Meet the Board

Kelly Murillo
Kelly MurilloPresident
I am thrilled to take part in the current CCLD incentives and I am honored to become CCLD President this year. My instructional background is in special education and Literacy, Language and Culture. I started out my career in rural Southern Colorado working with Migrant families and developing curriculum aligned with the Colorado Academic Standards and the Language Acquisition Standards. I am excited to bring my love and appreciation for culturally, linguistically diverse education to the CCLD Board. I hold multiple teaching endorsements and an administrative license.

In addition to my passion for culture, travel and language, I am very eager to continue and deepen my knowledge with tying best teaching practices to brain-based research. At Johns Hopkins University, I learned to create rigors and nurturing teaching environment through many aspects of the Brain Targeted Teaching Model.

My husband and I raise our children in a dual language household and I am passionate about acquiring and learning multiple languages. We enjoy running our daughters around to dance, ballet, gymnastics, soccer and swimming. Most importantly, we enjoy spending time with extended family and friends.

Annemarie Dempsey
Annemarie DempseySecretary
My name is Annemarie Dempsey. Over 20 years ago I recognized my calling when I started working with students with special needs as a TA at a residential treatment facility in Massachusetts. Since then I earned my Masters in Special Education from UCD and have spent time working in elementary and secondary schools in Adams 14, Boulder Valley, and DPS. I found my home in the Cherry Creek School District and have enjoyed working with middle school students for the past 16 years. Additionally, I am a district Phonics Boost Trainer, a co-facilitator of the district-wide SLD Literacy Study Team, was the Special Education Department Coordinator at Laredo Middle School, and have earned my Math Interventionist Certificate. Presently I am proud to be a Bruin as a Learning Specialist at Cherry Creek High School. My husband, Dave, and I enjoy spending time in the mountains with our three children (ages 11, 9, and 7) when we are not running them to soccer, gymnastics, scouts and other activities.
Kathy Oviatt
Kathy OviattCourage to Risk Representative
I am Kathy Oviatt. A Colorado native, I graduated from Arapahoe High School and then received my undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado in secondary English education. I spent several years outside of education, managing a retail bookstore and being a stay-at-home mother for my two children, Hannah and Sam. Realizing my true passion was teaching, I returned to education. I earned my Master of Arts in Special Education also from the UNC. After spending over ten years working with students with learning disabilities in the middle school, I currently teach at Northglenn High School as a learning specialist. Working in the high school the past fifteen years, I have taught English and math as well as co-teaching with general education teachers. I found my membership in CCLD allows me to develop my professional skills and to interact with others in the field. Attending Math on the Planes and Courage to Risk have been invaluable to my growth as a teacher and educator. Through CCLD and Adams State, I earned my Math Interventionist Certificate. I am excited to start on my fourth year on the CCLD board and to represent CCLD on the Courage to Risk board.
Shiloh Carpenter
Shiloh CarpenterTreasurer
My name is Shiloh Carpenter. I am a special education Learning Disability teacher at Cherry Creek high school and love every second of my job. I have been in the Cherry Creek school district since August of 2005, and have been employed both as a special education paraeducator and special education teacher. Cherry Creek high school has been my home since 2013 and where I began to specialize in supporting students specifically with learning disabilities. I attended University of Northern Colorado at Gsreeley for my two Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology (emphasis in Social Issues) and Africana Studies graduating in 2004. I always wanted to be an educator but found General education to not be the right fit. This is where my paraeducator position allowed me to see where I was meant to be, in special education! I then completed my Masters in Special Education through the University of Northern Colorado at Lowry program in 2010. I have been involved with the Colorado Council for Learning Disabilities since June of 2019 and am the current treasurer. It has been a joyous experience working with the team that is able to support special educators across the state and I hope to continue this for many years to come.
Veronica Fielder
Veronica FielderCDE Representative
After working for 20 years in K12 schools, I came to work with CDE in August of 2017. I hold a BA in English, an MA in Information Learning Technologies and a Colorado teaching license with endorsements in English Language Arts and Special Education. As a special educator, I am inspired by technology and its ability to create accessible learning experiences for students with special needs. I am passionate about education and feel honored to support Colorado educators with developing systems and employing practices that promote mastery of content and skills for diverse learning communities. When I am not working, I like to read, travel to foreign lands, explore the depths of oceans and the tops of mountains, and gallop horses through the forests of the Rocky Mountains.
Jessica Crandall
Jessica CrandallParent Liaison
My name is Jessica Crandall and I am honored to be a part of a passionate group of individuals to help support educators practice in working with students with learning disabilities. I have taken a different path getting to this amazing career. I received my BA from the University of Northern Colorado in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. After I graduated I contemplated becoming an Ear Nose and Throat doctor, however, I just had my first child and I was not ready to take on this endeavor. So, I started to sell hearing aids. After spending some time doing this I realized my passion is working with children. I looked into becoming a special education teacher, and I did just that. In addition to a special education license I have an elementary endorsement as well. I started to work at a high school for DPS and from there moved to middle school in Adams 12 and this has been my home for the last 17 years. I am Math Recovery Certified, Ortan Gillingham Trained , as well as the instructional leader for my school for the past 9 years. And I love to keep learning and supporting students with disabilities.
In addition, I spend a great deal of time with my family . I have three children, two step children and a wonderful husband. We have two in college, both play football in college, one working full-time, one in high school and an eighth grader. During this journey of teaching and raising children I have had the opportunity to experience a learning disability from a parent perspective. My daughter is impacted with dyslexia. This has prompted me to be more active with parent groups. Which has made me better at my teaching practice, and has acquired me to attend many workshops for teaching and advocating for parents as well.