English Department

Meet the English Department

Amber Curtis-Trudell, 6th Grade English Teacher

amber.curtis-trudell@cottonwoodclassical.org

Amber Curtis-Trudell is a National Board Certified teacher who has been teaching middle school English for 11 years, 6 of them at Cottonwood Classical. She is obsessed with middle grade and young adult literature and sponsors the Cottonwood Battle of the Books team. Her goal as a teacher is to facilitate the transition of Cottonwood’s newest and youngest students into the role of open-minded thinkers and communicators. Her other hobbies include creative writing, crocheting, playing board games, and hanging out with her dog.

Mrs. Angelique Rodriguez, 7th Grade English Teacher; Middle School Girls Basketball and Track & Field Coach

angelique.rodriguez@cottonwoodclassical.org

Angelique Rodriguez, is the 7th Grade English Teacher. Along with being a teacher, she also coaches middle school girls basketball and middle school track & field. She loves sports, good music, and animals. She truly enjoys working with students, and believes they each bring something special to the table.

Mr. Keith Burnstein, 8th Grade English Teacher

keith.burnstein@cottonwoodclassical.org

Keith Burnstein is an educator, musician, and film composer with more than 15 years of classroom experience in K-8 settings. He started his career as a general music teacher at P.S. 305 in Brooklyn, NY, and later ran The Project Arts Program for his district. Since then, he has taught Middle School Science and Humanities in New Orleans, Louisiana, and received extensive training at the Paideia Institute in Asheville, NC. Most recently, Mr. Burnstein was the IB Coordinator and Acting Assistant Principal at Kehoe-France School in Metairie, LA where he ran the school’s MYP Program from 2020-2023. Keith is thrilled to be back in the classroom, and to have relocated to Albuquerque, NM with his wife, Lauren Marie.

Dr. Denise Gianopoulos, 9th Grade English Teacher

d.gianopoulos@cottonwoodclassical.org

Mrs. “Dr. G.” Gianopoulos is a veteran instructor at Cottonwood, first teaching history, then teaching IB Literature, and now teaching the English 9 course. She’s thrilled at our new 21st century campus expansion to bring our facility in line with our 21st century IB-prep curriculum – where we can continue the important CCPS mission of “educating the whole child for the whole world.” Outside of school, Dr. G. loves spending time with her family and tending to her cat Meli.

Mx. Erik Gamlem, 10th Grade English Teacher; English Department Chair

erik.gamlem@cottonwoodclassical.org

Along with calm surroundings and a cool, brisk wind on an overcast day, Mx. Gamlem enjoys the company of cats and eating pizza.

Mrs. Heather Blanchard, 11th Grade English Teacher

heather.blanchard@cottonwoodclassical.org

Mrs. Blanchard teaches 11th grade English, IB Literature year one. She loves reading and talking about weird or creepy texts, the kind of books you can’t stop thinking about after you finish. Mrs. Blanchard also likes to crochet, knit, snuggle with her dogs, and explore new restaurants with Mr. Blanchard. She absolutely loves living in New Mexico and especially working with the amazing students at CCPS.

Lauren Farmer, 12th Grade English Teacher

lauren.farmer@cottonwoodclassical.org