The Team

Josh Morris is our Science Instructional Specialist with a focus on S.T.E.A.M.. Josh is responsible for creating positive and memorable science experiences for all Eagle Rock students. Josh’s goal is to make sure all ERS students find their curiosity and excitement for how the world around them works. Josh is a member of the Pinon House team. For the past two decades Josh has been working in Youth Development and Science Evangelism. His experiences include 15 years as a camp counselor, guide, and director in the mountains of Estes Park; 16 years as a public school science teacher; 3 years as a science curriculum developer and trainer; 5 years as a creator and mentor in a progressive, project-based high school program; and 25 years as a science demonstrator and performer for audiences of all ages. Josh earned his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education at Kansas State University (KS) and his Master’s Degree at Emporia State University (KS). When he’s not busy with students, you can find Josh creating and building in the wood shop, hiking and camping with his dog, Midnight, rowing his raft down a big river, or fly fishing the streams, lakes, and rivers all over the Rocky Mountains.

Adaptability is the mechanism of survival in nature. From a young age, Robert was enthralled by the simple displays of nature in a backyard field and the tug of fish at a nearby lake. By mere chance, a successful high school wrestling experience led to a college recruitment, where he had the opportunity to study what he truly loved—nature. He earned an undergraduate degree in zoology followed by a graduate degree in aquatic ecology, which opened doors for him to study fish in two of the Great Lakes, the Columbia and Salmon Rivers of Idaho and Oregon, and the salmon populations of South-Central Alaska and Kodiak Island.  Pure happenstance also led to connections that resulted in an invitation to study the elephants of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. This adventure marked the beginning of a foray into wildlife photography. Opening a gallery in Anchorage helped fund numerous expeditions into the vast wilderness of Alaska.  After a fulfilling career in photography, he was invited by a friend to help develop a kung fu/tai chi school near the Purple Cloud Temple in Wudang, China. He eagerly embraced the opportunity to live and study Taoist philosophy. More recently, he applied architectural skills learned in high school to build several houses in Estes Park. That experience led to a wonderful opportunity to put those skills to use at Eagle Rock School, working alongside an exceptional team of talented individuals.

David, an Eagle Rock graduate, returns to Eagle Rock as Head Chef. David was born and raised in California’s Bay Area, where his culinary journey began. At a very young age he knew cooking was truly a passion. With 18+ years of culinary experience after graduating from Eagle Rock, He continued his journey at Johnson and Wales University with a Culinary Arts degree in Food and Beverage Management. He also studied Astronomy and has an A.S. Degree in American Sign Language.

As a trained chef with extensive knowledge of cooking demonstration, kitchen facilitating, leading managers and many functions of the kitchen. Serving others and cooking took him from The Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Blue Mountains of Australia to the South Pacific Islands and all big cities all across America and the world experiencing everything food, cooking and serving others. Throughout David’s career as Corp. Chef, Chef Event Coordinator, Restaurant Chef, Private Chef and Operations Food and Beverage Manager. Over seeking multiple locations and helping improve customer service skills and training food safety skills for all levels of cooks. His passion and determination after Eagle Rock has made this possible to learn and explore new opportunities and stretch the boundaries along the way.

David’s heart has always been to serve others and help others from humble origins and staying true to that. Helping to pave a way for greater success in others. His faith has led him to reconnect with the community of Eagle Rock’s leadership team. Hoping to add more of his light to make others good stewards of the world and local community.

Josán Perales is the newest member of the Professional Development Team at Eagle Rock School. With over 20 years of classroom teaching experience and leading teachers in progressive educational settings, where he integrated his passions for social and environmental justice into relevant, purposeful, and powerful learning experiences that engaged students to explore our world and their own identity and place in the world. With identity formation through storytelling and fierce changemaking with a social-justice and anti-racist lens at the forefront of his facilitation, he is now working with the PDC as a Professional Development Associate, facilitating adult and student development through the Changemaking Cohort and Student Ambassador programs. When not advocating for youth or facilitating change, you'll find Josán skateboarding, playing music, and enjoying mother nature with his family. He and his partner (Shawna), son (Oliver), and zoo of pets (Metztli dog, Sol kitty, and Rusty, Tiggy, Reggie, Bumpy, the crested geckos), are campus residents.

Shawna is originally from Nebraska and also spent time in Colorado while growing up. After receiving her Associate of Arts Degree, her path of secondary education took her to New Mexico, where she graduated from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM with a Bachelors’ Degree in Business Administration. After Graduation, she spent time in Albuquerque and Taos where she grew her career in Hotel and Hospitality Management and over the years and realized how this industry really fed her servant’s heart. Her Hospitality Career continued as a Director of Sales for Kessler Collection, a boutique luxury brand of hotels, but wrapped up in 2020 when she began homeschooling her son, Oliver. With Oli back in school, Shawna joined the Eagle Rock Team and now supports the Ops Team as the Biz Ops Manager.

