We would like to give a warm welcome to Julia Rich and Alana Raybon, the next Principals of KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy and KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy, respectively! They engaged in a rigorous process of selection, and we are thrilled that they will be a part of our Team & Family next fall.
Introducing Principal Alana Raybon
We are elated to officially announce that Alana Raybon has been selected as KIPP Sunshine Peak Acadamy’s next Principal! Ms. Raybon went through a rigorous selection process to be named as KSPA’s next principal, and we are thrilled that she’ll join our team in late May.
Ms. Raybon is a seasoned educator with experience achieving excellent outcomes in public and private school settings. Ms. Raybon found her calling to education while working with teens at a youth home, and later as a paraprofessional.
After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.A. in education, she moved to Texas where she taught for 10 years as a 3rd-7th grade lead teacher to a diverse population in Houston. Ms. Raybon pursued her master’s degree in educational policy at Vanderbilt University while teaching for 3 years as a middle school English teacher.
Ms. Raybon served as the founding Director of Curriculum and Instruction at DSST Middle School at Noel Campus for 3 years. She was a School Director in Training and the Interim School Director at DSST Middle School at Noel Campus, in which she led the community through the difficult challenge of educating during a pandemic. Ms. Raybon is currently a Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Denver.
In reflecting on joining the KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy community, Ms. Raybon said “I look forward to contributing to KIPP Colorado’s deep commitment to the noble mission of partnering with families as we forge a path for our students’ future. I look forward to building new relationships with you all and contributing to KIPP Colorado’s success through our shared passion and commitment to excellence in education. I am committed to partnering with families as we prepare our students for a bright future together. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me. Please know that every day I will strive to learn from and grow with you as we partner in this incredible opportunity together.”
Introducing Principal Julia Rich
We are excited and thrilled to officially announce that Julia Rich has been selected as KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership
Academy’s next Principal! Ms. Rich engaged in a rigorous process of selection to be named as KNDLA’s next and future principal, and we are thrilled that she’ll join our team in early June.
By way of Virginia, Ms. Rich is an energetic and passionate leader who has worked in education for the past nine years—the majority of those served within the KIPP network. Throughout her career, she has served as a teacher, Grade Level Chair, Content Lead, Assistant Principal, and Principal. She believes in providing students an experience where they are encouraged to be bold learners, envision themselves as future leaders, and develop the skills needed to lead choice-filled lives.
A graduate of Old Dominion University’s Darden College of Education; Ms. Rich is excited to bring her skills, experience, and love for young people to KNDLA. She is passionate about building relationships and culturally relevant teaching. In addition to school, she loves spending time with her children—who are also KIPPsters, enjoying outdoor activities, reading, and listening to music.
When asked about what excites her about the role, Ms. Rich told us: “I am excited to work closely with the students, families, teachers, staff of KNDLA and KIPP Colorado– to build off of the strengths that exist and to create a tighter community so that we can move forward together. Throughout the interview process, I had the opportunity to speak with students, teachers, and families of KNDLA. I am appreciative of the tenacity, passion, and investment that this community displays and am privileged to lead this amazing Team and Family! I am excited to get started!”
Click here to watch the video introduction from Ms. Rich.
We are elated to have Ms. Raybon and Ms. Rich join our KIPP Colorado Team & Family!
