4th Grade
Meet the Fourth Grade Team
Julia Ferre, Cynthia Melas, Lisa Rutledge, Emily Viramontes, and Bri Winder
(PICTURE COMING SOON)
Julia ferre
This is my second year at Eagle Ridge and my first year on the 4th grade team, but I have been a teacher at neighborhood or charter schools within Douglas County since 2016. Through time in 5th grade, 6th grade and 8th grade classrooms I have had the unique opportunity to share my talents from past careers with students for a career-focused preparatory experience that readies them for their next educational venture. I have a Master of Arts in Education with a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Endorsement. I am a former Boettcher Teacher Resident and was a finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year in 2022. My past jobs in television news, corporate communications, telephony, and website design prepared me well for this – my dream job. I share these career experiences with students and make job-skills connections for all learning targets in my classroom. I’m also a mom to two young men, who both attended Eagle Ridge Elementary and ultimately graduated from Highlands Ranch High School.
While I try to incorporate many methods of instructional design and accommodate all learning styles in my classroom, there are some techniques that come easier to me than others. When people I work with are asked to describe my working style they use words like, LOGICAL, DATA-INFORMED, RATIONAL, FOCUSED ON THE BIG PICTURE, VISUAL, and INTENTIONAL. If you ask me, I might say, “I really like statistics and a quiet room where I can research.”
Over time your students will find out I moved seven times before 7th grade! I have lived in big cities, small towns, desert heat, and brisk mountain air. I love Colorado the most. I consider myself a maker and enjoy a lazy CRAFTernoon. On my days away from the classroom you can find me sipping coffee on my front porch while I spy on the hummingbirds and try to read before the rest of the world wakes up. My money and my youngest son go to The University of Utah and my oldest son travels the west building hyperscale data centers for a technology integrator. If you are adept at catching teachers in the wild you might spot me at the Botanical Gardens or a golf course. We are a busy family with a lot of interests.
LISA RUTLEDGE
Lisa Rutledge is excited to begin her first year teaching at Eagle Ridge Elementary and excited for fourth grade!! Ms. Rutledge loves to work with students to be their best and grow to be lifelong learners. Teamwork, cooperation, and communication are important in her classroom, as well as having fun while learning. She is looking forward to helping her students build their curiosity for new things as well as build a community that believes in kindness, positive leadership, and the Golden Rule.
This will be her eighth year teaching in elementary school and she has previously taught second and third grade. Before that she worked in the educational field as a substitute teacher and attendance/office clerk. She graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a Biology degree. Ms. Rutledge went to UCCS for her teaching license and then to Adams State University for her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She has three children and six grandchildren. She has lived in Colorado for 31 years.
In her free time Ms. Rutledge loves to read, crochet, walk on Colorado trails, and watch sunsets over the mountains or at an ocean beach. She also loves to have adventures and travel to visit family and friends. She is looking forward to her new and exciting adventure at ERE.
cynthia melas
I am Cynthia Melas and I'm thrilled to be part of the 4th grade team this year at Eagle Ridge.
A little about myself: I was born and raised in Chicago. After graduating Albion College, Michigan, with a BA in European History and Psychology, and a secondary education certificate, I taught in the Chicagoland suburbs for 8 years in 6th and 8th grade Social Studies and English. Declining enrollment caused school closures which meant I had to switch careers. Enter Xerox Corporation where I worked in Chicago and Rochester in sales, training and consulting. After retiring, I went back to substitute at my former high school district and worked in philanthropy for a few years.
In 2018, I made the decision to move to Colorado, to join my niece and her family, who had moved to Highlands Ranch, in 2016. Once Covid eased up, I transitioned my teaching certifications to Colorado and joined the DCSD family, teaching 6th grade Social Studies and Science for 3 years before transitioning to 4th grade this year.
I look forward to sharing my teaching and professional experiences with all you ERE Eagles, while constantly mentoring kindness, acceptance, responsibility and respect. I look forward to being around the vitality and enthusiasm of 4th graders and watching you reach your “AH HA'' moments.
In my free time, I spend lots of time with my four great nieces and nephews: Jack, Amelia, Josie, and Crosby. I love going to lots of the kiddos baseball games, dance recitals, playing pickleball, gardening and reading. We have one Corgi, Nellie, and a rescue, Decker, who are always loads of fun especially when their Corgi cousins come to visit, Woody, from Chicago and Pippin, from San Francisco!!
Emily viramontes
Emily Viramontes is excited to begin her first year at Eagle Ridge and her fourth year teaching! She has taught 4th and 5th grade, as well as CLDE small groups, and she loves building relationships and helping students grow in confidence and curiosity.
Emily was born and raised in Colorado and earned her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado at Denver. She also holds a CLDE endorsement and is bilingual. Her favorite part of teaching is creating a welcoming space where all students feel seen, supported, and capable of success.
Outside of school, Emily enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and taking part in seasonal activities around Colorado. She’s very close with her sister, Camila, and loves spending time with her family and their dog, Nacho. She is excited to join the wonderful community at Eagle Ridge!
Bri Winder
Bri Winder is excited to begin her 5th year teaching Fourth Grade at Eagle Ridge! She is originally from Tennessee, but has lived all over the country. She went to school at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science, and several years later knew it was time to make the career change to teaching. She earned her Masters in Elementary Education from Western Governors University. Her favorite part of teaching is making connections with students and watching them build confidence in themselves as they learn and grow. During her free time she loves to do anything outdoors with her partner Avi and their dog, Hansel. When she’s not outside, she enjoys cuddling up with a coffee and her cat Finley while reading a good book.