Meet the Teachers

Welcome to 1st Grade at Lincoln Academy! My philosophy of education is simple. I strive to provide the best I have for each student and educate every child, every day. I view the opportunity to work in the education of young children as a blessing and a gift. My goal is to discover what lights the fire of learning in each student and then fuel that fire in my classroom. So much learning and growth takes place in first grade, and I am overjoyed to be a part of that process. In my classroom we operate as a family unit, helping and encouraging one another, pushing one another further in our academics, respecting and supporting one another, and most of all, having fun growing together.

I have been teaching for 18 years and my favorite part of each year is building a strong classroom community and watching  students flourish academically and socially as they become an essential part of that community. As both a teacher and a mom, I know that the home-to-school connection is a vital part of the learning process, and I encourage family members to be very involved in both the classroom setting and the learning that takes place at home. I consider it pure joy to be in this profession and to teach each and every day. 

One of the reasons I enjoy teaching first grade is that I love teaching reading. The building blocks of reading instruction are one of my favorite parts of education. I can hardly wait to support your students as they continue their literacy growth. I have strong confidence that with well-planned instruction, and our strong, research-proven curriculums, your child will be offered an exceptional first grade education this year!

As a teacher who is also a mom, I want you to know that I know how valuable your input and involvement will be to your child’s educational success this year. You know your incredibly unique child best, and are a huge help to me in getting to know and understand them.  Also, your support at home is crucial and I have some great ideas this year to help you use the best possible practices at home to aid in your child’s growth.

Finally, having the best possible classroom learning environment is very important to me.  I want to use your child’s hours here at school effectively.  My students’ time at school will be well planned out so that we can make the most of every moment. I also want to encourage an atmosphere of respect, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning.

My name is Ami Paulsen and I am so excited to join the first-grade team at Lincoln Academy. For the past 6 years I have been a children's yoga and fitness instructor, and developed a love for teaching children. I recently earned my Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education, and I am excited to continue to learn and grow as an educator. I am a mom of two amazing kids, both of whom attended Lincoln Academy kindergarten through 8th grade. My son is currently a junior at Ralston Valley High School, and my daughter is completing her final year at Lincoln. She will also attend Ralston Valley in the fall.

My husband and I are both from Wyoming, and our moms claim we met during swim lessons when we were 3-years-old. We moved to Colorado 14 years ago and love it here! I love to spend my free time hiking, reading, lifting weights, playing games with my family, taking my dog for a walk, and singing 90's music at the top of my lungs. 

I am thrilled for the opportunity to be a first-grade teacher at Lincoln Academy and look forward to building strong relationships with my students, their families, and the incredible Lincoln staff.