Leadership

Tomi Amos is the Chief Executive Officer for KIPP Colorado Public Schools. As the daughter of immigrant parents and a product of a public school education, Tomi Amos deeply believes that education provides access and opportunities that put individuals and communities on a path towards social and economic influence and mobility. Tomi’s work in education is fueled by the possibility of this belief becoming a reality for all students in our country. Tomi spent many years working as both an educator and school leader in New York City and in the Denver charter school network. Prior to joining KIPP Colorado, Tomi served as the Executive Director for the Northeast Denver Innovation Zone (NDIZ). Tomi earned a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from Trinity University, J.D. from University of Denver – Sturm College of Law, and M.Ed in Education Leadership from Columbia University.

When asked what makes her love KIPP, Tomi said, “Our KIPPsters! The possibilities and opportunities for KIPP Colorado are endless. There are a lot of exciting opportunities on the horizon to shape the future direction of KIPP Colorado.”

Justin Vigil grew up in Houston, TX, and graduated from Texas A&M University as a first-generation college student. After graduating from college, he became the Homeless Program Coordinator at Prevent Blindness Texas ensuring homeless individuals in Houston had access to eye exams and glasses to better their lives. Justin has a passion for educational equity so students from underserved communities have access to get the education they deserve and guidance they need to live choice-filled lives. Justin leads so students and families see someone who looks like him be successful everyday day. Just spent a decade working at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX. Justin has led as a Registrar, Director of Campus Operations, Director of School Operations, and Managing Director of School Operations. He has a passion for ensuring that systems and structures are in place to provide excellence for schools and districts to increase student achievement outcomes. In September 2021, Justin joined the KIPP Colorado team as the inaugural Chief of Staff to work with the CEO and Executive Team to advance KIPP Colorado in their next phase of strategy and growth.

Leah Peters is an experienced educator and senior leader with a track record of driving success and improvements across school academics, talent, and operations. Through her roles as Vice President of Academics at DSST Public Schools and Head of Schools at YES Prep Public Schools, she is experienced at establishing and leading effective cultures and systems of excellence, communicating and collaborating with key stakeholders, and strategically and creatively tackling complex challenges. As a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, Leverage Leadership Alumna, and former principal, Leah is passionate about building and supporting organizations that create a more just world. Leah is thrilled to join the KIPP Colorado Team and Family to learn, grow, and build together in service of our promise to cultivate joyful, academically excellent schools and programming - ECE through KTCC. In her spare time, Leah loves spending time with her husband and 2 daughters, cooking, reading, and hiking. When asked what she loves about her work at KIPP, she says “I love working at KIPP Colorado because I am blown away by the unwavering commitment to equity, the courage, joy, and dedication of the team, and the focus on the whole child."

Taamiti Bankole is the Managing Director of External Affairs for KIPP Colorado. Before joining KIPP Colorado, Taamiti was the Director of External Affairs for Uncommon Schools and the founding Director of Operations for Leadership Prep Ocean Hill Middle Academy, an Uncommon school in Brooklyn. In this role, he co-founded the middle school and oversaw all operational aspects of the school, including finance, facilities, enrollment, assessments, student data and general school systems. Prior to this position, Taamiti worked at Denver Public Schools’ Office of School Reform and Innovation as a Charter Schools Associate and Policy Analyst and as a Litigation Associate at Simpson Thacher, LLP in New York City. Taamiti earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought from Amherst College, a Juris Doctor from The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and is a proud alum of the Broad Residency (2019-21). Taamiti obtained his Masters of Science in Education Leadership from Broad Residency. In his free time, Taamiti enjoys spending time with his husband and daughter. When asked what Taamiti loves about KIPP, he said, “I love working at KIPP because of our KIPPsters and the impact they will make in our communities and the world.”

Alice Sheehan, our Chief Operating Officer, works with her team of Assistant Principals of Operations at each of our six campuses to ensure that our schools run smoothly. Alice took a winding path to education and brings along a breadth of experience in operations. She attended the University of Notre Dame and majored in Chemistry where she also received her MBA. She started her career building aircraft engines with GE Aviation and completed GE’s Operations Management Leadership Program. There she learned to value highly collaborative teams that ensure everyone has a voice. She switched career paths over five years ago to K-12 education and has found her forever home in education. Before joining KIPP, Alice was the Director of Operations and HR at Alma del Mar Charter School in New Bedford, MA. Alma taught her how to be a school that truly serves all learners and instilled the value of joy as integral to work.

She stays at KIPP because of her wonderful coworkers and the students in our schools.

Darby West is our founding Principal at KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2006 from the School of Education and Social Policy with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Psychological Services. In 2012, she graduated with masters from Columbia University Teachers College with a degree in Literacy Instruction. Darby began at KIPP NYC eight years ago because she wanted to find a home with a team of people who believe in the Power of ‘AND’, meaning that from the individual to the organizational level, we seek to find broken paradoxes and prove that in a world of black and white or yes and no, we can find a third way and show that two seemingly mutually exclusive ideas are not. Rather, when they work together, both can succeed. We are never scared to ask the hard questions. We build schools for and with our communities and seek to amplify voices around us for equity and access.

Emily has a B.A. in Political Science from Carleton College. She is currently in her 15th year at KIPP Colorado and was the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning for the past 5 years, after leading KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy as Principal, Assistant Principal, and Teacher for many years.

