Jeffco Public Schools

Among the superintendent's advisors is a team of district leaders relied on to discuss and determine action on critical issues facing the district. Every area of the district is represented in the Cabinet.

Brenna Copeland, Chief Financial Officer

Brenna brings exceptional skills in program management, financial management, and operational leadership in a time of great opportunity for the district. She has experience in education strategic initiatives, financial programming and grant management, and in public education as Director of Portfolio Management & Instructional Superintendent with Denver Public Schools.

Brenna’s blend of strategic skills and abilities in the financial and education areas will allow her serve as CFO and lead our financial services team in a manner that aligns with needs identified by our superintendent: the just right balance of coherence and autonomy, positive climate and culture, efficient and effective use of resources, pandemic recovery, and effective district organization to support schools and student achievement.

Brenna has twenty years of experience in education and finance and holds an MBA from Duke University and a BA from Rice University.

Financial Services Organizational Chart

Financial Services Directory

Jeff Gatlin, Chief Operating Officer

Jeff Gatlin joined Jeffco Public Schools in May 2023 as a seasoned operations executive with more than 15 years of experience. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Roaring Fork School District, in Carbondale, Colo., he led the charge in supporting students through facilities and maintenance, custodial services, food and nutrition, and transportation.

Jeff also pioneered innovative housing programs and internet access for low-income families.

Jeff's visionary leadership also facilitated the implementation of bond programs and innovative affordable housing initiatives for school employees, through strategic partnerships with municipalities and community organizations. Prior to joining Roaring Fork, Jeff was the director of technology and operations at the Woodland Park School District in Woodland Park, Colo. His journey in education began with him as a high school teacher, and his commitment to the field has only grown stronger over time.

Jeff holds bachelor's degrees in business administration and entrepreneurial and small business management from the University of Colorado - Boulder. Moreover, he earned a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Texas - Arlington.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family – his wife, Melissa, a reading teacher, daughter, Carly, and son, Hayes. Together, they enjoy exploring the Colorado outdoors. When he is not watching one of his children play basketball, he can often be found watching and rooting for one of Denver’s professional sports team.

Operations Organizational Chart

Operations Directory

Jill Ibeck, Chief Information Officer

Jill joined Jeffco Public Schools in July 2021 as Chief Information Officer. Jill has 21 years of professional experience in information technology (IT) with 17 years in the education industry. Prior to joining the Jeffco Public Schools cabinet team, Jill served in numerous technical and techno-functional roles in K-12, community college, and for the University of Colorado serving all four campuses totaling 66,000 students, 37,000 faculty and staff, and the vast enterprise constituent base of over 390,000 individuals. In addition, she has held numerous technical and product advisory roles and enjoys volunteering with the Arvada Festivals Commission and the Ralston House. Originally from Illinois, Jill and her spouse have lived in Colorado for 16 years and are proud Jefferson County residents.

As Chief Information Officer, she will oversee technology related strategy and initiatives for the district and lead the IT department while assuming responsibility for designing and recommending appropriate technology solutions to support the district’s goals and objectives.

Information Technology Organizational Chart

Information Technology Directory

Jenifer Jones, Chief Human Resources Officer

Jenifer Jones was named Chief Human Resources Officer in July of 2022. Jenifer helps shape and oversee an inclusive team culture, vision, strategy, and operations to cultivate a thriving and supportive experience for Jeffco employees. Jeffco Thrives 2025 includes a section called Our People: Our Strength. It recognizes that, in a thriving district, a collaborative, inclusive team culture with high expectations for staff and student performance contributes to instructional excellence and extraordinary student experiences.

Most recently with Denver Public Schools (DPS), Jenifer served as Executive Director of Human Resources Strategic Support where she set vision and strategy for a team of human resources business partners who serve as senior advisors to all DPS schools and district leaders. She has experience in a variety of other districts and organizations, serving in district leadership roles leading efforts such as organizational culture and effectiveness, school turnaround, academic operations and school partnerships. 

Jenifer started her career as a classroom teacher and spent a number of years in school leadership roles in New York and Colorado. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Kansas State University, and a Master’s Degree in School Administration and Supervision from Wichita State University where she also earned a superintendent's license.

Human Resources Organizational Chart

Human Resources Directory

Renee Nicothodes, Chief Academic Officer

Over the course of her 26-year career in education, Renee has served as elementary director of curriculum and instruction, principal supervisor, principal, instructional coach and classroom teacher. Renee holds a Master of Arts in Education and a reading specialist credential from San Diego State University. Renee has a passion for working with at-risk student populations and advocating for equity and excellence in educational systems.

Renee previously served as Jeffco's Chief of Schools for elementary. Now, in her role as Chief Academic Officer, Renee works with instructional partners and teams to design and direct the planning, implementation and evaluation of districtwide instructional programs.

Division of Teaching & Learning Organizational Chart

Division of Teaching & Learning Directory

Matt Palaoro, Chief Student Success Officer

Matt Palaoro was named Chief Student Success Officer (CSSO), in May 2022. An experienced special education leader and educator, Matt will provide guidance in support of the district’s mission to prepare all Jeffco students for a bright and successful future.

