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By incorporating practical lessons on subjects such as Courage, Kindness, Loyalty and Obedience, the staff and faculty of The Vail Academy work hard to instill in each student a strong moral character. Here, teachers model the behavior parents want their children to learn.
The Vail Academy’s goal is to recruit, support and encourage the finest and most qualified cadre of teachers and administrators possible. If you are interested in applying for a position with The Vail Academy, please download our Teacher Application, complete and return with your resume, college transcripts and two letters of recommendation to:
The Vail Academy
Attn: Personnel
P.O. Box 1980
Avon, CO 81620
 Heather Bergquist, Kindergarten
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Heather was raised in Michigan and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Taylor University. She loves working with children in any capacity. She received the honor of being named Student Teacher of the Year and says “Throughout my time at Taylor, I had a number of experiences teaching and tutoring early elementary students and I had a very challenging, yet extremely rewarding, student teaching experience at an inner city school in Indianapolis.” She taught school for three months in Nigeria where she had an amazing opportunity to adapt to another culture, love children and grow closer to God. Mrs. Bergquist loves her family, running, biking, hiking, playing soccer, music, and fun art projects.
 Jen Chesery, Lower Academy
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Mrs. Chesery taught in Washington state for three years before relocating to the valley with her husband, Tony, and daughter, Roxanne. She is very excited to be a part of our school family. While in Washington, her husband served in the Iraq War with the 1st Calvary Division of the U.S. Army, and while serving, Jen and Tony had their first child, Roxanne. Mrs. Chesery was born and raised in Southern California, but has lived in other states such as Alaska, Rhode Island, and Montana. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Montana State University. She wanted to be a teacher since she was six years old, and working with the students at TVA is a dream come true for her as she has always wanted to teach in a Christian school. She loves working with and tutoring children of all ages. Jen enjoys spending time with her church group, reading and playing with Roxanne, cooking, hiking, and snow shoeing.
 Stacey Fischer, Lower Academy
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Mrs. Fischer grew up in Northern Minnesota, receiving her degree in Elementary Education from Moorhead State University. She moved to Colorado in 1993, and began teaching the first year at The Vail Academy in 1996. She taught 3/4 grade, 4/5 grade, and Math, Latin, Language, and Bible for upper academy during her tenure here. After taking time off to raise her 3 children, Stacey says "I am incredibly excited to return to The Vail Academy! It really is a privilege to merge the two passions I have in life; my passion for Christ and my passion for children. My hobbies are scrap booking, reading, camping as a family, and skiing. I truly feel blessed and honored to be part of the staff at TVA, and know without a shadow of a doubt this is where God wants me to be!"
 Debra Croff, Lower Academy
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Debra Croff has twenty plus years experience in Public Schools, teaching Preschool, Library, Special Education, Gifted and Talented and First and Second Grades, as well as many wonderful years spent teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Children’s Choir. Teaching in a Christian School and sharing her love for Jesus is a dream come true, and Deb is ecstatic about teaching at The Vail Academy. She and her husband are transplants from Montana, where they raised their three wonderful young adult children who live in Seattle, Madison, WI, and Tampa, FL. Deb loves living in the mountains. She enjoys hiking, biking, snow shoeing and skiing. She loves identifying wildflowers and bird watching and is an outdoor-education enthusiast. She has a passion for Bible Study and she also likes to read Historical Fiction. Music is a big part of Deb’s life and she is looking forward to a wonderful year of Praising and Worshiping the Lord with her students!
