Executive Director

The Missoula Community School is excited to welcome its new Executive Director, a passionate educator entering her 19th year in the field! She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed. in Special Education, and has completed doctoral coursework in Education Leadership. She champions project-based learning and loves to create meaningful opportunities for students to positively impact their local and global communities, the environment, and wildlife. Her dedication to early learners and building strong foundations is a perfect fit for MCS. When she's not at school, she enjoys time with her supportive partner Ryan, her 15-year-old son Kainan, and their three furry dogs.

Curriculum Coordinator

We are thrilled to introduce our new curriculum coordinator! She's a passionate advocate for education, with a special focus on early learning. She's entering her 11th year in education, having spent four years in elementary education and the last six years teaching pre-kindergarten here at Missoula Community School.

A strong believer in creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and heard, she was drawn to this new role for the opportunity to extend that philosophy school-wide. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and believes that we never stop learning or wondering. When she's not at school, she enjoys anything related to music and spending time with friends and family.

Administrative Coordinator/Education Consultant

Erin grew up in small-town Montana and has over a decade of experience teaching Kindergarten and First Grade with MCPS. She loves helping students and educators thrive, bringing play, creativity, and curiosity into everything she does. Her master’s thesis focused on play-based learning in early primary classrooms, a philosophy she still draws on every day.

Erin has also enjoyed supporting other educators by leading MTSS teams, mentoring new teachers, and facilitating professional development on early literacy, positive behavior supports, and effective teaching strategies. She loves collaborating with colleagues and families to create programs where everyone can succeed.

Outside of work, Erin enjoys reading, dancing, hiking, paddling, and spending time with her dog, Magnolia. She believes play is important for everyone—not just children!

Lead Beforecare Teacher, Hummingbird Teacher

Jessie has been teaching at Missoula Community School since August 2021. She is originally from Missoula and after graduating from the University of Montana in 2008, took a big leap of faith and moved to sunny San Diego, living there for 14 years and working as a paraprofessional in a school district. She has an extensive experience working with children as a teaching assistant and paraprofessional, and received her Board Certified Assistant Jessie is also a certified sleep consultant, supporting children and families in the Missoula community.

Her hobbies include, reading, traveling, wine tasting, happy hour, spa days, hiking, sports (Go Patriots!), and skiing now that she’s back in the snow!

Lead Toddler Teacher

Sara grew up in a small town in northern Minnesota. After graduating high school she moved to Montana to attend the University of Montana, and when the opportunity to attend a short term school in Hawaii came up she snatched it up. After completing this program, she returned to Missoula and rediscovered her passion for working with kids. After spending three years as a full time nanny she embarked on her next adventure as a preschool teacher at Missoula Community School.

In Sara’s spare time she enjoys being outdoors, painting, reading mystery novels, and spending time with her family and friends. Sara is excited to teach and grow with every staff member and to watch each child flourish in their own way.

Assistant Toddler Teacher

Hattie is glad to be a part of the MCS team as an assistant teacher.  She is originally from Hong Kong and has lived in Missoula for 10 years.

Hattie has worked in both Montessori and Waldorf schools internationally.   While attending the U of M, Hattie worked in day care settings and offered in-home childcare to friends and neighbors. 

After graduating from U of M, Hattie took a break from childcare and worked in a confectionery kitchen for 5 years. She returned to teaching in 2023 and finds joy and happiness in guiding students to become kind, helpful, and inquisitive learners. 

Lead Toddler Teacher

Kiera O’Boyle is a passionate early childhood teacher entering her 3rd year in the field! She holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Human and Family Development. She works well with social-emotional regulation and helping children express and understand their emotions, and fostering conscious discipline. She wants to support a safe place and belonging for each child in her care. When she's not at school, she enjoys time with her loving fiancé, Luke, hiking in the wilderness, or snuggling her orange kitty Benson.

Assistant Toddler Teacher

Mackenzi was born and raised in west Texas, the land of big tumbleweeds and great tacos. She came to Missoula in the summer of 2019 for a six-week photography program. During that short time she fell in love with the mountains and dreamed of coming back—and she got her wish last year! When she’s not exploring outside you can find her touring the local coffee shops, baking, or trying her hand at watercolor. 

