Mrs. Kardys

It is certainly hard to believe that this is my 22nd year in the classroom!  When I am not at school, you can find me outdoors trail running, camping, skiing, hiking, or biking with my family.  

Born and raised in New York State, I moved to Colorado with my husband in 2001 in search of mountains, sunshine, and a Master’s Degree in reading from CU Boulder (Go Buffs!).  We have been married for 20 years and have two wonderful children, Jack is 16 and Eliza is 14.  Jack and Eliza also have a furry sibling, our rescue dog, Willow.

First grade is a very exciting time for children and I am looking forward to joining Vanderhoof and fostering the social and academic growth of my students.  My passion for teaching stems from a desire to help children develop an intrinsic love of learning. I feel fortunate to be a part of the Hoof Team in which everyone is dedicated and involved in helping your student become successful. 

One of my goals for the upcoming school year is to provide a safe, risk-free environment in which active learning, cooperation, problem-solving and communication are promoted.  One way we can accomplish this goal is to develop a partnership between home and school.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or any information you think I might need to help your child grow and learn to his/her fullest potential.

andrea.kardys@jeffco.k12.co.us

303-982-3014

Mrs. Klinefelter

Welcome to 1st grade at Vanderhoof! Vanderhoof is a wonderful community of  learners that I have been a part of for more than 15 years!  I feel honored to be part of such a skilled and caring staff! I am passionate about teaching and I truly care about my students and their families! Building relationships with my students and strong partnerships with parents is very important to me. I look forward to working together to support your child as they learn and grow this year!  At Vanderhoof, we value relationships and strive to be our personal best academically, socially and emotionally!

I was born in Santa Monica, CA and grew up in Pittsburgh, PA which makes me a huge Steeler Fan!  I currently live in Littleton, CO. I am married with two children. My daughter is 20 and my son is 18. I love to cook, exercise, hike, bike, and travel. I truly enjoy spending time with my friends and my family!  

Although I’ve taught Kindergarten through 6th grade, 1st grade is my favorite by far!  First grade is a magical year where children grow and change tremendously!  I can’t wait to be part of your child’s most exciting year of school! 

Melissa.Klinefelter@jeffco.k12.co.us

303-982-8460

Mrs. Kay

My name is Mandey Kay. I am incredibly honored to be teaching first grade here at Vanderhoof! I look forward to another year working with an amazing team of educators and an amazing community. This will be my third year at Vanderhoof. 

I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was a young little girl! I am a Colorado native and attended Jefferson County schools through high school. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Colorado Denver and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State University of Denver. 

Outside of teaching, you will find me spending time with friends and family, reading, camping, swimming, or binge watching my favorite TV shows. I married my best friend, Eric, in 2016 and we currently live in Westminster. We have a ¨fur baby¨ named Apollo who has a lot of energy and gets a lot of attention! 



First grade is such an amazing year full of academic, social, and emotional growth and I am thrilled to be on this journey with your child! I believe that every child can learn given the right environment. I truly look forward to getting to know each and every one of you this year! 

I look forward to a wonderful year teaching your child!

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

mandey.kay@jeffco.k12.co.us