Small school Real relationships

Cris Sandoval is a visionary, equity-driven leader and proud graduate of Denver Public Schools with over 20 years of experience supporting students from early education through high school. Cris holds a Bachelor's degree from Macalester College and a Master's in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Denver. Bilingual in Spanish and English, Cris has served as a Teacher, Dean of Culture, Assistant Principal, CTE Director, and Interim Principal — with a track record of driving student achievement and increasing graduation and attendance rates. A lifelong Northside resident, Cris believes learning is strongest when schools and families work together, and is passionate about creating a welcoming community at AUL Denver where every student feels seen, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential. Outside school, Cris enjoys Denver's arts and music scene, local lowrider culture, spinning vinyl records, and time with family.

Zach Serrano (he/him/él) joined the AUL-Denver team in 2026, bringing nearly two decades of experience as an educator, school leader, and equity practitioner. He began his career teaching in Denver's Montbello community, inspired by bell hooks' belief that education can be the practice of freedom. During his first decade with Denver Public Schools, Zach was named a Mile High Teacher of the Year and, for three consecutive years, a Distinguished Teacher. He then spent several years as a Senior Equity Leadership Consultant with the National Equity Project before returning to DPS in 2024 as Dean of Culture at Northeast Early College. At AUL, Zach is excited to return to education as activism — creating spaces where critical thinking, healing, belonging, and transformation are essential to learning. His greatest teachers have always been his children, Xavier and Nizhoni. Zach holds a bachelor's degree in Ethnic Studies from CU Boulder and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from CU Denver.

Zeta ToZi Arellano (they/them) is a gender-expansive, divinely fluid queer Xicanx person born and raised on the north side of Chicago by two resilient and empowering undocumented parents from Mexico. Zeta has dedicated much of their life to supporting communities and youth who face systemic and institutional barriers — with over 8 years in Denver Public Schools and more than 14 years working alongside young people. They promote values of self-empowerment, community organizing, ancestral healing, and liberatory practices, and have volunteered with humanitarian aid and immigrant advocacy groups including No More Deaths and the TransLatin@ Coalition. Outside school, you can find Zeta in the Rocky Mountains, dancing, cooking secret family recipes, co-parenting a brilliant 11-year-old, and swimming as an otter in lakes and reservoirs.

I graduated from MSU Denver with a degree in Social Work, and I've always been passionate about working with youth and young adults. My goal is to continue my education by earning a master's degree and becoming a school social worker. I believe that building strong, positive relationships with students and their families is the foundation for helping every student succeed, and I am elated to be part of this school community. Outside of school, I am a huge animal lover and enjoy spending time with my dog and two kitties. I also love being in nature whenever I get the chance and enjoy expressing my creativity through art.

I am the operational backbone of AUL Denver, ensuring daily office workflows run smoothly and efficiently. I serve as the central hub of communication between AUL Denver administration, staff, and families. My two children are the anchors that ground everything I do. For me, family life is the heart of my daily existence, providing a sense of comfort, purpose, and unconditional support.

My name is Manuela "Mannie" Roa Gonzalez, MSW, LCSW, SSP. I am the school social worker and 504 coordinator. I have been working with youth and families in a mental health capacity since 2014, primarily in BIPOC and higher-risk communities. I am genuinely passionate about creating a space and a relationship with students and families that makes mental health a norm and accessible. In my personal life, I enjoy spending time with my family — I have kids and an amazing partner. I love to hike, go to concerts, and try new restaurants!

I would like to welcome all the students and families to AUL Denver! My name is Niko and I have been a School Counselor for 6 years in DPS. I enjoy working directly with students to navigate their academic success and to begin planning for their future. We all face many challenges in life and I feel it is important for us to find healing, support and purpose in our journey. I enjoy spending time with friends, watching sports and exploring the diversity of Denver's art, culture and communities.

Hi, I'm Eric. I'm so excited to be at AUL and get to know you all. I've been teaching math at alternative schools for over 23 years. Before teaching, I graduated with honors from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. I moved to Michigan and worked as an automotive engineer designing suspension systems for cars and trucks — serving as a design engineer, project manager, and engineering supervisor on North American and European vehicles — and I was awarded a patent for an innovative security design for electric vehicles. My philosophy toward teaching math is the same as my philosophy toward raising my kids and toward life: it's OK to make mistakes. Mistakes are mandatory — but it's not OK to give up!

I'm passionate about math and love helping students succeed — a joy I've had the privilege of sharing for 31 years. Before joining the AUL community (my third teaching home!), I taught at West High School and Kepner Middle School. Outside the classroom, family is my world; I love spending time with my 3 children and 5 grandchildren. In my free time, you can usually find me hiking, reading, scrapbooking, playing Mahjongg, or cheering on my favorite football and basketball teams.

I have been teaching high school Language Arts for the past 20 years, mostly at alternative schools. Currently, I also teach at the college level at Front Range Community College — where I teach two former students from AUL! I have three children: Emerson, Atticus, and Penelope, and I spend all of my free time at their sporting events!

I'm a Social Studies teacher with over 12 years of experience in education. I'm passionate about helping students understand history, social justice, and civic engagement while encouraging them to become active and informed members of their communities. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, exploring new places and restaurants, and going to concerts and other events.

Hi! My name is Justin. I have been teaching science for 6 years, and it truly brings me joy to do so. I have always had a curiosity for the world around me, and science communicators like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and Carl Sagan helped fuel that curiosity and foster a sense of wonder — now it is my mission to do the same for the next generation. My undergraduate education in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience informs much of my curricular focus. I believe it is more important than ever for young people to understand their own minds and how to keep them functioning well. In a world that often preys on developing minds with cheap dopamine, empty calories, and a sedentary lifestyle, my form of resistance is to give students the knowledge to make informed choices. Outside the classroom, my passions revolve around movement — hiking, rock climbing, muay thai, disc golf, and pickleball — plus movies, fantasy books, and unwinding at the sauna.

I teach Visual Arts and Comprehensive Health, and my goal is to create a classroom where students feel comfortable exploring, experimenting, making mistakes, growing, and having fun! I earned my BFA in Printmaking from Binghamton University and my MS in Human Development and Leadership from Murray State University, and I am also a Neurosequential Educational Trainer. Before joining AUL, I coached collegiate softball at Murray State University and Elmira College, and I still work as a private pitching instructor. Outside of school, I'm a busy mom of two amazing little girls and love running, hiking, skiing, music, dancing, traveling, creating, and spending time with family and friends!

I am married to my high school sweetheart, and together we have a 15-year-old son who attends North High School. I have had the privilege of teaching in DPS for 23 years, and I love my job. I am also a proud product of DPS, having completed all of my schooling within the district and graduating from South High School. I went on to earn both my undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Colorado Denver. I played soccer throughout college and spent 20 years coaching the sport afterward. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, skiing, and traveling — I've had the opportunity to travel all over the world, including leading student trips for more than 10 years. I hope to continue to take students around the world.