Our Staff

Chris Bridges

P.E Teacher K-8 

Chris is an Oregon Native who grew up in the Willamette Valley and moved to Central Oregon to complement his active outdoor lifestyle. In his free time he can be found hiking, paddle boarding, playing disc golf, or just soaking up some sun in his hammock. Chris graduated with a BS in General Science from the University of Oregon and a MA in Teaching from Pacific University. Since age 5 he has lived and breathed soccer, playing 4 years on his high school varsity soccer team, and later becoming a referee and coach. His passion for teaching Physical Education stems from his ability to enrich students’ lives through exercise while encouraging students to develop a personal lifelong connection to health and fitness. Chris taught P.E at OFS last year and is extremely excited to expand the P.E program this year.

David Carlson

Onsite Bend Teacher 4/5

Raised in Salem, David Carlson obtained a Secondary Education (mathematics) degree at Pacific Lutheran University before spending 15 of his next 21 years in the amazing country of China. Along the way, he taught university students, kindergarten and third grade, earned an MBA from George Fox, and raised a family cross-culturally. In Bend since 2019, he is raising four incredible children with his wife, who is an experienced homeschooler and life coach. Cooking and gardening help him relax while keeping up with his family who love camping, soccer, swimming, road trips, Chinese noodles, and blue skies. Through the years of teaching English, culture, and math, and (eventually) becoming fluent in Chinese, David loves providing students of all ages with social, creative learning experiences that expand their awareness of the world in engaging ways.

Chesney Davey

K-8 Advisor; Virtual Teacher

Chesney Davey graduated from Southern Oregon University where she earned a BA in Psychology, a Master’s in Teaching and played college soccer. She is originally from southern Oregon, but has lived all over the United States with her husband and pets she collected along the way. Before coming to OFS, she taught 2nd, 3rd, 6th-8th and 9th-12th in person and virtually. This has resulted in over 12 years of unique and rewarding teaching experiences. Chesney originally found OFS when researching future options for her four year old son and the school’s values and beliefs aligned with her educational philosophy. When she is not working in education, she is taking her kids, Atlas and Vera, to the fire station to visit their dad who is a Bend firefighter. She also might be feeding her chickens or enjoying all the outdoor activities central Oregon has to offer.

Matt Gerlach

Onsite Bend Teacher 1/2; K-8 Advisor

Mr. Matt grew up in Brookings and moved to Bend 7 years ago after completing his Master in Education with a focus on elementary at Portland State University. This will be Mr. Matt’s first year teaching full-time at Oregon Family School. In his free time Matt enjoys mountain biking, skiing, rock climbing and reading.

Tami Hall

Onsite Bend Teacher 6/7

Tami was born and raised in Washington state and obtained her degree in Education from Washington State University. She began her teaching career in 1998 in southern California and taught the majority of her years there in the upper elementary grades. In 2011, she and her family returned to the Northwest and settled in the Eagle, Idaho area. Tami then transitioned into the field of educational consulting. After 7 years of traveling and providing professional development, Tami shifted into an online educator role with Idaho Digital Learning Alliance, teaching English Language Arts to grades 4th-6th. Tami and her family are relocating from Idaho to the Bend area and look forward to this new adventure. She enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Becca Hammagren

Advisor, K-8, Special Assignments

Born in Bend, Oregon, Becca grew up in Central Oregon. She graduated from Oregon State University with a BS in Elementary Education and Human Development and Family Services. She is endorsed to teach K-8 and has an ESOL endorsement. Before starting her family, Becca worked as a 1st grade teacher in Corvallis, Oregon. She has three awesome and adventurous boys and has been with Oregon Family School since 2019. Recently she and her family relocated to Idaho and she is advising families and working on special assignments this year. In her free time she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, date nights with her husband, and occasionally loves to take a nap.

Alexa Hansen

Virtual Teacher/ Barton Tutor

Ms. Alexa was born and raised in Tigard, Oregon and received her degree from Oregon State University in Child Development. She started working at Oregon Family School in 2020 as an Educational Assistant. This summer she moved to Houston, Texas and works virtually as an IEW teacher and Barton tutor. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and playing with her golden retriever, Dixie.

