Cheryl Miller, Board Director & President 

Cheryl Carstens Miller grew up in San Diego. She studied Information and Computer Science at UC Irvine. Cheryl moved to Colorado in 1985 and settled in Telluride in 1987. She is a devoted mother and grandmother. Cheryl loves education deeply. She often volunteers in classrooms and attends crucial meetings. She aims to make learning better and improve the educational experience. Cheryl joined the Telluride School Board in 2009. She took a break from 2015-219. Now, she is back. Cheryl works with the Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Services and the Colorado Association of School Boards. Her enthusiasm and dedication keep improving Telluride’s education.

Term Expiration: 2027

David Lavender, Board Director 

David has a rich teaching background. He has over 30 years of experience, including 18 years as a High School English teacher at THS. Now retired, he joins the School Board. David is proud of our District’s record of excellence. He is dedicated to keeping it up. He encourages open talks among teachers, students, parents, and staff. An interesting fact: David’s great-grandfather and his sister were among the first graduates of Telluride High School. David lives in a log cabin on Last Dollar Road. His wife, Karen, has been a long-time College Counselor at THS. Together with their dogs, David enjoys walking on local trails.

Term Expiration: 2027

Ryan Robinson, Board Director & Treasurer

Ryan is a critical player in the business world. He helps new businesses and sits on various company boards. Ryan was Chairman and President of OnRamp. He led the company in offering secure cloud computing. This service helped the healthcare, finance, and education industries. Ryan has a Stanford MBA and graduated cum laude from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His career includes investment and operations roles. Ryan now lives in Telluride, CO, with his wife and three children. His mix of fresh ideas, strategic leadership, and family values marks his unique style as a School Board member. 

Term Expiration: 2027

Kaylie Reed, Board Director

Kaylie Reed has dedicated her career to helping youn people learn and grow. She studied Education at Dartmouth College before becoming an elementary Montessori teacher. She later helped launch Acton Academy in Austin, TX, where she combined Montessori principles with project-based learning and adaptive software to support individualized student learning and growth. Kaylie went on to found Neuron Garage, a hands-on summer program where elementary-aged children develop creativity and the skill of using a growth mindset as they build with recycled materials. Since moving to Telluride with her family in 2021, Kaylie has been active in the school community. She served on the Telluride Education Foundation Board and regularly volunteers in school activities. Kaylie and her husband, Sam, are raising their two daughters in the district. He background in teaching, entrereneurship, and parent engagement brings a thoughtful perspective to the School Board. 

Term Expiration: 2029

Jessica James McTigue, Board Director

As one of the newst board members, Jesse is excited to draw from her 20-year career in education and experiences growing up and raising kids in Telluride. She is grateful for her diverse experiences in educaiton as a teacher, leader, parent, and student. She attended Telluride Middle and High School, Burke Mountain Academy, Dartouth College, and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. Throughout her career in education, she coached, taught, led curriculum alignment, review, and implementation, mentored teachers, led outdoor and experiential education trips, and participated on School evaluation teams. She started an independent educational consulting practice in 2022 and dabbles in freelance writing. She recognizes the value of the Telluride community and schools and loves speding time outdoors skiing, hiking, and biking, with her two daughters and husband. 

Term Expiration: 2029 

Student Ex Officio Board Members

The Telluride School Board is proud to include student voices through our Student Ex Officio Board Members. These students bring valuable perspectives to board discussions and help ensure that student experiences and ideas are reflected in district decision-making.

Current Student Board Members:

• Eli Ellison

• Isabel Morgan

• Maya SantaAna

• Vivian Trommer

Incoming Student Board Members:

• Harper Leigh Lapp
• Mateo Lopez Carmelo
• Elijah Prince
• Akira Smith

Learn more about their appointment and impact in this Telluride Daily Planet article.