joined the School Leadership Team as a Community Superintendent in 2012. Prior to that, she was a principal for 19 years and loved being a classroom teacher for 11 years. Brenda currently oversees the Chatfield articulation area and Sobesky Academy. Brenda holds degrees from the University of Wyoming and the University of Southern Mississippi. Brenda believes success is not accidental. She is a proven, motivated, energetic, and experienced leader.  Her goal is to always find the heart of the hero in the educators she works with to ensure that principals, teachers, and students are challenged every day to be the best they can be.

Brenda oversees the Chatfield articulation area. 

Wendy Doran has worked in education for over 20 years. Prior to joining the School Leadership team, she served as the principal of Carmody Middle School for five years and as a high school principal in Aurora Public schools for three years. 

Wendy served in multiple roles throughout her career including, an education consultant, teacher, instructional coach and principal in both neighborhood and alternative schools. Those experiences sparked a great passion in Wendy for innovative schools, equity and systems that serve all families. Wendy is a proud graduate of Jeffco Public Schools, earned a bachelor of arts in communication studies from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, A masters in curriculum and instruction from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and earned her principal licensure and is in the process of earning her doctorate from University of Colorado, Denver.

Wendy oversees all schools in the Arvada West articulation area, as well as Connections Learning Center, Long View, McLain, Mount View and the Warren Tech Campuses.

Beth Elmgreen has worked in public education for almost 30 years. Prior to joining the School Leadership team as a community superintendent, Beth was the principal of Bergen Valley Elementary. Under her leadership, Bergen Valley received many academic awards and was awarded the number one elementary school in the state of Colorado by GreatSchools ratings. Beth has also served as an instructional coach and classroom teacher for Jeffco. An accomplished instructional leader, she believes that every student deserves an exceptional educational experience. Beth graduated from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. In addition, Beth holds a master’s degree focused in educational leadership and administration.

Beth oversees all schools in the Ralston Valley and Standley Lake articulation areas.

Mindi Feir has worked in Jeffco Public Schools for over 25 years. Prior to joining the School Leadership Team, she served as the principal of Drake Middle School for 4 years and Deane Elementary School for 5 years. Mindi was also a master teacher, instructional coach, and classroom teacher for Jeffco. She earned her bachelor of science in elementary education from Minnesota State University at Moorhead and holds a masters in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix as well as her principal licensure. Mindi is a passionate educator that believes in instructional excellence and advocates for equity and belonging for all students, while helping them find their pathway to success.

Mindi oversees all schools in the Green Mountain and Jefferson articulation areas.

Mike Freeman has served Jeffco in various capacities for twenty five years.  Mike started his career with Jeffco in college as a student at CU Boulder in 1990,  joining Jeffco as a paraeducator to students with special needs and an athletic coach. He was inspired by the teachers, coaches and administrators and pursued his teaching degree. He taught fifth and sixth grade at Shaffer Elementary School and eventually received his administrative licensure from CU Denver. Mike became the assistant principal and then principal at Powderhorn Elementary.  After nine years in this role, his love of educational leadership led to the community superintendent role.  

After three years in this role, Mike stepped away from Jeffco to attend to his family, but soon took a job as the executive director of a non-profit. Now Mike returns to his role as a community superintendent.

Mike oversees all schools in the Columbine articulation area and option schools.

Megan brings two decades of experience in public education to the School Leadership team, with 19 of those years dedicated to Jeffco Public Schools. Before joining the School Leadership team, Megan was the principal at Deane Elementary for six years and Connections Learning Center for two years.  Megan began her career as a learning specialist and has also served as an instructional coach and master teacher.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in special education and elementary education from Northern Arizona University and a master of arts in educational administration from the University of Colorado, Denver. Megan is passionate about serving diverse populations and advocating for equity, ensuring students and families have the resources needed for an exceptional educational experience. Megan believes in addressing the whole-child needs and strives to create a strong sense of belonging for every student.

Megan Martinez serves as the Community Superintendent for the Bear Creek and Dakota Ridge articulation areas.

Celeste Sultze has worked in education for over 20 years. Prior to joining the School Leadership team, Celeste was the principal at Edgewater Elementary and an assistant principal at the high school and middle school levels. She is passionate about providing the best educational experiences for all students.

Celeste oversees all schools in the Arvada and Pomona articulation areas.

