Cabinet Members
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
As Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Schaffer serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Thompson School District. Marc is responsible for leading the District around the vision, mission, and goals adopted by the Thompson Board of Education. He is also responsible for the development and execution of a district strategic plan.
Prior to coming to the Thompson School District, Marc served in the Boulder Valley School District as their Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership. Marc has also served as the Director of Middle School Education with the Douglas County School District. Previously, he served as a middle school principal, assistant principal and teacher in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Marc also served as a high school Dean of Students in suburban Phoenix. In 2018, Dr. Schaffer was appointed as Superintendent in Thompson. In addition to Marc’s administrative experience, his 10 years of classroom practice at the middle and high school levels has enabled him to lead with conviction and expertise.
Marc earned a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University and a Master of Science in Education, Curriculum and Instruction and a Doctorate in Education, Educational Leadership from Northern Illinois University.
Dr. Melissa Schneider
Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Melissa Schneider serves as the Chief Academic Officer of the Thompson School District. Melissa is responsible for leading all aspects of the district directly related to its PK-12 core instructional mission.
Having grown up in the Chicago suburbs and attended college in the Midwest, Melissa accepted her first teaching position as a fifth grade teacher in the rural community of Byers, CO. After three great years working and living in Byers, she moved into the Denver metro area to work for Littleton Public Schools. She then served Littleton for eighteen years in various roles: classroom teacher, instructional coach, gifted and talented facilitator, principal, and district coordinator reporting to the Assistant Superintendent. In 2019, Melissa accepted the position of Director of Professional Development for the Thompson School District. Throughout her career in education, Melissa has enjoyed the many relationships with students, staff, families, and community that collaboratively build bright educational opportunities for students.
Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Anderson University, Anderson, IN; a Master of Arts in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix, Lone Tree, CO; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Methods and Statistics with a cognate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Denver, CO.
Gordon Jones
Chief Financial Officer
Gordon Jones serves as Chief Financial Officer for Thompson School District. His areas of responsibility include general accounting, financial reporting, auditing, preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), accounts payable, budgeting, payroll, fixed assets, grant accounting and purchasing/procurement. In addition, Gordon is responsible for oversight of the Nutrition Services department and the district’s aquatic facilities.
Gordon has been employed with Thompson School District in his current role since March of 2015. Prior to that, his professional work experience was in the private sector, most recently for the last 15 years as Chief Financial Officer for Center Partners, a customer service outsourcing company owned by the UK firm WPP plc. His earlier work experience includes accounting roles with progressive responsibility with Newmont Mining (precious metal mining) and Woodward (manufacturing).
A Colorado native, Gordon earned an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, CO and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado. He also successfully completed all sections of the Uniform CPA Exam in one sitting in May of 2000.
Todd Piccone
Chief Operations Officer
Todd Piccone came to Thompson School District as the Chief Operations Officer in July of 2018. A Colorado native, Todd has lived in Loveland for nearly 18 years and attended Colorado State University. Todd spent the past 10 years at St. Vrain Valley School District as a director in operations. While at St. Vrain, Todd directed the construction and maintenance departments, which included leading the district through approximately $370 million in successful bond initiatives. Prior to his work in St Vrain, Todd worked in the private industry as an operations manager for large-scale commercial construction companies. Todd's children attend school in the Thompson School District and recently, his oldest graduated from Mountain View High School. He is dedicated to ensuring that Thompson School District's operations team supports all students so that each have the opportunity to succeed in their future goals.
Laura Lee Ehlers
Executive Assistant to Superintendent and BOE
Laura Lee Ehlers serves as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Education. Laura Lee served in this position at Weld Re-8 School District for two years and in Texas at Boys Ranch Independent School District for eleven years. Her favorite positions in her career have been at places where she can impact kids’ lives.
Laura Lee earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in Animal Science. She grew up on a ranch near Walden, Colorado.
Dr. Bill Siebers
Chief Human Resources Officer
Dr. Bill Siebers is the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Thompson School District. Currently entering his 21st year in education, Bill has worked eighteen years in total in TSD as a math teacher and then dean of students at Walt Clark Middle School and assistant principal and then principal at Turner Middle School. Before coming to Thompson School District, Bill taught for three years in Arizona as a middle school teacher. Prior to teaching, he served four years in the United States Air Force.
Bill graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He completed his Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership. While living in Colorado, Bill graduated from Colorado State University with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education and Human Resource Studies.
Kelly Sain
Chief Technology Officer
Kelly Sain is Chief Technology Officer for Thompson School District. As Chief Technology Officer, she is in charge of developing and implementing a strategic vision in all areas of technology for the district and facilitates the integration of digital tools and best practices into curriculum and administrative systems.
Kelly is an award-winning educator committed to ensuring that technology enhances, engages, and motivates students to learn. She draws from a diverse background as an elementary classroom teacher, elementary technology teacher, middle school technology teacher, educational consultant, university adjunct professor, Ed Tech Director, volunteer, and leader in global communities such as ISTE and InnEdCO.
Throughout her career, she has advocated for students to have access to digital tools to create, collaborate, communicate and innovate using the digital tools of their future. The vision of the ITS Department, “Empowering the TSD community to grow into the future with innovative technology today,” supports the opportunity to provide 1:1 access and applications that enhance teaching and learning. We can accomplish the ITS vision by providing professional learning and digital tools.
Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Science in Computer Education and Cognitive Systems from the University of North Texas.
Mike Hausmann
Chief Communications Officer
Mike Hausmann serves as Thompson School District's Chief Communications Officer (CCO). As CCO, Mike manages the district's Communications and Community Resources department, which focuses on communications, marketing, public relations and media relations. The department also oversees the district's volunteer program and manages a variety of community outreach activities.
Mike has over 28 years of experience in communication work and journalism, beginning as a television journalist upon his graduation from college, where he wrote, produced and reported content for a local cable station. He then moved into the non-profit world, overseeing a variety of marketing and communication projects before joining the Thompson team in January of 2013.
Mike is a native of South Dakota. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.