When asked what she loves about KIPP, “I stay at KIPP for its mission and for its people. I stay at KIPP for its sense of community, the Team and Family, and all the innovation and deep-rooted kindness that that value entails."

Jessica (Jess) Simpson began her educational journey in the College of Wooster with a BA in Biology and eventually went on to earn an MA from Columbia University, NYC, Summer Principals Academy program. Jess has been an educator in Denver for 11 years, 9 of them at KIPP Denver Collegiate High School. Over the years, Jess held roles as science teacher, STEM chair, Dean of instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal.

When asked why Jess loves KIPP, she says it’s “because of what it means to be a KDC Tiger, and what it means to be a part of an organization of passionate, excellent educators committed to serving others.”

Elizabeth (Liz) Dillon grew up in New York and earned a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland in 2009. Liz received a Master’s degree from the University of Colorado, Denver in Curriculum and Instruction. She was a founding member of the KIPP Northeast Elementary (KNE) kindergarten team proudly teaching the classes of 2028 and 2029. Liz served as Assistant Principal of the Lower Elementary at KNE for three years, overseeing ECE, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade. She now serves as the Principal of KNE.

Liz says she loves KNE’s “vision of excellence and equity in education for all students and the unique value of justice. I stay each year because I believe that in partnership with students and families, we are helping to create meaningful and joyful learning experiences for children.”

Joining the KIPP Colorado Team and Family as principal at KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School (KNDMS) in 2017, Stephani Olson has been tremendous in transforming the school culture, students and staff alike. Stephani is driven by the belief that her students are deserving of a quality education through high expectations, accountability, and a whole lot of love! This vision is evidenced in the focused systems and routines that she has in place, which in turn create equitable and engaging classrooms. She often tells her students and parents that, “KNDMS is a space for personality where kids can be themselves and work on who they are.

Born in an industrial town in the North of England, Richard attended the University of Cambridge as an undergraduate as a beneficiary of the merit-based Isaac Newton Award and the Bell, Abbott & Barnes Award. Following a brief career as a Management Consultant, Richard has worked in education since 2009 serving in a range of roles in the public, international and independent sector prior to joining KIPP Colorado in May 2019 as Assistant Principal at KNDLA, now serving as interim Principal at KNDLA. Richard has achieved teaching certification in three countries (the UK, Germany and the USA) in addition to a M.A. in Contemporary History and a M.Ed. Leadership & Management. Richard acted as consultant to the Board of Directors at the French American School of Denver, Board Member and Chief Financial Officer at the European Youth Parliament/Schwarzkopf-Stiftung and as Chair of the Board of a housing community in Lafayette, CO. He’s a fan of fantasy football and Rockies baseball.

As the Director of People, Rachel manages the Human Resources and Recruitment functions for KIPP Colorado. These teams manage the employee lifecycle from the initial cultivation and recruitment to the moment a staff member transitions out. Rachel is a Denver native that grew up in one the communities we serve, the Montbello neighborhood in the Far Northeast. It was a conscious decision for Rachel to find a career that serves her hometown. After graduating from Denver East High School, Rachel attended Colorado State University, studying Political Science and Philosophy. Originally Rachel had planned to attend law school after finishing her undergrad but decided to pursue more of a career in education policy, working on several local campaigns and even working as a legislative aide. Wanting to be exposed more to the education landscape, Rachel began her career in education as a Math Interventionist at Ashely Elementary School. She went on to begin her work in Talent at another Denver Charter Management Organization and eventually made her way to the San Francisco Bay Area where she led recruitment for Rocketship Public Schools before moving back to Denver to join KIPP Colorado.

When asked why she chose KIPP Colorado, Rachel responded that "KIPP not only serves those who are educationally underserved, but KIPP supports students to and through college. Coming from the Montbello community it is very important for me to see that level of support. When I see our KIPPsters, I see myself. That support was critical for me to be where I am today."

Aidan Bassett is the Director of Early Childhood Education for KIPP Colorado. Aidan graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education in 2010. Prior to working for KIPP Colorado, Aidan worked as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, specializing in working with students with Autism, and as a Consultant and Teacher Coach, supporting teachers with successfully integrating students with special needs and employing developmentally appropriate practice in general education Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs. While working at KIPP, Aidan founded the first two ECE programs at KIPP Colorado and has worked with her teams to achieve high marks for both programs through Colorado Shines and the majority of our ECE students exceeding expectations on the Teaching Standards Gold Assessment. In her daily work, she oversees the academic and operational aspects of both ECE programs. She stays at KIPP for their commitment to bring joyful, whole-child-focused, justice-driven, and accessible programming to our youngest KIPPsters.

Irma Venegas is the Director of KIPP Forward. Irma, a Denver native and graduate of the University of San Diego, leads our region’s work to support students on their path to college and journey through college and career. As a woman of color and navigating whiteness for most of her professional life, Irma is exhausted by code-switching. Her leadership philosophy is to dismantle dominant culture by creating spaces for her KIPP Forward team to show up wholeheartedly as themselves.

In Irma’s words, “What I love about KIPP is that it's an evolving organization with a great network of colleagues across the country. I stay because I wholeheartedly believe in the mission--supporting our students, families, and alumni. Education transformed my life and I believe that it can also transform our communities. Those who work for KIPP, carry with them a passion and love for our students. I stay because as a Latina, first-generation college graduate, I see myself in our students and they need people who look like them to know that indeed it is possible!”