Our Leadership Team is comprised of the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, CFO, Executive Director of Human Resources, Executive Director of Secondary Schools, Executive Director of Elementary Schools, four building Principals, Director of Student Success, Director of Technology, Director of Food Service, Director of Transportation, Director of Facilities and Athletic and Activities Director. The Leadership Team is responsible for the daily operations of the school district and for the successful implementation of all student programs and services.
It is our goal to provide exceptional service to every student, parent, and employee each and every day.
Sean Dorsey, Superintendent
Sean Dorsey is the Superintendent of Schools for Manitou Springs School District 14. As the global workforce changes, education must change to prepare learners for excellence in and out of the classroom. Sean strives to help his organization provide experiences to prepare learners for any post-secondary destination they desire. He is a firm believer in stakeholder involvement and says, "When parents and community are actively involved in our schools, students succeed.” Mr. Dorsey began his education career 26 years ago as a special education teacher and has served as an assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Sean holds a Master of Arts in special education from the University of Northern Colorado. When his schedule allows and weather permits, he can be found on the golf course with his wife and fourteen year old twins. He is looking forward to serving the Manitou Springs School District 14 community.
Email Sean Dorsey
Suzi Thompson, CFO
Suzi
was born and raised in Colorado, primarily in Woodland Park. After 7
years working in the corporate world, she realized that she wasn't
fulfilled and needed to work in public service. Her mom was an
elementary teacher and Suzi always had a passion for public education.
She began her career in public education at Jeffco Public Schools in the
Denver metro area as a Budget Analyst and finished her tenure at Jeffco
as the Director of Budget & Treasury. Suzi moved to be closer to
"home" and started her career with Manitou in 2017. Suzi earned a
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Regis University in Denver.
During her free time, Suzi enjoys watching sports, working out,
traveling and spending time with family.
Email Suzi Thompson
Eric McMartin, Executive Director of Human Resources
I was born and raised in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, just east of Eugene. My mother, aunt, and grandmother were all educators and so I have continued the tradition. After graduating high school I attended Lane Community College then transferred to and earned my Bachelor's Degree in Education from Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR. Upon graduation, I took my initial job search east and received an offer to teach 1st grade in Harrison School District. I spent the first 10 years of my career in HSD2 as a teacher, instructional coach, and district assessment coordinator. Following this tenure in Harrison I spent the next five years as the K-12 Assessment Coordinator in Widefield School District. Immediately prior to being hired in Manitou Springs, I served as the assistant principal of Bricker Elementary, again in HSD2. I earned my Master's Degree from UCCS while training to be an administrator. In my time outside of work I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife, Melissa, and our two children; Henry (11) and Claire (7) as well as mountain biking, trail running, and skiing.
Email Eric McMartin
Kolleen Johnson, Executive Director of Secondary Schools
Kolleen
has been an educator since the 1997-1998 school year. In her tenure she
has taught PK-21 year olds. She began her career teaching students in
special education especially those with emotional and behavioral
disabilities. Kolleen has served as an Assistant Principal at Manitou
Springs High School and now is the Director of Student Success for the
district. Kolleen has lived in Manitou since 1997 and is married to RIck
a 1992 graduate of Manitou Springs High School, she has two daughters
that have attended District 14 schools since kindergarten. When not at
work, Kolleen enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and
following politics.
Email Kolleen Johnson
Sarah McAfee, Executive Director of Elementary Schools
Sarah
McAfee is honored to join the Manitou Springs School District community. She is an experienced
educational leader with a track record of building genuine relationships
with students, teachers and families. Sarah has positive energy and a
thoughtfulness that focuses on the importance that teachers and staff
make the biggest difference on a child’s educational experience. Sarah
is dedicated to supporting the district's core values. She believes that
all people have brilliance and that in order to reach full potential we
need to maximize the genius in all of us.
With almost two decades of experience in Colorado Springs area schools,
Sarah joins us most recently from Falcon School District 49, where she
served the past seven years as the Principal of Odyssey Elementary
School. Prior to her time in D49, Sarah spent time in Douglas County
School District as a principal, and Harrison School District where she
served as an instructional coachand assistant principal.
