Sameer is the founder of Crest Robotics and Computing Academy and has been leading businesses in early childhood education since 2016. He enjoys connecting with children and remains actively involved in teaching, curriculum development, faculty training, and leading Crest.
He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and brings experience in strategy consulting and Fortune 50 organizations. His goal is to help children develop curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills through engaging robotics and coding experiences.
Sameer lives with his wife and two sons and enjoys cycling, skiing, hiking, and climbing mountains.
Jessica moved from Alaska to Fort Collins in 1998 to attend college and never left.
She has a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has coding experience with programs such as C++, Matlab and Python. Jessica has also volunteered with Girl Scouts of Colorado for the last 20 years because she enjoys doing hands-on activities with children and their excitement when trying or learning something new.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys reading, cooking, crafting or playing with her five children. Jessica will be leading schools in Fort Collins, Loveland and the Windsor areas! She is also leading development of the Crest proprietrary curriculum
Rachel grew up and lives in middle Tennessee with her husband and children. She has always had a love for children and volunteered in many different children’s programs from a young age. She graduated from Bryan College in Dayton, TN with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Master’s degree in Human Services.
Since graduating, Rachel spent a summer running the children’s camp for her local YMCA and 3 years working as the Local Director for Child Evangelism Fellowship of the Upper Cumberland, where she ran after school Bible clubs in her 14-county region. She has now stepped back from her role as Local Director to focus on caring for her children and works remotely as Crest’s Operations Manager.
Ellie is passionate about making STEM education fun and approachable for young learners. With a Master’s in Social Science and a background in both teaching and tech, she’s excited to help K–8 students explore the worlds of coding and robotics at Crest Computing. Ellie will be leading classes in the Golden area!
Alison holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and spent 12 years as a Controls Engineer in the manufacturing industry. Recently, she studied Software Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and has been developing iOS apps. A lifelong tech enthusiast, Alison is passionate about sharing the creativity and confidence that STEM inspires. Through her work as a youth coach in soccer and mountain biking, she focuses on helping kids build skills, confidence, and a strong sense of community. Alison is excited to bring her passion for technology and education to empower the next generation of innovators.
Marsha moved to Colorado 25 years ago where she has worked as a physician. She has an MBA from New York University Graduate School of Business and an MD from MD University of Kansas School Of Medicine. She is involved in neighborhood fire mitigation as she feels it is important to protect the beautiful land in Colorado.
In her free time, Marsha volunteers with young families visiting the community, teaching them about our wildlife in the mountains. She loves working with her nine nieces and nephews on school projects and assignments and is excited to be working with the students of Crest Robotics and Computing Academy! Marsha will be leading classes in the Evergreen area.
Jordan is a Software Engineering student at Arizona State University’s Barrett, the Honors College who loves introducing young students to the exciting world of robotics and programming. She has been programming for over 12 years, first getting her start in programs just like these and finding her passion for programming.
Outside of teaching, Jordan works as a math and science tutor. She’s excited to help her students explore new ideas, think creatively, and see what they can accomplish with new technology. She will be leading classes in the Golden/ West Denver area!
Alex, a Colorado native, is a Mechanical Engineering student at the Colorado School of Mines. He loves teaching and also instructs children’s ski lessons during the winter. He enjoys sharing the fun and excitement he feels when learning new things with his students.
Outside of teaching, Alex enjoys hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and mountain biking—anything that allows him to stay active and enjoy nature. He also volunteers at Copper Mountain, helping with avalanche mitigation and the Special Olympics Winter Games.
Alex will be leading and supporting classes in the Golden area.
Andrew is a biomedical engineer and educator with seven years of experience applying analytical problem-solving and cross-disciplinary creativity to child education. Leveraging a background in systems design, he crafts engaging, structured learning environments that inspire curiosity in STEM. Originally from Louisiana and currently based in Boulder, Andrew translates complex technical concepts into accessible, interactive experiences that empower young learners to explore, build, and think critically.
Byron-Gabriel “BG” Proutt is a Texas native with a background in learning and development, technology, education, and behavioral health. He has led learning and development efforts at Okta, RingCentral, Mitel, and Integrality, helping people build skills throughout his career.