Carlos Perez was born in Maracay, Venezuela, and arrived in the city of Miami in 1995.  Since then he has worked in the kitchen, working as a dishwasher, prep, in the line of salads, in the line of pizza. etc.  He has worked tirelessly and obtained his associate's degree in Culinary Arts which makes him feel very proud of all his achievements throughout all these years.  He is passionate about cooking and he feels that it is the only way he can express his gratitude to this great country and to all the people who are by his side.  What he likes about Eagle Rock is that it is a magical place where changes are very important and having the opportunity to see young people grow is something priceless to experience.  He feels very fortunate for his family and for the privilege of being able to live in the mountains of Colorado.  

Marc Peters is the program manager for the Eagle Rock Fellowship. He loves fostering inclusive and transformative community spaces, where dialogue and understanding lead to meaningful change. To Marc, this means constructing systems of support rooted in mutual accountability and shared purpose. His experience has taught him that a culture of affirmation and care not only facilitates personal growth but also significantly impacts our collective ability to effect change. His approach is rooted in a deep respect for community wisdom and a belief in collaborative decision-making. He brings this lens to his work mentoring and coaching Eagle Rock’s fellows.

Marc has a range of experiences throughout his career that prepared him for his role at Eagle Rock. At Brown University, he founded and led the Community Dialogue Project (CDP). Marc grounded CDP’s work in adrienne maree brown's Emergent Strategy approach to facilitation. He collaborated with student staff to create discussion groups, co-curricular programs and trainings that centered empathy, collective care, and intentional community. While running CDP, Marc also served on Brown’s Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Board and played a meaningful role in launching the university’s Transformative Justice Initiative.

Before CDP, he worked in Brown’s BWell Office of Health Promotion. He coordinated the Sexual Assault Peer Education (SAPE) program and developed a Masculinity Peer Education program as well as a weekly Masculinity 101 discussion group. This work was deeply connected to and inspired by bell hooks’ writings on love, feminism and masculinity.

Prior to his time at Brown, Marc served as Global Communications and Campaigns Manager for the MenEngage Alliance, where he actively promoted gender equality worldwide. He also spent years as a mental health advocate actively trying to destigmatize mental illness and promote help-seeking.

Marc is a graduate of Syracuse University and received his Master of Public Service degree from the University of Arkansas: Clinton School of Public Service. He is a Horatio Alger National Scholar and a Harry S Truman Scholar.

Megan’s experience with Eagle Rock is rich, deep, and diverse, starting in the mid-90’s when she graduated from the school. Since then, Megan has been a sponsor of many Eagle Rock students, has been a guest instructor, and has taken the lessons she learned here and applied those to numerous educational and leadership positions she has held across the country. Megan returned to Eagle Rock in 2016 to serve as the Director of Students.  During that time, she restructured Student Services to better facilitate a 360° approach to student support. Megan was also responsible for the strategic implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work and in that capacity, she has provided transformational leadership. Megan brings boundless energy and an embodied commitment to young people. She started working in education in San Francisco in 1999 as an AmeriCorps Fellow, and continued her work in schools, non-profits, local community programs, and some of the largest, and well-respected youth programs across the country. Megan has served young people in roles ranging from teacher and coach to curriculum designer and school leader. Megan holds a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Massachusetts and a Master’s Degree from Boston University. Megan’s journey proves that Eagle Rock graduates are prepared to make a difference in the world.

Elizabeth Rivera was born and raised in Perú and later immigrated to the United States, where she found a second home in the vibrant, diverse community of Miami, Florida. She joined Eagle Rock School in 2017 as an Administrative Assistant and quickly discovered her passion for working with young people.  Over the years, Elizabeth has built strong relationships with students, becoming a trusted mentor and source of support. After briefly working with the U.S. Government, she returned to Eagle Rock with a renewed commitment to youth development.  Elizabeth now serves as the Business Administrator, where she supports the school behind the scenes with dedication, care, and attention to detail, while remaining closely connected to the community.  Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys dancing, cooking Peruvian food, and finding joy in everyday moments.

Before her current role in Residential Life, Sandy was the Human Resources and Administration Manager at Eagle Rock for 8 years, responsible for benefits, new hire orientations, risk management, student insurances and assisting with other special projects like our 25th anniversary. She moved from Hollywood, California, where for 8 years she worked as a Benefits Manager, Workers' Compensation Coordinator, and Safety Officer for Jay Nolan Community Services. JNCS is a non-profit organization that assists individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities. She is an Eagle Rock graduate and is super excited to be in the community that helped her as a student. Sandy studied Business Management at the University of Redlands in California, then continued her education at Colorado State University. She loves all animals and all mediums of art. She continues to help the ERS community and the student body in many creative ways and she loves every crazy minute of it!

Jocelyn Rodriguez brings dynamic work experience to her role as the Admissions and Enrollment Manager at Eagle Rock School. With extensive experience in both domestic and international educational settings, including work in Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean. Jocelyn leverages her deep understanding and cultural exchange to enhance her work.

