Grady Dietrich

Grady was born and raised in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and earned his bachelors in Biological Sciences from Colorado State University. Growing up, he was fascinated by all living creatures which is what led him to CSU to pursue veterinary science. As he continued in his education, his passion for science was still evident, however vet school just didn’t seem like the right fit. He realized his passion for education as he would host study groups; helping his peers learn and learning from his peers is what truly made him happy. He decided to continue his undergrad program, but realized teaching is where he wanted to be, which has led him to CU Denver!

He is excited to grow his knowledge and understanding of education through the lens of a teacher and the lens of a student. He strives to be like his best teachers and professors, as they are what helped him get to this point, so he hopes he too can help others find their dreams!

Jeffrey Quick

Born and raised in Colorado, Jeffrey has spent many years growing and developing alongside the larger community landscape present in the state. He has learned through connection and understanding what students are searching for in an educational sense and plans to put those skills to use in a high school classroom someday. He has developed his understanding of mathematics and scientific reasoning throughout his collegiate education and is now ready to further his understanding of what it means to be an educational rockstar.

Jeffrey truly hopes to connect with his students on multiple levels and apply his understanding of what did and did not work for him into his everyday work as an educational professional. Above all, he wants to look for the issues he experienced in high-school, and work to help students overcome those issues and survive high school more successfully than he did. His passion for the subjects he enjoys flows unimpeded in his actions and will hopefully inspire a new generation of thinkers to reach for their dreams and never give up. He also very much looks forward to completing his degree by Fall 2023 and beginning his exciting work as a secondary teacher in Colorado!

Kristina Jessen

Kristina is originally from Denver, but spent part of her childhood on a farm near Jamestown, North Dakota. She is a CU Denver graduate, having earned BS degrees in Biology and Chemistry. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing video games, watching TV, and hiking. While completing her second bachelor’s degree, Kristina began working as a Lecture/Laboratory Teaching Assistant in the Department of Chemistry at CU Denver. She also served in the LA program. During this time, she discovered a passion for science and teaching. She is currently pursuing an MA in Teaching with Secondary Science Licensure. As an educator, Kristina aims to inspire students to appreciate and value science as they learn how it impacts their everyday lives. She also hopes to serve as a positive role model for diverse adolescents in urban communities.