Leaders

Our volunteer team of organizing leaders work tirelessly to advocate for positive change in our district. We make up the SSP & SpEd Organizing Leaders Committee of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, charged with building SSP & SpEd unity, power, and voice for advocacy and representation within DPS and DCTA, as well as advising the bargaining team regarding contract language relevant to the groups we represent.

DCTA Board of Directors

  • Robert Armagost, Secondary Special Educator - Sector C (2020-2022)

  • Amy DeFusco, Early Childhood Special Educator - Sector B (2021-2023)

  • Alexander Edwards, Mild/Moderate Special Educator - Sector A (2022-23)

  • Jennifer Holtzmann, Mild/Moderate Special Educator - Sector D (2022-23)

  • Michelle Horwitz, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) - Itinerant Sector (2020-2023)

  • Amy Kalinchuk, Secondary Special Educator - Sector D (2021-2023)

  • Katherine Kopp, Secondary Special Educator - Sector B (2021-2023)

  • Mary Lintz, Occupational Therapist - Itinerant Sector (2022-2023)

  • Alicia Lee Rhodes, Mild/Moderate Special Educator - Sector C (2022-23)

DCTA Representatives (2021-22)

  • Early Childhood Special Educators (ECSE):
    Sarah Foster

  • Itinerant Gifted & Talented Teachers (G/T):
    Chelsea Chappell-Cox

  • Itinerant Special Educators:
    Tracy Lane

  • Low Incidence Disability (LID) Team:
    Catherine Kopp

  • Nurses:
    Stacia McNeely

  • Occupational Therapists (OT) & Physical Therapists (PT):
    Susan Fortney, Mary Lintz (OTs)

  • Psychologists/Social Workers:
    Kelly Holmes*, Cassie Johnson, Jane Lineman, Shannon McKinney (School Psychologists)

  • School Counselors:
    Jillian Gleason

  • Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP):
    Hannah Shippey, Morgan Jameson, Jessie Hardy, Michelle Horwitz

  • TOSA/Peer Observer/Balarat:
    Rob Gould

DCTA Bargaining Team Representation 2022

  • Rob Gould, Special Educator - DCTA President

  • Jane Lineman, School Psychologist - Student Safety Coordinator

  • Michelle Horwitz, Speech-Language Pathologist - Bilingual Assessment Team

  • Ellen Petrila, Special Educator - Affective Needs Center-Based Program

  • Amy DeFusco, Special Educator - Early Childhood Education (Model 1)