Her previous roles at Eagle Rock—including Athletics Coordinator, House Parent, and Instructional Specialist—allowed her to deeply engage with the school’s unique educational approach. Now, Jocelyn is excited to work in admissions, where she aims to connect young people with the school’s immersive and transformative educational experiences. Her dedication to fostering connections and her love for learning about new cultures continue to drive her work, ensuring that students have the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Hanna is passionate about progressive education and loves getting to work in the intersection of education and social change, cultivating learning environments that all students can see themselves reflected in. Hanna has a deep love of people, travel, culture and history and has had invaluable experiences both in and out of school, from her graduate study in International Affairs in NYC, to living and teaching in rural Nepal, to leading a group of middle schoolers to Uganda for a cultural exchange program. Hanna understands the power that education can have in shaping our future. She has worked in a variety of educational and non-profit settings, and has spent the past several years building and leading a middle school in Nashville, TN . She loves living and working at Eagle Rock with her husband, Michael, three children, Esme, Didi and Arlo and two dogs!

Michael is the Mathematics Instructional Specialist at Eagle Rock. He was the mathematics fellow at Eagle Rock from 2007-08, and has been driving to engage youth in their own lives and education ever since. In the years since his fellowship, Michael has worked in NYC, Denver, and Nashville as a math and science teacher, and was also the COO of a startup. He believes that everyone is a mathematician and that everyone can love and understand math. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Economics from Asbury University and his Master’s degree in Education from Framingham State University. Michael has 3 inspiring kids and 2 goofy dogs with his partner, Hanna.

Courthney Russell, Jr. is our residential life program coordinator. Courthney is responsible for fostering a safe and secure environment within the Eagle Rock community. He is a key member of the student services team and coordinates activities for students with staff and houseparents. Courthney was born in Fort Knox, lived in the US Virgin Islands for a time, and eventually moved to East Atlanta, an underserved community devoid of options. His neighborhood taught him survival skills, but his family wanted more for him and made education a priority. Unfortunately, Courthney didn’t always share this priority. By the time he graduated from high school, his tendency toward stereotypical behavior had him on a collision course with incarceration or death. In a last-ditch effort, he applied to medical school and was surprised to be accepted. There he found a passion that was unquenchable and made the choice to dedicate his life to humanity. The road wasn’t easy. He experienced homelessness which meant juggling the responsibilities of being a student and the realities of living on the street. As a result, he shifted his perspective and set his life in a new direction. He graduated in 2011 with a medical degree and a new mission: to leverage his knowledge in a non-traditional way to become an authentic, determined, humble leader by example. Because of his past, Courthney is uniquely qualified to serve the Eagle Rock community.

Mark Rutberg is Eagle Rock’s Dean of Outdoor Education and Athletics. Mark is responsible for creating and implementing a vision around empowering students to lead healthy lifestyles. Prior to joining Eagle Rock, Mark spent 6 years at Sanborn Western Camps, most recently as a director for the camp’s summer residential adventure program in Colorado. He grew up in New York and has a B.S. in Kinesiology and Pedagogy from the University of New Hampshire, where he also played football. After university, Mark worked as an athletic director and educator in New York City for 4 years prior to moving to Europe to teach at an American International School in the Netherlands. Mark holds a Masters Degree in Health Education, a certificate as a K-12 teacher, a level 2 ropes course instructor, a single pitch climbing instructor, and Wilderness First Responder. He has also participated in a NOLS 30-day outdoor educator mountaineering course. Mark finds passion in helping youth discover their potential and self-worth. As someone who struggled in traditional academic settings, Mark uncovered his own confidence and sense of self-worth through experiential education and team sports throughout his academic career and, more recently, through outdoor education. Mark and his partner Sara are Piñon houseparents and they live on campus with their dog Jerry.

Trinity Sison (she/her/hers) is the Human Performance Fellow at Eagle Rock School.  Trinity graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a double minor in Communications and Social Justice. To name some experiences from her undergraduate chapter, she would play an active role within her residential community as a Residential Assistant, be the Historian of PASA (Pinoy American Student Association), work in operations for the Auraria Sustainable Campus Program, be the undergraduate representative for DEI Planning in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, do volunteer research work for the Healthy Couples Lab, and do historical research for a convict cemetary. She has also been a part of a wide array of volunteer experiences in community-care based initiatives and organizations in Denver and Aurora.  Trinity is determined to further her education and pursue a master's degree in Special Education or Child Development.  Trinity has a passion for music. She plays guitar, ukulele, listens to music, and sings. Additional interests and hobbies she have include cooking and traveling. She also has an active lifestyle with experience in martial arts, calisthenics, climbing, and dancing. She loves to spend time in the outdoors to get sunlight and play whenever given the opportunity! She also loves to spend time with family and friends, go on walks and drives, watch animated shows/movies, and play sports recreationally such as basketball and pickleball.  Trinity is looking forward to fostering collective wellness and cultivating space for students to have happy and full days in the Eagle Rock community!