Originally from Massachusetts, she attended undergraduate school at New
England College. Soon after graduating Sarah began her educational
career when moving to Colorado in 2002. She earned a Master’s in
Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado Colorado
Springs and her principal licensure from Adams State College. Sarah
loves to spend time with her family and friends, walk her to two
doodles, read, run and spend time in the mountains.
Email Sarah McAfee
Carolyn Leyes, Manitou Springs Elementary School Principle
As a dedicated educator and life-long learner, Carolyn Leyes has accumulated a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of education. Carolyn’s passion for instruction and literacy has supported reading proficiency levels in classrooms and buildings. With over a decade of classroom teaching experience, Mrs. Leyes was awarded master teacher status with National Board Certification in 2012 in the area of elementary language arts. After leaving the classroom, she has served in various leadership roles, including teacher leader, trainer, and instructional coach. Mrs. Leyes earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and principal certification from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. As assistant principal and principal, Carolyn played a pivotal role in shaping educational landscapes at Harrison School District 2 and District 49, where she led building initiatives to enhance teacher efficacy, literacy programming and management while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
As principal at Manitou Springs Elementary, Carolyn’s desire is to support teachers in their journey as instructional practitioners, building capacity to impact student growth and achievement. She knows building strong relationships with staff, students and families is critical to transforming learning and growth. Carolyn will continue to empower educators to reach their fullest potential impacting students and families.
While not in school, Carolyn and her husband Dan enjoy the mountains, hiking, and time spent with their adult children and grandchildren. Carolyn also enjoys gardening where you’ll often find her and their golden retriever grand-dog, Tank, frequently digging alongside her.
Email Carolyn Leyes
Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Elementary School Principal
Jackie
Powell grew up in Illinois where she attended Eastern Illinois
University for a bachelor’s degree in Special Education with a dual
endorsement in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special
Education. After teaching for 6 years in Illinois, Jackie moved to the
Ute Pass area. She then obtained a Gifted Education specialist license
and a master’s degree in Culturally Linguistically Diverse Education
(CLDE) from CSU-Pueblo. She received the principal’s licensure through
Wester State University.
She has taught Special Education, General
Education, Title 1 Intervention, and served as a Literacy and Special
Education coach. In 2018, Jackie began her career in administration as
an assistant principal at Venetucci Elementary School. After two years
in that role, she became the principal at Sunrise Elementary in
Widefield School District 3, where she has served since 2020.
Jackie
is a strong advocate for environmental education and outdoor education,
while cultivating authentic relationships built on deep levels of trust.
Her own children have attended Ute Pass Elementary since 2017, and she
believes wholeheartedly in the benefit of children learning in the
beautiful Colorado sunshine as much as possible! With extensive training
in restorative practices, trauma Informed teaching, and instructional
strategies, Jackie is ecstatic to collaborate and grow with the Ute Pass
Elementary and Manitou Springs School District staff. When not playing
basketball at recess, spending time in classrooms, or appreciating the
incredible work educators do on a daily basis, you can find her reading,
hiking, or camping- sometimes all at the same time! Jackie looks
forward to using her core values and beliefs to extend the great work
already happening at Ute Pass Elementary.
Email Jackie Powell
Dustin Cady, Manitou Springs Middle School Principal
Dustin is honored to serve as principal of Manitou Springs Middle School. He grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Dustin has a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of Oregon, a master’s degree in culturally and linguistically diverse education (CLDE) from CSU-Pueblo, and his principal licensure through Western State University. He began his education career teaching English internationally to middle and high school students in Seville, Spain. Since 2010, Dustin has been an educator in the Pikes Peak Region. Some of his past roles include 5th grade teacher, CLDE teacher, middle school boys and girls basketball coach, and elementary school assistant principal. When he is not at school, Dustin enjoys spending time with his family, reading, trail running, and fly fishing. Dustin is a positive, connecting, committed school leader who strives to bring out the best in all members of the school community. Go Mustangs!