Beyond his corporate work, BG is the Founder and President of Good Duck Productions, a Denver nonprofit that uses documentary filmmaking, DEI education, and community storytelling to build empathy. He also founded an all-natural personal care and wellness brand and hosts a podcast. BG lives in the Lakewood/Wheat Ridge area and will be leading classes in West Denver.
Joel grew up in Philadelphia, PA and has called Colorado home since 1987. He has a Master’s Degree from UCD in Information and Learning Technologies, and has been teaching for 28 years. Joel worked for Cherry Creek Schools in several capacities: as a classroom teacher, District Technology Coach, Instructional Coach, and as a K-5 Technology Specialist. Joel’s mission statement is “Make learning FUN” by creating engaging lessons for students. With a background in Cognitive Coaching, he thrives on collaboration and advocates for effective instruction.
Joel has been married for 22 years, and has a son currently attending CO School of Mines. In his spare time, Joel enjoys pickleball, disc golf, cycling, skiing, and spending time with his wife and three cats. He will be coaching Faculty in the Highlands Ranch and Littleton areas.
Elaine is passionate about education and lifelong learning and enjoys working with children and watching them explore, grow, and flourish. Elaine began her professional career in physical therapy, sports medicine, personal and athletic training. She has held positions as a preschool teacher, an after-school care provider and various positions working with youth athletics. She has her B.S in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado and her M.S. in Sports Medicine from Chapman College. Elaine has been in medical education since 2008 starting with continuing medical education and now graduate medical education, where she is the program administrator for the General Surgery Residency and Vascular Neurology Fellowship at Swedish Medical Center. Elaine enjoys spending her free time with her pride and joy, her now grown children (and the family dog), as well as doing puzzles, traveling, attending sporting events, and concerts.
Beth Keller moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Denver Colorado in 2020.
She graduated from the Art Institutes of Pittsburgh with a Degree in the Arts. She created her own Graphic Design business and continues to do freelance art and teaching. She has 8 years classroom experience working with young children and youth groups retreats and has a passion to see others learn and create.
In her free time Beth enjoys camping, rock hounding, making music, painting, cooking, crafting, and building 3D wooden puzzles with moving parts and electronics. She has 5 kids who now create their own art, music and engineering and enjoys watching them flourish in the field of creativity. Beth will be leading classes in the Denver area.
Connie, a Colorado native, has a lifelong love of helping the younger generations advance, be it in a classroom or on stage. A favorite among her unique life accomplishments are her twenty years of teaching with the Arvada Center of Performing Arts and their advanced Arts Day Outreach programs. She has an AA from ACC and was a well-known School presentation specialist and public speaker, traveling across Colorado and the Midwest with a well-received, STEM-based educational magic school.
Connie became a published author through her love of Colorado history, along with writing a Colorado adventure blog. She loves to hike then write about it. Along with hiking she is an avid gardener and equestrian. She spends her free time with her horse Bailey, cats, Minerva and Tucker, and her 70-pound rescue dog, Copernicus. Connie will be leading classes in the Littleton area.
Antoinette brings a compassionate, supportive approach to education, with experience in Montessori and transitional classrooms and working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her background in education, caregiving, and healthcare has strengthened her ability to adapt to different needs and help others feel supported. She is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of the children and families she serves.
Antoinette will be leading classes in the South Denver area.
Rebecca holds an MS in Healthcare Administration and has continued her education through post-grad studies in cybersecurity, digital accessibility, and AI. Her professional experience includes development of academic programs in higher education, education technology, and teaching technology to students spanning kinders to senior citizens. She has coordinated volunteer literacy programs for children in local hospitals, developed intro coding and computer science courses, and continues to instruct digital access classes to all ages. She is passionate about high quality curriculum and is committed to a safe and vibrant classroom experience.
Outside of education, she enjoys spending time with family, especially in the vegetable garden with the pumpkins and watermelon. Much of her free time is dedicated to Fancy the Catahoula and Leo the Kitty. Rebecca also enjoys crossword puzzles, building furniture, and learning home repair.
Alex brings over 10 years of experience as an automotive, diesel, and aircraft mechanic. He holds an associate degree in Aeronautics from Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology and is working toward his FAA Airframe & Powerplant license.
A father of two boys, Alex enjoys helping children explore how things work through hands-on learning. He brings patience, practical problem-solving, and enthusiasm to building students’ confidence and curiosity.
