Our Support Partners
Patrick Bruns
Founding Support Partner
I'm Patrick (Mr. Pat) Bruns. a paraprofessional here at Prospect Academy. I retired after 40 years as a progressive pastor who values diversity and inclusiveness and who believes all people are precious. After retirement I began working with children who are neurodiverse, first with children with intensive emotional needs, and then with children on the autism spectrum.
It is both a joy and privilege to be part of Prospect Academy. Prospect's commitment to welcome children just as they are, and to then work with them to nurture emotional, intellectual, and social growth, is exactly what our world needs. I am inspired by our dedicated leadership and staff. It was been wonderful to have the opportunity to get to know our kids and a delight to be a positive presence in their lives.
I love to learn and have a doctorate in Religion & Personality. I like to say that my focus was to demonstrate that people can be religious and still have a personality but actually, I focused on the inter-relationship of psychology and spirituality. I'm also a retired clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. I enjoy walking my dog, hiking, reading, the arts, baseball, and getting to know people.
Mattie Hankal
Founding Support Partner
My name is Mattie Hankal (she/her), and I am from Atlanta, Georgia. I am excited to be at Prospect Academy in Colorado as a Paraprofessional while earning my Speech-Language Pathology Assistant certification. I earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a certificate in Disability Studies. I have worked in various childcare settings and outdoor classrooms including Special Olympics Georgia as a soccer coach and Vail Resorts as a ski instructor. These previous roles have cultivated a passion in me for creating a learning environment where students of all abilities and backgrounds can thrive.
My love for adventure brought me out to Colorado, and I so excited to be on this adventure at Prospect Academy with fellow staff and future students!