CDE Offices and Key Contacts

Manages external and internal communications, media relations, website content and services, website accessibility, and translation services. Publicizes key department initiatives and engages with the public, educators, and stakeholders through newsletters and social media.

• Communications
• Language Services
• Web Management

Manages funding and technical assistance for school facilities, provides financial oversight and auditing for school finance and grants, supports access to healthy meals for students through federal and state nutrition programs, and enforces safety regulations for student transportation vehicles and drivers.

Supports educational and career pathways for students and adults and facilitates partnerships with schools, libraries, and communities. Makes recommendations on education policy and legislation.

Manages financial operations, procurement, and data management. Oversees budgeting, contract administration, grant processing, and strategic planning to ensure effective operations across the department.

Supports assessments, accountability, student services, and school improvement. Facilitates state assessments, assists districts with school performance initiatives, and develops resources to improve student outcomes.

Supports the educator lifecycle, including licensing, career advancement, and professional growth, to strengthen Colorado’s educator workforce. HR manages internal staff recruitment, retention, and development, fostering a supportive work environment for CDE employees.

The Colorado State Board of Education is the governing board of CDE.

• State Board of Education

CDE is led by the Commissioner of Education, a position that is appointed by the State Board of Education.

• Commissioner of Education

Primary Contact:

Tanni Anthony
Director
anthony_t@cde.state.co.us
303-503-4647

Secondary contact:

Berta Schlachet
Administrative Assistant III
schlachet_b@cde.state.co.us
720-557-2809

Primary Contact:

Lisa Medler
Executive Director
medler_l@cde.state.co.us
303-656-6619

Secondary contact:

April Thompson
AEC Consultant & ACI Program Coordinator
thompson_a@cde.state.co.us

Contact:

Allyson Garcia
Director
garcia_allyson@cde.state.co.us

Primary Contact:

Andy Stine
Director
stine_a@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6717

Secondary contact:

Dustin Guerin
Supervisor, Statewide Facility Assessment
guerin_d@cde.state.co.us
720-595-1675

Primary Contact:

Melissa Taucher
Child Find Specialist
taucher_m@cde.state.co.us
720-822-6239

Secondary contact:

Heidi White
Director, Early Childhood Special Education
white_h@cde.state.co.us
303-501-0837

Contact:

Melissa York
Executive Assistant to the Commissioner
commissioner@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6646 (voicemail)

Primary Contact:

Emma Garrett-Nelson
Chief Communications Officer
garrett-nelson_e@cde.state.co.us
720-788-1393

Primary Contact:

Jeremy Meyer
Director of Communications
meyer_jeremy@cde.state.co.us
720-668-6434

Contact:

Michelle Romero
Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
romero_m@cde.state.co.us
303-877-4155

Contact:

Sheldon Rosenkrance
Chief District Operations Officer
rosenkrance_s@cde.state.co.us
rosenkrance_s@cde.state.co.us

Primary Contact:

Johann Liljengren
Director
liljengren_j@cde.state.co.us
303-968-0201

Secondary Contact:

Tricia Walz
Program and Evaluation Assistant
walz_t@cde.state.co.us
720-241-8094

Primary Contact:

Jennifer O'Brien
Director, Educator Career Navigation
obrien_jennifer@cde.state.co.us
303-656-8596

Secondary Contact:

Travis Garoutte
Early Childhood Career Navigator
garoutte_t@cde.state.co.us
303-905-2814

Primary Contact:

Zarra Keith
Educator Development Specialist
keith_z@cde.state.co.us
720-484-0507

Secondary contact:

Trish Malik
Leadership Development Specialist
malik_t@cde.state.co.us
720-766-9302

Primary Contact:

Leslie Burkholder
Educator Effectiveness Manager
burkholder_l@cde.state.co.us
303-945-1997

Primary Contact:

cdelicensingbackgroundunit@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6966

Secondary contact:

Darrin Bacca
Director, eLicensing & Enforcement
bacca_d@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6854

Primary Contact:

Robert Faris
Educator Licensing Supervisor
faris_r@cde.state.co.us
720-739-3304

Secondary contact:

Tanya Klein
Director, Educator Licensing
klein_t@cde.state.co.us
303-501-2192

Primary Contact:

Megan Lovinguth
Educator Preparation Manager
lovinguth_m@cde.state.co.us
720-610-2781

Secondary contact:

Mandy Hansen
Educator Development Specialist
hansen_m@cde.state.co.us
720-591-5819

Primary Contact:

Travis Garoutte
Educator Workforce Development Manager
garoutte_t@cde.state.co.us
303-905-2814

Secondary contact:

Derrick Martin
Educatory Recruitment and Retention Specialist
martin_d@cde.state.co.us
720-456-9199

Primary Contact:

Jake January
Educator Talent Director, Operations
january_j@cde.state.co.us
720-666-0182

Secondary contact:

Jennifer Simons
Educator Talent Program Manager
simons_j@cde.state.co.us
720-670-2235

