Superintendent’s Cabinet
The superintendent relies on a team of district leaders known as her Cabinet to discuss and advise action on critical issues facing the school district, and to engage the community in school district initiatives.
Superintendent
Erin Kane, Superintendent
erin.kane@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-0123
Erin Kane serves as Superintendent of the Douglas County School District.
For the first 10 years of her adult life, Mrs. Kane worked in the software industry (data science) in development and management. When her children were very young, she left her full-time job to stay home, and during that time, driven by a passion for STEM (which wasn’t even an acronym yet) education in the early grades, she helped start a Douglas County public charter school, American Academy. That choice completely changed the course of her career and ignited in her a passion for education. She served as the Executive Director of American Academy for many years, ultimately growing it to serve almost 3,000 students across three campuses in preschool through eighth grade. She also had the great pleasure of serving as Interim Superintendent for the Douglas County School District from 2016 - 2018. Mrs. Kane states that these experiences have made her a fierce advocate for our kids, our wonderful school district, and ALL of our awesome public schools.
Mrs. Kane and her husband are Colorado natives. They have lived in Douglas County for over two decades and raised their three children, now all college-aged, in our community. She holds a master’s degree in public administration, along with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and computer science, from the University of Colorado.
Chief of Staff
Steve Colella, Chief of Staff
scolella@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-0057
Steve Colella serves as Chief of Staff for the Douglas County School District.
Borne of his own school experience, Steve has a passion for education. Steve started his career as a social studies teacher and basketball/football coach before going to law school and becoming a civil litigation attorney. Upon moving to Colorado in 2011, Steve combined these experiences in his role as Executive Director of Employee Relations with the Cherry Creek School District through 2017.
Steve has been part of the DCSD family since 2017. He served as CHRO and Acting General Counsel for the district and then as Deputy Executive Director of Schools and then Executive Director of Schools for American Academy. Steve is a licensed attorney in Colorado and California.
Steve and his wife Alyson have three children all of whom are Colorado natives and attend school within DCSD.
Deputy Superintendent
Danelle Hiatt, Deputy Superintendent
danelle.hiatt@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-0055
Danelle Hiatt serves as Deputy Superintendent and oversees many DCSD departments including Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Language & Cultural Equity, Advanced Academics/Gifted & Talented, Mental Health, Health, Wellness and Prevention, Safety and Security, and The Foundation for Douglas County Schools.
Danelle has been part of the DCSD family since 1997. She has served as an educational assistant, special education teacher, intervention coordinator, assistant principal at Cresthill Middle School, principal at Pine Lane Elementary School, Elementary Director of Schools, and most recently as an Executive Director of Schools in DCSD. She has advanced experience developing, monitoring, and evaluating K-12 curriculum, instruction and assessment practices, along with overseeing PK-12 feeder schools. She knows how to support diverse school communities and advocate for the needs of every student. Danelle has a Colorado Administrator/Superintendent License and a Masters of Arts in Special Education.
Assistant Superintendent
Danny Winsor
Assistant Superintendent
Daniel.Winsor@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-9655
Danny Winsor serves as the Assistant Superintendent and oversees many DCSD departments including School Leadership, Pathways/Postsecondary Readiness, Choice Programming, Student Assistance, and Activities and Athletics. Danny previously held the roles of Executive Director of Schools, Director of Choice Programming, high school and middle school principal, assistant principal, school counselor, teacher, and coach. Danny, a 20-year educator, has been part of the DCSD family for 13 years, and was named DCSD Administrator of the Year at the 2018 Apple Awards. He is a proud DCSD parent and resident and Colorado native.
Danny also serves as a National Staff Developer and Consultant for Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), in which he facilitates leadership, digital teaching and learning and instructional development. Danny’s background in business, counseling psychology and educational leadership, has provided him a multitude of experiences. He has a Colorado principal license, a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
Cabinet Officers
Mark Blair, Chief Technology Officer
mark.blair@dcsdk12.org | 720-433-1006
Mark Blair oversees the DCSD Information Technology Department. He is a dedicated technology executive with proven expertise, both technical and educational. He has spent his entire career here in DCSD, first joining the school district nearly three decades ago as a technology teacher. Since that time, he has held various roles in the DCSD Information Technology Department, most recently as the Director of School Technology.
