Faculty & Staff

Elizabeth Julian, Professional Teacher License 
Click to email

Elizabeth is the Head Teacher at Boulder Elementary School and was the 2019 Utah Education Association Excellence in Teaching Award recipient. She believes in continually growing as a professional and is passionate about inspiring children with a love of lifelong learning.

Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a concentration in Sociology and Studio Art from the University of Vermont in 2003. Elizabeth graduated with honors, receiving the Elementary Education Program Diversity Award, recognizing her efforts to advance the Elementary Education program’s mission of strategically teaching all children in diverse communities.

Before teaching at Boulder Elementary, she trained in various experiential education programs and was a wilderness guide throughout the United States. Elizabeth has lived in Boulder with her husband since 2008 and has been in her current role at Boulder Elementary School since the 2014-2015 school year.

Elizabeth is currently enrolled in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), a professional development program designed to provide elementary educators with deep knowledge to be literacy and language experts in the science of reading.

In addition to her role at the school, she volunteers at the Boulder Library, serves as a board member of the Boulder Arts Council and Boulder Wellness Network, was previously a Boulder Town Planning Commissioner, and is currently an elected Town Council Member.

Nina Brownell, Associate Teacher License
Click to email

Nina is thrilled to be a part of the teaching staff at Boulder Elementary. She has a degree in Cultural Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, and she explored several career paths before joining the Boulder staff as a full-time teacher.

Nina is currently enrolled in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), a professional development program designed to provide early elementary educators with deep knowledge to be literacy and language experts in the science of reading.

Originally from Minnesota, Nina moved to Boulder in 2014, where she now lives with her husband and their many animals.

Lexxi Johnson, Paraeducator
Click to email

Lexxi began her career as an educator at Boulder Elementary School during the 2016-2017 school year. She is the lead teacher of Boulder’s preschool program, implementing the Connect4Learning curriculum. She also provides early literacy and mathematics intervention for elementary students and core instruction as needed.

Lexxi is currently enrolled in LETRS for Early Childhood Educators. This professional development provides deep knowledge and clarity of effective skills necessary to prepare the youngest learners by providing the “why” and “how” of early literacy instruction across all domains: language, literacy, cognitive, motor, social, and emotional.

Lexxi is also enrolled in the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential program, learning the skills necessary to foster young children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.

Lexxi grew up in Boulder and attended Boulder Elementary School. She was a student at Escalante High School and graduated from Utah Online School in May 2016.

April O’Neal, Paraeducator and Food Service Manager
Click to email

April began working at Boulder Elementary School in 2019 and works with Boulder’s preschool through sixth grade students.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Behavior Science with a minor in Sociology from the University of Maryland and a Master’s Degree in Park Recreation Resource Management from Frostburg State University.

April is currently enrolled in LETRS for Early Childhood Educators. This professional development provides deep knowledge and clarity of effective skills necessary to prepare the youngest learners by providing the “why” and “how” of early literacy instruction across all domains: language, literacy, cognitive, motor, social, and emotional.

April is also enrolled in the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential program, learning the skills necessary to foster young children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. She is trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), working with special education.

Along with her teaching responsibilities, April is the Food Service Manager, providing breakfast and lunch for all Boulder students.