Meet the ESS Team

Mrs. Panian

A little bit about myself, my name is Mrs. Panian.  I was born and raised in New York.   This is my 3rd year here at AACS and I’m new to Colorado. We moved to Colorado because my husband has retired from the Army and we decided to move back to his hometown.   This is my 14th year teaching.  Throughout my teaching career, I have taught in Ohio, New York and twice in Georgia.  I enjoyed teaching kindergarten through 5th grade.  I received my undergraduate degree from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA and my Master's degree from State University of New York at Potsdam.  At home, I love to cook.  During the summer my family loves to travel and go camping.

Mr. Otto

wotto@auroraacademycharter.com

I am Mr. Otto.  I was born in Wichita, KS, but I was raised in Columbia, MO by my aunt and uncle.  I have a fairly large family all across the country, so I'm always planning my next road trip.  This is my second year at AACS, and I am enjoying the community and students very much.  I started teaching as a math tutor with Denver Math Fellows, and I found I liked it a lot, so after two years I sought my teaching license through the ASPIRE program at the University of Colorado.  I have been teaching Special Education ever since, and this is my 12th year teaching.  I received my Masters at the University of Colorado in 2021.  In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Asuka.  I also like karaoke, disc golf, and video games.

Mrs. Wagner

kwagner@auroraacademycharter.org

Hello! I am Kristen Wagner, and this is my first year at Aurora Academy. I am thrilled to be here! This is my ninth year teaching, and I have always enjoyed working with students who have different learning profiles. They challenge me to think outside the box and continually grow as an educator. I firmly believe that every student has the capability to SOAR when they put forth their best effort. I began my journey into teaching as a preschool aide and eventually found my way into special education. I must say, working with preschoolers was one of the most heartwarming jobs I have ever had, and it helped me realize just how much joy there is to be found in working with children. I have lived in Colorado for 17 years, but I was born and raised overseas. I spent my childhood in Guam and Hong Kong and even lived in Iceland for a year. These experiences have given me an appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. Outside of teaching, I have an array of hobbies, including cooking, reading, embroidery, gardening, and drawing and painting whenever I have the chance. I hold a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and a master's degree in Special Education. I am excited to begin this new chapter at Aurora Academy and look forward to getting to know the students and their families.