Kate Russell - Art
Kate was born and raised in the hills and woods of southern Illinois. She attended Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, getting her bachelors in Journalism, before she realized she didn’t want to become a journalist. She spent a month in Slovenia getting her CELTA certification to teach ESL, and taught for a year at a language school in the Republic of Georgia. She left Georgia to work at Durango’s Liberty School, a school for dyslexic and gifted students. Her year at The Liberty School and her five summers working at Durango Mountain Camp have led her to many creeks, waterfalls, caves and mountains, and she hopes her time at CTA will lead her to many more. She’s excited to teach art this year, and even more excited about what she will learn from the experience.
Chris Tobin - ENGLISH & Social Studies
Chris was born and raised in the suburbs north of New York City, where he developed a love and appreciation for forests and natural places from a young age. Chris was an active Scouter throughout most of his childhood, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout before graduating high school and taking a gap year to thru-hike the 2,200 mile length of the Appalachian Trail between Maine and Georgia. Later, at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Chris enjoyed the virtues of a wide-ranging liberal arts education, studying primarily the social science of education alongside other subjects like literature, fiction, philosophy, geology, history, and poetry. During his summers, Chris worked across the US as a backpacking instructor and environmental educator for various organizations. After graduating in 2022 with a B.A. in Education, Chris took some time off to travel and hike a 400-mile segment of the Pacific Crest Trail in California before participating in a teaching apprenticeship in Leadville, CO, focusing on experiential learning and outdoor education in the English classroom. Having just moved to Durango, Chris is excited to continue exploring the wonderful state of Colorado while helping students appreciate the uses, nuances, and oddities of language in CTA’s English/Language Arts classroom!
Taylor Perry - SCIENCE
Taylor graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s in science education. He then moved to Maine to work in environmental chemistry before returning to Florida where he taught science for three years. Finally, he moved to Colorado where he has been teaching various sciences to this day! He loves climbing, kayaking, hiking, stargazing, reading, tabletop roleplaying (DnD etc.), and playing needlessly complex board games. If a student is interested in a branch of science, Taylor will make sure that student finds the resources necessary to experience it!
Perseph Mitchell - Social Studies & English
Perseph grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico. After struggling to succeed in a science focused town, he enrolled at CTA where he graduated in 2016. With a newfound love for academia and the outdoors, Perseph went on to continue his education at Fort Lewis College. During his time there, Perseph was offered the chance to travel to Seoul, South Korea where he studied Korean language at Kookmin University and found work in fashion. After returning to the U.S., Perseph obtained a B.A. in both history and philosophy. Perseph's earlier academic struggles led him to return to Los Alamos where he worked as an instructor's assistant and theater coach in order to help students left behind by traditional school systems. He is excited to return to CTA and hopes to serve the same school he found success at.
Avery Harrington - Upper Level mathematics
Avery grew up in the beautiful mountains of Steamboat Springs, CO, where her love for outdoor sports took root. As a national-level cross-country skier, she creatively melded summer training with activities such as swimming, road & mountain biking, hiking, and trail running. Having recently graduated from Texas Christian University (go frogs!), Avery holds a degree in mathematics alongside a minor in criminal justice. While Texas offered her valuable experiences, the allure of Colorado's outdoor summers and winter slopes brought her back home. Beyond academics at TCU, Avery immersed herself in club volleyball, swimming, rowing, and various intramurals. Her vibrant energy led her to the position of student head coach for the rowing team during her senior year. Avery initially began tutoring math in high school and continued to do so throughout college. Tutoring numerous students in a wide variety of upper level math courses kindled a passion for teaching, particularly at the high school level. Avery is beyond excited to intertwine these passions with her love for sports, the outdoors, and embracing new adventures.
Bry Natonabah - Lower Level Mathematics
Bry grew up in New Mexico and came to CTA after spending 7 years at Liberty School in Durango. She is a graduate of Fort Lewis College with a degree in education. She combines her skills in math with Orton Gillingham instructional practices, in order to provide individualized differentiated instruction, according to current academic levels, zone of proximal development, and cognitive ability of her students, in addition to multicultural and anti-bias education practice and classroom application. Bry just finished her eighth year as a tutor at Durango Mountain Camp. She enjoys disc golf, hiking, camping, snowboarding, spending time with friends and family, and rock hounding
Cindy Bonitz-Ryan - College & Career counselor
Cindy Bonitz-Ryan was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After graduation she moved to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College. Cindy is a licensed Professional School Counselor. She holds a BA in Psychology and a minor in Biology from Fort Lewis College, a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling and a Master’s Degree with an endorsement in School Counseling from Adams State University. In her 23 years as a School Counselor, she has worked in a variety of schools and served her students through numerous roles and titles. Her work with students includes visiting classrooms to teach lessons based on the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model with the focus on academic, career, and personal/social development of all students, coordinating and facilitating small groups, and meeting with individuals and families. Cindy has extensive experience with advising students and parents through career and college processes. She has been recognized for her work by several organizations and institutions of higher learning, including receiving the CTE Counselor of the Year Award. As a School Counselor in a small, rural community, she has built relationships with many youth-serving agencies that have helped her to better support the students and families she works with. Cindy’s counseling philosophy is student-centered and solution focused. Read More
Stephanie Howard - Administrative Assistant
Stephanie was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ and has been in Durango for 8 years. She was previously the dorm mom here at CTA for 4 years and this will be her second year as the Administrative Assistant. She is currently in the process of obtaining a degree in clinical psychology and hopes to continue working with high school students in the future. In her spare time she loves to shoot film photography, go to live music events with friends, take her dog Rico on hikes, cook with family and friends, and watch movies.
Jordan Dalton - Dorm Mom
Jordan was born in Pueblo, Colorado and grew up playing in the mountains of Westcliffe and Beulah, CO where she spent her time hiking, 4-wheeling, being a rockhound, snowboarding, chasing waterfalls, soaking up all of the hot spring experiences she can and loving the outdoors & traveling as a whole. She recently moved to Durango after falling in love with the area last winter (2022/2023), landing here at CTA as the new Dorm Mom. Jordan has a Master’s Degree in Social Work (LCSW), is a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) and is also a Reiki Master; she also works full-time with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where she is humbled and honored to work with our nation's veterans. Jordan is especially inspired & excited to work & be a resource of support for the CTA students and staff and is looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead for everyone.
Eli Poss - Dorm Dad
Eli grew up in Chattanooga, TN but really found home in Colorado when he attended CTA for his junior and senior years. There he found a passion in rock climbing and a love for the outdoors. After graduating from CTA, Eli attended Fort Lewis College, studying adventure education. Knowing he wanted to give back by helping those who are struggling, Eli decided to work as a field guide at a wilderness therapy program in Utah after college. During this time, Eli grew to love the desert even more than the mountains, but always longed to be back in Durango. Now Eli is excited to be a mentor to the next generation of CTA students and help them foster a passion for rock climbing.