Mark led the implementation of Google Apps for staff and students in the district, and managed the acquisition and hands-on distribution of 10,000 computers and hotspots to staff and students at the beginning of the COVID pandemic.
Mark earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Irvine and his Master’s from the University of Colorado, Denver. He is a proud DCSD parent and a Douglas County resident.
Brian S. Condon, Chief Human Resources Officer
brian.condon@dcsdk12.org | 720-433-1274
Brian Condon oversees the DCSD Human Resources Department. With over 15 years of experience advising public school districts in Colorado and New York on employment law matters, he brings a unique blend of legal expertise and human resources strategy to ensure organizational compliance and employee welfare. Prior to becoming the Chief Human Resources Officer, Brian served nearly five years as DCSD’s Deputy General Counsel, where he was principally responsible for advising the School District’s senior administration on all human resources related legal issues.
Brian and his wife are proud Highlands Ranch residents and the parents of three DCSD students.
Richard D. Cosgrove, P.E., Chief Operations Officer
richard.cosgrove@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-0018
Richard Cosgrove, P.E., oversees the DCSD Operations & Maintenance, Transportation, and Planning & Construction departments. He has over 40 years of experience dedicated to public service, 20 of which have been for two of the three largest school districts in Colorado. Prior to becoming COO, Richard served as DCSD’s Planning and Construction Director. He has also served as DCSD’s Construction Director and as Director of Construction for Denver Public Schools. Richard began his career in 1981 upon graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2001 after serving in 13 assignments around the world in facilities planning, construction, operations, and maintenance.
Richard earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master's degree from Columbia University, where he received a Guggenheim Fellowship. Richard is a Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Colorado.
Mary Kay Klimesh, General Counsel
mary.klimesh@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-0198
Mary Kay Klimesh oversees the DCSD Legal Services Department. Mary Kay is an accomplished and highly skilled counselor and advocate with nearly three decades of experience representing PreK-12 schools. Mary has experience addressing board governance and policy development, personnel matters, special education and other student-related matters, risk management, contract negotiation and review, as well as intergovernmental, affiliation, and inter-institutional agreements.
Prior to joining DCSD, Mary was a Partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP in the firm’s Chicago, Illinois office. Mary was a special education teacher and gifted and talented teacher and curriculum coordinator in Texas and Iowa for six years prior to going on to law school. Mary has served as chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of State and Local Government Law as well as chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Education Law Section Council. She also served on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys for over 20 years.
Mary received her Juris Doctorate with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Jana Schleusner, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
jschleusner@dcsdk12.org | 720-433-1101
Jana Schleusner oversees DCSD's Business Services Department, as well as DCSD's Before and After School Enterprise (BASE) and Nutrition Services.
Prior to joining DCSD, Jana held positions in the public accounting world and had over 12 years of experience as an audit manager servicing not-for-profit, employee benefit, and governmental organizations. She has extensive knowledge in researching and resolving complex, specialized accounting and technical issues, as well as internal controls, understanding of business, organizational matters, and executive management background. Jana has held a Certified Public Accountant license since 1997. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Colorado State University.
Stacy Rader, Chief Communications Officer
Srrader@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-0128
Stacy Rader oversees DCSD’s Communications Department. She has over two decades of experience in communications, public relations and marketing with most of that experience in the field of K-12 public education. DCSD’s Communications Department is responsible for public information, crisis communications, media relations, parent and community engagement, live streaming of board meetings and graduations, video production, and more.
Stacy is the past President of the Colorado School Public Relations Association (COSPRA). She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Colorado at Denver as well as a certificate in graphic and web design from Platt College.
Stacy is a Colorado native as well as a proud DCSD resident and parent.
Matt Reynolds, Chief Learning Services Officer
mathias.reynolds@dcsdk12.org | 303-387-0137
Matt Reynolds oversees many DCSD departments including Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Educator Effectiveness, Professional Development, and the District Library Media Center. Matt has been part of the DCSD family since 2013 and has served as math curriculum coordinator and Systems Performance Officer prior to his current role.In each of these positions, he has served as an advocate for students and is passionate about helping students reach their potential.
Matt has a Bachelor's degree from Montana State University in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Science Education. He also holds two Master's Degrees - one in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and one in Counseling from the University of Southern Mississippi.