Meet Colleen Wealton-Mailander!

As part of our ongoing series Meet Our GDS Faculty and Staff, we are excited to present: Meet Colleen Wealton-Mailander!

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Colleen.

Primary Role: MS Spanish & 6th Grade Dean

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Years at GDS: just started my 4th

What do you love about GDS?  
I love that we think about our students as people—we talk about the whole child and we try to educate and support all parts of each individual as they are growing into who they want to be.

Why do you do your job? 
I was lucky to have a huge team of supportive adults around me growing up—family, family friends, and educators who made sure I was raised to believe that I could make a difference if I was willing to work hard. They celebrated my successes and helped me pick myself up and learn from my failures. I hope that I can be a part of my students' team and I hope they feel that same support from me. I want them to know that I will walk the path with them, even when it's hard, as they're doing the work of becoming their adult selves.

A favorite part of your job?
Being surrounded by a community of adult and adolescent learners every day. And getting to speak Spanish every day!

Your work style in a few words?
I hope people would say I'm committed, honest, fair, collaborative, and that I like to have fun.

A top hope/wish for your students and/or colleagues?

I hope they all know that holding themselves to high standards is worth it because they are capable of meeting them. I see them do it every day!

Personal passions/hobbies/pastimes?
I love to travel, read, see Broadway shows, spend time with my family, and exercise.

A few favorites…?

Favorite recipes: My Grandma's Ravioli
Favorite movies: Love, Actually; What About Bob, Mary Poppins & The Sound of Music
Favorite band: I can't pick just one
Favorite countries I’ve traveled to: Mexico, Spain, Japan, South Korea

Tell us about your family and/or pet(s).

I've been married to my husband for 20 years, and we have a sweet, 3-year-old, mini labradoodle named Miles. While we don't have any children of our own, we are very involved with our nieces and nephews and spend a lot of time on FaceTime with them. They visit us over school breaks and in the summer, we travel with them, or we head back to the Midwest to see our extended family.

One thing about yourself your students/colleagues/others probably don't know?
I almost decided to teach music instead of Spanish.

If you happen to have a bucket list, one thing on your life bucket list you've already accomplished?Whitewater rafting in Costa Rica

Something on your life bucket list you have yet to accomplish?
I'm hoping to visit all of the Spanish-speaking countries in my lifetime.