Lynn Torr has served in public education for 20 years. Prior to joining the School Leadership team, he spent 15 years as a high school administrator, 12 years as a high school principal and three years as an assistant principal/athletics director. Lynn's most recent experience was leading Bear Creek High School as principal. 

He graduated magna cum laude from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in history with a social studies teaching concentration. He spent 5 years teaching high school social studies (Haxtun High School and Bear Creek High School). Lynn received his master's in educational administration in 2006 and transitioned into administrative leadership in 2007. Lynn has worked in diverse school settings, which ignited his passion for equity and serving all students and families.  He works hard to develop and coach other school leaders to reach their full potential.

Lynn oversees all schools in the Golden and Wheat Ridge articulation areas.

A true Jeffco native, Shannon Vigil has proudly served Jeffco schools for over 30 years. From her roots as a Lakewood High School graduate and student at Colorado School of Mines, to her impactful roles as a social studies teacher for over two decades Shannon has prioritized student success.  Over the last decade, Shannon served as an assistant principal at Columbine High School and principal of both Arvada and Bear Creek High Schools. Shannon's leadership has been recognized with the prestigious 2022 Principal of the Year award from JCAA and was also honored as a Colorado Teacher of the Year nominee. Shannon's academic achievements include a Master's Degree from the University of Colorado, where she was the outstanding graduate in the School of Education for her Administrative Policy and Leadership work. Shannon is committed to the success of all students and her passion for equity and commitment to the entire Jeffco community is truly her life's work.

Shannon Vigil serves as the Community Superintendent for the Alameda and Lakewood articulation areas.

Brenna Copeland brings exceptional skills in program management, financial management and operational leadership. She has experience in education strategic initiatives, financial programming and grant management, and in public education as director of portfolio management & instructional superintendent with Denver Public Schools.

Brenna’s blend of strategic skills and abilities in the financial and education areas allow her to serve as CFO and lead our financial services team in a manner that aligns with needs identified by our superintendent: the right balance of coherence and autonomy, positive climate and culture, efficient and effective use of resources, pandemic recovery, and effective district organization to support schools and student achievement.

Brenna has twenty years of experience in education and finance and holds a master's degree from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree from Rice University.

Financial Services Organizational Chart

Jeff Gatlin joined Jeffco Public Schools in May 2023 as a seasoned operations executive with more than 15 years of experience. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Roaring Fork School District, in Carbondale, Colorado, he supported students through facilities and maintenance, custodial services, food and nutrition, and transportation. Jeff also pioneered innovative housing programs and internet access for low-income families. Jeff's visionary leadership also facilitated the implementation of bond programs and innovative affordable housing initiatives for school employees, through strategic partnerships with municipalities and community organizations. Prior to joining Roaring Fork, Jeff was the director of technology and operations at the Woodland Park School District in Woodland Park, Colorado. His journey in education began as a high school teacher, and his commitment to the field has only grown stronger over time.

Jeff holds bachelor's degrees in business administration and entrepreneurial and small business management from the University of Colorado - Boulder. Moreover, he earned a master's degree in educational leadership and policy from the University of Texas - Arlington.

Operations Organizational Chart

Jill Ibeck joined Jeffco Public Schools in July 2021 as Chief Information Officer. Jill has 21 years of professional experience in information technology (IT) with 17 years in the education industry. Prior to joining the Jeffco Public Schools cabinet team, Jill served in numerous technical and techno-functional roles in K-12 and for the University of Colorado, serving all four campuses. In addition, she has held numerous technical and product advisory roles and enjoys volunteering with the Arvada Festivals Commission and the Ralston House. 

As chief information officer, she oversees technology related strategy and initiatives for the district and leads the IT department while assuming responsibility for designing and recommending appropriate technology solutions to support the district’s goals and objectives.

Information Technology Organizational Chart

Over the course of her 26-year career in education, Renee Nicothodes has served as elementary director of curriculum and instruction, principal supervisor, principal, instructional coach and classroom teacher. Renee holds a master’s degree in education and a reading specialist credential from San Diego State University. Renee has a passion for working with at-risk student populations and advocating for equity and excellence in educational systems.

Renee previously served as Jeffco's Chief of Schools overseeing elementary schools. Now, in her role as chief academic officer, Renee works with instructional partners and teams to design and direct the planning, implementation and evaluation of districtwide instructional programs.

