Our Mission

Creating pathways to achievement

Colorado Timberline Academy is a unique co-educational college preparatory boarding and day school focused on transforming the lives of students who have faced challenges in traditional high school environments. Our mission is to equip students with the academic and social skills necessary for success beyond graduation. We achieve this through a dynamic curriculum and enriching outdoor programs that promote freedom with responsibility, creativity, and respect for self, others, and the environment.

Our Story

Empowering students and fueling growth for over 45 years.

Established in 1975 after Buckingham Academy in Steamboat Springs closed, CTA was created by a group of dedicated teachers, parents, and students who wanted to carry on Buckingham's unique way of teaching. After careful thought, they picked Durango, Colorado because it's a small, charming town close to mountains and deserts, with lots of outdoor learning opportunities.

The school started at a rented dude ranch, and in 1978, it moved to its current location at Pinkerton Hot Springs, a historic location with a rich past as a dude ranch and resort dating back to the 1930s. Over the years, CTA has improved its programs and buildings, making a dependable and long-lasting school that encourages strong friendships.

Meet the Team

  • A man smiling outdoors with fall foliage in the background.

    Dreher Robertson

    DIRECTOR

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  • A woman in a blue jacket holding a pink snowboard, smiling outdoors in a snowy mountain landscape with trees and mountains in the background.

    Natalie Mitchell

    ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

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  • A woman with braided hair and glasses taking a selfie on a mountain summit with snow patches and mountain range in the background.

    Stephanie Paine

    OFFICE MANAGER / BOOKKEEPER

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  • A young man with light brown hair smiling outdoors with trees and a clear sky in the background.

    Taylor Perry

    SCIENCE

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  • A smiling young woman with long blonde hair standing outdoors with trees and a clear sky in the background.

    Avery Harrington

    UPPER LEVEL MATHEMATICS

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  • A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat with sunglasses on top, smiling and taking a selfie with two large dogs outdoors among green foliage.

    Bry Natonabah

    LOWER LEVEL MATHEMATICS

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  • A young woman with long brown hair, smiling, holding a black and white dog outdoors in front of a leafy tree.

    KAYLYNN O'CURRAN

    HUMANITIES

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  • A woman wearing a dinosaur onesie costume with a hood that has dinosaur eyes and teeth, standing in front of purple flowering bushes.

    Perseph Mitchell

    SOCIAL STUDIES & ENGLISH

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  • Digital painting of a man with blue eyes, red hair, and a beard, wearing a white shirt with a yellow neckline, seated in front of a green background.

    JJ Galloway

    2D Art/Literature

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  • Man hiking on a mountain, wearing a straw hat, white shirt, and khaki pants, making a peace sign with his hand, with a scenic mountainous landscape in the background.

    Matthew Parramore

    Humanities/Aeronautics

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  • Three mountain bikers with helmets and sunglasses are outdoors in a desert-like area, one of them eating a snack.

    Peter Basinger

    3d Art/Social Sciences

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  • A man with a beard and glasses smiling, wearing a blue T-shirt, a gray cap with orange accents, and a watch, standing outdoors in front of green leafy bushes.

    Eli Poss

    DORM DAD

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  • A metal relief sculpture of a woman with long hair, partly covered by a broken stone or wood piece, with her eyes closed and face serene. The sculpture features detailed hair, face, and hands, and is mounted on a textured wooden background.

    Preslie Thompson

    DORM MOM

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  • COOK

  • Cody Custer

    COOK

  • A person using pliers to perform maintenance or repair work on a car battery under the hood of a vehicle.

    Spencer Woodard

    MAINTENANCE

Join Our Team

Join the Colorado Timberline Academy team! We are always on the lookout for passionate individuals dedicated to our unique educational mission. Explore our openings and see how you can make a difference at CTA.

CURRENT OPENINGS