OUR MEMBERS

The McAuliffe at Smiley Foundation meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00PM in the lobby conference room at McAuliffe. All board meetings are open to the broader McAuliffe community. The Foundation is comprised of a board of directors. Current members of the board include:

SARA PETERS

PRESIDENT

Sara is the proud mom to one McAuliffe graduate, one current McAuliffe student and one future McAuliffe Sun Devil!
 
A career educator and Park Hill resident, Sara cares deeply about the work of the McAuliffe Foundation, and believes that kids are the most successful when families, the community and schools come together!
 
Outside of her work as Foundation President, Sara works as a Project Manager for a national education nonprofit working to develop generative AI Teaching Simulator. 
 
Additionally, Sara loves watching her three kiddos play sports, the great outdoors and gardening, reading and college football!
 

Contact Sara: president@mcauliffefoundation.org

MEGAN ZEIGER

VICE PRESIDENT

Megan is honored to be on the McAuliffe at Smiley Board and a part of the amazing McAuliffe community!  Megan and her husband Ryan have three boys including one current McAuliffe student and one alum.  She and her family live in the Cheesman Park neighborhood.  Megan is retired from a career in business ownership and business consulting and is passionate about giving back to the community, with specific interests in kids and education, healthcare and disability and theater.

Megan loves hiking and being active, traveling, entertaining, needlepointing, watching her kids perform on stage, play soccer or volleyball, and getting dragged down a ski hill by her family.

VANESSA VARGAS

SECRETARY

Vanessa is the proud mom of an 8th grader at McAuliffe and this is her third year serving on the board.  Vanessa is a Colorado native and DPS grad, who is passionate about supporting the students, families, and educators in our wonderful McAuliffe community. 

Vanessa’s professional experience is in the medical technology industry, where she manages the employee relations function for Latin America and Canada. Her professional background centers conflict resolution, leadership development, and fostering inclusive environments. 

Vanessa loves traveling, reading, crafting, community service, and spending time with friends and family. 

Contact Vanessa: admin@mcauliffefoundation.org

AMY ASTROM

TREASURER


Contact Amy: treasurer@mcauliffefoundation.org

AMANDA FLORENCE

FALL FUNDRAISING LEAD

Amanda is excited about serving on the board of the McAuliffe at Smiley Foundation. She and her husband, Zach, have three kids -two are current McAuliffe students and one attends Teller Elementary School. Amanda loves the vision of MIS and is excited to be a part of supporting the students and staff. 

Amanda has a background in teaching and is now the Director of Operations for Florence Realty Co, the boutique residential real estate brokerage she and Zach launched in 2017.

Amanda loves people and finds great joy in helping others to succeed. When she isn’t working, you can find her enjoying a good book or busy exploring this amazing city and state with her family.

AMY HLADIK

DINE & DONATE

I’ve lived in the Central Park neighborhood for 13 years with my husband, Jason, and our two children—both of whom have grown up in the local schools, from Swigert to McAuliffe and now Northfield. With Jason often traveling for work, our Labradoodle is my faithful companion while I work from home.

My career has always centered on care management and supporting others in need. In 2022, I launched Care Coordinators of Colorado, a geriatric care management group dedicated to improving the lives of older adults and the family members who care for them.

I’m passionate about community, connection, and trying new things. I’ve recently taken up MahJong and golf, and I’ve been an avid pickleball player for years. As a family, we enjoy following Jason’s love for the outdoors—rafting rivers, skiing in the mountains, and spending time on the golf course.

MARY BETH MCERLANE

AUCTION CHAIR

Mary Beth has lived in the Central Park community since 2011 and in Denver since 2007. A former aerospace engineer, she has spent most of her time since the birth of her daughter volunteering with school and other non-profit organizations. She has 10+ years of fundraising experience and is excited to bring that experience to the McAuliffe Foundation. Mary Beth is passionate about helping the students and staff at McAuliffe thrive and is grateful to be a part of this community!