Matt started in Jeffco as the Assistant Director of Special Education in 2018, following a decade in the field as a special education paraprofessional, teacher, and coordinator. Matt has served as a special education leader in Jeffco for the past four years, most recently as the Executive Director of Special Education. In the past few months as interim CSSO, Matt provided exemplary leadership in the Student Success division and for the Cabinet team. He is someone who exemplifies and amplifies Jeffco’s values, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to leverage his knowledge of student support.

Matt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Indiana University and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.

The Chief Student Success Officer position is responsible for developing, directing and rolling out systems and programs to serve students and families who require educational, physical, and emotional support beyond standard programming. Matt provides leadership and management for the following departments: special education, gifted and talented, health services, homebound instruction, student services, and healthy schools.

Student Success Organization Chart

Student Success Directory

Tara C. Peña, Chief of Family & Community Partnerships

Tara began her position as the inaugural Chief of Family & Community Partnerships in July 2022. This position brings cohesion to Jeffco’s important efforts to prioritize family and community partnerships at the district level.

Tara helps shape and oversee the community engagement and partnership vision, strategy, and operations to cultivate a thriving and supportive experience for Jeffco students. Jeffco Thrives 2025 includes a section called Our Communities: Our Legacy. It recognizes that, in a thriving school, Jeffco’s families and partners embrace a shared vision for education and collaborate to support student learning.

Tara, a Jeffco graduate, parent, and former principal, personally knows the impact mentorship and community engagement has on students. Most recently with Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Tara served as Executive Director of Middle Schools where she provided coaching, support, and supervision to 11 principals and their administration teams, focusing on instructional leadership, school culture, data-driven decision making, and community and family engagement. Tara previously served Jeffco Public Schools as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a secondary education/ESL endorsement from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Phoenix and she holds a professional principal license from the State of Colorado. Additionally, Tara serves on the executive board of the Colorado Association of Latino/a Administrators and Superintendents (CO-ALAS).

Family & Community Partnerships Organizational Chart

Family and Community Partnerships Directory

Lisa Relou, Chief of Staff

Lisa Relou’s work in the field of education started 22 years ago when she worked on a successful school bond campaign. She then went on to lead her own consulting company working directly with school superintendents and their administrations across Colorado to battle declining enrollments and public perception issues and to improve customer service.

In 2006, she was hired by Denver Public Schools (DPS) to create a marketing office for the district. During this time, Lisa worked with schools to create marketing and communications tools that targeted enrollment, student retention, stakeholder engagement, and investment in the district’s strategic vision and initiatives. In 2010, Lisa left DPS to join TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project) in order to support the organization’s work toward ending the injustice of educational inequality through national, state, and local efforts related to teacher effectiveness. Lisa also has experience working on the philanthropic side of education, working at Grantmakers for Education as their Director of Strategies.

Most Recently, Lisa operated her own strategic consulting business - Lisa Relou Consulting. Focusing on the field of education, both in Colorado and around the country. In her role at Jeffco, Lisa manages district strategic initiatives and leads our strategy and communication services teams.

Communication Services Organizational Chart

Strategy Organizational Chart

Communication Services and Strategy Directory

Julie C. Tolleson, Chief Legal Officer

Julie C. Tolleson was named Chief Legal Officer in May 2022. An experienced leader and expert in educational law, Julie provides guidance and counsel in support of the district’s mission to provide a world-class education for all students.

Most recently with the Colorado Department of Law as the First Assistant Attorney General for K-12 Education, Julie led a five-lawyer team in representing and advising the Colorado Department of Education, Charter School Institute, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Colorado State Board of Education. Her previous roles of service have included General Counsel for the Tucson Unified School District (Ariz.), Deputy Public Defender for Washington County (Ark.) and as Partner for Kennedy & Christopher, P.C. (Colo.), among others.

Julie is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Colorado and Arkansas. She serves as the Chair of the National Council of State Education Attorneys, and is a board member for the following professional organizations: the National Association of State Boards of Education and the Range of Motion Project. She has formerly served on the boards of the ACLU of Colorado; and the Colorado Bar Association. She has been published in several peer-reviewed law journals and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University.

Legal Services Organizational Chart

Legal Services Directory

Dave Weiss, Chief of Schools

Dave Weiss brings more than 20 years of experience in public education to his role as Chief of Schools. He previously served eight years as a middle school math and science teacher followed by four years as a high school assistant principal. Dave Joined Jeffco in 2014 as the principal of Westgate Elementary school where he served for 5 years.

In 2019 Dave joined the Jeffco School Leadership team as a Community Superintendent. He holds a Master of Business Administration and an Education Leadership Specialist credential from the University of Denver. A self-described “lifelong learner”, Dave is passionate about innovation, equity and opportunity for all students who walk our hallways.

School Leadership Organizational Chart

School Leadership Directory