Statewide Tuition-Free Public School
Staff Bios
Favorite Food: Smoked Salmon
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving -
I love the cool weather, getting together with family and friends, reflecting on all the blessings of my life and then – eating a fabulous meal!
Someone I admire: Saint Francis of Assisi and Mother Teresa. Francis taught that actions speak more loudly than words and Mother Teresa demonstrated the power of unconditional love to give dignity to all persons.
My Favorite Place: Home with my husband
My Life Motto: Explore the world.
Laurie Alsobrook
Science and Art Teacher
Laurie.Alsobrook@gcisd.net
Wyler Bartschi
Math Teacher
Favorite Food: Thai
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving
Someone I admire: Sal Khan
My Favorite Place: The beach.
My Life Motto: Trust in yourself.
Andres Betancur
Spanish, Health and PE Teacher
Andres.Betancur@gcisd.net
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Season: Spring
Favorite Holiday: Summer
Someone I admire: Farmers from around the world who’s humble work feeds us all.
My Favorite Place: Mountains (Continental Divide) (Salida, Colorado is awesome) and South America.
My Life Motto: Be open to growth.
Heath Hamrick
Social Studies Teacher
Heath.Hamrick@gcisd.net
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Holiday: Wintereenmas
Someone I admire: John and Robert Kennedy
My Favorite Place: Library
My Life Motto: “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go into harm’s way.” John Paul Jones “Some men see things as they are, and ask why; I dream of things that never were, and ask ‘why not’?” - George Bernard Shaw
Tamera Candelaria
Science Teacher
Favorite Food: Anything new
Favorite Season: Summer and Fall
Favorite Holiday: Summer Vacation
Someone I admire: My husband and Nelson Mandela
My Favorite Place: A beach.
My Life Motto: Go! Carpe Diem!
Favorite Food: Authentic brick oven pizza
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Someone I admire: Alan Brunson (pastor)
My Favorite Place: Boise, Idaho
My Life Motto: Own it.
Lucas Burch
Social Studies, Speech and Health Teacher
Lucas.Burch@gcisd.net
Jerry Price
Technology Teacher
Jerry.Price@gcisd.net
Favorite Food: All food from many countries
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Someone I admire: Malala Yousafzai, from Pakistan, she fought the Taliban to get an education
My Favorite Place: Hawaii
My Life Motto: Live, Laugh, Love As You Go Onward and Upward.
Jessica Lee
ELA and AVID Teacher
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Someone I admire: Nelson Mandela
My Favorite Place: My home.
My Life Motto: Expect the Unexpected.
Favorite Food: Meatballs
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Holiday: Christmas with my kids
Someone I admire: Dalai Lama XIV, his philosophy on life is uplifting and worth emulating, open your arms to change, but never let go of your loving kindness.
My Favorite Place: with my family
My Life Motto: “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” - Dalai Lama XIV
Heather Jarvis
ELA and Music Teacher
Heather.Jarvis@gcisd.net
Favorite Food: Depends on the day (Tex-Mex, T-bones, Ice Cream)
Favorite Season: Late Fall and Early Spring
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Someone I admire: Thomas Edison (never gave up)
My Favorite Place: Home (anywhere cool weather and growing things meet)
My Life Motto: Success is not a destination, but the sum of the choices we make each day.
Daniel Wennersten
Math and Science Teacher
Daniel.Wennersten@gcisd.net