Beatrice "Bea" Romer

• School of Education and Human Development
• Outstanding Alumni

Bea is a Former First Lady of Colorado. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Denver, School of Education and Human Development (SEHD). Her dedication to the advancement of early childhood education is what made Bea continue and complete her master’s degree program—while she was First Lady of Colorado and raising five children. She is keenly interested in the concept of “education for life.” Her most recent initiative, the College of Parental Arts, offers parenting skills classes that cover the entire continuum of the child-parent relationship throughout the lifetime.

“We provide professional understanding to parents, grandparents and caregivers. My goal is to take the early childhood knowledge that I learned at SEHD and make it available to those in parenting roles through all stages of life.”

Through the College of Parental Arts, people will understand what parenting decisions best support the growth of a healthy, stable child—and, at the same time, assure the creation and maintenance of a healthy, stable parent or grandparent. A key feature of the courses will be immediate opportunities to try out classroom principles with children.

Bea is co-founder of the Stanley British Primary School in Denver. She has served on the boards of directors for The National Council on Family Relations, The Children's Hospital, Bright Beginnings, Read To Me Colorado, Colorado Preschool Project, First Impressions, and Family Resource Coalition

Carolyn Hambidge

Carolyn is currently Head of School at the Stanley British Primary School, a co-educational day school for grades K-8. She attended France's prestigious École Marie Souvestre and as Head Girl occupied a desk with the signature of the school's most famous pupil carved into it—Eleanor Roosevelt.

Carolyn earned a Bachelor's degree in Education and Teacher's Certification through the Froebel Institute at the University of London. She has served as a teacher at the British Infant School in London, and a teacher of reading and math to long-term hospital patients at Guildford Hospital in Surrey, England.

Since her arrival in the United States in 1966, she has been lead teacher at Montview Community Preschool in Denver. She played a lead role in creating a model British Primary School for Metropolitan State College.

In 1984, Carolyn founded the Stanley BPS. The school seeks to develop the full potential of each child in body, mind and spirit. Through a challenging, experiential program, Stanley students develop academic skills as well as the higher order skills of creativity, problem solving and teamwork. Student and faculty diversity and a tradition of active parental involvement create a dynamic and inclusive school community.

Carolyn is on the Advisory Board at the Children's Museum in Denver. She is also a Board Member for Parents as First Teachers and First Impressions. In addition, she serves as a member of the Governor's Task Force on Standards and Readiness. Carolyn is a past recipient of the Governor's Award for Outstanding Teachers.

Sally Vogler

Sally Vogler is the director of public relations for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado and Nevada.  Sally formerly served as the executive director of the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, which was dedicated to improving and increasing children’s access to health care. Prior to that, she worked for nine years as a policy director on families and children’s issues for Colorado Governor Roy Romer, and as the executive director of First Impressions, Bea Romer’s early childhood initiative. 

Sally was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She came to Colorado in 1975 to attend Colorado State University where she received both her bachelors and master’s degrees in early childhood education.

Sally has served on many nonprofit boards including the Colorado Parent and Child Foundation; the Colorado Foundation for Families and Children; the Urban Farm at Stapleton; and, the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center’s School of Dentistry’s Board of Councilors. She currently serves as board president of the Bea Romer College of Parental Arts and on the board of the Colorado AIDS Project. Sally is the author of “The Everyday Guide to Opening and Operating a Child Care Center.” In 2000, she received the “Decade of the Child” award from the Colorado Children’s Campaign in recognition for her work as a children’s advocate. In 2003, she received the Dean’s Award for Exceptional Service from the Colorado School of Dentistry. 

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