As we prepare for another exciting school year, we're thrilled to welcome two (of our four!) new educators to the Watershed community. Cindy and Jonathan will both serve as full-time upper school humanities teachers and upper school advisors, bringing a wealth of experience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to meaningful learning. We can't wait for our students and families to get to know them as they become part of our Watershed community.
Meet Jonathan Wright!
Jonathan Wright joins Watershed after a distinguished 27-year career in public education, bringing extensive experience as an English teacher, instructional coach, and district leader. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Pomona College, completed his teaching certification at the University of Colorado Boulder, and received a Master's degree in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Colorado Denver.
Throughout his career, Jonathan has taught a wide range of English courses while also supporting educators at the district, state, and national levels through curriculum design, assessment, and professional learning. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and most recently taught at Boulder High School, where he advised the student newspaper and developed programs centered on student voice, inquiry, and authentic work.
Jonathan's approach to teaching emphasizes shared intellectual exploration, interdisciplinary thinking, and writing as a powerful tool for analysis, creativity, and discovery. These values align beautifully with Watershed's commitment to meaningful, student-centered learning.
Jonathan lives in the Boulder area with his wife, Heather. Outside the classroom, you'll likely find him designing landscapes and ponds, reading, or pursuing creative projects through drawing and writing.
Meet Cindy Sykes!
Cindy's path to teaching has been shaped by a love of literature, travel, and the outdoors. After earning her bachelor's degree in English in Southern New Jersey, she traveled to Peru to become certified as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language. The experience—including teaching, living with a host family, and exploring Peru's rich cultural and natural landscapes—inspired her to build a career rooted in education, adventure, and cross-cultural learning.
She returned to Rowan University to earn her Master's of Science in Teaching in Secondary Language, Literature, and Sociocultural Education. Along the way, she also became a Leave No Trace Master Educator, Wilderness First Responder, and certified yoga instructor.
After teaching in New Jersey for two years, Cindy relocated to Colorado, where she continued teaching high school English while also embracing outdoor education. She's guided hiking tours, instructed skiing, led backpacking trips, and—by her own admission—taken far too many photos along the way.
When she's not teaching, Cindy enjoys art, photography, live music, literature, camping, paddleboarding, and hiking. She loves planning adventure-filled vacations with her family, spending time with her dog and toddler, and convincing her partner that "strenuous" hikes are worth it.
We're excited to welcome Jonathan and Cindy to Watershed and look forward to the knowledge, energy, and perspective they'll bring to our classrooms and community. Please join us in giving them a warm Watershed welcome!
