Vice Principal's Letter

Mission & Vision

“It has been my dream to see twenty ‘no excuse’ schools in Colorado Springs.  I believe all students can learn and all students want to learn.  Therefore, I have made it my professional and personal crusade to help stamp out illiteracy.  This is accomplished when schools are not allowed to make excuses for poor academic performances.  Children will enjoy academic success regardless of their previous learning experiences, ethnicity, gender or socio-economic background.  The combined “science and art of teaching” in Direct Instruction emphasizes precision and teaches intelligent behavior.  Smart schools embrace this notion and develop smart and happy children.  Success begets success!   It is my joy to partner with the James Irwin Board of Directors, Mrs. Berg and the elementary team to develop a school reflecting these values.”

Background

Mrs. Will has twenty years of educational experience including consulting with Colorado League of Charter Schools and Educational Resources Incorporated. She has been a teacher-trainer at Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy, adjunct instructor at UCCS in the Special Education department, elementary teacher for private and charter schools in San Diego and Colorado Springs and a parent volunteer for a local public school.

Her passion is educational reform.  She has assisted educators in the reform movement locally, regionally, and in Utah and Alabama.  She currently makes monthly trips to the Macon County School District in Tuskegee, Alabama where she is assisting a start-up Direct Instruction reading implementation.  Her enthusiasm for the ideals of educational reform continues to fuel her passion.

Mrs. Will has three children, all products of the charter school model.  Her oldest child is a freshman at Montana State University, Billings.  Her other two children attend the James Irwin Charter High School and Middle School.