Educators marking 25 years of service in Catholic schools of the Denver Archdiocese are profiled below.
Mary-Jeanne DeMarie
St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood
In 25 years teaching at Catholic schools, Mary-Jeanne DeMarie, has worked to help every student believe that he or she can be a successful language learner.
“Long after the classroom experience is over,” she said, “there are still unlimited opportunities to be active readers and speakers of French and Spanish.”
For the last 12 years she has taught High School World Languages at St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood. Prior to that, she taught at Regis Jesuit High School nine years, Bishop Machebeuf High School for a year and St. Vincent de Paul School for three.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from State University College at Buffalo, and a master’s in education from State University of New York at Buffalo.
Paulette Evans
Most Precious Blood School, Denver
Paulette Evans has taught students in a diverse amount of settings and schools.
She’s taught in England and in the United States in Alabama and Denver in both public and private schools. Her career path led her to Most Precious Blood School, where she’s taught for more than 20 years.
Her career began after graduating from Colorado State University in Fort Collins when she taught seventh-grade through ninth-grade students at Thomas Jefferson High School and then Hamilton Junior High.
“Choosing to be a teacher was a natural choice,” she said.
After taking a break to raise her daughters, Evans said she “longed to be back in the classroom sharing my love of English and literature.”
Her search for a new school ended at Most Precious Blood, which she’s come to see as an extension of her family. It’s been a rewarding and invigorating experience, she said.
“It is a community that supports and encourages each person to become the best that they can be,” Evans said. “Being able to share my life and teaching with this community has made this second stage of my career a wonderful, growing and challenging experience.”
Joseph “Woody” Green
Nativity of Our Lord School, Broomfield
Woody Green said education is more than test scores. The whole child’s spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical development should be considered equally important.
Green has spent 25 years focusing on physical education at Nativity of Our Lord School in Broomfield.
“My goal is to have the kids find something activity-wise they will do the rest of their lives so they can stay healthy and have a good outlet,” he said.
Green earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental conservation and a second bachelor’s degree in physical education. He is married to Lorraine who teaches music part-time at Nativity.
He began coaching at Casey Junior High and later at Fairview and Centaurus high schools before joining Nativity. He was the athletic director for 10 years and is now the cross-country coach.
Green credits the family atmosphere at Nativity as the reason he has stayed for 25 years.
“Everyone looks out for each other,” he said of the school. “We all share the same values and concerns. We’re all pretty close.”
Sydney Timme
Regis Jesuit High School, Aurora
For 25 years Sydney Timme’s educational philosophy has been to “foster connection, encourage the hearts of my students, and recognize the divine in all things.”
Timme has been teaching English, music and physical education at Regis Jesuit High School in the boys division since 1996. Prior to Regis Jesuit, she taught music and English at St. Mary’s School from 1989 to 1996.
She holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Colorado at Denver, and a master’s of education from Regis University.
Gayle Japp
St. Anthony, Sterling
Gayle Japp, honored for a quarter-century in Catholic education, began teaching fifth grade at St. Anthony School in Sterling in 1989.
“Teaching here has been, and continues to be, a joy and a wonderful blessing in my life,” said the mother of two grown sons with her husband Roger.
Currently Japp’s two grandchildren attend St. Anthony’s. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Natalie Travis
St. Joseph, Fort Collins
Natalie Travis, a 25-year educator at St. Joseph School in Fort Collins, strives to educate students to become life-long learners while living the Gospel.
“I am very blessed to be a part of such a wonderful ministry,” she said of her role as a second-grade teacher.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, and Elementary Certification from the University of Northern Colorado. She has also earned catechetical certification, and loves sharing and living the faith with her students each day. Travis is married and the couple has three children, all have attended St. Joseph’s.
She enjoys reading, sports and spending time with her family.
