Staff and Board
Our Teachers
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Jenny Schon | Head of School
Dr. Jenny is a life long learner with a degree in Environmental Science, MS in Teaching, and PhD in Education, and soon a MA in School Counseling. After a decade of working on a Fire Ecology crew in the southwest she decided to do the most meaningful thing she could think to do - teach! She started out teaching middle school science in Montana and later worked for the University of Idaho McCall Outdoor Science School, and then teaching all things K-12 at Meadows Valley School before leaving to open Mountain Community School. It has been an incredible experience to open MCS and to re-envision education and what's best for our learners today in our community. She is beyond excited to be working with this team and your students!
When she's not at school or driving the bus she's busy chasing around her daughter, skilling, running, biking, gardening, or dreaming up of new places to travel.
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Harlee Edwards | K-1 Teacher
Harlee Edwards-Lee grew up in Idaho and recently moved to Donnelly with her husband. Known to her students as Ms. Harlee, she is thrilled to join Mountain Community School as the kindergarten/first grade teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Boise State University and a Teaching Certification for Grades K–8.
Ms. Harlee has a deep love for reading and believes in the power of stories to inspire, teach, and connect. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time in nature and participating in a variety of outdoor activities. She is excited to be part of the close-knit mountain community and looks forward to building relationships with her students and their families while learning and growing together.
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Rachel Farrow | 2-3 Teacher
I was born and raised in Northern Nevada. I attended WSU in Pullman, Washington where I earned my Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. I met my wonderful husband while in college and we moved to McCall in 2017. I attended MOSS through the University of Idaho and completed my Master's of Natural Resources in Environmental Education and Science Communication. I've worked at various camps and after school programs as well as taught at MCS their very first year.
I love teaching and making nature a part of our everyday lives. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, being creative, and spending time with my family. After needing to prioritize my family first, I am very excited to be teaching at MCS again and to make connections with awesome students.
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Bre Anderson | 4-5 Teacher
Before joining the Mountain Community School team, Ms. Bre has worn many hats. Ms. Bre has been a Children’s Librarian, the Education and Programs Coordinator for Payette Children’s Forest, the Executive Director of Wild Science Explorers, and a professional snorkel for Idaho Fish and Game.
Ms. Bre is an East Coast gal at heart, growing up in Connecticut and attending the University of Vermont, where she studied Fisheries Management. The wild landscapes of Idaho, and the fish that live in them, brought her to Valley County in 2014. After many wonderful years of backcountry fisheries research, she decided it was time to follow her heart and pursue a career in education. In 2018 Ms. Bre received a Masters of Natural Resources, from the McCall Outdoor Science School, where her focus was place-based environmental education. A winding path filled with hard work, amazing teaching opportunities, and a sincere love for our community eventually led her to the Mountain Community School.
Ms. Bre has a passion for bringing place-based inquiry projects to the classroom. She believes in giving students autonomy over their learning and that there is no idea too big. With creativity, hard work, and willing educators, students have limitless potential. Being part of a team that shares these ideals is a dream! When not in the classroom, you can find Ms. Bre guiding educational rafting trips on the Salmon River, playing in the mountains with her husband Josh and dog Rio, or relaxing with a good book.
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Randy "Nunz" Annuziato | 6/7/8 Teacher
An outdoor enthusiast. A place-based project collusionist. I hail from the east but have settled in the West. From cultural immersion to science-based research, I use these experiences in my classroom to foster student engagement.
With years of teaching experience and community-based project stewardship, I aim to bring young working hands into the local community. I am fluent in English, Spanish, and a little "ramblish" (the new language Middle Schoolers have created) to try to connect with students across cultural and geographical boundaries. I believe nature has the answers. I hope to provide students with access to tools to hear and create within their bounds.
My life-partner, Briana, and I are developing ~12 acres of land.
Along with my teaching certificate, I have a B.S. in Sports Biology & M.S. in Natural Resources. I also have permaculture design certificate, a yoga teacher credential, an EMT/paramedic license, and have worked at Brundage as a volunteer ski patroller.
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Sarah Lenda | Title 1 Coach
Miss Lenda, is our Title 1 Coach, bringing in years of experience working with readers of all abilities. She is excited to help all our students achieve their reading goals and exceed their expectations!
