About Me

Bethany Merkling- School Principal
 
Professionally:

With a solid educational background and a fervent commitment to transformative leadership, I proudly hold a Principal License in the State of Colorado and am the visionary founder of World Compass Academy. My journey began with designing the program, crafting the initial charter, and collaborating with an exceptional team on the steering committee and founding board to bring the dream of this extraordinary school to life. Transitioning from the role of Board President to Middle School Director, I ultimately assumed the position of K-8 Principal in the fall of 2020. My leadership has been instrumental in driving academic success, as reflected in the consistent increase in achievement scores since the school's inception. A testament to my dedication, I have successfully secured over a million dollars in grant funding for the school.

Before my tenure at World Compass Academy, I contributed as a classroom teacher for almost a decade in high-performing neighborhood and charter schools, both within and outside Colorado. These experiences, alongside a graduate program in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas, shaped my professional growth and inspired the vision for World Compass. Alongside my principal licensure and graduate work in educational leadership, I hold an MA in Theatre Arts Costume Design, a BA in Political Science, and a European Union Level 4 Proficiency in French Language. At World Compass, I find joy in collaborating with our exceptional staff to provide students with a foundation for global competence and also take pride in coaching our cross-country team.

Personally:
I am married to a smart, kind, and supportive husband, who also works in the field of education.  We fell in love in high school and have been happily married for almost 20 years.  We have four sons.  We love family game nights, theatre, hikes, and movie/pizza nights.  I also enjoy running, swimming, sewing, quilting, and designing figure skating costumes.