Meet Our Dynamic Staff
Andrea "Ande" Davis - TOP Coordinator and English / Social Studies / Special Education Instructor
Ms. Davis is a proud Cañon City High School alumni, who moved back to beautiful Fremont County after spending many years in the Denver Metro area. Ms. Davis holds an undergraduate degree in Behavior Science and a Masters of Education degree and has over 20 years experience working with children and young adults. Ms. Davis is passionate about inspiring students to think deeply, critically, empathetically and globally. In her free time, Ms. Davis loves to travel, hike, garden, work on restoring her old house, read and practice yoga.
Ms. Davis is a proud Cañon City High School alumni, who moved back to beautiful Fremont County after spending many years in the Denver Metro area. Ms. Davis holds an undergraduate degree in Behavior Science and a Masters of Education degree and has over 20 years experience working with children and young adults. Ms. Davis is passionate about inspiring students to think deeply, critically, empathetically and globally. In her free time, Ms. Davis loves to travel, hike, garden, work on restoring her old house, read and practice yoga.
Steven Carter - Social Studies / GATE Instructor
Mr. Carter, a native Michigander, landed and fell in love with the Cañon City community and Cañon City High School in 2000. In his humble opinion, the Tiger Open Pathway has fantastic potential to meet the personal, social, and intellectual needs of individual students because it combines the best practices and experiences learned from nearly 20 years of teaching. He is a strong proponent of nurturing creativity in students, and mostly draws from outdoor pursuits for his own inspiration. His educational philosophy is simple, but the execution is challenging: Get students to ask complex questions about issues and problems, and then help provide them the resources to think critically about the question and problem solve creatively. Additionally, he believes that the development of strong, trusting relationships is fundamental to learning. When not listening to live or recorded music or walking dogs with his loving partner Heidi, he can be found cooking a delicious meal, tempting a trout with a fly, running rapids on a river, or simply sitting in solitude on a northern Michigan beach.
Mr. Carter, a native Michigander, landed and fell in love with the Cañon City community and Cañon City High School in 2000. In his humble opinion, the Tiger Open Pathway has fantastic potential to meet the personal, social, and intellectual needs of individual students because it combines the best practices and experiences learned from nearly 20 years of teaching. He is a strong proponent of nurturing creativity in students, and mostly draws from outdoor pursuits for his own inspiration. His educational philosophy is simple, but the execution is challenging: Get students to ask complex questions about issues and problems, and then help provide them the resources to think critically about the question and problem solve creatively. Additionally, he believes that the development of strong, trusting relationships is fundamental to learning. When not listening to live or recorded music or walking dogs with his loving partner Heidi, he can be found cooking a delicious meal, tempting a trout with a fly, running rapids on a river, or simply sitting in solitude on a northern Michigan beach.
Michelle Lake - Mathematics / Business Instructor
Mrs. Lake has been with Cañon City Schools for the past six years. Born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, she migrated to the Colorado Springs area where she taught math for 9 years before coming to Cañon City. She has a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and a Masters in Business Administration. Mrs. Lake loves teaching math. She believes it is not usually a subject that comes easy to many, so seeing students grasp a concept, gain understanding, and get excited about math motivates her as a teacher. Mrs. Lake is excited to work alongside students in the TOP program and learn with them as they encounter learning in a different dimension. Outside of school, Mrs. Lake loves spending time with her husband Jared, as well as their two little girls. She loves to be outside as much as possible, spending time soaking up the sun, gardening, hiking and playing with her dogs.
Mrs. Lake has been with Cañon City Schools for the past six years. Born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, she migrated to the Colorado Springs area where she taught math for 9 years before coming to Cañon City. She has a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and a Masters in Business Administration. Mrs. Lake loves teaching math. She believes it is not usually a subject that comes easy to many, so seeing students grasp a concept, gain understanding, and get excited about math motivates her as a teacher. Mrs. Lake is excited to work alongside students in the TOP program and learn with them as they encounter learning in a different dimension. Outside of school, Mrs. Lake loves spending time with her husband Jared, as well as their two little girls. She loves to be outside as much as possible, spending time soaking up the sun, gardening, hiking and playing with her dogs.
Kristen Geesaman - TOP Counselor
Mrs. Geesaman is a Cañon City transplant from central Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she earned a degree in International Studies with an emphasis in Environmental Science. Outdoor pursuits such as white-water raft guiding and teaching ski school brought her to Colorado, but the amazing community has kept her here. She has always been interested in the sciences and has interned and volunteered with various conservation organizations, but she says nothing beats sharing this passion with young people. Getting students excited about science and its application to their lives and to society drives her as an educator. Mrs. Geesaman taught secondary science in the area for two years and is now a school counselor. In her free time, you’ll find Mrs. Geesaman, and her family, traveling, reading, trying to teach their dog new tricks, and getting outside every chance they get.
