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Kristin Driver, Principal

Hello! My name is Kristin Driver. I am the principal at Explorer Elementary School. I have had the privilege of serving this community in an administrative role for the past 13 years. I began my career at Explorer in 2004 as the K-5 Science teacher, transitioned to teach 5th graders, was the assistant principal for 8 years and have been the principal for the past 5 years.

Making fun experiences for kids is a passion of mine, so you may see me in costumes or doing fun competitions for the staff and kids throughout the year. I like to call these events FFF (Forced Family Fun)! We have a very involved parent community, which I love, because raising a child involves true partnerships with families. I believe that every person that walks into our building has value and it is our job to invest in the lives of others and get to know their stories.

I have been married to my husband, Brandon, for 15 years. We have 2 children, Olivia and Jackson. Olivia is a third grader and comes to Explorer with me! Jackson is four and attends preschool. I love to travel and explore the world. Some of my favorite places I have visited are South Africa, Swaziland, South Korea, and Kenya. I also lived in Colombia South America when I was younger.

Nicole Lovato, Assistant Principal

Hello! My name is Nicole Lovato, and I am the assistant principal at Explorer Elementary School. I started my career in education in Fort Collins, Colorado as a third-grade teacher after graduating from the University of Northern Colorado. I joined the Explorer community in 2018 as a fifth-grade teacher. While teaching I received my master’s degree in educational leadership with my principal’s license. I have always been interested in leadership and supporting teachers to be the best they can be in order to be most effective with students!

Like Mrs. Driver, I am a lover of fun! I want school to be a place where students enjoy themselves and where they make connections with others that make them feel safe and loved. I believe in partnering with families to support students in lifelong learning. I believe that small gestures of kindness go a long way and that positivity breeds positivity. Explorer is a place where teachers and staff members come together to do right by kids, and I feel privileged to be part of this community every day.

I was born and raised in Colorado Springs and my family (and my husband’s) is still local! My husband and I graduated from the same high school and got married in 2019. We welcomed our first baby, Eloise, in 2022 and have loved watching her personality grow, teaching her new things, and making her giggle. Some of my hobbies include skiing, working out, going on long walks, and cooking for my family!