Email Dustin Cady
Anna Conrad, Manitou Springs High School Principal
Raised in the mountains of Colorado, Anna Conrad is thrilled to return
to a small-town community as she transitions to the Interim Principal
role at Manitou Springs High School. After graduating summa cum laude
from Whitman College, Anna completed Teach For America and taught at
Harrison High School (HHS) for eight years. During her career, she has
taught six different English courses (including International
Baccalaureate) and two AVID classes (a college and career readiness
course). In 2016, Anna earned her Master of Arts in Curriculum and
Instruction with an emphasis in Critical Pedagogy in Urban Education
from the University of Colorado, Denver. Furthermore, she attended the
University of Denver Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program
to earn her Principal’s License in 2018. Throughout the last five years,
she has led curriculum writing and editing work as well as authoring a
social-emotional curriculum specifically supporting freshmen. In
addition to teaching students, Anna has deeply enjoyed partnering with
staff as the HHS Instructional Coach (two years) and the HHS AVID
Coordinator (three years). Anna is thrilled by the opportunity to learn
alongside Manitou staff, students, and the community in partnership of
pursuing Deep Learning, Relationships, and Opportunity, principles that
closely mirror her personal core values of leadership, learning, and
love. Outside of the classroom, Anna has been the Varsity Volleyball
Coach, Junior Student Government Advisor, and Minds Matter at Harrison
Site Director. In her free time, she loves backpacking, Nordic skiing,
doing yoga, and reading. Anna was honored with CSML Volleyball Coach of
the Year in 2018, HSD2 Teacher of the Year in 2019, and was a finalist
for Colorado Teacher of the Year 2021.
Email Anna Conrad
Cathrine (Cat) Olimb, Director of Technology
Cathrine Olimb has been working at Manitou Springs School District 14
since 2005. She has a Business/Marketing degree from Wang Business
School in Oslo and a degree in Graphic Design. Cat have lived in Oslo,
Stockholm, Tel Aviv and The Hague. While living in Israel she was the
Director of The American Embassy School and in The Netherlands she
worked as the Technology Coordinator at the American School of The
Hague. Cat brings more than 20 years of experience in the field of
information technology and has a diverse background in both education
and private industry. Cat has two children both graduates from Manitou,
Anders graduated from CSU with a Business Degree and Emilie graduated
from Virginia Tech with an engineering degree. Cat is an avid skier,
mountain biker, hiker and she loves to camp.
Email Cathrine Olimb
Paula Faucette, Director of Food Service
Paula joined the District as Nutrition Services Director in 2005. She has been part of the food service industry for over 30 years. Paula is Chef of the Culinary Class she teaches for our high school students, and is active in Connect 14, as well as being active in the Wellness Committee, District-wide. She is married and has four children, three of whom are married, and four grandchildren. She loves to spend time with her family and her two pups.
Email Paula Faucette
Dale Fuchs, Director of Transportation
Stuart Cross, Director of Facilities
Stuart was born and raised in Colorado Springs and has worked in Manitou Schools since 2010. He started his time in Manitou working for the YMCA at Manitou Elementary, before moving into a Custodial role to join the District. From there, moved to Grounds, Grounds Coordinator, Day Tech Coordinator, and now the Director of Facilities. Through his time in the District he has developed a love for the community and passion for service. His knowledge and experience in each position in Buildings and Grounds has generated a deep understanding of how valuable each position is and how to best organize the department to align with the Districts mission for success, and looks forward to building MSSD14 into a showcase District in the region. Stuart has hobbies that include his photography business, bicycles, cars, motorcycles, and mechanics.
Email Stuart Cross
Cameron Jones, Director of Athletics/Activities
Cameron has worked in MSSD14 since 2003. Over that time he taught Physical Education/Health, served as Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Interim Principal at Manitou Springs Middle School and is now the District Athletic /Activities Director. Along with his teaching and administration experiences, he also has coached girls and boys basketball, track and field, softball and baseball. Cameron earned his B.A. and teaching credentials at The University of Northern Colorado in Kinesiology and later his M.A. in Educational Leadership. Cameron has two kids and his beautiful wife is a school counselor. Cameron enjoys hunting, fishing, playing "old man" sports and spending time with his family.
Email Cameron Jones