Special Education

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year @ Copper Creek Elementary.  Thank you for choosing such a wonderful school for you and your family.  We are glad you are here!

My name is David Landis.  This will be my 19th year teaching special education.  I take pride in having open communication with my students and their parents/guardians.  I believe in a "team" approach when working with families.  Together, we can have a successful school year! My personal mission statement has always been, "you can't help everyone everywhere, but can help someone somewhere."  I look forward to working with you and your family for years to come!   

**Background Information:

I have worked with Special Education students in grades 6th, 7th, 8th for 8 years in the Kyrene School District.

I have worked with Special Education students in grades K-6 for 10 years in the Deer Valley Unified School District.

In 2013-2014, I received the "Above & Beyond", Teacher of Excellence award in the Kyrene School District.

In 2018-2019, I was nominated for a "Teacher of the Year" award by a parent in the Deer Valley Unified School District.

In 2018-2024, I was a (SES) Special Education Strategist for 6 years in the Deer Valley Unified School District.  I was able to help lead, mentor, guide and oversee all of the day to day operations for our wonderful special education team @ Copper Creek!

**Training Certificates:

STEM Integration

Structured English Immersion (SEI)

Learning Engineering through Design (@ ASU)

Behavior Education Research and Technology (BERT)

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) 

Systems 44/Read 180 Reading Intervention Program

95% Reading Intervention Program

Sanford Harmony Social/Emotional Program

Do the Math

Math 180

Welcome to Copper Creek!  I am glad that you have chosen a school where your children are loved, embraced, and challenged. 

I look forward to working and learning with you.

My name is Ashley Roush.  I received my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University.  I received my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Autism from Arizona State University as well.  I am going into my 19th year here at Copper Creek. I have taught 4th graders in the general education setting for thirteen years. After 13 years, I switched gears to work with special needs chidren.  I have called Copper Creek my teaching home my entire career.  Both of my children attended Copper Creek since preschool.  It is a school that I am proud to be a part of due to the collaboration, expectations of success, and relationships that have been cultivated.  Copper Creek is truly an amazing place to be!

  I believe that children bring a unique and special gifts to the world. They will give back to the world what was put into them.  My hope is that they will see learning as a journey, not a destination.

  

I am a 24 year veteran special education teacher.

I have been a teacher  in all areas of the continuum in special education.

My students are my children.

I also have my Early Childhood endorsement.

I am also a mother of two older boys  and they got married this year 2015 and I am also a grandmother.

Hello! My name is Karlie Stylinski and I am a special education teacher here at Copper Creek. This year I will be working in 1st grade, 3rd grade, and 6th grade. 

I received my bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Northern Arizona University. This is my fourth year as a teacher at Copper Creek! I am excited to be working with all the amazing students and staff this year. I look forward to having a fun and successful school year!

DVUSD Rookie of the Year 2021-2022

Hi everyone! My name is Laura Ahlin, and I am so excited about going into my third year as a special education teacher here at Copper Creek! 

 

I graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Special and Elementary Education in 2022. I did my student teaching in a Middle School Behavior Support Program, as well as in a Kindergarten classroom. My last two years at Copper Creek, I have worked with students in Kindergarten, Second, Third, and Fifth. I love teaching all subjects, but I have fallen in love with teaching reading over the last year. It amazes me when the students I work with are able to begin applying decoding skills to start to read fluently. I believe that all students should be given the opportunity to learn in a safe, loving, and nurturing environment.  In addition, students should be given the tools they need to help them grow to the greatest extent possible. Every student learns at their own pace and style. I want to help them by building confidence and strategies they can utilize for years to come. During my first year of teaching (2022-2023), I was nominated for the Deer Valley Educational Foundation Rookie of the Year award. I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Grand Canyon University and will graduate in Spring 2025. 

 

A little bit more about me! I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but I was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, until I came to Arizona for college. Lions are my favorite animal, but dogs are my favorite pet. I have my own dog, an Australian Cattle Dog Mix/Mutt, named Jessie. We love hanging out at parks or going to Dutch Bros to get a pup cup! My all-time favorite movie is Toy Story 2. I do enjoy watching TV shows, such as Full House, How I Met Your Mother, Friends, and Modern Family. I love watching reality TV show competitions, such as Big Brother and Survivor. This summer, I have started to read books again. Come back soon for my favorite book. I love all the colors, but if I had to pick three, they would be pink, green, and yellow. My favorite subject in school was Social Studies, and I even got a minor in History when I was in college. Spring is my favorite season for the flowers and rain (even though too much rain doesn’t happen in Phoenix). I have played the clarinet since I was in middle school, and was even in the marching band at NAU. 

 

I cannot wait for a fun and successful year of learning with the students at Copper Creek! Go Bobcats!

Hi! My name is Kéli (Kaylee) Janzen and I am excited to for my second year at the Creek! I will be servicing 1st-3rd grade as a special education resource teacher. I am originally from Templeton, CA, but came over to AZ to go to Grand Canyon University in 2020. I graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. 

My past experience includes interning and substitute teaching at charter, private, and public schools across the Phoenix area. I also provided in-home respite and habilitation services through Arion Care Solutions. I'm thankful for all I learned though these jobs, but am so glad I landed at Copper Creek with an incredible team! I look forward to meeting more families and students this year!

Fun Facts about Me: GCU was the experience of a lifetime because of the amazing community I became a part of, which convinced me to stay in Phoenix. Some of my favorite activities are going to the lake (jet ski or wake surfing, yes please!), traveling, organizing fun group activities with friends and family, and being part of a Bible study. My favorite animal is a Panda and my favorite place I have traveled is Romania. 

Hi! My name is Elle Dunlap and I am excited to start my first year teaching at Copper Creek. I will be a Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Special Education Teacher. I just graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. Here is a little bit about me! I am an Arizona native. I have been a gymnastics coach for almost 5 years now! In my free time, I love to golf, travel, and hang out with my friends and family. I am so excited and lucky to be able to start teaching at the Creek! I can’t wait for this school year!!!

Name	Position	Phone	E-mail
Castle, Jennifer	Developmental Preschool	623-376-3931	jennifer.castle@dvusd.org
Ramos, AnaLisa	Developmental Preschool	623-376-3938	AnaLisa.Ramos@dvusd.org
Miller, Alyssa	HI	623-376-3928	alyssa.miller@dvusd.org
Juhas, Kristin	OT/PT	623-376-3951	kristin.juhas@dvusd.org
Olson, Megan	Psychologist	623-376-3920	megan.olson@dvusd.org
Harper, Erin	PT	623-376-3951	erin.harper@dvusd.org
Ahlin, Laura	Service Coordinator	623-376-3946	Laura.Ahlin@dvusd.org
Dunlap, Elle	Service Coordinator	623-376-3943	elle.dunlap@dvusd.org
Heath, Cheryl	Service Coordinator	623-376-3939	cheryl.heath@dvusd.org
Janzen, Keli	Service Coordinator	623-376-3943	keli.janzen@dvusd.org
Landis, David	Service Coordinator	623-376-3963	david.landis@dvusd.org
Roush, Ashley	Service Coordinator	623 376-3963	ashley.roush@dvusd.org
Stylinski, Karlie	Service Coordinator	623-376-3946	karlie.stylinski@dvusd.org
Stylinski, Karlie	Service Coordinator	623-376-3943	Karlie.Stylinski@dvusd.org
Langford, Carolyn	Speech	623-376-3922	carolyn.langford@dvusd.org
Ramirez, Susan	Speech	623-376-3922	susan.ramirez@dvusd.org