Mr. Payne holds a master's degree in education and education leadership from Texas State University and has more than 13 years of experience as a school administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels, including 6 years as a principal. He has enjoyed multiple assignments in the state of Texas, most recently serving as Administrative Officer with the Department of Defense's Alconbury Elementary/Middle High School in Huntingdon, England.

Mike transitions to this assignment after serving as an assistant principal at Skyview for the 21-22 school year. Prior to that he served four years as assistant principal at Odyssey Elementary. He brings more than 14 years of experience in education to the leadership role, including serving as principal at a charter school, and coaching at the middle and high school levels. Mike earned his master's in educational leadership from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

"As principal of Skyview Middle School, I can't wait to partner with parents, and build relationships with staff, students and the community," Wedor said. "I look forward to supporting the great work and continued achievement at SMS. I look forward to an amazing school year"

Mike and his wife have been married 16 years and have two children. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing basketball and golfing.

Mrs. Rebecca Thompson has been an active member of our administrative team in District 49 for over 15 years. She joined us as a Literacy Coach at the opening of Ridgeview Elementary School and supported their staff with her passion for the teaching of reading and writing. Later she helped Meridian Ranch Elementary School to obtain IB status as an interim Administrator. Eleven years ago, Rebecca transitioned to the role of Assistant Principal and opened Odyssey Elementary School with Mrs. Pam Weyer. Odyssey began as a STEM focus school and Mrs. Thompson has now been an integral part of starting the Literacy Excellence Program (LEx) to support students with characteristics of Dyslexia at Odyssey. Moving the Innovation plan for LEx forward, Mrs. Thompson and Dr. Pickering worked together to expand the innovation and replicate successful processes in a new school that would allow students from other POWER Zone schools and students from outside of the district to benefit from the Take Flight intervention and accommodations in classrooms. Mrs. Thompson has a passion for helping others to find their strengths and to overcome barriers to learning.

I am thrilled to be the returning principal here at Odyssey Elementary!  I look forward to fulfilling our school’s Mission and Vision to help our students truly shine.

This will be my 22nd year in education, and I am fortunate that all of them have been right here in District 49.  I began my career as a fifth grade teacher and was lucky to help open Springs Ranch Elementary School for its first year.  During my eleven years, I was a fifth grade teacher, first grade teacher, second grade teacher, Technology Specialist, and third grade teacher.  For the next five years, I was a Technology Specialist at Meridian Ranch Elementary, where I taught kindergarten through fifth grade students computer and 21st Century Skills.  Then, I was a part of the team that opened Bennett Ranch Elementary School, and I served in an administrative role at that location for four years.  This will be my second year at Odyssey Elementary, and I love our Comet Community!

With all of these roles across different locations, I have come to truly appreciate the journey that our students make in the elementary setting, the commitment that drives elementary staff to help students in their first stages of schooling, and the possibilities that can be fulfilled as a positive hub for our neighborhood.  As a Leader in Me school, I look forward to working with students and adults alike to grow the leadership potential for all individuals at Odyssey.

Not only do I live in the Power Zone, but my wife teaches in the Power Zone while my son attends a Power Zone school.  This is our home.  When not at school, we enjoy spending time outdoors and appreciating all the opportunities offered in the Colorado Springs area.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns, and I’d be happy to work alongside you.  We all play a valuable part in the Odyssey Elementary team!

Hello and Welcome to Inspiration View Elementary School!

I am extremely honored to continue the role of principal and serve our Inspiration View Elementary School community. 

We have an amazing team of teachers, wonderful students, and supportive and involved families. I look forward to getting to know even more of you and deepening our school-to-home partnership.

District 49 has been my home for over 20 years; first as a parent of students in the district and then as an employee serving students, teachers, and school communities. I began my career in education as a crossing guard and absolutely loved ensuring that all the students who crossed at my corner were kept safe. Every role in a building is critical in ensuring a successful school.

Walking alongside and supporting our IVES teachers, students, and families is my passion! Before coming to IVES, I served as an academic dean for one year and as an instructional coach for three years. Previously, I taught at both the elementary and secondary levels. During this time, I was able to gain valuable experience through teaching at an International Baccalaureate(IB) School as well as a school that focused on personalized learning for all students. These are skills that have supported me in serving at IVES and encouraging our students to discover their individual passions and talents.

Inspiration View’s commitment to arts integration is close to my heart. Before teaching in the public school setting, I was a private and group piano teacher. My thesis for my graduate degree was on integrating the arts into the regular classroom. I have seen firsthand the positive impact the arts can have in the life of a child.  Watching our students grow through exploring their passions, experiencing learning through creativity and collaboration, and making lasting connections to their learning through the various art forms is absolutely amazing!

Once again, we look forward to partnering with all our families. Thank you for giving us the privilege of teaching your children at Inspiration View Elementary School. 

Sincerely,

Pam Holloman

Greetings! My name is Corey DeFelice. I am excited and honored to be given the opportunity to serve as the newest principal of Ridgeview. I am a native of Colorado Springs, having attended Falcon Elementary, Falcon Middle School, and eventually graduating from Palmer High School in 1999. My journey took me to Texas where I have spent my career in public education. In my 17 years, I have taught third, fourth, and fifth grade. I have been an academic assessment and data specialist, and for the past five years I have been an assistant principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

I have a B.A. in History from the University of Northern Colorado, a M.Ed. in Counseling with a Principal’s Certificate from the University of Houston-Victoria, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Supervision from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

I have a wonderful wife, Itziar, who is a school counselor, and three amazing children, ages 15, 10, and 5. In our free time we love to travel and play Super Mario Party on the Nintendo Switch. I love baseball and hockey, and am really looking forward to being back in Colorado and getting back on the slopes.