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Ashley Cartun brings her whole self to her work and she hopes others feel empowered as well. As the Director of Secondary Humanities and an Associate Teaching Professor in Literacy Studies, she is focused on preparing future English and Social studies teachers, working alongside schools and mentor educators across Colorado in order to achieve that goal. Ashley is also a mom of two, a partner of a basketball coach and a proud buff; cheering at games, attending campus events and in classrooms. 

“At my core, I’m endlessly curious, deeply relational, and committed to work that is both intellectually rigorous and rooted in care.”

Before working at the School of Education, Ashley was a high school English teacher, with the strong belief that stories change people. For Ashley, “Reading and writing open doors to possibility, help us see ourselves and one another more clearly and give us language for who we are and who we hope to become.”

“Teaching English felt like a way to stand at the intersection of literacy, humanity and liberation every single day”

Now, not only does Cartun work at the School of Education, but has also found a way to give back to the community and center her well-being as a means for doing impactful and inspiring as well as challenging work in education.

In 2023, Ashley was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer before the age of 40, an experience that reshaped her own understanding of health, community and care. During her treatment, Cartun began to notice how so many fellow educators and community members were navigating similar journeys, often quietly and wishing for more support. For her own healing, Cartun began to attend sound baths at her cancer center: a form of  integrative therapy that involves listening to and feeling the vibrations produced by instruments such as gongs or chimes. Sound baths are a deeply relaxing experience, meaningful for those who are navigating stress, burnout, caregiving, illness or simply any demand of their busy lives. During a sound bath, Ashley says that “participants rest comfortably while immersed in live, resonant sound created with instruments such as singing bowls and chimes.

“There is nothing to perform or ‘get right;’ the invitation is simply to pause, breathe and receive.”

For Cartun, the sound baths not only helped with her own healing, but also reminded her of the profound role music and stillness can play in restoration. 

Now, she has found a way to give back to her beloved 91��ý community which has supported her. She now offers monthly sound baths through the CALM Center at the CU Art Museum. This event is open for free to 91��ý faculty, staff, students and the general public. It has allowed for her to not only give back to the community but also create space for rest, reflection and connection for anyone who needs it. Sessions are typically held on every third Thursday, with an additional select Wednesday offering from 12:15-12:45 p.m.  We invite you to join Cartun for an upcoming soundbath at the CU Art Museum. You can find dates and times at the Calm Center calendar.

For Cartun, “​​offering these sound baths is a way of giving back to the community that held me; creating moments of restoration, connection and collective care in a world that rarely slows down.”

In her own words

Tell us about yourself

“I serve as the Director of Secondary Humanities at 91��ý, where my colleagues and I prepare future English and social studies teachers and work alongside schools and mentor educators across Colorado. I’m also a mom of two, a partner to a basketball coach and a proud Buff; you’ll often find me in classrooms, at campus events or cheering from the stands.”

What do you do in the School of Education?

“I’ve been part of the School of Education community since beginning my doctoral studies in 2011, and today I am a proud faculty member, serving as an Associate Teaching Professor in literacy studies and as an affiliate faculty member in the Teaching, Learning, and Research & Practice program. I work closely with future English language arts and social studies teachers, mentoring, teaching and partnering with schools to support their development as thoughtful, equity-minded educators. I also collaborate with mentor teachers and alumni, support doctoral students and build partnerships that strengthen pathways into the teaching profession. It is, quite honestly, my dream job; I get to spend my days helping future teachers step into work that matters.”

What are you currently researching?

My research centers on justice-oriented teaching in the Humanities and on the emotional and relational dimensions of learning to teach. I’m especially interested in how affect, well-being and community shape teacher preparation and long-term sustainability in the profession. Working with K-12 schools and state partners to build pathways into teaching and strengthen support for educators across their careers fuels my soul. At its core, my scholarship asks a simple question: what do teachers need to thrive, and how do we design preparation and partnerships to make that possible?

What is your dream trip?

“One of my dream trips actually came true last year when my family and I traveled to Australia. We explored different parts of the country, visited the Australia Zoo founded by Steve Irwin and even got to swim in the Great Barrier Reef.”

What are some of your favorite small joys in life?

“Some of my favorite moments are the simple ones; singing and dancing in the kitchen with my daughters while we’re cooking dinner. Those little everyday moments of joy and laughter are the ones I treasure most.”

 What is a fun fact about yourself?

“I’m also a huge donut enthusiast. If there’s a good local donut shop within a mile of me, I will absolutely find it and am always looking for recs. Life is better with good donuts”