GVEF Apple with red outline, green leaf, and ivory and green inside with seeds.

Our Board

Gunnison Valley Education Foundation Leadership

R. Weidemueller
Robin Weidemueller, Chair

Robin is a Colorado native, having called the Gunnison Valley home for the last 40 years. She earned multiple education degrees from Western State Colorado University, Adams State and Colorado University. She started her teaching career in the Crested Butte School as a long term sub. After graduation she took her family to Dove Creek where she taught Special Education in the Middle and High School. With experience under her belt she returned to Gunnison where she served as an elementary teacher, network administrator and professional development trainer for 12 years before taking a district leadership role as Director of Curriculum and Principal in Estes Park, CO.  She retired in 2011, but she did not stay idle for long.

Robin’s passion revolves around sustainable quality education and leadership development. With a desire to stay involved in education, give back to her community, continue her education, and support the evolution of public education, she started her own business, eVolve Educational Consulting. She is currently serving as the Education Specialist for Welborn and Associates, providing a team approach to directly impact the visions and missions of organizations.  She is honored to be part of the Gunnison Valley Education Foundation’s effort to promote innovation, creativity, and generate a passion for education throughout the valley. Robin is eager to be part of an organization with such an important mission!

M Krill
Marilyn Krill, Secretary

Marilyn Krill found her passion for education at the Crested Butte Academy where she taught high-school math and science and served as the Dean of Academics for 10 years.  When that institution closed she spent several years as an administrator for the Crested Butte Music Festival and the Mt. Crested Butte Performing Arts Center.  Working with these organizations gave her valuable experience in non-profit business and development.

Marilyn also served many years as the Executive Director of the Trailhead Children’s Museum in Crested Butte and as member of the Gunnison Watershed School District Board of Directors where she was able to pursue both interests in education and non-profit work.

E Pannier
Emily Pannier, Treasurer

Emily Pannier first came to Crested Butte on a family ski trip in the winter of 1975. Thereafter she and her family frequently visited Crested Butte in

summers and winters. In 1995 she and her husband were married in the UCC church, and ultimately moved from Houston, TX to Crested Butte full time in 2012. Their two daughters were enrolled in the Crested Butte Community School (CBCS) with their oldest daughter graduating in 2017 and the youngest currently attending high school.

Emily is an ardent supporter of both Gunnison Valley education and the community.  Without such an exceptional public school system Emily and her husband would not have considered moving to Crested Butte full time. With the belief that the public school system is an asset which is a corner stone of what makes this Valley great, Emily is involved as an active member, officer and board member of the CBCS PTA. She started out serving on the GVEF grant review committee, and was asked to join the board of GVEF, on which she currently serves.

Emily graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Architecture and has been a small business owner since 1999. She currently owns and operates an interior design company in the Valley.

Emily is an avid outdoors person and enjoys skiing, hiking, mountain biking and gardening. She also loves to travel and interesting and exciting places.

S O'Banion
Kem Wimett

Kem first came to the Gunnison Valley while in middle school and the beauty of it really stuck with her. In 2020, during the height of the Covid pandemic, she and her husband decided to move their family up to this paradise from the Denver Metro Area and haven’t regretted it once. One of the biggest draws was the excellent reputation of the Gunnison Watershed School District and knowing her kids would receive a great education in a smaller setting. Her two kids, now high school students, are thriving at Crested Butte Secondary School not only in their education but also with the friends they have made.

 

Kem was born in Memphis, TN and her family decided to head west when she was 12. She grew up in Colorado Springs and after high school attended Colorado State University where she majored in Tech Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. After school she worked in marketing and Human Resources/Staffing until her first child was born and she decided to stay home. When both her kids entered school she was offered a position as a special education aide at their elementary school in Highlands Ranch. Their principal commented that she was there so much volunteering she may as well make it official and get paid for her time! Upon moving to the valley 3.5 years ago, Kem was quickly hired at CBCS as a special education para. She has worked there for the past 3 years as a para, a substitute teacher and is also heavily involved in the community and after school programming. Being a part of the educational community is very important to her and she loves building relationships with the kids, the teachers and being able to give back.

Kem is also a working artist, a painter, and currently has pieces at the Paragon Gallery in Crested Butte and at the Blue Moose restaurant in Breckenridge.

D Sudderth
David Sudderth, Member

David is one of our newest board members.  More information about him coming soon.

L Oberling
Linda Oberling, Member

Linda Oberling hails from the Great Lakes State of Michigan where she earned her B.A. degree in Elementary and Special Education while also studying dance.  Her journey after graduation took her to the San Francisco School of Dance and the Berlin School of Dance which further cultivated her creative spirit. 

Linda started her career in teaching when she returned to Michigan and became a teacher for students with learning differences.  Her innovative teaching techniques inspired the greatness in her students and fueled her passion to transform the educational system to ensure ALL students thrive.

After experiencing the vibrant life-style of Colorado and Crested Butte in 1987, Linda made this her home.  Linda then began teaching in the Gunnison Watershed School District and also earned her M.A. degree in special education from Adams State College.  The next step in Linda’s teaching career was to become a trainer for the Colorado Department of Education in research-based reading and literacy instruction.  This specialized training uses strategies for active engagement, movement, and multi-sensory learning, coupled with research-based Orton Gillingham reading methods.  Linda quickly became one of the most effective educational and behavioral interventionist in the state.  Linda continues to use her diverse expertise to help students grow and realize their unique gifts and potential as a special education teacher in the Created Butte Community School.   

Her desire to serve others has also been fueled by her volunteer work with the nonprofit organization, All Hands and Hearts, which responds to needs of communities impacted by disaster.  Free time activities for Linda include adventure travels to places like the Galapagos Islands and Nepal as well as hiking and skiing in our own majestic mountains. 

GVEF 20 Years Logo