Meet Our Board

The Shannon B. Jones Passion Pursuit Team

Jason Jose Luis Bardales

President
As the husband of Shannon Jones and the father of Abigail Bardales, Jason Bardales has been closely involved and supportive of gifted education, and the passion for learning for over 30 years.  A graduate of Iowa State University, his accomplishments in sales, management, and financial planning, have provided a solid understanding of the dedication and commitment needed to nurture a passion. He is an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for his efforts of service to the community and has participated in statewide efforts to enhance education through involvement with Building a Better Colorado. He established SBJPPF knowing there will always be a need to support the dreams of lifelong learners.   

Brian Michael Weaver

​​Vice President
Brian Weaver has devoted his career, approaching its 23rd year, to his students. Brian is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the Community College of Denver and holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction. Brian holds a Colorado Professional Educator’s License with specializations in both Speech Communication and the nature and needs of high ability and high achieving people. He has classroom taught grades ECE – Graduate University in varieties of roles and settings, private and public. Brian’s passion in working with students includes programming to promote student voice, and overall good health and living.

Abigail Gwendolyn Joy Bardales

Treasurer
​Abbie Bardales is Dean of Students at Aurora Science and Tech Middle School, a branch of Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST). She graduated from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University in 2018 with a double major in History and Anthropology, a minor in Theater, and a certificate in Classical Studies.  She served as a 2018 Teach For America Corps Member and continues to work with TFA Colorado as an Onboarding Coordinator. 

Carol Christine Smith

Secretary
Carol Smith has been the music instructor at the Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the University of Denver since 2000.  She also owns and operates Carol Smith Music Studio where she teaches private lessons and provides piano performances for special events.

Dereck Alton Helms

Front End Web Developer
​Dereck Alton Helms is a Computer Science student, co-president of Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Mu Mu, and social media manager for The Shannon B. Jones Passion Pursuit and Project C.U.R.E. Dereck believes that efficient web design is an integral part of communicating one’s purpose to the world. As an intern for Project C.U.R.E. and The Shannon B. Jones Passion Pursuit, Dereck helps convey these organizations’ purposes through clear, effective design. For instance, Dereck has built many pages for Project C.U.R.E., but the 18th annual Golf Sanctuary Page is one of the most rewarding pages Dereck has built as it exemplifies clear and concise design. Moreover, Dereck has re-built The Shannon B. Jones’ webpage from an outdated page to a modern website while managing social media posts of his internship and honor society. ​

Ellen Irene Honeck

Board Member
is currently the Assistant Head of School at Tessellations The Beneventi School in Cupertino, California. She previously worked for The Knox School of Santa Barbara, Denver Public Schools, and online and private schools. Dr. Honeck has been involved in gifted education working in various roles as a classroom teacher, administrator, gifted specialist, curriculum developer, consultant, adjunct professor, and Associate Director. She has contributed to NAGC in several roles including an At-Large Board member, past network chair and chair-elect and a member of the Whole Child Task Force. She received the 2021 Professional Development Network Award and the 2016 NAGC President’s Award.

Ellen has authored Social and Emotional Learning for Advanced Children in Early Childhood, Teaching Gifted Children in Today’s Preschool and Primary Classrooms, Smart Start Series: Let’s Play!, Around my House!, and Let’s Go to the Market! and several chapters, curriculum units and articles.

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