 Kristin Baker, Upper Academy
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Mrs. Baker served on the original “Steering Committee” for The Vail Academy and was the first teacher hired to work at the school. “God has been so faithful to all of us at The Vail Academy – it is humbling. Watching His school grow from the beginning has been an incredible journey.” Kristin has a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She began her teaching career in the public schools of Colorado Springs and Vail. She moved to the Vail Academy as the Kindergarten teacher. Her twenty years of teaching experience encompasses Kindergarten, Second and Fourth grades, and she is currently teaching Fifth through Eighth grade Language Arts, History and Bible. She embraces the opportunity to help her Junior High students discover how God designed each one perfectly different. Helping them receive the message that God breathed His breath of life into each of them and that He would have died for them alone is vitally important to her. She has a passion for helping her students wrestle with the truths as they navigate their way on their journey of faith. All four of her children have attended The Vail Academy. Aside from teaching, she enjoys time with her husband, David, and their children. Their family spends most of their free time in the mountains rejoicing in His majesty and enjoying His creation.
 Russell Kested, Upper Academy
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Russ Kested was born in Denver and graduated from Northglenn High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from the University of Colorado in Boulder, majoring in physical education with minors in math and science. He later received his Master of Arts degree in education administration from Oral Roberts University. Mr. Kested has taught and administrated schools for over 27 years in Colorado, Hawaii, Spain, and Texas. The challenge to integrate Christian faith and learning through a Biblical worldview has been a major focus throughout his career. Mr. Kested’s family has a love for missions and he has traveled to over 30 nations. They served with Youth With A Mission for 7 ½ years from 1979 – 1985 in Hawaii and Europe, but mostly in Spain. He has directed and led senior class mission trips to many nations including Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, France, and Taiwan. Through the years, Mr. Kested has always loved any time he could spend in Colorado with family and being in the mountains. He enjoys fishing, reading the classics, and now living in the family cabin that was built in 1894, located along the Colorado River.
 Christy Howell, Music
Christi Howell is in her third year as music teacher for The Vail Academy. She attended the University of Wyoming and studied Performance, Education and Conducting. Mrs. Howell has be teaching music to students in grades K-8 for 14 years and has been giving private lessons for 15 years. While living in Denver she played clarinet with the Colorado Wind Ensemble, Colorado Ballet and was a regular substitute for the Colorado Symphony. She owns the M.U.S.E. II Band Program, which operates independent band programs in Denver private schools, and is the director of a local professional band, the Alpine Wind Ensemble.
 Amanda Evans, O2 Director & Resource Teacher
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Mrs. Evans graduated from Carson-Newman College in Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education. Amanda served a two year missions assignment overseas with Operation Mobilization that allowed her to travel to over 30 different countries. This opportunity gave her a real passion for people and a love for children. Amanda has lived in the valley for 11 years now and is excited about her 6th year at the academy. God has given her a love for the outdoors and she loves sharing that in the O2 program. In her spare time outside the classroom, you will find Amanda once again adventuring into the wild. Hiking, Skiing, biking and her favorite past time racing her dirtbike keep her busy!
 Eric Alexander, "O2" Director
Eric Alexander is a skier, climber, and mountaineer who has lived in the Vail Valley for twenty years. He and his wife Amy have twin daughters, Karis and Aralyn. Born in Indiana, Eric moved with his family to Evergreen Colorado where he gained his first experiences in the outdoors with his church youth group. His mentors there, with world class credentials, gave him a passion for the outdoors and for the Lord which continues to this day. With a BA degree in Environmental Science from the University of Denver, Eric was a member of the Alpine Club, Ski Team, and was President of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship on campus.
On May 25th, 2001, Eric defied the odds and scaled Mt. Everest, guiding his blind friend, Erik Weihenmayer to its 29,035’ summit. Eric has climbed the highest point on six of the seven continents. What makes this accomplishment even more notable is that Eric has led a person with a disability to the summit of each peak.
Through his business, Higher Summits, Eric continues to climb and lead expeditions throughout Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Himalayas and other mountainous regions of the globe with disabled teens and adults. He is a motivational speaker, sharing his experiences and his faith in Christ all over the world. He is always looking for new mountains to climb, both personally and in the outdoors, while challenging people to overcome the “Everest” in their own lives.
Eric is proud to be a part of the O2 program at The Vail Academy.
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