meet our team
MEET OUR ADMINISTRATORS
Teri Cady | Head of School
Mrs. Cady is honored to be the head of school for Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (Destinations), and she has served in this position since August 2016. She has been in education for more than 20 years as a science teacher, a high school principal, and as head of school for Destinations. Mrs. Cady is passionate about helping students explore their opportunities in and out of school, realize their extraordinary potential, and help prepare them for success in college and career. Mrs. Cady strongly believes that our students are our most important investment for the future of our world. She enjoys working with the talented and inspiring staff and with the amazing students at Destinations. Mrs. Cady also finds great pleasure in trail running, biking, and skiing in our beautiful Colorado mountains.
Denise Dutton | Dean/SPED
Ms. Dutton is the special programs academic administrator and dean of students for Destinations Career Academy. Ms. Dutton feels very lucky to work with all our students in both the middle and high school! She is especially passionate about the work she does to support our special education, gifted and talented, English learner, and 504 populations. She has worked in education for the last 19 years. Ms. Dutton holds a BA in English Language Arts from the University of Northern Colorado (GO BEARS!), an MA in Severe - Affective Education from the University of Colorado, and is currently working on her EdS in Administration and Special Education Leadership (GO BEARS!). This is her 11th year with Destinations, and she enjoys every minute of it!
Breeann Gibbons
Mrs. Gibbons is the career technical (CTE) administrator at Destinations Career Academy. This will be her first year at CODCA, and she is thrilled to call this school her new home! Before transitioning to this role, she worked as a school counselor at the high school, middle school, and elementary levels. Mrs. Gibbons loves working with young people and making a difference in their lives. She is passionate about helping students discover themselves, inspiring them to do their personal best in life, and preparing them for the years beyond. She strongly believes in the CTE pathways that Destinations offers and trusts that our students can look forward to boundless opportunities in their future!
Amber Schriner | HS Principal
Mrs. Schriner is the principal at Destinations. Mrs. Schriner has her MA in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Colorado-Denver and her BA in elementary education from Brigham Young University-Hawaii. This is her seventh year as an administrator at the school, and she keeps coming back because she loves it here. She has a deep passion for postsecondary readiness and feels that the career pathways offered are an integral part of the school's success.
Melissa Carpenter | Testing Coordinator
Ms. Carpenter is the testing coordinator for Colorado K12-powered schools. She joined the K12 team in 2014 as the PE and health electives high school teacher for Colorado Preparatory Academy and became the testing coordinator (SAC) for all Colorado K12 schools in 2018. Ms. Carpenter earned a BS in physical education from Clearwater Christian College and an MS in sports management from Missouri Baptist University. She has 14 years of teaching experience as a PE/health teacher in the private and public school settings for K–12 grade and four years of testing coordinator experience with CODCA.
Amy Cook | MS Principal
Mrs. Cook is the middle school principal. She has been in education for almost 20 years, and her background is in special education. This is her second year in administration, but she has been with the school since 2009. She is passionate about serving our students, their families, and this school.
Adelita Shepherd | Non-Discrimination Coordinator, Compliance, and Family Engagement Coordinator
At Destinations, Mrs. Shepherd enjoys seeing students engage and learn through meaningful curriculum, taught by purposeful teams of teachers. She also enjoys seeing students grow academically and socially via our CTE pathways and many socialization opportunities offered throughout the school year. Mrs. Shepherd is grateful to be part of a team that cares so deeply for student success and overall achievement. She has a BA in political science from the Metropolitan State College of Denver, and an MS in supply chain management from the University of Maryland.