Division of Teaching & Learning Organizational Chart

Matt Palaoro provides guidance in support of the district’s mission to prepare all Jeffco students for a bright and successful future. Matt started in Jeffco as the assistant director of special education in 2018, following a decade in the field as a special education paraprofessional, teacher and coordinator. Matt has served as a special education leader in Jeffco for the past four years, most recently as the executive director of special education.

Matt earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Indiana University and a Master's degree in educational leadership and special education administration from the University of Northern Colorado.

The chief student success officer is responsible for developing, directing and rolling out systems and programs to serve students and families who require educational, physical, and emotional support beyond standard programming. Matt provides leadership and management for the following departments: special education, gifted and talented, health services, homebound instruction, student services, and healthy schools.

Student Success Organization Chart

Tara C. Peña serves as chief of family and community partnerships. This position brings cohesion to Jeffco’s important efforts to prioritize family and community partnerships at the district level. Tara oversees the community engagement and partnership vision, strategy, and operations to cultivate a thriving and supportive experience for Jeffco students. Jeffco Thrives 2025  includes a section called Our Communities: Our Legacy. It recognizes that, in a thriving school, Jeffco’s families and partners embrace a shared vision for education and collaborate to support student learning.

Most recently, Tara served as executive director of middle schools at Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Tara previously served Jeffco Public Schools as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and principal. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in english with a secondary education/ESL endorsement from the University of Northern Colorado, a master’s degree in educational counseling from the University of Phoenix and she holds a professional principal license from the State of Colorado. Additionally, Tara serves on the executive board of the Colorado Association of Latino/a Administrators and Superintendents (CO-ALAS).

Family and Community Partnerships Organizational Chart

Amanda Pierorazio has worked for Jefferson County Public Schools for 20 years. Prior to joining the Human Resources team, she worked as the Associate Chief of School Leadership, and served as the Principal of Coronado Elementary for five years and Weber Elementary for one year. She was also an assistant principal at Chatfield Senior High, Powderhorn Elementary and Summit Ridge Middle School. Amanda taught Spanish and French at Chatfield for six years. 

She earned a bachelor of arts in Spanish with minors in French and educational computing from Iowa State University and also holds a masters in curriculum and instruction from Colorado Christian University and principal licensure from the University of Colorado-Denver. Amanda is a servant leader who believes in the value of relationships and positive partnerships in order to support all students in achieving success. 

Human Resources Organizational Chart

Lisa Relou’s work in the field of education started over 22 years ago when she worked on a successful school bond campaign. She then went on to lead her own consulting company working directly with school superintendents and their administrations across Colorado to battle declining enrollments and public perception issues and to improve customer service.

In 2006, she was hired by Denver Public Schools (DPS) to create a marketing office for the district. Lisa worked with schools to create marketing and communications tools that targeted enrollment, student retention, stakeholder engagement and investment in the district’s strategic vision and initiatives. In 2010, Lisa left DPS to join TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project) in order to support the organization’s work toward ending the injustice of educational inequality through national, state, and local efforts related to teacher effectiveness. Lisa also has experience working on the philanthropic side of education, working at Grantmakers for Education as their director of strategies.

Most Recently, Lisa operated her own strategic consulting business - Lisa Relou Consulting. Focusing on the field of education, both in Colorado and around the country. In her role at Jeffco, Lisa manages the district’s strategic initiatives and leads our communications team.

Communication Services Organizational Chart

Julie C. Tolleson is an experienced leader and expert in educational law. Julie provides guidance and counsel in support of the district’s mission to provide a world-class education for all students.

Most recently with the Colorado Department of Law as the First Assistant Attorney General for K-12 Education, Julie led a five-lawyer team in representing and advising the Colorado Department of Education, Charter School Institute, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Colorado State Board of Education. Her previous roles of service have included General Counsel for the Tucson Unified School District (Ariz.), Deputy Public Defender for Washington County (Ark.) and as Partner for Kennedy & Christopher, P.C. (Colo.), among others.

Julie is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Colorado and Arkansas. She serves as the Chair of the National Council of State Education Attorneys, and is a board member for the following professional organizations: the National Association of State Boards of Education and the Range of Motion Project. She has formerly served on the boards of the ACLU of Colorado; and the Colorado Bar Association. She has been published in several peer-reviewed law journals and earned her Juris doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Baylor University.

Legal Services Organizational Chart