Hilary Downs is the Director of Summit Learning at Aspen Public Schools. She graduated from CSU Fresno with a B.S. in Biology in 2003. She worked outside of education for a reference laboratory but decided to pursue her passion of teaching a few years later. In 2007, she began working as a science and math teacher for 8th-12th grades at Aspen Valley Preparatory Academy in Fresno, California. She earned her credential in biological sciences and introductory mathematics and taught for 10 years before being asked to leave the classroom to run the Summit Learning Program at the school.