A Note from Mrs. Cari Reed, JIEA Principal
Hello, my name is Carissa (Cari) Reed and I have the privilege of being the Principal at James Irwin Elementary School - Astrozon. I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada where my father was a Lutheran minister. We moved to Iowa and then to Hillsdale, Michigan where I was raised. I graduated from Hillsdale College with a major in History and a minor in English with an emphasis in writing. Through my parents and my undergraduate education at Hillsdale College, I learned the value of hard work, service to my community, and the importance of preserving our national heritage.
I have been blessed to serve students in the Colorado Springs community since 2005. I began teaching fourth grade at James Irwin Elementary - Astrozon the first year it was established. I was determined to learn all I could learn about Direct Instruction. I was amazed by the impact this kind of effective teaching made on students. In my second year at JIEA, I became the fourth grade lead teacher and, later, a teacher trainer/coach, working closely with Cindee Will and Elizabeth Berg. Learning from these dedicated, passionate educators has been truly life-changing. In 2015, I received my Master’s degree in Educational Administration. I was the Assistant Principal for five years and I have been the Principal at JIEA since 2018.
My husband and I met at Hillsdale College, and he is a biology and chemistry teacher at the high school level. We have three daughters, Stella, Daphne, and Juliet, who all attend a James Irwin school. I have seen them thrive under the focused guidance and intentional, exceptional teaching that they have received. I whole-heartedly support and believe in the mission and vision of James Irwin Charter Schools. I know that all students can learn and want to learn. I have experienced the hard work that goes behind making that statement a reality, and I have witnessed teachers working tirelessly toward the goal of helping students achieve success. I count it as a privilege to work alongside such dedicated, selfless, knowledgeable educators.