Colorado Empowered Learning is a project enacted through statute and administered through the Colorado River BOCES.
Our Executive Leadership Team
Dr. Ken Haptonstall, PhD.
Program Director, Colorado Empowered Learning
Dr. Ken Haptonstall brings a decade of experience as a Colorado superintendent to the Colorado Empowered Learning program, having served as the superintendent of schools for the Garfield 16 school district in Parachute, Colorado from 2008 – 2017 and for Mesa County School District No. 51 for the 2017-2018 school year. Dr. Haptonstall has also served on several state- and national-level committees, including the commissioner’s rural council, accountability 1.0 SB-163 committee, the RelCentral board of directors, the Innovation Lab Network as part of the CSSSO, and the capital construction board (BEST). As an adjunct professor for Colorado Mesa University, Western State University, and Adams State University, Dr. Haptonstall shares his deep expertise, teaching courses on school improvement, facilities management, curriculum and accountability, and 21st century schools.
Judy Perez
Founder and CEO, iLearn Collaborative
Judy has been identified as a national level expert in K-12 online and blended learning by the U.S. Department of Education. She has over 27 years of experience in education with 15 years in online and blended learning. Prior to founding the iLearn Collaborative, she directed district-level blended learning at Jeffco Public Schools, the largest school district in Colorado, and led their online school from turnaround status to Performance accreditation. Judy's career in education includes science teacher, assistant principal, principal, district leadership and CAO for the Charter School Institute at the Colorado Dept. of Education. Other experiences in the area of blended and online learning include consulting for numerous districts and ed tech companies, speaking engagements at conferences across the U.S., participation in national research projects, published articles, state level advisory, and work on legislation supporting innovation in education. She is also the parent of two blended learners.
Dan Morris
Director, Colorado Digital Learning Solutions
Dan Morris has over 40 years of experience in public education in Colorado. He is currently managing the state supplemental online program with Colorado Digital Learning Solutions and serves as the Director of eNetLearning, project of the Colorado BOCES supporting a statewide network of over 100 districts and 19 BOCES in Colorado which is collecting, housing, and delivering staff development programs, resources, and tools that support student learning and the development of 21st century, technology-rich classrooms. He most recently served for two years as the director of Educational Technology and Innovation for the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). Dan has been a high school math teacher, assistant principal, district technology director, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver and University of Colorado Denver. He has created and delivered online classes and has been an online facilitator, trainer, and staff developer for a number of educational organizations and foundations.