Informing, Inspiring and Innovating Literacy in the Pikes Peak Region
A BIT ABOUT US
PPIRA
Informing, Inspiring, Innovating
PPIRA is one of many local councils of CCIRA and we've been established since 1968! Each year we hold a teacher mini-conference, support literacy in the area through service projects, and hold a family literacy event. We are proud to support and promote literacy in the Pikes Peak region!
MEET THE TEAM
The PPIRA Board is comprised of a small but mighty group of educators that are passionate about literacy and supporting the needs of all stakeholders in the Pikes Peak Region.
2021-2022 PPIRA BOARD
Informing, Inspiring and Innovating
SARAH LINDHOLM
President
Sarah (Assistant Principal at Soaring Eagles Elementary) works tirelessly to plan our annual Fall Conference, and is working with CCIRA to create a more robust local chapter to benefit the kids and educators in the Pikes Peak Region. Sarah is also responsible for all of our social media posts, we appreciate that she keeps our members informed with #PPIRA and #CCIRA news and events. Her creativity and outside-the-box thinking about how to best meet the needs of teachers is unmatched, and she is looking into many new and exciting ways to provide professional development opportunities to members. We are so lucky to have Sarah on our team!
TERESA BROWN
Vice President
Teresa (Dean of Students at Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning) joined the PPIRA board a few years ago. First she supported us as our Membership Coordinator. She helped usher us into the digital era by introducing us to electronic mailing lists and online registration sites. Last year she took on the additional title of Vice President while still supporting membership needs. This year she gets to focus solely on the role of Vice President and the responsibility of Mini-Conference planning. We are so lucky to have Teresa on our team.
GINA OELLIG
Secretary
Gina (Instructional Coach at Soaring Eagles Elementary), recently joined the PPIRA Board as our Secretary. She has a vast amount of knowledge in the area of best instructional practices and intervention strategies for struggling readers. We are excited to have her help and knowledge!
SANDRA BANKES
Member at Large
Sandra has been a long-time PPIRA Board Member. She is extremely organized and very detailed-oriented. We were beyond lucky to have her to manage our finances for many years as our Treasurer! This year she has requested to move into the Member at Large role as she focuses her energy on supporting D11 as a community member. She plans to support behind the scenes with our many community projects and will continue to focus her time and energy on our yearly service project. We don't know what we would do without her!
EMILY FINAN
Member at Large
Emily, (6th-grade teacher at Broadmoor Elementary) has been a member of the PPIRA Council for many years. She has served our board in a variety of ways and most recently moved into the role of Member at Large as she focuses on the needs of her busy (adorable) family. She always brings a fresh perspective and many great ideas to our team. We are excited that we will get to continue working with her!
MELANIE WILSON
Historian
Melanie (Vice Principal at Weikel Elementary) is a long time member of the PPIRA Board holding many different roles. As our immediate Past President, she helped to establish a well-defined mission and vision for our local council while also establishing the foundation for many of our annual projects. She has since transitioned into the role of Historian. She is extremely passionate about the work of both CCIRA and PPIRA. We are lucky to have her historical perspective on our team!
KIMÂ ESCOBIDO
Membership Coordinator
Kim (CLDE and Gifted & Talented Teacher at Odyssey Elementary). Kim attended our Spring Membership Drive in 2018, loved what she learned, and decided to join the PPIRA board. She has been a great support behind the scenes, and we are extremely lucky to have her support and fresh ideas as we work to strengthen our Council through membership outreach!
MARION WESLEY
Co-Membership Coordinator
Marion (5th-grade Teacher at Pinon Elementary school) joined the PPIRA board in 2019 as a Member-at-Large and is currently supporting PPIRA as a Co-Coordinator of Membership. We are incredibly lucky to grow and learn with Marion as she has also presented at the CCIRA Annual Literacy Conference in the past.