Alex will be coaching and supporting faculty in Denver.
Sabrina is a passionate teacher with a love for creativity through any media: robotics, art, technology, music, and everything in between! She inspires students to explore the intersection of art and innovation. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Practices and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, Sabrina encourages students to leverage technology as a tool for self-discovery and communication. In her freetime, Sabrina explores the prairie. She often observes wildlife and plantlife, with a particular interest in reptiles. She draws inspiration from the principles of biomimicry, observing how nature’s designs and processes can inform technological innovation.
Annette is a Colorado native with a passion for inspiring young minds through STEM education. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Business Management, including an emphasis in computer programming.
Before pursuing her passion for education, Annette enjoyed a successful career as a Certified Senior IT Program Manager with a Fortune 500 IT company. Throughout her corporate career, she volunteered extensively with P-TECH programs and company-sponsored educational initiatives, where she worked with students from underserved communities and introduced them to technology, engineering concepts, robotics, innovative methods, and industry best practices. Today, Annette continues to pursue her passion for education as a substitute teacher, including working with gifted and talented students.
Outside the classroom, Annette enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, family, and friends, attending live music events, riding her bike, practicing golf, reading, watching movies, and traveling. Annette will be leading classes in and around Denver.
Tarik is a physician-scientist and research faculty member at CU Anschutz whose work spans medicine, public health, and bioengineering. He enjoys helping students see that they belong in STEM and showing them how science and engineering can solve real-world problems.
Outside of work, Tarik enjoys walking Colorado trails, mentoring students, exploring AI and healthcare innovation, and spending time with family. He originally thought he would become a lawyer before finding his path into medicine and research.
Santiago moved to Colorado in 2004 from Valencia, Venezuela, and has lived there up until College. In the last three years he has lived in California pursuing a college baseball career and get an Associates Degree in Mathematics. He has since moved back to Colorado to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering. In California he discovered a passion for teaching, when he worked as a coach for youth baseball, managing teams of kids aged 9-14 and providing personal training for pitching. He has a history with robotics and car repair starting in high school when he was both a part of his High Schools First Robotics team that won state two years in a row, all while fixing up a broken car for his first car.
In his free time, he likes playing video games, working on cars, and spending time with his cat named Adenine. He is a part of the CSU FSAE Racing team, as a member of the Aerodynamics Sub-team. He also enjoys playing and watching baseball, snowboarding, and driving up mountains roads exploring the beautiful Colorado landscape! He will be leading classes in Fort Collins.
Hanna is originally from Evergreen, Colorado. She attended Colorado State University where she fell in love with Fort Collins and earned her Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Spanish. Early on, she worked as a rock climbing instructor and more recently she taught classes on practical applications of 3D modeling software. She focuses on creating an inclusive learning environment with enthusiasm for the topics she teaches. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and experimenting with new recipes.
Hanna will be leading classes in the Fort Collins!
Emma grew up in Thornton, Colorado, and is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics at Colorado State University. Her passion for roller coasters and large machines led her to engineering, and she previously worked as a bowling machine technician.
With experience helping K–8 students learn coding, Emma brings a creative approach to teaching and believes every voice belongs in STEM. In her free time, she enjoys video games, hockey, digital art, and bowling.
Emma will be leading classes in the Fort Collins area.
Elena was born and raised in Colorado. She discovered her calling to become an educator while working as a swim instructor in high school. She started her college career in Illinois, studying Secondary History Education for 2 years, but transferred to Colorado State University in her junior year to finish her degree. Since transferring to CSU, she has decided to pursue a degree in History with a Minor in Political Science, with her sights set on getting a Master's degree in Education.
In her free time, Elena likes to read, swim, go hiking with her friends and family, and do various crafts such as crocheting and painting.
Christina Rodriguez is Crest’s Regional Coach for Arizona. An Arizona-based educator with more than 13 years of experience in K–12 and higher education, she holds a master’s degree in Education from Arizona State University. Her background includes STEM teaching, instructional coaching, college advising, and higher education outreach. She currently develops STEM curriculum for Villanova University’s Mechanical Engineering department.
Christina brings experience in robotics, coding, engineering design, and hands-on learning. She believes students build confidence through exploration, creativity, and learning from mistakes, and enjoys helping educators bring that curiosity into their classrooms. Outside of work, she enjoys nature, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
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