Our Teachers
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Jenny Schon | Head of School
Dr. Jenny is a life long learner with a degree in Environmental Science, MS in Teaching, and PhD in Education, and soon a MA in School Counseling. After a decade of working on a Fire Ecology crew in the southwest she decided to do the most meaningful thing she could think to do - teach! She started out teaching middle school science in Montana and later worked for the University of Idaho McCall Outdoor Science School, and then teaching all things K-12 at Meadows Valley School before leaving to open Mountain Community School. It has been an incredible experience to open MCS and to re-envision education and what's best for our learners today in our community. She is beyond excited to be working with this team and your students!
When she's not at school or driving the bus she's busy chasing around her daughter, skilling, running, biking, gardening, or dreaming up of new places to travel.
-
Harlee Edwards | K-1 Teacher
Harlee Edwards-Lee grew up in Idaho and recently moved to Donnelly with her husband. Known to her students as Ms. Harlee, she is thrilled to join Mountain Community School as the kindergarten/first grade teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Boise State University and a Teaching Certification for Grades K–8.
Ms. Harlee has a deep love for reading and believes in the power of stories to inspire, teach, and connect. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time in nature and participating in a variety of outdoor activities. She is excited to be part of the close-knit mountain community and looks forward to building relationships with her students and their families while learning and growing together.
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Rachel Farrow | 2-3 Teacher
I was born and raised in Northern Nevada. I attended WSU in Pullman, Washington where I earned my Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. I met my wonderful husband while in college and we moved to McCall in 2017. I attended MOSS through the University of Idaho and completed my Master's of Natural Resources in Environmental Education and Science Communication. I've worked at various camps and after school programs as well as taught at MCS their very first year.
I love teaching and making nature a part of our everyday lives. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, being creative, and spending time with my family. After needing to prioritize my family first, I am very excited to be teaching at MCS again and to make connections with awesome students.
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Bre Anderson | 4-5 Teacher
Before joining the Mountain Community School team, Ms. Bre has worn many hats. Ms. Bre has been a Children’s Librarian, the Education and Programs Coordinator for Payette Children’s Forest, the Executive Director of Wild Science Explorers, and a professional snorkel for Idaho Fish and Game.
Ms. Bre is an East Coast gal at heart, growing up in Connecticut and attending the University of Vermont, where she studied Fisheries Management. The wild landscapes of Idaho, and the fish that live in them, brought her to Valley County in 2014. After many wonderful years of backcountry fisheries research, she decided it was time to follow her heart and pursue a career in education. In 2018 Ms. Bre received a Masters of Natural Resources, from the McCall Outdoor Science School, where her focus was place-based environmental education. A winding path filled with hard work, amazing teaching opportunities, and a sincere love for our community eventually led her to the Mountain Community School.
Ms. Bre has a passion for bringing place-based inquiry projects to the classroom. She believes in giving students autonomy over their learning and that there is no idea too big. With creativity, hard work, and willing educators, students have limitless potential. Being part of a team that shares these ideals is a dream! When not in the classroom, you can find Ms. Bre guiding educational rafting trips on the Salmon River, playing in the mountains with her husband Josh and dog Rio, or relaxing with a good book.
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Randy "Nunz" Annuziato | 6/7/8 Teacher
An outdoor enthusiast. A place-based project collusionist. I hail from the east but have settled in the West. From cultural immersion to science-based research, I use these experiences in my classroom to foster student engagement.
With years of teaching experience and community-based project stewardship, I aim to bring young working hands into the local community. I am fluent in English, Spanish, and a little "ramblish" (the new language Middle Schoolers have created) to try to connect with students across cultural and geographical boundaries. I believe nature has the answers. I hope to provide students with access to tools to hear and create within their bounds.
My life-partner, Briana, and I are developing ~12 acres of land.
Along with my teaching certificate, I have a B.S. in Sports Biology & M.S. in Natural Resources. I also have permaculture design certificate, a yoga teacher credential, an EMT/paramedic license, and have worked at Brundage as a volunteer ski patroller.
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Sarah Lenda | Title 1 Coach
Miss Lenda, is our Title 1 Coach, bringing in years of experience working with readers of all abilities. She is excited to help all our students achieve their reading goals and exceed their expectations!
