Mission: To increase community and business involvement in support of the Jefferson County Outdoor Education Laboratory Schools.
Vision: A Non-profit Foundation providing ongoing support to the Jefferson County Public Schools Outdoor Education Laboratory Schools and the commitment to experiential learning, stewardship, and historical preservation; for now and into the future.

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Board Members

Each Board member's experience and background brings a different perspective to the Outdoor Lab Foundation. Take a closer look at each Board member to discover what helps to make the Foundation so successful.

Kathy Weiss Chairperson

Kathy Weiss has been serving on the Foundation Board since its inception, July 2003. Kathy comes to us with 32 years of experience with Jeffco Public Schools. She taught for 20 years, was a staff developer for 3 years, and was the Principal of the Mt. Evans Outdoor Lab School for 10 years. She is currently retired and is enjoying, in addition to working on the Outdoor Lab Foundation Board, long walks with family, the ability to workout daily, reading, and traveling.

Kathy is enjoying her time with her husband Bob, daughter Emily, and granddaughter Makayla.

Barb Robb Vice-Chairperson

Barbara Robb taught 5th and 6th grades in Jeffco for over 20 years before retiring in 2006. In addition to working 2 days each week at Glennon Heights Elementary as an intervention teacher, Barb also is a member of the Outdoor Lab Foundation Board and is secretary for CITEL, the Colorado International Teacher Exchange League. Barb was selected for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program during the school year 1999-2000; she traded classrooms, homes, cars, and friends with a teacher from northern England. It was a truly rewarding and exciting experience for her and her husband. Barb enjoys having fun with her grandchildren, reading, playing bridge, and all kinds of needle work.

Louis Karahalios Treasurer and Webmaster

Louis Karahalios has served as Treasurer since October 2005 and has served as Webmaster since February 2008. He currently works for IQNavigator as their Billing Manager. Prior to that, Louis has worked at Dex Media, MX Logic, Citigroup and Sprint Nextel. He has previously served as secretary and member at large for an HOA board, has served as a delegate to the Highlands Ranch Community Association, and served two years on the Board of Directors for the Green City Project in Denver. He graduated from the University of Colorado with his B.A. in History. Louis completed his MBA in 2007.

Louis has experienced the outdoor lab program in all capacities. He attended Windy Peak as a sixth grade student from Ute Meadows Elementary School, was a high school leader (from Chatfield Senior High) and college leader numerous times at both sites, served as a college intern at Windy Peak, and was the on-site program coordinator at Mount Evans for 1 ½ years. He got involved with the board in 2004 as a member of the alumni advisory board, and joined the Board of Directors in October 2005.

When not working, Louis enjoys spending time with his wife Megan, who he met through the alumni advisory board in 2004. They enjoy traveling all over the United States.

Meghan Stinton Marketing and Communications Manager

Picture Coming Soon

The Outdoor Lab Foundation officially welcomed Meghan to the board in October 2009.  She currently holds the position of Marketing and Communications Manager for the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.  Prior to that, Meghan has worked as the Fundraising and Events Coordinator for Breast Cancer Network of Strength Rocky Mountain, Public Relations Account Executive with JKD & Company, Inc., and a Station Assistant at KMGH Channel 7.  She is a graduate from Metropolitan State College of Denver and holds a Bachelors degree in Journalism and Public Relations.   Meghan’s passion for non-profits, communication, and writing, has led her to serve on numerous committees including; the Women’s Bean Project communications committee and the National Hazing Prevention Organization marketing and public relations committee. 

Sue Shucard Recording Secretary

Sue taught in Jefferson County for forty years, primarily in sixth grade. Throughout that time, she was involved with the Outdoor Education school in several capacities. Sue was part of the Outdoor lab cadre, and part of the leadership team that trained high school leaders. She has also been part of writing several curriculum guides that are used at the lab school. Currently Sue is retired and is enjoying her work for the Foundation, tutoring, and participating in several book clubs.

Karen Cravens Corresponding Secretary

Bio coming soon!

Judith Hill Member at Large

In over 40 years as a professional in the Transportation and Oil & Gas industries, Judith’s career seemed targeted at working with people. She became professionally involved early on at the vanguard for customer service systems development and design. A strange personal segue for an individual with a background in the arts. But, with a concentration on customer service applications, software licensing and intellectual properties rights, she helped to create the first telephone voice response system and personal computer shipment tracing services used by US and Canadian railroad customers. She was twice honored with Chairman’s Circle Awards for outstanding contributions to customer service.