Mackenzi loves working with children and has worked a combined total of 9 years as a nanny. She also has experience as a substitute teacher in a Montessori preschool. She has a passion for fostering independent discovery and building life-skills. She is excited to be a part of an education program that shares these values. 

Lead Teacher

Angie was born in Connecticut and after a few years in Colorado, came to Montana and has lived here ever since. She graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Elementary Education in 2005.

Angie has worked with children of all ages for close to 20 years, but teaching preschool is definitely her favorite! She enjoys reading, drawing, gardening, hiking, paddle boarding and going to the Griz games with her husband.  Angie loves spending time with her family and hanging out with her dogs and cats. She is so excited to be a teacher here at Missoula Community School!

Assistant Teacher

Sarah is originally from Reno, NV but moved to Missoula in 2018. For as long as she can remember, her mom has run an in-home daycare, so she has been working with children since childhood. Sarah graduated from The University of Montana with degrees in Theatre Education and English Teaching. While at the university, she worked for the ASUM Childcare and taught theatre classes to K-12 students at Missoula Children’s Theatre for a few summers. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and playing video games and DND, reading, performing or volunteering at MCT, and spending time with her friends, family, partner, and kitty.

Lead Teacher

Brooke graduated in May 2025 with a Master’s of Education focusing specifically on early childhood education. She has three years of classroom experience and is SO excited to combine her education with her experience in the Otter classroom. Brooke utilizes Conscious Discipline, a social-emotional learning framework, project-based learning, and early literacy as guiding principles in her classroom.

When not at work, you can find Brooke cuddled up with her cat Bijou, spending time with her friends, or watching a movie with loved ones.

Assistant Teacher

Gemma graduated with a degree in Political Science in May 2025. She has three years of childcare experience and a passion for caring for children. Gemma is originally from Anacortes, WA, but she has lived in Montana for the past eight years. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming in the river, camping, and listening to live music!

Lead Pre-K Teacher

Eliza is a passionate educator entering her 2nd year in the field! She continues her education in early childhood with a background in special education. She supports play-based learning and is passionate about highlighting each child’s special skills while incorporating the community and nature in the classroom. Her dedication to early learners and building strong foundations is a perfect fit for MCS. When she's not at school, she enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, felt crafts, reading, and playing card games with her family.

Assistant Pre-K Teacher

Crystal is a passionate educator with nearly a decade of experience, both abroad and in the U.S. Holding a B.A. in Liberal Studies, a minor in Spanish, a Bilingual Authorization (BCLAD), a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and an M.S. in Education with a specialization in Pedagogy, she is dedicated to inspiring every child she teaches. Crystal has taught English as a Foreign Language, Spanish, and first and fourth grades. She believes every child has incredible potential and strives to help them grow into the most fulfilled versions of themselves. Always eager to learn, she never turns down an opportunity to read the latest research in child-rearing and bilingual education. Outside of the classroom, Crystal is a devoted mama and wife, and a lover of dance, kayaking, traveling, and watercolor painting.

Hummingbird and Aftercare Teacher

Meghan is very excited to be back at MCS, as she worked here in the 2023-2024 school year. Originally from Toledo, OH, Meghan moved onto an off-grid ranch in the mountains outside of Frenchtown and lived there for the first 4 years of her time here in Montana. It was a huge adjustment going from city life to completely rural, and mild winters to intense cold, but she wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Meghan currently lives with her fiancé in Missoula, and they are expecting their first child in February. In her free time, you can catch Meghan playing video games, reading, and getting as many cuddles in as she can with her cats. 

She is looking forward to getting to know the MCS learners more and is thankful for the feeling of community MCS has!  

Hummingbird Teacher / Lead Aftercare Teacher

Growing up in Western Montana, Jackie has a deep love for the outdoors and lives in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. She found her passion for early childhood education in 2022 when she worked at her first childcare facility as a teacher for two-year-olds. From her early days of babysitting to working as a teacher, Jackie has always loved being a part of the growth and learning of young children.