EMILY MUSSER

AUCTION CHAIR

JENNIFER KERVIN

SPONSORSHIP LEAD

Jen is the Mom of a current McAuliffe student and a future McAuliffe Sun Devil! 
 
She is a Colorado native from Littleton, CO and moved to Park Hill in 2013. Jen is passionate about helping small businesses and is an underwriter for a national bank, helping fund small businesses around the country via Small Business Association (SBA) loans. She especially likes to help connect small businesses with wonderful causes (like the McAuliffe Foundation)! 
 
When she is not working, or attending her children’s sporting activities, Jen enjoys running in various races around the country. You can often find her running around the neighborhood with her Border Collie. 
 
Contact Jen: fundraising@mcauliffefoundation.org

CHRIS COOPER

GROUNDS & GARDEN

DANA MARSH

TEACHER APPRECIATION 8TH GRADE

ASHLEY BANISTER-RILEY

TEACHER APPRECIATION 6TH GRADE

KELLY SMITH

TEACHER APPRECIATION 6TH GRADE

TRACY ROBERT

TEACHER APPRECIATION 6TH GRADE

DAN CLARKE

AT-LARGE

Dan is the proud husband of Mrs. Clarke who teaches 6th grade social studies. They have two children, one just started at McAulliffe and he could not be more excited for his middle school career.

After watching from a far the last decade as a spouse, Dan is thrilled to now be helping this amazing foundation and school this year. Dan believes that McAulliffe is an incredible school and community and whenever he interacts with admin or staff, he is constantly left impressed. 

Dan teaches Video Production and Yearbook at Northfield High School and loves his job.  Dan has a passion for travel and creating videos to look back on with his family. Dan also loves helping others create videos as it is so easy and anyone can do it!
 
In his spare time, Dan runs an organization called Mamabird Interviews where they help families document their loved ones stories while empowering amazing young women. He also hosts a podcast in the community called the Badass Women of Central park. On top of all that, he is currently working on becoming a Polish influencer, so if you have any Polish friends please ask if they have seen his videos!  
 
Dan is excited to see all the amazing ways the foundation impacts the students and staff at McAulliffe! 

CECILIA ORTIZ

AT-LARGE

Cecilia is the Community Engagement Liaison at McAuliffe. She has worked at McAuliffe since 2020. Cecilia is also a DPS alumna, was part of the first continuing class at McAuliffe, and graduated from George Washington High School.

Cecilia loves giving back to the community that once served her and is always willing to help where needed. She is a  proud Northern Arizona University Lumberjack alumna and graduated with a masters degree in Social Work in May 2025. Cecilia loves to travel with her husband and English Bulldog Mika, spending time with her family and friends, and playing sports.

Cecilia is also the head coach for the girls volleyball and soccer teams at McAuliffe!

HILARY-JANE MCMINAMEN

AT-LARGE

Hilary-Jane is the Critical Needs Coordinator at McAuliffe. She holds a master’s in clinical counseling and school counseling. Fun fact-she did her internship at Smiley Middle School, which is the same building as McAuliffe! 
 
Hilary-Jane is a local Park Hill resident who plans to send both of her children to McAuliffe Middle School.
 
Supporting the local community through education is a passion and dream come true for Hilary-Jane. She deeply desires for every student to get their physical, emotional, and mental needs met in order to be the best student they can be. 
 
In her free time, when she isn’t busy being a mom, Hilary-Jane enjoys gardening, baking, and heading to the beach. 

DANIELLE GREEN

AT-LARGE

Danielle is a 6th grade math teacher at McAuliffe and is excited to be celebrating her 8th year at the school. She attended the University of Kansas and is a proud KU basketball fan. After college, Danielle lived abroad and taught in both Hanoi, Vietnam, and Prague, Czech Republic.

In her free time, Danielle loves to travel and often leads international trips for McAuliffe students, sharing her passion for exploring new cultures and experiences. She is thrilled to join the McAuliffe Foundation and looks forward to helping strengthen the incredible community that supports the school and its teachers and students