meet our team
MEET OUR ADMINISTRATORS
Teri Cady | Head of School
Mrs. Teri 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 of 2016. She has been in education for over 20 years as a Science Teacher, a High School Principal, and as Head of School for Destinations. Mrs. Cady is passionate about helping students to 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 very much 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
Hello everyone! My name is Denise Dutton, and I am the Special Programs Academic Administrator and Dean of Students for Destinations Career Academy. I am so very lucky to work with all of our students in both the middle and high school! While I love working with all students, I am very passionate about the work I do to support our Special Education, Gifted and Talented, English Learner, and 504 populations. I have been in education for the last 19 years. I hold a BA in English Language Arts from the University of Northern Colorado (GO BEARS!), an MA in Severe-Affective Education form the University of Colorado, and I am currently working on my EdS in Administration and Special Education Leadership (GO BEARS!). This is my 11th year with Destinations, and I enjoy every minute of it!
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 7th year as an administrator at the school and she keeps coming back because she LOVES it here. She has a deep passion for post-secondary readiness and feels that the Stride Career Prep pathways that are offered are an integral part of the school's success.
Melissa Carpenter | Testing Coordinator
Melissa Carpenter is the Testing Coordinator for the Colorado Stride K12-powered schools. She joined the Stride 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 the Colorado Stride schools in 2018. Melissa earned a BS in physical education from Clearwater Christian College and a 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 4 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, Adelita Shepherd enjoys seeing students engage and learn through meaningful curriculum, taught by purposeful teams of teachers. Mrs. Shepherd enjoys seeing students grow academically as well as 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. Mrs. Shepherd 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.