Kerry Hinton

Virtual Teacher; K-8 Advisor

Kerry Hinton graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in Liberal Arts & Elementary Education, followed by an MS in Curriculum and Instruction. She began her teaching career in Malibu, California with an ocean view from her classroom door, while at the same time serving as a Master Teacher for Pepperdine, mentoring student teachers after being nominated as a California New Teacher of the Year for her school district. Following a move to Central Oregon in 1994, she taught in the Bend-LaPine School District. The birth of twin daughters, followed by two sons, lead her to stay home and begin schooling her own children. Kerry is a founding teacher of Oregon Family School and was initially a volunteer teacher for community days in 2016 when OFS was meeting at The Environmental Center in downtown Bend. Kerry loves partnering with families in their educational journey to support and encourage families taking this path. Kerry works with middle school students in the area of literature and writing. Outside of school, Kerry can be found deep under the sea scuba diving, floating the river, ocean side enjoying a sunny beach, or camping by a lake whenever possible.

Esther Hoedl

Onsite Teacher 2/3 LaPine, Barton Tutor, & EA

Esther grew up in Portland, Oregon. She moved to Bend 6 years ago to attend Oregon State University Cascades. Last year she began working with Oregon Family School as an Educational Assistant. This year she is excited to teach her own 2nd-3rd grade class in LaPine on Thursdays. In addition, Esther will also be an Educational Assistant in Bend on Tuesdays and is a Barton tutor during the week. In her free time she loves to adventure outside and explore Central Oregon.

Kathy Howard

Onsite La Pine Teacher 1/2; K-8 Advisor

Ms. Kathy was born and raised in Newberg, Oregon. She married her high school sweetheart, Scott, and they have 2 children, Hailey and Brendan. After living in Newberg their whole lives they made the big move to Bend in 2019. They have really loved Bend since the day they arrived and feel truly blessed to be here! Ms. Kathy obtained her BA in Early Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish and an ESL endorsement from Western Oregon University in 2001. She began teaching private Kindergarten locally and led an after school enrichment program which quickly led to a position as Center Director. Ms. Kathy pursued a new passion as a Birth-Three Lead Teacher at the Nike Child Development campus in Beaverton, Oregon. While her experience at Nike was rewarding, Ms. Kathy has always had a passion for returning to the K-2 grade level. She has been excited and very grateful to gain this opportunity at Oregon Family School. Outside of OFS, Ms. Kathy enjoys walking her miniature Aussie, Cami, hiking, bowling, and traveling!

Amy James

K-8 Advisor

Ms. Amy graduated from George Fox University with both a BA in Communication Arts and an MA in Teaching. As a resident of Central Oregon for over 20 years, she has worked in private, public, and charter schools throughout the area. She has also been a Kindermusik educator for over 10 years and coached parents on how to make the most of the learning opportunities in their child’s early years. As a homeschool mom herself, she’s excited to partner with parents in an encouraging and supportive environment that honors the importance of their involvement in their child’s education and she’s very familiar with the joys and struggles of this journey. When not in a classroom on campus, online, or at home, you’ll most likely find her and her family at the theatre or on their 17-acre ranch where they soon hope to raise cows, pigs, goats, and alpacas.

Shelly Jenkins

Virtual Teacher; K-8 Advisor

Ms. Shelly graduated from Fresno State University with her Teaching Credential and was an Elementary Educator for many years in the Central Valley and Coast of California. She moved to Bend in 2008 and taught 4th grade for the Redmond School District. Shelly has 2 daughters and when they became school age she decided to begin homeschooling. It was during this time that she was introduced to Oregon Family School. When her oldest daughter started Kindergarten she began teaching at Oregon Family School. Ms. Shelly and her daughters have really enjoyed the friendships they have made through OFS. It has been a wonderful fit for their family and enabled them the freedom to spend more time together. Ms. Shelly has over 25 years of teaching experience in grades K-8th but has really enjoyed the adventure of homeschooling and working at OFS the best! Their family recently moved to be the caretakers of a Youth Camp in Southern Oregon. She teaches virtually on Mondays and gets to meet with other homeschool families during the week as an advisor.

