As a senior in high school, Jeremiah’s counselor suggested he volunteer with a local kindergarten class to earn extra credits. He saw how fulfilling it was to work with elementary-aged children and decided to major in elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado.
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) quickly hired him following graduation, where he began his career as a 2nd-grade teacher at Landmark Academy at Reunion. He then earned a Master’s degree in educational leadership from Regis University and moved to Foundations Academy in Brighton to serve as the Dean, overseeing the teachers and students in kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Today, Jeremiah brings the same level of care, compassion, and integrity he honed at Landmark and Foundations to Sky Ranch Academy. “I was motivated to come to Sky Ranch because I recognized that the kiddos here have an opportunity to overcome hardships they’ve previously experienced and grow in an environment where teachers care about their education and their futures,” Principal Whalen said. “These students, and their families, keep choosing Sky Ranch at every grade level because their past experiences have not met their expectations. I’m motivated to make sure these kids have the best school they can ask for that exceeds their families’ expectations.”
Parents can take pride in knowing they chose the right school for their kids when they see Sky Ranch’s research-backed curriculum is in lock-step with the Colorado Department of Education’s Science of Reading requirements. “You can’t be a teacher in Colorado without this training, and I was able to take the accompanying principal training this summer,” Principal Whalen explained. “It was incredible to see that the Science of Reading training lined up almost perfectly with what we provide at Sky Ranch and is producing good results for kiddos.”
Reading skills are critical to children’s success, and families play a big role in making that happen. Principal Whalen shared, “Many parents don’t realize what a big difference it can make to be active in their kids’ education. When education is a focus at home, that eagerness for kids to learn comes beaming out of them every day. Reading a book together at the end of the day can make a big difference.”
Quick Facts:
- Principal Whalen habla español – he’s bilingual!
- His favorite season is summer because he loves to spend time with his wife and kids outdoors mountain biking, paddle boarding, and camping.
- His favorite books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and Good Families Don't by Robert Munsch.
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