4th Grade

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Penny Henry

Math
Penny_Dersham@dpsk12.net

My teaching career began in Aurora, Colorado where I spent 15 years teaching low income students, second language learners, and refugee students. I have been at Carson for 7 years. I received my bachelor’s degree from Metro State and my masters degree from Mississippi State.

In my free time you can find me spending time with my husband Derek and my silly, oversized dog Roo. I love to camp, hike, paddleboard, run (sometimes), read, craft, and bake. I am also studying Norwegian and you can almost always find me listing to my favorite band; a-ha!!

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Mark Garza

Literacy & GT Specialist
Marcus_Garza@dpsk12.net

Hi!

My name is Mark Garza and have been in education since 1997. I have been a GT teacher/ coordinator for 17 years, and taught in So. Calif. And Colorado in k-6. I was also an affiliate instructor with Regis University from 2008-2019.

I am married to my wife, Cece since 1995, have 2 dogs (Callie and Kobe), and love to travel and cook!

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Emily Goers

Literacy/STL
Emily_Goers@dpsk12.net

Inspiring kids to be lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and compassionate global citizens is my greatest passion! This is my ninth year teaching at Carson and my eleventh year as an instructional coach. I earned my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at the University of Colorado, Boulder and my Masters in Reading and Writing Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Colorado, Denver.

When I’m not at my “second home” (Carson Elementary), I am outside enjoying a bike ride, ski run, or tennis game with family or friends! I also love reading and international travel!

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Karin Larson

Science and Social Studies
Karin_Larson@dpsk12.net

I started my teaching career working for the Palm Beach County School district in South Florida. I decided to specialize in gifted education, which has been my passion for the past 12 years. I taught HGT at Carson for eight years. This is my 10th year at Carson and I am delighted to teach Science and Social Studies with a fantastic team of talented professionals.
When I am not in the classroom, you can find me outdoors with my three dogs adopted from rescue shelters. I enjoy exercising daily, which includes running and biking along the many beautiful paths here in Colorado. My husband and I also spend every weekend during summer on our motorcycle exploring quaint little mountain towns. I look forward to attending concerts at Red Rocks, visiting my grandchildren in Jacksonville, and traveling the world!