Tiffany Jinings

Onsite Redmond Teacher 4/5; K-8 Advisor

Ms. Tiffany Jinings is excited to share her love of education and learning with you! As a lifelong learner, she has obtained a BS from Portland State University, then on to Willamette University for her MA in Teaching. She has over 50 graduate credits beyond her Master’s degree in focused teaching related classes, with both Reading and English Language Learner Endorsements. Her 15 years of prior teaching experience are mainly in 4th-5th grades, with some Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade experience as well. After having a baby, Tiffany decided to take off a few years to spend time with her daughter. In her free time she loves baking, hiking, spending time with her family, camping, and swimming. Tiffany found Oregon Family School while looking for homeschool opportunities for her now elementary age daughter. Loving the differences from a traditional school, she decided it would be a great fit for her family and is excited to extend this journey through teaching and family advising.

Valerie Leonard

Onsite Redmond & LaPine Teacher K; K-8 Advisor

Ms. Valerie earned her teaching degree from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon over 20 years ago and moved to Central Oregon right after she graduated. She has enjoyed teaching in various roles through the years as an educator in public and private schools, as a tutor, and homeschool mom. Valerie discovered Oregon Family School when searching for a homeschool support community for her son. She enjoys being part of OFS, first as a parent and substitute, and now as an advisor and teacher. She loves to inspire students, helping them discover how learning can be fun and enjoys celebrating the uniqueness of each child. In her free time you’ll find her out on a hike with her son and border collie, Molly, or possibly gardening, floating the river, doing yoga, baking, and maybe even playing some pickleball!

Leanna Long

Onsite Redmond Teacher 3/4; K-8 Advisor

Ms. Long is a Central Oregon native who has been active in the local home education community in various ways for over 30 years. She home educated her three children through high school and taught local home education classes in her home and with various co-ops. She functioned both as an Essentials Tutor and Challenge A and B Director for Classical Conversations. She is proud to have lead a local group of students to the state level of Mock Trial in 2012. As a certified teacher she has held positions in local brick and mortar schools as well as charter schools. Her passion for supporting parents and students is evident as she builds strong relationships with them. In her free time she loves to get outside and hike or kayak, read books, or just hangout with friends and family.

Tami Mahaffey

Music Teacher – K-8

Ms. Tami graduated with her music degree in 1987, performing in 5 groups on extended tours representing Eugene Bible College throughout the United States. Tami teaches the K-8 in person and virtual music classes at all 3 campus locations and the high school music appreciation virtual class. She has performed and directed music (band, choir, musical theater, and general music virtual classes) at several schools and churches throughout her career and has worked at Oregon Family School since the school began. Tami homeschooled her children while participating in community theater with them. She is a composer and recently wrote a musical (The Oregon Trail Adventure) which featured students from OFS in 5 performances in Bend, Redmond, and LaPine. She is passionate at facilitating ways for students to explore their own talents both individually and in a group setting. Tami and her talented son also puts together the in person and virtual OFS talent shows. She is married to Bob, the OFS Facilities Manager, and together they have 5 beautiful children and 3 grandchildren. Tami loves decorating wedding cakes in her spare time.

Kelly McAfee

Virtual & Onsite Redmond Teacher 2/3; K-8 Advisor

Ms. Kelly teaches 2nd-3rd grade, is a K-8 Family Advisor, and a Teaching Textbooks Level 3 teacher. She has lived in Central Oregon for over 40 years. She grew up in Sisters and graduated from Redmond High School. Ms. Kelly received a BA in Psychology and Health from Western Oregon University. She worked as a residential counselor for at-risk teenage girls for 4 years. She received her MA in Education from Eastern Oregon University. Ms. Kelly’s first teaching position was at Sister’s High School as a Health/PE and Child Development and Independent Living teacher. She has taught at LaPine High School as a Health/PE and Child Development teacher and part-time counselor. Ms. Kelly has homeschooled her 4 wonderful kiddos for 15 years. Her oldest daughter graduated in 2013 and is now married, living in Maryland, and expecting their first child. Her son is a freshman at Grand Canyon University studying mechanical engineering. Her twin daughters are finishing up their senior year at Sisters High School. Ms. Kelly finds it a privilege to serve other homeschool families through Oregon Family School. She enjoys hiking, sewing, and gardening in her free time.

