Our Staff
We have exceptional teachers and a fine support staff. All of our staff are residents of Guffey or nearby small towns and are thoroughly dedicated to the children and the school. Our classroom teachers are all Colorado Certified Teachers with extensive classroom experience and a love of children that is boundless! The strength of each individual teacher is multiplied by the fact that the whole staff works in harmony to meet the educational needs of students.
Kelli Burke (formerly Maguire), Administrator
Kelli Burke has been the custodian of Guffey Charter School for 7 years. In 2022, she also took on the roles of school bus driver, lunch lady and maintenance. "I like to think of myself as the Swiss army knife of the school." Now in 2023, she's adding another hat as the school’s administrator. "I'm extremely happy and excited for this opportunity to continue doing great things for our little school here in Guffey." Along with keeping our school clean through the years, Kelli ran a cleaning business with many clients here in Guffey. She's well known in the community and has lived in town for 9 years. She loves to camp, hike, and kayak. Since moving to Colorado, she's also learning how to be a green thumb.
Email: kburke@guffeyschool.org
Lynda MacDonald, Principal, 3-8 Teacher
Lynda MacDonald received her Bachelor's degree in education from Bemidji State University in Minnesota with concentrations in math, science and environmental education. She later earned her Master's degree in education from the University of Phoenix in Colorado Springs. Lynda taught one year in Minnesota and has taught 30 years in Guffey. When she was not teaching, Lynda spent her time traveling extensively throughout the United States and around the world. She now enjoys hiking, biking, skiing and kayaking with her family. "I like teaching in Guffey because the small class sizes allow for the flexibility to individualize education for each student as needed."
Email: lmacdonald@guffeyschool.org
Shawna Swindell, K-2 Teacher
Shawna Swindell attended Metropolitan State University in Denver, where she received her bachelor's degree in healthcare management. Having worked for several years in areas such as marketing, education, and behavioral health, Shawna and her family decided it was time for a change and spent the next year traveling the country and homeschooling her two children. By the end of their travels, Shawna and her family decided to settle down in Lake George and found Guffey Community Charter School. Shawna began as a volunteer in October of 2023 and by May of 2024, her newly discovered passion for teaching led her to enroll in an alternative teaching license program to become Guffey's K-2 teacher. When Shawna is not at school, she and her family can be found hiking, UTVing, and enjoying their new English mastiff puppy, Tilly. "The best part about Guffey Community Charter School is being able to nurture childrens' education on such an individual level that the growth they experience is far beyond what would be possible in a larger school."
Email: sswindell@guffeyschool.org