Jackie brings a lot of heart and experience to the Hummingbird classroom. She has a Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate through Penn Foster and has spent nearly twenty years as a Bowhunter Education instructor. Whether she is coaching baseball and basketball through the All Valley program or working with programs for teenage girls, Jackie’s favorite part of the job is watching children grow and learn.

When she is not in the classroom, Jackie is almost always enjoying the outdoors. She loves all types of recreation, from hunting and swimming to snowshoeing—she just loves being in nature! She also has a passion for outdoor photography, reading, painting, and embroidery. Above all, her favorite hobby is sitting on a mountain side glassing for animals, but bears are her favorite to find.

Hummingbird Teacher

The Missoula Community School is excited to welcome its new assistant teacher, Aliyah Kipp! She holds an A.A in General Studies and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Montana. She is in her first year of graduate school in the clinical mental health counseling program. She has a passion for working with early childhood and facilitating positive experiences and strengthening the children’s multicultural worldview. When she's not at school, she enjoys her time spent with her partner, Tommy, and their rescue dog, Red. She loves to bead, create art, and spend time in nature. She is so excited for a new school year spent with the kiddos!

Aftercare Teacher and Substitute Teacher

Teacher Lisa comes to us from a northeastern Montana farming community. She has a large extended family and is the youngest of 25 cousins. As a child, Teacher Lisa loved reading and playing on her family’s working farm - with cows, horses, chickens, pigs, cats, dogs, and sometimes a lamb or two - growing her imagination, and honing her baking skills with mud pies for all. Her first niece was born was she was 12, and she’s been smitten with babies and littles ever since. Teacher Lisa has been observing and caretaking children for nearly 50 years! 

After earning degrees in Business and Elementary Education from the University of Montana, Lisa moved to New York City to teach three-year-olds at the Vanderbilt YMCA. This experience centered her teaching philosophy on patience, humor, empathy, and consistency. We see this from Teacher Lisa every day! While on the East Coast, she also became a licensed K-12 Special Educator and completed all but the thesis of her Master’s in Special Education. She returned to Montana in 2013 to be near her parents and spent the next twelve years as a paraeducator within the MCPS system.

Outside of school, Lisa can be found in her backyard planning her next garden project or snuggling with her pets: Belle, Charlotte, and Ellie. If she isn’t there, she is likely in the kitchen dancing, singing at the top of her lungs, or maybe even baking. She loves keeping in touch with friends from every chapter of her life and is incredibly excited to join the Missoula Community School team.

Substitute Teacher

Lesa started at MCS in 2006 as a part-time kindergarten teacher. Through the years, she has taught all early-childhood ages.

Lesa has a background in the fine arts, which came in handy creating rockets and castles with refrigerators boxes for the kids.

After retiring as a full-time teacher, Lesa returned as a substitute teacher in 2021.

Outside of school, Lesa trains in Aikido, which keeps her limber and feeling young. She also sews for her two grandkids, gardens and hikes.

Substitute Teacher

Amber grew up in Missoula, Montana and is excited to join the MCS team as a substitute assistant teacher! She brings nearly 12 years of experience supporting young learners in Missoula. Amber worked as a special education paraeducator at Jefferson Early Learning center for two years until she landed herself in the early literacy program, where she spent four years at both Jefferson and Chief Charlo Elementary. Previously, she provided five years of mental health and behavioral support to students at Franklin Elementary while working for Western Montana Mental Health Center. Amber graduated from The University of Montana, Missoula in 2009 with her BA in Social Work and has spent those years since serving and advocating for vulnerable populations. Preschool has been an amazing opportunity for her as she is able to focus on building relationships with children, help foster their relationships with peers, and learn through play. Play is so important! She loves teaching children how to self-advocate, learn positive social skills and be a member of a community.

When not at work, you can find Amber at home with her kitty, Henry. She also loves thrifting, crafting and a good long nap. She also likes spending time in Bigfork with her partner.