PACE-AAE Staff
Ariel Elliott
Regional Director, PACE-AAE
Ariel Elliott serves as regional director for the Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE), supporting and serving PACE members throughout Colorado and working to introduce many more educators to the benefits of PACE and the importance of membership in a professional association.
Ariel started her professional career in hotel management before transitioning to the association industry five years ago. She recently served as Education Director and Membership Development Director at the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado (now Trusted Choice Insurance Agents of Colorado). As membership director Ariel grew membership and other programs offered by the association substantially. Ariel is a licensed property and casualty insurance professional and a tax professional.
Originally from the Park Hill area, Ariel was born, raised, and educated in Denver, Colorado. Ariel and her family are deeply rooted in the community and are still very active. She is a mother of three and is a big kid at heart.
Ariel’s favorite teacher was her 8th grade math teacher, Mr. Wagner, who instilled in her that you must respect and treat others the way you want to be treated no matter what.
Noelani Kahapea
Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, AAE
Noelani Kahapea serves as the director of policy and advocacy for the Association of American Educators. In this role Noelani cultivates AAE's outreach to the broader education and labor reform policy community.
Prior to joining AAE, Noelani served as the Senior Policy Staff on education and labor policy for the Republican Study Committee in the House of Representatives under three chairmen: Rep. Bill Flores, Rep. Mark Walker, and Rep. Mike Johnson. She also served as the Senior Legislative Assistant to Hawai'i Senate Minority Leader Sam Slom.
Noelani grew up with a diverse educational background, as she attended both public and private schools and was homeschooled. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa with a degree in Political Science. As the daughter, granddaughter, niece, and cousin of teachers, she truly values teachers, admires the role they play in a child's education, and has a true passion for K-12 education policy.
In her free time, Noelani enjoys dancing hula and visiting Disney World. Noelani has also been cast as an extra in a few television shows and movies including Hawaii Five-0 and Jurassic World.
It is easy for Noelani to pick a favorite teacher: her mom, Debbie. Debbie not only taught public school for many years, she also homeschooled Noelani and her two siblings. She instilled not only a love for learning, but also many valuable life lessons that Noelani has finally admitted are priceless.
Sharon Nelson
Senior Director of Legal Services, AAE
Sharon Nelson is the Senior Director of Legal Services for the Association of American Educators. In this capacity, Ms. Nelson oversees AAE's extensive legal teams across the country and works daily with members and panel counsel to address member legal concerns.
A passionate advocate for educators, Ms. Nelson has been a lawyer focusing on employee rights issues for nearly 25 years. Before joining AAE, Ms. Nelson worked in private practice advocating for employee rights.
As a litigator, Ms. Nelson has conducted numerous jury trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings. Licensed in Nevada and California (license inactive), Ms. Nelson has practiced extensively in all state and federal courts in those jurisdictions.
Ms. Nelson's favorite educator is Mr. VonBergon who taught her that life was for living and learning and that there was nothing she could not achieve.
Contact us.
Our team is standing by to serve you. PACE staff in Englewood, Colorado are supported by AAE staff nationwide. AAE serves members in all fifty states and has staff throughout the country, with offices in California, Arkansas, Kansas, and Pennsylvania.
PACE Membership Office:
9800 Mount Pyramid Court, Suite 400
Englewood, CO 80112
Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. MT
Phone: 877-640-PACE (7223) (toll-free)
membership@coloradoteachers.org
AAE Membership Headquarters:
25909 Pala, Suite 330
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PT
Phone: 800-704-7799 (toll-free)