Silver SPRUCE Academy Staff
We have a wonderful, educated and talented staff here at Silver SPRUCE Academy. All of whom are here to help with your school choice needs.
Executive Director
Principal
Program Teacher
Natalie Horn-Howard
As a lifetime Colorado resident, Natalie enjoys the outdoors, learning, and exploring her world for knowledge. She graduated from Ignacio High School in 1999, attended Fort Lewis College earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and continued her studies in a distance education program at CU Greeley earning a Masters in Education in Administration and Educational Leadership.
Natalie and her family have a great appreciation for nature, embarking on family adventures, and learning new things each day.
Natalie has worked with school choice families since 2005. Her outgoing and bubbly personality create a social environment for students that exemplifies group interaction and allows for ample opportunities for students to engage in educational experiences.
Natalie quotes, "I love learning and I love inspiring others to learn. Each person is unique and is skilled in certain qualities, the key is celebrating each child's special gifts and exploring education with that at the forefront."
"Natalie's motto to teaching is organized chaos with no box!"
Executive Assistant
Program Teacher
Janna Potter
Janna was born and raised in the Four Corners area and graduated from Ignacio High School in 1999. She became certified as a Medical Transcriptionist in 2006 from San Juan College and Career Step. In 2014 Janna obtained a certificate from The Photography Institute in digital photography and became a certified user of Quickbooks. She maintains a substitute teacher license through the State of Colorado each year. Janna earned a certificate towards a Bachelors in Marriage, Family, and Human Relationships through Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2021.
Janna and Natalie have known each other since preschool and connected again through the school choice program that Natalie previously directed. Janna was excited when she heard that Natalie was starting Silver SPRUCE Academy because she believes in the value of school choice.
Janna remarried in May 2023 and currently lives in Utah. Along with her family, she enjoys Jeeping, boating, camping, hiking, and traveling. She states, "A traveler's destination is not a place, but what you see and experience along the way"
Program Assistant
Ashlynne Ross
Ashlynne has lived in New Mexico for 24 years and in the Four Corners area for 13 years. She and her husband met in high school and she graduated from Clovis High School in 2010. Ashlynne has a deep attachment to the mountains, the clear starry sky and the sunsets this area provides. She loves having outdoor adventures with her family and friends including hiking, camping, going on ATV ridings or just having simple picnics in her front yard. She thoroughly enjoys painting, gardening, baking, playing with her two boxer dogs, and providing an individualized education for her three children. She gained a passion for understanding how the child's brain develops after receiving her second daughter's diagnosis of William's Syndrome. Ashlynne thrives on learning and growing alongside her children.
Program Teacher
Kim Harms
Kim has lived in Durango over 20 years and is a passionate lifelong learner who loves to explore the Colorado outdoors. Through hiking, biking, skiing and paddling, she has gained an appreciation for the mountains, deserts and rivers of the 4 corners. Her love of teaching developed as she guided her own kids through their education and by volunteering in many academic settings including LEGO League and MakerLab. She has a degree in engineering from CSU and specializes in STEM topics. She believes in learning through hands-on projects that are inspired by personal interests.
Program Teacher
Sarah Dombrowski
Sarah Dombrowski has lived in Colorado her whole life, the Durango area since 2007, and completed her degree in cultural anthropology in 2010. Her love of history started with reading The Egypt Game in 7th grade. Love of Egyptology led to a love of Greek mythology, which led to a love of Roman aqueducts, which led to a love of Gothic architecture, which led to a love of Mesa Verde trade routes, which led to... well, you get it. Passionate about history and literature, and teaching an appreciation for both, she can often be found in the middle of a book, wandering through a museum, or exploring a western ghost town. Other interests include cooking, painting, and being near water any chance she gets. She and her husband have been married for fourteen years, and she has been homeschooling their three children for the last six years, with this being their third year at SPRUCE.
Contract Teacher
Lech Usinowicz
Be Frank Foundation
In 2008-09, Bayfield Elementary music teacher (and founder/executive director of BFF) Lech Usinowicz, initiated an extra-curricular elementary orchestra. It was free, included 13 students, and was supported by donated and inexpensive instruments sourced through local musicians, parents and online. This was the origin of Be FRANK. In 2013, a Board was formed and 501(c)(3) status achieved. In 2018-19, over 330 students were involved in 23 programs through Bayfield, Ignacio & Durango schools, including Juniper Charter and 9-R Shared-Home School. Lech was Awarded Exemplary Service to Music Education by the Colorado Music Education Association in 2021, Lech is also bassist in the San Juan Symphony and Founder of several music education organizations including Music Anywhere!
Mr. Usinowicz believes in building meaningful and sustainable relationships and programs for students and teachers. We are excited to contract with Be Frank and Lech for this school year!