Derec Shuler
Executive Director
Mr. Shuler is an entrepreneur and, prior to founding ACA and Golden View Classical Academy, worked in technology and technical operations with the U.S. government. He obtained his undergraduate degree in business administration from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Shuler sits on the Advisory Board of the Leadership Program of the Rockies, serves as an Education Policy Fellow for the Centennial Institute, and is a graduate of Leadership Denver through the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation.
Stacey Bowman
Director of Legal and Human Resources
Mrs. Bowman joined ACA after 12 years in private law practice, advising clients in the areas of commercial litigation, labor and employment, and education law. She was recognized for her commitment to pro bono work, notably helping victims of human trafficking and political asylum-seekers. Mrs. Bowman obtained both her J.D. and her B.A. in Russian from the University of Iowa, and is conversant in French, Spanish, and Russian, having traveled extensively before beginning her law career. She served on the Board of Directors for Golden View until 2022.
Kim Gilmartin
Director of New School Development and Outreach
Mrs. Gilmartin is a founding family and served on the Board of Directors for Golden View prior to joining ACA. Before starting her career in education reform, Mrs. Gilmartin was the co-founder of an internet marketing company and served as an executive for ten years with companies such as Comcast, AT&T Broadband, TCI, and WSNet. She received her degree from Florida State University, is a graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR), serves on the Advisory Board for LPR, and is a part of the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network.
Dr. Susan Goers
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
An educator and administrator for 40 years, Dr. Goers has in-depth experience teaching and designing curriculum for the classical education model. She earned degrees from Nazareth College of Rochester, Brockport State University, Western Governors University, and Concordia University. In addition to her classroom experience, Dr. Goers founded Capstone Classical Academy in northern Utah, developed homeschool pods across the nation, and trained rising teachers. She is an award-winning educator and is actively engaged in several professional organizations.
Chris Scott
Director of Finance
Prior to joining Ascent, Mr. Scott worked for more than six years as a financial consultant to more than 30 charter schools in Colorado. Mr. Scott advised school administrators and boards in the areas of budget modeling and forecasting, federal grant management, financial reporting, and the implementation of sound financial policies and procedures. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University, served on the finance committee for Golden View, and currently volunteers as a director for the City of Lakewood.
Amy Willis
Director of Marketing and Communications
Mrs. Willis discovered classical education as a parent and volunteer for Founders Classical Academy of Schertz. She utilized a fourteen-year career in education marketing to partner with schools and nonprofit organizations across Texas, aiding with fundraising, grant applications, and branding/advertising design. Mrs. Willis earned a bachelor’s degree in communication design from Texas Tech University and a master’s in business administration from Abilene Christian University.