Support Staff
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Lanette Stach | Office Manager
Lanette was born in Spokane, WA, but was raised on a farm in North Idaho until she was 17. Her and her brother raised pigs and participated in the 4-H program. She enjoyed helping out on the farm, but mostly the farm pets which consisted of cats, dogs, horses and grandma and grandpa’s chickens.
After moving to Las Vegas where she graduated her senior year of high school, she returned to Spokane. She started a career in Property Management, as well as attaining a Medical Assisting degree. Realizing that Medical Assisting wasn’t really her “thing”, she decided to pursue Property Management. After a 20+ year career with the same company, Lanette resigned and relocated here to McCall.
Lanette joined the MCS team in July of 2024, where she enjoys engaging with the students and watching them grown and reach new milestones. Her daughter is also a student at MCS. Lanette’s almost 19 year old son decided to hang back in North Idaho to pursue a career in construction. Email: lstach@mtncommunityschool.org
BOARD MEMBERS
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Jonas Bean | Board Chair
Mr. Bean has experience in outdoor education, school leadership, classroom education, business ownership, non-profit education board management and is also a structure firefighter/EMT and ski patroller. His wide range of experience and connections within the community helps to unite the vision of the school. He has two children who are curious learners and love living in Valley County. Mr. Bean has a passion for travel, dual sport motorcycles, sailing, photography, and sunrises.
I joined the MCS Board because I believe in choices for education. No school can fill the needs of every student but by having options, families can make the best choice for their children. I also have so much confidence in our administrators, Pat and Jenny, who’s vision and drive to make MCS a center for innovated learning will change the lives of young learners in this area.
MCS inspires me because of the untamed possibilities of growth with our students. There are no boundaries to what self-directed education can achieve. Student centered education is the key for kids to learn for themselves not because an adult is telling them they have too.
Term: June 2025
Email: jbean@mtncommunityschool.org
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Jeremy Humphrey | Secretary
Jeremy is a competitive ultramarathoner, coach and race director. He is a licensed Colorado attorney, with a Juris Doctorate and Bachelors degree in Political Science. He is happily married to Brandi and recently had his first child, Wilder.
I joined the MCS Board because of its commitment to serving the children of McCall through place based education and lots of opportunities to get the kids outside and experiencing the beauty of Idaho. I am inspired by our Board's strength to carry on in our search for a home and to finally open our doors and begin serving our local children.
Term: June 2025
Email: jhumphrey@mtncommunityschool.org
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Elise Giddings
Ms. Giddings has been involved in multiple start up businesses and brings an entrepreneurial approach to the MCS board. Through her business efforts she has experience in collaborative team building, operational considerations, marketing, and messaging. She is also a part time homeschool educator and herself a dedicated student of alternative educational methods that develop self-directed, motivated leaders for the future. It is her personal goal to help each child (and adult!) come into contact with and develop the inner gifts they have to offer the world, and is happy that MCS will offer this opportunity for children in our community.
I joined the board because I have personally seen the benefits of a project-based and learner centered approach for children, and would like to bring this approach to Valley County. Before we moved to the area in 2016, my children attended a school with a similar model and I saw first hand the engagement and powerful learning that working in this environment allowed.
Working on the board of MCS has been inspiring because it is a microcosm of the values of our school - each member bringing their talents to bear on the overall project, working together through many challenges that required creativity, problem solving and collaboration - the skills of the 21st century. To have the opportunity to bring these skills to the students and show them how to use their own talents, creativity, problem solving and collaboration to bring to life projects of their own is truly inspiring to me and I believe will nurture people who will make a difference in the world.
Term: June 2024
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Liz Neihart
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Kelsie Baldwin
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Hadden Tanner
Mr. Tanner graduated from Boise State University with a degree in History and Secondary Education. Shortly after graduating he moved to McCall in 2004 where he started out working in local youth in the Valley County Juvenile Detention Center. After DJC he took a position teaching at Heartland High School, then McCall Donnelly High School. He has volunteered throughout the years as a youth soccer coach, hockey coach, and mountain biking coach. His ties to the community and the youth of Valley County continues to run strong and brings not only a educational background but also a business owner perspective and connections to the board.
Term: June 2024
Email: htanner@mtncommunityschool.org