A long time resident of Jefferson County, she is honored to share her experience in the corporate and business communities as a member of Outdoor Lab Foundation Board of Directors.

Ryan Lucas Member at Large

Ryan has been a member of the board since May 2006. He was the original creator of this website for the foundation and served as Webmaster until February 2008. Ryan is currently the Director of Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, a public charter school in Jeffco Public Schools serving preschool through eighth grade. Prior to that, Ryan taught for six years as a sixth grade teacher in Jeffco Public Schools. Ryan has a B.A. in English from the University of Northern Colorado and a M.A. in Information and Learning Technologies from the University of Colorado at Denver. Recently Ryan earned his Principal's license through the same university. He is currently a member of the National Middle School Association and the Colorado Education Association.

Ryan's involvement with the Outdoor Lab Schools began in 1989 as a sixth grade student from Hutchinson Elementary. When he reached Golden High School, he attended both sites as a High School Leader. In 1996 Ryan was awarded the first annual Jim Jackson Memorial Scholarship and returned to the Mt. Evans site as a college intern after his first year of college.

Rafe Maestas Member at Large

Rafe Maestas is serving his first year on the Board of Directors. He has been involved in the Outdoor Lab program for many years as a student from Hutchinson Elementary, High School Leader CADRE at both sites from Green Mountain High School, College Leader and on-site Program Coordinator at Mount Evans for 5 ½ years.

Currently Rafe is an IT Manager at Sprint Nextel where he has focused on Billing Systems development, IT Operations and Project Management for the past 7 ½ years. Prior to that Rafe worked in the Business Sales division of US West and Qwest Communications.

When Rafe is not working he enjoys spending time traveling to new places, hanging out with family and friends and being in the outdoors.

Sara Kay Schweitzberger Member at Large

Sara Kay comes to the board as a business community member and former Outdoor Lab School student, leader, and intern. Before attaining her B.A. in Mass Media and Communication from Western State College of Colorado, Sara Kay was a high school leader at both sites and an intern at Mt. Evans Outdoor Lab School. Her Outdoor Lab experience began as a 6th grader from Normandy Elementary and continued through her days at Columbine High School.

Sara Kay is currently the Outreach Specialist for Recreational Equipment Inc. in Lakewood, CO. REI is involved with the foundation through their grant and PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) programs.

Sara Kay enjoys being with her family and playing outside; whether she’s biking, hiking, snowboarding or just enjoying the amazing Colorado mountain’s.

Dawn Beck Member at Large

Picture Coming Soon

Bio coming soon!

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Board Advisors

Jayson Haberkorn

  • Chair of the Thomas Pain Scholarship Fund Committee

Bryan Krause

  • Principal: Windy Peak Outdoor Education Lab School
Bryan Krause currently serves as the principal of Windy Peak Outdoor Lab School in Bailey. He has worked for the last 16 years in education. He has served as coach, teacher, work/study coordinator, and administrator. His previous administrative position included serving as principal and assistant principal of Platte Canyon High School in Bailey. In addition, he served as Dean of Students for the Widefield School District in Colorado Springs. Bryan is currently a doctoral candidate at Colorado State University researching educational performance and leadership. Bryan competes in ultra distance athletic competitions in both the running and biking arenas. He has been married for 16 years to Shelley and has 3 children: Kennan-12, Shae-10, and Brynna-6. He enjoys serving in the outdoor education arena and loves Outdoor Lab!

Sandy Stevens

  • Principal: Mt. Evans Outdoor Education Lab School

Sandy Stevens is currently the principal at Mount Evans Outdoor Education Laboratory School. She has been an educator in Jeffco Schools for 12 years, primarily as a 6th grade teacher, a curriculum coordinator and currently as a principal in the OELS program. Sandy has been a part of Outdoor Lab since she attended the program as a 6th grader at Hutchinson Elementary and as a high school leader several times from Green Mountain High School. Outdoor Lab was the inspiration for her choice to work in education. Sandy enjoyed her experience with her 6th grade students at the lab school and continued her passion for the program as coordinator in developing and revising current outdoor lab curriculum. Her enthusiasm for hands-on, experiential learning led her into the leadership role she currently holds at Mount Evans, continuing to advocate for innovative education for 6th graders, high school leaders, interns and adult learners. Currently she lives at the Mount Evans site with her 15 year old son, Evan, where they enjoy the community life of living and working at such a spectacular outdoor education school.

 
Last updated February 7, 2010
The Outdoor Lab Foundation is a not for profit organization under Section 501(C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code
© Outdoor Lab Foundation 2010