Master Teacher, is starting his ninth year at Rocky Mountain School.  He has taught elementary students for over 30 years and has specialized in gifted education for the past 16 years.  He holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California at Fullerton and has graduate studies from the University of Southern California, Graceland College, Colorado State University, and the Colorado School of Mines.  He is certified to teach at the K - 8 grade levels. In 1988, Lee earned one of the first cash awards given by the Boulder Bar Association; he was awarded the first place prize of $1,000 for his development of a teaching unit on governmental studies.  Lee developed gifted curriculum for two years in public education.  He has developed gifted/talented curriculum in private gifted schools in the subject areas of language arts, social studies, team learning, and affective education.  He lives in Pinewood Springs with his wife, Mary, two mountain poodles, and three furry felines.  Lee and Mary's daughter, Jenelle, lives with her husband, Dan, in Lafayette, CO.

Reflecting on his teaching experience, Lee says “When I studied education in postgraduate school, I readily recognized that the potential amount of influence a teacher can have on a student is significant. Parents and teachers share the awesome responsibility of posing as role models, living examples of how to behave and cope with life. To this end, my classroom emphasizes respect, unselfishness, responsibility, and intellectual curiosity. Cooperative team learning focuses on all of these aspects. Students do not assume all of these qualities at the year's beginning, but by year's end, every child has learned the value of acquiring good social skills. Gifted students share the joy of learning together, and they discover how they can create a quality product, such as a team presentation, by contributing their personal talents in a cooperative and organized format. It has been my goal, for over thirty years, that children value their experience in my classroom, as measured by their eagerness to come to school each day.  Each of their smiles adds up to my reward.”

“Parents and teachers share the awesome responsibility of posing as role models, living examples of how to behave and cope with life."