Administrative Team
Angela Reali-Crossland
School Director
areali@ppos.co
Angela comes to PPOS from Durango, and education reform and charter schools of choice have been at the heart of her educational career. She has an MA, Teaching Secondary Science from the University of Phoenix; a BS, Natural Resource Management and Environmental Education; and holds a State of Colorado Professional Teacher License-Secondary Science Endorsement.
Throughout her career Angela has held many teaching positions including time as an Advanced Physics Teacher at Animas High School, Science Teacher at Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning, and Lead Science Teacher at James Irwin Charter High School.
Most recently, Angela worked at Mountain Middle in Durango as the Instructional Guide, Grant Coordinator and Assessment Coordinator. During Angela’s tenure at Mountain Middle School she contributed to the organizational changes and high achievement of the project-based learning school. In her first year, Mountain Middle climbed from the bottom 10% of schools in Colorado to the top 12% of schools. She contributed to this success by leading professional development, training teachers, supporting staff and supporting a culture of excellence, growth mindset and a positive learning culture.
She enjoys the small environment and close student/teacher relationships that charters schools promote, as well as the critical and in-depth thinking that project-based learning fosters.
In her spare time, Angela enjoys canoeing, backpacking, snowboarding, photography, woodworking, and her new found hobby of paddleboarding.
Jeanelle Wychesit
Site Manager
jwychesit@ppos.co
Jeanelle has been with PPOS since 2019. Prior to her work in education, Jeanelle was the Manager of the local Starbucks, pursuing her love for all things coffee and became a Coffee Master. Jeanelle is well-versed as a systems administrator in many software platforms and her organizational skills are top-notch. When it comes to helping our students, families, and staff Jeanelle is quick to lend a helping hand.
She has lived in Pagosa Springs for the past 23 years and has a love for everything Colorado and the great outdoors. Her hobbies include: hiking, skiing, reading, paddleboarding, gaming, and painting. Jeanelle continues to volunteer with the youth of our community through various aspects, including cooking food for the local youth group Open Circle. She lives with her two daughters and husband.
Jen Mitchell
Business Manager
jmitchell@ppos.co
Emily Murphy
Assistant Director
emurphy@ppos.co
She holds a Colorado principal license, master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and a Colorado teaching license in early childhood. Emily has a background in project-based learning (PBL) and has been with PPOS for seven years: as a PBL advisor, instructional coach and now assistant director, among other roles. Before moving to Pagosa, she worked at Colorado State University as an instructor in the Human Development and Family Studies Department, where she worked daily in a lab school with CSU students and preschoolers. She created and implemented weekly professional development opportunities, formative and summative evaluations, and mentorship of student teachers and interns while honing her skills as a PBL teacher in a Reggio Emilia-inspired environment. She had the privilege of teaching for 10 years before moving to Pagosa, where she enjoys not only her work with the PPOS community, but also all the outdoor opportunities this area has to offer. Summer weekends are filled with camping, rafting and mountain biking; and the winter gives her time at the Wolf Creek ski area with her daughter, Quinn and husband, Ryan.
Amanda Schick
Counselor/Student & Family Engagement Advisor
aschick@ppos.co
Amanda Schick holds a BA in Psychology, a Masters in Business Administration and a MS in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling. She has 16 years of service in higher education, was a college coach for Track and Field, and also an instructor for Health and Wellness and Theories of Coaching.
Amanda has traveled abroad and most uniquely lived in West Africa, she hopes to one day live abroad again with her family in the future. Her husband Matt’s family has deep roots in Pagosa dating back to 1955. Grandma Jackie Schick worked in the Town Hall for 40 years; Greg Schick served as president of the School Board. Amanda is excited to raise her girls as 4th generation Pagosa residents.
Amanda believes in knowing her audience, so she enjoys diving into the cognitive and social-emotional development of adults and children. She believes the success of her role is dependent on the development of relationships with administration, faculty, students and parents.
Katy Corbett
Exceptional Student Services Advisor
kcorbett@ppos.co
Katy Corbett grew up in Pagosa Springs. After living and teaching in places all over the world, she is happy to be back home. She has a BA in Interdisciplinary Social Studies from Regis College, and a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Oregon. She began her career as a social studies teacher, but quickly moved into special education: her true love. She taught Navajo students for six years, before moving to Hawaii to teach. She has taught regular education, special education, and gifted education and has served students K-12.
Katy moved to Kenya in 2010, and was the Director of Special Needs at an international boarding school for 3.5 years. After that stint, she returned to Pagosa to allow her daughter the opportunity to attend Pagosa Springs High School and be near her grandparents. She opened a neuro-feedback therapy business and served children and adults who needed help with ADD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. While running her own business, she also worked as an international education consultant. She helped small schools in Jordan and Azerbaijan to improve their special education departments, and also consulted with expat families at conferences in Turkey, Greece, and Hungary. Ms. Corbett then moved to teach, once again, on the beautiful island of Kauai. She taught there for two years before returning to Pagosa Springs.