Middle School Team

Math

Hello fellow mathematicians! I am Hilary Nowak and I am ecstatic to be here at RMCA for my ninth year of teaching middle school math. I am a wife and a momma to two girls and a boy. I attended Buffalo State Colelge for my undergrad in mathematics and edcuation, then attended Niagara University for my master degree in Special Education. My goal is to create a cozy learning environment in which students are excited to learn math (even if they claim to "not be good at math")! I believe that all students are mathematicians and are capable of pushing the limits of their minds when given the right amount of love and support!

Catherine Knott

ELA

Hi, I’m Catie Knott! I am the 6th and 7th grade ELA teacher. This is my fourth year teaching middle school English and my second year at RMCA, and I love teaching here! I am a Colorado Springs native, I love cooking, and I enjoy running (though not very far or fast). I have also had the opportunity to be one of the cheer coaches for our middle school team the last two seasons.

Cassidy Jernigan

Science

Hello, my name is Cassidy Jernigan and will be the 6th and 7th grade Science teacher this year. This will be my first year of official teaching and my first year at RMCA. I am very excited to share my passion for science and how it relates to the world around us! I graduated from the University of Mount Olive in December 2019 with a Bachelors or Science in Agriculture Education. I have lived in many states including California, North Dakota, North Carolina, and now Colorado. I find that no matter where you are, you can find some ties to science. I am eager to share the wonderful world of science with you all this school year!

Hilary Calvert

English

My name is Hilary Calvert! I’m so excited to get this school year started! I’ve been at RMCA since 2016 and have taught 5th grade for the past 7 years. This year I'm happy to be teaching 7th and 8th grade English. 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 State University of Pennsylvania.
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 two sweet nephews. 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, and doing arts and craft projects. A few of my favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and sunflowers. My favorite subjects are literature and history.

Matthew Foster

Grammar

My name is Matthew Foster, and I am so excited for this new school year here at RMCA! This is my fourth year at RMCA but first up here in Middle School, and it is my eleventh year teaching overall. I am originally from Boston, Massachusetts, but have been living here in Colorado Springs since I was five years old, growing up right down the street from this school. I have my bachelor's degree from UCCS, as well as a master's degree in Sport Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. I am a huge sports fan, especially baseball and hockey (Go Avs!). Besides playing sports, in my free time I also love to spend time with my family, explore the outdoors, and play guitar and piano. I cannot wait to get this school year started!

Alexandria Burmeister

Social Studies
Hello Historians! My name is Alexandria Burmeister and I am so happy to be teaching your 6th and 7th graders Social Studies! I am a first generation graduate from the University of Northern Colorado and love visiting my family back home in Minnesota. I am proud to have received my degree in Secondary Education AND History, with an emphasis in American history. I am incredibly passionate about students making connections from the past to what we see today so we can create aware, knowledgeable citizens! Let's make it a great year!

Michelle Nelson

Subject

Hello Everyone! I'm Michelle Nelson and I LOVE teaching 7th and 8th grade Science class. I have a bachelor's degree in Horticulture and Science has always been a passion for me. I grew up on a farm and was always asking questions about the world. I have been at RMCA for 7 years with part of that time as a 5th grade teacher. I am also the NJHS advisor, Yearbook advisor/Photographer, and Middle School Team Lead. My husband, Chris, and I have an acreage east of Colorado Springs with many animals that keep us busy. We also enjoy skiing, hiking, kayaking, and spending time together. I am originally from Iowa (GO HAWKS) and we travel there regularly to visit my family including 2 nieces and 2 nephews. I am so happy to be a Science teacher and show the world to my students. I also hope to encourage more girls to enter the science and engineering fields.