Primary Contact:

Dr. Paul Foster
Assistant Commissioner, ESSU
foster_p@cde.state.co.us
303-866-4093

Secondary contact:

Suzann Shotts
Program Associate
shotts_s@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6124

Primary Contact:

Amy Werpy
Grant Manager
werpy_a@cde.state.co.us
720-470-7558

Secondary contact:

Adrienne Barlow
Grant Coordinator
barlow_a@cde.state.co.us
303-552-1572

Primary Contact:

Judy Stirman
Facility Schools
stirman_j@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6684

Secondary contact:

Lori Kochevar
Online Systems Consultant
kochevar_l@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6799

Primary Contact:

Nazanin (Nazie) Mohajeri-Nelson
Executive Director
mohajeri-nelson_n@cde.state.co.us
720-626-3895

Secondary Contact:

Emily Owen
Program Support II
owen_e@cde.state.co.us
720-661-9065

Primary Contact:

Christina Monaco
Executive Director
monaco_c@cde.state.co.us
303-981-6513

Secondary contacts:

Zack Allen
Director of Rural Services
allen_z@cde.state.co.us
720-471-3425

TBD
Field Services Associate
Position currently vacant

Contact:

Jamie Burciaga
State Coordinator of Foster Care
burciaga_j@cde.state.co.us
303-518-5938

Primary Contact:

Rebecca McKinney
Gifted Education Director
mckinney_r@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6652

Secondary contact:

Heather Baskin
Gifted Education Assistant Director
Phone: 720-557-4528
baskin_h@cde.state.co.us

Contact:

Robin Russel
Manager
russel_r@cde.state.co.us
303-866-2908

Primary Contact:

Jennifer Austin
Grants Fiscal Manager Supervisor
austin_j@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6689

Secondary contact:

Robert Hawkins
Grants Fiscal Analyst
hawkins_r@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6775

Contact:

DeLilah Collins
Director
collins_d@cde.state.co.us
720-537-9882

Primary Contact:

Sarah Blumenthal
Director of Student Health Services Unit
blumenthal_s@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6779

Secondary contact:

Peter Stevinson
Program Assistant
stevinson_p@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6867

Contact:

Megan Rogers
Kindergarten School Readiness Consultant
rogers_m@cde.state.co.us
720-326-2880

Contact:

Tomas Mejia
State Director
mejia_t@cde.state.co.us
303-503-6869

Contact:

Brehan Riley
Director
riley_b@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6299

Primary Contact:

Michelle Romero
Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
romero_m@cde.state.co.us
303-877-4155

Secondary contact:

Alena Barczak
Program Associate
barczak_a@cde.state.co.us
303-548-8427

Primary Contact:

Heidi White
Director
white_h@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6720

Secondary contact:

Suzy Shotts
Program Associate
shotts_s@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6124

Contact:

Lori Kochevar
Program Support
kochevar_l@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6799

Contact:

Tammy Yetter
Read Act Implementation Manager
yetter_t@cde.state.co.us
720-955-8055

Contact:

Tim Kahle
School Finance Program Director
kahle_t@cde.state.co.us
303-335-6991

Primary Contact:

Phyllis Reed
Director. Heath Education Services
reed_p@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6593

Secondary contact:

Kristi Elliott
Health Education Services Supervisor
elliott_k@cde.state.co.us
303-968-5736

Primary Contact:

Bill Kottenstette
Executive Director
kottenstette_b@cde.state.co.us
303-416-0372

Secondary contact:

Renee Martinez
Online & Blended Learning
martinez_r@cde.state.co.us
720-765-6388

Contact:

Shelly Ramos
Director, Office of Standards and Instructional Support
ramos_s@cde.state.co.us
720-926-7097

Primary Contact:

Angela Maramba
Director of State Board Relations
maramba_a@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6809

Secondary Contact:

Michelle Crawford
Executive Assistant to the Director of State Board Relations
crawford_m@cde.state.co.us
303-908-4580

Contact:

Danielle Ongart
Assistant Commissioner, Student Pathways and Engagement
ongart_d@cde.state.co.us
303-501-3968

Primary Contact:

Dana Scott
Director
scott_d@cde.state.co.us
303-866-6791

Secondary contact:

Susanna Spear
Program Assistant
spear_s@cde.state.co.us

Primary Contact:

Susan Miller
Transportation Supervisor
miller_s@cde.state.co.us
720-766-1416

Secondary contact:

Fred Stewart
Transportation Analyst
stewart_f@cde.state.co.us
720-766-1415

Primary Contact:

Nicole Monet
Director, Office of Intensive Supports
monet_n@cde.state.co.us
720-737-2454

Secondary contact:

Nate Goss
School and District Accountability Manager
goss_n@cde.state.co.us
720-682-8535

Contact:

Robin Russel
Graduation Guidelines Manager
russel_r@cde.state.co.us
303-866-2908