Erin Kane
Executive Director of Schools
Erin led the effort to found American Academy in 2005, and served on the American Academy Board of Directors as President of the Board for 5 years at which point she was hired to be the Head of School. Erin is responsible for all aspects of American Academy, from academic excellence to financial stability and operational success. Erin’s background in business and management allows her to run an effective school organization. Erin has assembled a management team with expertise in academics, STEM, financial management, and technology to achieve the mission of American Academy. Erin is a Colorado native with an engineering degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Colorado. She worked in the high technology industry for 10 years, including positions in development, project management, education, consulting and practice management.
Amanda Lane-Cline
Assistant Executive Director
Amanda assists in the executive oversight of American Academy while ensuring our unique STEM Discovery Week program, our math program and our science curriculum support the STEM-related aspects of the school’s mission. Before moving to Colorado, Amanda was the Coordinator of Curriculum Design for the Public Education and Risk Communication Division of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute in New Jersey. There, she directed programs for multimedia curriculum development. She received her Masters of Public Health degree in Health Education and Behavioral Science from the Rutgers/The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and her Bachelors degree in Natural Science/Microbiology from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Amanda takes K-8 STEM education to a whole new level at American Academy.
Ron Smith
Elementary Principal, Castle Pines
Ron is the principal for grades K-5 at our Castle Pines campus, managing the education and discipline of the CP elementary students while overseeing PE and Technology education at both campuses. Ron also manages the AA K-5 Leadership Awards Program and the K-5 Technology Scope & Sequence Curriculum at Castle Pines. Ron grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Colorado in June of 2000. His higher education consists of attending the Lawrence Institute of Technology where he studied electrical engineering for four years. Ron earned an electronic/robotic engineering degree and a degree in education. He has taught elementary and middle school and his teaching licenses include math, science, language arts, and social studies.
Ginger Norton
Elementary Principal, Parker
Ginger is the principal for grades K-6 at our Parker campus, managing the education and discipline of the PKR elementary students while overseeing Art and Music education at both campuses. Ginger manages the AA K-6 Leadership Awards Program and the K-6 Technology Scope & Sequence Curriculum at Parker. Prior to her role as principal, Ginger was the Curriculum Specialist at American Academy. Ginger grew up in Connecticut and lived in Illinois and Tennessee before settling in Colorado. Ginger graduated from Wheaton College in 1997 with her Elementary Education degree. In her nine years of teaching, Ginger taught the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Ginger has been with American Academy since its beginning and has always enjoyed assisting teachers in implementing the curriculum and analyzing data to affect student achievement.
Jeff Renfrow
Middle School Principal, Castle Pines
Jeff is the principal of our middle school at the Castle Pines campus, managing the education and discipline of the CP middle school students. Jeff also manages the AA middle school Leadership Awards Program and the middle school Technology Scope & Sequence Curriculum at Castle Pines. Jeff has led private, international, charter, and public schools from Preschool through grade 12. He also taught grades 4-6. Jeff is a native of Arizona and moved to Colorado in 2007. He is keen to see our middle school students and teachers utilizing effective technologies to enhance instruction and learning. Jeff believes strongly in the power of positive relationships between parents, students and teachers. Jeff and his wife have two sons. When Jeff is not at AA, he enjoys woodworking, dirt/street motorcycling, reading, carving, learning the banjo, and hanging out with his family.
Malcolm Moore
Student Support Services Director
Malcolm has been in the education field for over two decades since earning his Masters in Social Work (LCSW) with an emphasis in Social Planning and Administration. The majority of his professional experience was with the Douglas County School District, with a short time in Jefferson County at the beginning of his career. Malcolm worked in mental health, both in a direct and supervisory capacity, for 10 years prior to his work in education. He also coached boys’ and girls’ basketball and track for approximately 15 years, as an assistant and head coach in both sports at the high school varsity level. As team leader of the Student Support Services department, Malcolm is looking forward to guiding the services necessary for students to be successful and provide consultation support with teachers and parents in the American Academy community.
Gretchen Brogan
KindiePrep Director
Gretchen is the Director of the AA KindiePrep program, which is offered at our Parker Campus. Gretchen grew up in the Buffalo, NY, area where she obtained a Bachelor degree in Sociology and Elementary Education from the State University of New York at Brockport. Before moving to Colorado, Gretchen worked with children in grades K-6 in the North Syracuse New York school system. Since moving to Colorado Gretchen has found that preschoolers are her passion. For the past 20 years she has worked in the early childhood field as a preschool teacher and a supervisor of a large preschool facility. Gretchen enjoys helping children become excited about learning at the preschool level and building a strong social and academic foundation.
Brian Wherry
IT Director
Brian manages American Academy’s Information Technology department which includes overseeing the local and wide area network along with all technology related support for staff and students. Brian is a Colorado native with an Exercise Sports Science degree in teaching from the University of Arizona. Brian has been working in the IT field for over 10 years including recently running his own computer/IT consulting company.
Suzanne Hanks
Office Manager, Castle Pines
Suzanne manages the front office at our Castle Pines campus, overseeing Castle Pines’ visitor reception, instructional assistants (IA’s), and health room services. She also oversees enrollment and registration, and substitute coordination at both Castle Pines and Parker. Suzanne attended CSU in Fort Collins, Colorado and received a degree in Merchandising. Throughout her career, Suzanne has worked in the customer service area and has been serving our AA families, students and staff since 2006. Suzanne is a Colorado native and lives in Castle Rock with her husband, two children and three dogs. When Suzanne is not working she enjoys entertaining, cooking, hiking, skiing and watching her children play sports.
Joanne Lofvenborg
Office Manager, Parker
Trish Cummings
Communications Manager
Trish is the Communications Manager for AA and helps ensure consistent and effective communication with our families and the communities in which our schools are located. She was born and raised in Wisconsin and moved to Colorado in 1994. Trish is a member of the original Founding Families of AA and volunteered for many years prior to joining the AA staff in 2008. Trish and her husband have two children and three dogs. Trish enjoys reading, travelling and spending time with her family in the mountains.
Steve Cunningham
Facility Manager