About Me

        Hi! My name is Erica Kugler and I am so excited to join the Cherry Creek Academy community. Originally, I am from the northern suburbs of Chicago and moved to Colorado 5 years ago. I received my Undergraduate degree at the University of Denver with a major in Communications and a double minor in Wellness and Writing. I have spent the past year taking courses and teaching at University Park Elementary, a Denver Public School, where I was an Apprentice teacher in a first grade classroom. In June, I will be receiving my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. 

       When I am not in the classroom, I love spending my time outside and in the mountains. Some of the activities I enjoy doing when I am in the mountains are hiking and skiing. I also love spending time in my kitchen, cooking and baking for my friends and family. Being an educator has always been my passion and I am so excited to get to know the families and students of CCA this coming year! 

Teaching Philosophy

          As an effective and equitable educator, I honor the individual. Students have the potential to do incredible things, as long as their teacher can understand and support their needs. This is where I stand by the importance of an individualized, whole-child learning approach that supports every student where they are. When understanding students' differences, I believe we must differentiate to ensure all learners' needs are catered to. My lessons are intentionally designed to ensure all learning styles are met through multiple modalities. I believe that all learners are different and deserve a unique education that is tailored toward their specific interests, goals, and needs. 

           Understanding and meeting students' educational needs are just one part of the puzzle. Another factor that is essential in creating a positive learning environment for all is by prioritizing and taking the time to create these individual relationships. If students do not feel supported and respected through the teacher-student relationship, they will not take risks in their educational experience and continue to learn as individuals.

           Students must feel secure and safe in order to learn, and so do their families. I believe in the importance of establishing respectful and productive relationships with my students and their families. Clear communication is one of the ways I plan to do this. Communication is another essential aspect to my educational philosophy, which stems from my major in my Undergraduate studies. I find it essential that this be formed with students and their families on a regular basis, to ensure success for every student. This will further my ability to gather information on the individual student’s needs, provide support and share data about student progress. As an educator, I am motivated to continue my own journey as a life-long learner and plan to inspire those around me to do the same.