Welcome to Middle School

Hello, I am Mrs. Bentley. I have 2 wonderful kids: Elliott, 6 and Charlotte (Charlie), 2 in October. My family and I moved to Colorado Springs in 2020 from Denver, and we love being here. My husband, Andrew, and I love being outdoors with our kids, and love to take our dog, Daisy, on walks. This will be my second year at RMCA, and my 4th year teaching 5th grade. I have previously taught from Pre-school to 10th grade, and have found each age has added to my knowledge and teaching style. I have a bachelors in History and a Masters in Social Studies Education. I am passionate about education, and love to give my students hands-on experiences in the classroom. I encourage my students to explore, ask questions, take risks, and overcome the fear of making mistakes-after all they are how we grow! I expect students to participate, and I plan to ignite a love of learning in each of my students.

I’ve been at RMCA since 2016 and taught 5th grade for seven years before moving up to teach middle school English in 2023. Prior to working at RMCA I worked as a 3rd grade para in District 20 and spent a year running a before and after school program for District 49. I earned my bachelor’s degree in English and education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2011. I completed my master’s degree in Library Science in 2015 from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. This fall, I’m hoping to begin another master’s degree in educational leadership at Western Governors University. I spend a lot of time hanging out with my family. I am the oldest of 5 kids. Two of my siblings are married and I have three sweet nephews and one niece (on the way). Even though I grew up in Colorado Springs, I was born in Wisconsin. My family and I are HUGE Green Bay Packer fans. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, reading, taking care of my many houseplants, yoga, and doing arts and craft projects. My favorite subjects are grammar, literature, and history.

Hello! I’m Mrs. Downs, and I’m excited to be your history teacher this year! This is my sixth year in education and my third year at RMCA. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Middle School Social Studies emphasis from BYU–Idaho in 2017. I’ve taught middle school social studies, 3rd grade, 5th grade, and K–6 STEAM. My husband, Steve, and I have been married for 10 years. We moved to Colorado six years ago and love calling it home. Our three children attend RMCA as elementary students, and we feel blessed to be part of this school community. I believe students thrive when teachers and parents work as a team. My goal is to help students understand the story of humanity, appreciate our nation’s history and freedoms, and develop skills that will serve them for life. I look forward to a fantastic year of learning together!

David Kagarise is a graduate of Mitchell High School (1983) and has been teaching since 2008. He spent ten years at James Irwin Charter High School (2008–2018), where he taught Computer Science, Science, Math, and Physical Education, and also served as the varsity softball coach from 2012–2018. From 2018–2025, he continued his teaching career at Sierra High School before joining RMCA. In addition to his classroom experience, Mr. Kagarise has been extensively involved in athletics. He has officiated high school football and basketball, umpired youth baseball and adult slow-pitch softball, and most recently served as the head coach of a Sierra D2 Middle School football team in 2024. He is the proud father of three adult children: Jonas (28), Brittany (26), and Nicholas (25). Brittany currently serves in the United States Navy, while Jonas and Nicholas are pursuing their college degrees. Mr. Kagarise is honored to bring his experience and passion for teaching to RMCA and is very excited to be part of the community.

Hi, I'm Catie Knott! This is my fourth year in 6th and 7th grade English at RMCA and my 6th year teaching overall. I love building relationships with students and watching them grow and mature throughout the year. I enjoy cooking, running, coffee, and of course, spending time with my husband and one-year-old son. I'm excited to make this a great school year!

My name is Kristen Mckelvy. I currently teach math and have been an educator for 6 years. I enjoy spending time with my family. I also enjoy golf, cooking and crafts in my free time.

Greetings! My name is Christine Ogden. This will be my second year teaching 7/8 Math, and my 4th year here at RMCA. I received my Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry from UCCS but I really love math! I have a wonderful husband and two amazing children who attend RMCA. As a family we spend a lot of our summers camping and riding ATV's. I am so excited to see how far we can help your kids go in math this year!