Mrs. Geesaman is a Cañon City transplant from central Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she earned a degree in International Studies with an emphasis in Environmental Science. Outdoor pursuits such as white-water raft guiding and teaching ski school brought her to Colorado, but the amazing community has kept her here. She has always been interested in the sciences and has interned and volunteered with various conservation organizations, but she says nothing beats sharing this passion with young people. Getting students excited about science and its application to their lives and to society drives her as an educator. Mrs. Geesaman taught secondary science in the area for two years and is now a school counselor. In her free time, you’ll find Mrs. Geesaman, and her family, traveling, reading, trying to teach their dog new tricks, and getting outside every chance they get.
Pierre Gamache- Math Instructor
Mr. Gamache is a Cañon City High School graduate. He obtained his Bachelors degree in math from the University of Northern Colorado (GO BEARS) and a Masters in Curriculum and Assessment from Adams State University. Mr. Gamache spent 10 years teaching at Garden Park High School and has 19 total years of teaching experience in Math and Physical Education. In his free time Mr. Gamache enjoys movies, athletics, snow boarding, video games, problem solving, hot weather, finding new ways to be sarcastic, eating nachos and hot wings, making things out of concrete, and acting like he knows what he is doing. Mr. Gamache also has a lifelong burning passion for the Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles. He also adds he is an all-around, great guy. We agree.
Mr. Gamache is a Cañon City High School graduate. He obtained his Bachelors degree in math from the University of Northern Colorado (GO BEARS) and a Masters in Curriculum and Assessment from Adams State University. Mr. Gamache spent 10 years teaching at Garden Park High School and has 19 total years of teaching experience in Math and Physical Education. In his free time Mr. Gamache enjoys movies, athletics, snow boarding, video games, problem solving, hot weather, finding new ways to be sarcastic, eating nachos and hot wings, making things out of concrete, and acting like he knows what he is doing. Mr. Gamache also has a lifelong burning passion for the Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles. He also adds he is an all-around, great guy. We agree.
Megan Clasby- English / Social Studies Instructor
Ms. Clasby is elated to be an instructor and advisor for the TOP program. The guiding philosophies behind Project Based Learning align with her passions as an educator. She is a Colorado native who feels inspired and connected to the outdoors, and is enthusiastic about sharing those experiences with her students. Ms. Clasby is an English and Social Studies teacher, and enjoys making the most of the local resources. In her free time she enjoys hiking, climbing, rafting, and camping. Luckily, her dog, Piper, shares many of these same interests!
Ms. Clasby is elated to be an instructor and advisor for the TOP program. The guiding philosophies behind Project Based Learning align with her passions as an educator. She is a Colorado native who feels inspired and connected to the outdoors, and is enthusiastic about sharing those experiences with her students. Ms. Clasby is an English and Social Studies teacher, and enjoys making the most of the local resources. In her free time she enjoys hiking, climbing, rafting, and camping. Luckily, her dog, Piper, shares many of these same interests!
Scott Carlson- Special Education / Social Studies / Electronic Recycling Instructor
Mr. Carlson is a native Coloradoan. He was born in Greeley and did most of his growing up in Estes Park. He graduated from high school in Arizona and attended college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. After college, he pastored churches for nearly 20 years in Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado. In 2008, Mr. Carlson transitioned from pastoring to teaching. He is highly qualified in special education and social studies. In 2016, Mr. Carlson earned his Master’s Degree in Special Education from CSU-Pueblo and in 2017, he completed a principal preparation program through Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He is passionate about inspiring students to explore new things, solve problems, and reflect often. In his spare time, Mr. Carlson enjoys spending time with his family, hiking trails, climbing mountains, thinking deep thoughts, learning new things, and taking lots of pictures along the way.
Mr. Carlson is a native Coloradoan. He was born in Greeley and did most of his growing up in Estes Park. He graduated from high school in Arizona and attended college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. After college, he pastored churches for nearly 20 years in Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado. In 2008, Mr. Carlson transitioned from pastoring to teaching. He is highly qualified in special education and social studies. In 2016, Mr. Carlson earned his Master’s Degree in Special Education from CSU-Pueblo and in 2017, he completed a principal preparation program through Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He is passionate about inspiring students to explore new things, solve problems, and reflect often. In his spare time, Mr. Carlson enjoys spending time with his family, hiking trails, climbing mountains, thinking deep thoughts, learning new things, and taking lots of pictures along the way.
Jessie Graski- Science Instructor and Professional Science Nerd
Ms. Graski graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs. She then went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Sciences Education from Colorado State University (Rams are better than Bears). Ms. Graski is currently in graduate school working on a master's degree. She is new to teaching, and sincerely enjoying the process of becoming a better educator and person. Ms. Graski enjoys science, reading, playing outside, the mountains, art, music, dancing, gardening, and anything else that doesn't involve sitting still. She also has a lifelong passion for learning about the natural world and the organisms that inhabit it. She adds she is an all-around, alright Homo sapien. We agree.
Ms. Graski graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs. She then went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Sciences Education from Colorado State University (Rams are better than Bears). Ms. Graski is currently in graduate school working on a master's degree. She is new to teaching, and sincerely enjoying the process of becoming a better educator and person. Ms. Graski enjoys science, reading, playing outside, the mountains, art, music, dancing, gardening, and anything else that doesn't involve sitting still. She also has a lifelong passion for learning about the natural world and the organisms that inhabit it. She adds she is an all-around, alright Homo sapien. We agree.