- 27J Education Foundation
- Board Bios
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The 27J Education Foundation board of directors is an all-volunteer group represented by community members, business owners, and educators who are dedicated to supporting the educational experience for students, teachers, and classrooms within 27J Schools. The Foundation does not employ any staff members which allows the board to use every dollar raised toward supporting students and teachers throughout the district.
The board meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Interested individuals are always welcome to inquire about joining the board. If this is something you may be interested in, let us know via email.
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Paolo Diaz, President
Paolo is a product of Aurora Public Schools and moved in the 27J School District boundaries with his wife in 2005. His involvement with schools began during his 10 years working for Junior Achievement and continues as a parent and community advocate. Paolo works on poverty reduction and neighborhood outreach in Adams County. He was elected onto City Council in Commerce City in November 2015 and resigned from City Council in August 2018 after accepting the position with the County Manager’s Office in Adams County. In addition to the 27J Education Foundation, Paolo also continues to serve on the Youth Initiative of Adams County (ACYI), Metro North Chamber’s Leadership Advisory Board, and is appointed to the State’s Complete Count Campaign, which is focused on the 2020 Census.
Previously, Paolo served as a ballboy for the Denver Nuggets for ten seasons (2003-2013), not coincidentally the 10-season stretch they made the playoffs. Paolo was named one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2016. Paolo’s free time is consumed with husbandly and fatherly duties, including (but not limited to) driving them around, doing what they say, and making memories.
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Michael Schliep, Vice President
Michael grew up in the Midwest, but moved to the Rocky Mountain area after graduating college in 1982. He began his insurance career in 1985, and has worked in many aspects of the industry, including being a Regional Claims Manager, Agency owner, and is currently the Senior District Manager for FUSA Insurance Agency, a large Colorado based General Insurance agency serving the Colorado and Wyoming areas with agents in almost 70 communities.
He has been a Brighton resident since 2002, and has been active in at the community level, having been involved with the Brighton Kiwanis Club, the Brighton Chamber of Commerce and the 27J Education Foundation, and at the state level, having been appointed to the State Fair Board of Commissioners.
Michael is married, with two boys that are currently attending schools in the Brighton 27J school district. He has been honored to be a part of the 27J Education Foundation since 2009, and is looking forward to helping to grow the organization and the financial support it provides to students, teachers and schools in the Brighton 27J area.
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Lori Schiek, Treasurer
Lori Schiek is currently the Chief Financial Officer for School District 27J. This role led her to become the Treasurer of the 27J Education Foundation in January 2016. She comes to the district from the public sector with over 15 years of accounting and finance experience.
She is very happy to be a part of the 27J Education Foundation and to be involved with an organization that supports educational experiences in the district.
Lori is a Brighton resident, and parent of a student at Northeast Elementary. Lori graduated from Greeley West HS and has her Bachelors in Accounting from UNC.
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Jennifer Zertuche, Secretary
Jennifer grew up in Thornton, CO and attended Metropolitan State University of Denver, earning a degree in Finance in 2004. Jennifer started working for FirstBank in 2007, and is currently an SVP of Accounting. In her role, Jennifer is responsible for Budgeting and Capital Planning, Tax and Fixed Assets, and managing the accounting software.
Jennifer is passionate about her family and has four young children, three of which attend 27J schools. Jennifer and her husband have been Brighton residents since 2014, and have lived in the 27J school district since 2004. She is excited to be part of the 27J Education Foundation and is looking forward to serving the 27J community.
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Dr. Chris Fiedler
Dr. Chris Fiedler began his tenure in School District 27J in the fall of 2005 as the principal at Thimmig Elementary School and served in that role for three years. In the fall of 2008, he became the principal at Prairie View High School, serving in that role for another four years. In July of 2012, Dr. Fiedler began his service as Superintendent of Schools for School District 27J and joined the 27J Education Foundation Board in the fall of that year.
In addition to his involvement with the 27J Education Foundation, Dr. Fiedler also serves as a Board Member for the Community Reach Foundation, is a member of the 27J Hispanic Advisory Council, the Brighton Rotary Club, and the Kiwanis Club of Brighton.
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Dr. Frank J. Lucero
Dr. Frank J. Lucero comes to 27J as a retired educator and is happy to volunteer his services to this progressive and growing school district. Frank feels that he will be most helpful for the 27J Foundation as a grant writer and feels he can be useful to administrators and teachers in searching for resources which will guide the district to continually deliver an excellent academic program. He is happy to serve.
Dr. Lucero is married to Dr. Elena Sandoval-Lucero who is Vice President at Front Range Community College Boulder County Campus in Longmont, Colorado. Frank has previously served the students of Colorado as a teacher, principal, superintendent of schools, and professor/administrator at a local university. Frank was blessed with two kids, Francisco (Kiko) is 39, has two children and lives in Eaton, Colorado. Monica, 37 has one child and also lives in Eaton, Colorado.
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Roxanne Pacheco
Roxana Pacheco is the Call Center Supervisor at Colorado Credit Union in Brighton. She is responsible for employee development, strategic planning, and technology implementation. Roxana has extensive knowledge and experience in providing excellent member service in the finance industry.
She is an active volunteer in community service, and is also a certified notary public. When she isn’t volunteering, she spends time with her husband and daughter.
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Tracy Rudnick
Tracy serves as the Public Information Officer for 27J Schools. In that capacity, she plans, organizes, and manages the communications operations and activities of the District, including public relations, media relations, crisis communications, strategic communications and marketing activities to enhance the communities understanding of 27J Schools’ objectives, services and activities.
Prior to joining 27J, Tracy served 11 years as the Director of Programs and Grants for the the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. In her role, she managed all programs and grants of PreK-12 academics including literacy, career education and teacher training and retention totaling over $1.1M annually.
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Julie Stewart
Julie moved to the Brighton area shortly after graduating from CSU-Pueblo wit
h a degree in Communications. Julie started working at United Power in 2003 and is currently the Community Outreach Specialist. In her role as Community Outreach Specialist, Julie is responsible for helping maintain United Power’s active role in the community and you will often see her at fairs, festivals, and parades. Julie also administers and coordinates youth activities at United Power. These activities include coordinating yearly scholarships and youth tour representatives, classroom safety demos, and energy efficiency education. For the last three years she has served as Camp Director for a Cooperative Leadership Camp that brings together students from Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma, to learn about cooperatives and gain leadership skills. Julie also serves as the President for the 27J Education Foundation.
Julie is passionate about the Brighton community and loves to support it in any way she can. When Julie is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Judd, and her son, Greg.