Meet Us
The Aurora AWARE Team
Mental Health and Counseling Director:
Jessica O'Muireadhaigh - Director of Mental Health and Counseling
(720) 287-9979
Team Bios and Contact Information
Kim Kaspar MSW
AWARE Coordinator
(303) 326-2733,28052
Kim received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver. Kim has served the community of Aurora as a school social worker, PBIS district level coach, & MTSS Community Partner for the last 10 years, and has currently been in this role for 4 years. She has a passion for promoting social, emotional and behavioral health of students. In addition to her expertise as a mental health worker, Kim has been an integral piece of PBIS implementation district wide in Aurora Public Schools. Kim enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Erin Fawkes
AWARE Systems Consultant
Serving the Northeast Learning Community
(303) 326-2733,28013
Erin was a teacher for 15 years teaching pre-school through 6th graders in both public and private schools and has spend the last 4 years in her current position. She gained teaching experience in Missouri, Hawaii, Singapore, and Colorado in both general education and special education. Erin has been with Aurora Public Schools for nine years as a general education teacher, math coach, and for the last four years as a school psychologist. Erin has a deep passion for working to support the social, emotional, and behavioral development of students and consulting with other youth-serving adults.
Austin McClain
AWARE Systems Consultant
Serving the South Learning Community
(303) 326-2733,28062
Austin earned a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, and his Master of Social Work at the University of Denver. Austin began his career working in residential treatment facilities as a direct care staff member and then later as a therapist, and has worked with youth from 5 to 19 years old in a number of residential facilities. The primary work with was youth that had PTSD, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Prior to joining the AWARE team, Austin was a site director at the Bridge Project, managing the Lincoln Park site and working with youth and families in Denver Housing Authority and the surrounding neighborhoods. Austin joined the AWARE team in August of 2020, and helps lead the work with Behavioral Health Referrals and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Taylor Ira
AWARE Systems Consultant
Serving the Central Learning Community
I am super excited to be joining the AWARE team as a Systems Consultant for the 22-23 school year! I will be supporting the Central region of APS. Currently, I am just finishing up my fifth year as a school psychologist and have spent all of those years in APS. Before becoming a school psychologist, I was a preschool teacher at a Montessori school in my home state of Nebraska.
Marlaine McMechen
AWARE Systems Consultant
Serving the Northwest Learning Community
(303) 326-2733,28023
Marlaine has worked in education for 23 years. She was a Language Arts high school teacher at Aurora Central (Go Trojans!) and a school counselor at the high school and middle school levels with the last four years at North Middle School (Go Polar Bears!). Marlaine loves APS and considers Aurora her home. She is passionate about all things mental health, especially social emotional learning and NME training and practices.
Yamel Ramirez-Morales
AWARE Risk Response Specialist
Supporting Suicide Risk Assessment Compliance
yeramirezmorales@aurorak12.org
I graduated with my bachelor's in science in 2018 with a degree in Psychology and Spanish at the Colorado State University- Pueblo. After graduation I interned with the Department of Human and Health Services with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. I then prepared to serve in the Peace Corps as a literacy aid helping grade school students improve their literary skills in the Dominican Republic in 2020 but a week before departure realized I was expecting a baby so I stayed home. I am currently obtaining my Master's in Forensic Psychology and graduate in April of 2022 at Arizona State University and I am very excited to be working with APS as it has been a goal of mine since I graduated with my undergrad.
John Damhof
AWARE Technology Systems Specialist
Supporting Systems Through Technology
John has worked as a Secondary Social Studies Teacher for 9 years in Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools before transitioning into his 2nd year as an Education Technologist for the AWARE Team. John received his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth. John grew up on a small farm town in Minnesota and ventured out to Colorado 12 years ago to start his teaching career. When not working, John enjoys spending time outdoors or with his wife and two daughters.