Tina Mensing

Virtual Teacher; K-8 Advisor

Tina Mensing moved back to Central Oregon in 2018. She is happy to be back in this area and excited to be a part of Oregon Family School. Tina has taught in both public and private schools and also homeschooled her own three children. She received her teaching certification in Idaho where she taught at a small two-room elementary school. Her passion is to help students love learning and spark curiosity with hands-on activities that build community. Tina loves anything outside! Hiking, biking, or paddle boarding with her family are just a few of the things that you will find her and her family doing in this beautiful area.

Stephanie Molletta

Onsite Bend Teacher 2/3; K-8 Advisor

Stephanie Molletta graduated with her BA in Psychology from Shorter University in Rome, Georgia and later went on to receive her Education degree from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Stephanie believes a positive classroom atmosphere is the most important groundwork for learning and development. After working in the school system and then later homeschooling her own kids, she believes Oregon Family School is a perfect fit for her and she’s excited for the opportunity to be teaching here.

Sara Monda

Virtual Teacher; Onsite EA Bend

Sarah is an Oregon native who has recently returned to the area after a decade of teaching abroad in China. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon in 2007. In 2009, she left Oregon to teach in Wenzhou, China. In 2015, Sarah returned briefly to the US and obtained her Master of Education degree in Curriculum Design and Instruction from Concordia University before accepting a teaching position in Shanghai where she lived for the next 7 years before returning to Oregon. This is her second year working for Oregon Family school. Sarah enjoys outdoor activities, photography, knitting, crochet, and volleyball.

Guy Reuveni

Onsite LaPine Teacher 4/5; Onsite Redmond EA

Guy Reuveni is in his second year at Oregon Family School. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and lived in many different locations around the globe. He has worked with kids in many different environments including overnight summer camps, after school activities, and inside many classrooms. He has worked with young adults in drug and alcohol treatment centers and enjoys working with people overall. Guy loves to be active and outdoors, whether it is going on a trail run or spending some time in the gym.

Cassi Riggs

K-8 Advisor / Lead Barton Tutor

Cassi Riggs is originally from Minnesota but lived in Arizona for 4 years before moving to Bend in July of 2020. She graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis with her BA in Elementary Education with Communication/Language Arts as a middle school speciality. She completed reading endorsement classes at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota as part of an MA program. She has been teaching for 17 years and this is her 3rd year at Oregon Family School. All throughout her educational career she had teachers that made a difference in her life and she wants to be that for some student out there that needs that connection and support. Cassi and her husband have 3 kids and they enjoy being outdoors and doing things together. They also love to travel and take a road trip to a state park each summer. Cassi also loves to read and learn new things. This love is contagious and many of her students love learning as well!

Chris Samaras

Onsite Bend Teacher K; K-8 Advisor

Chris has been teaching for the past 18 years and has primarily worked at the kindergarten grade level.. Chris has a passion for teaching young learners. She has a MA Degree in Education from Southern Oregon University with a focus on early childhood/elementary education. In her free time Chris can be found rock climbing, running, or working on various crafts. Chris has a beautiful 15 year old daughter and enjoys her pet tortoise, Mango, her cat, Lola, and her dog, Gracie.

Chris Talcott

Onsite Bend Teacher 7/8; K-8 Advisor; HS Bridge Coordinator

Chris grew up in the Midwest surrounded by cornfields and soybeans. After graduating high school, he spent his summers exploring the wilderness in New Hampshire and fell in love with the outdoors. Somehow managing to also graduate from college in Chicago, he began traveling and ended up in the mountains of France teaching American English to high school students. After returning to the States, he continued working with youth in various capacities including as a teacher, a youth program director, a camp director, and as a coach. He also spent a couple years working for an adventure based tour company guiding people on adventure trips all over North America. Chris brings an enthusiasm for life, adventure, and challenge into his classroom and hopes to instill in his students a love of learning and growing. His love for the outdoors brought him and his family to Bend. He and his wife are both endurance athletes, always itching for the next big challenge. When not in the classroom, you’ll likely find him on a trail running with his wife, hiking with his kids, or trying to keep his 4 year old son free of broken bones at the skatepark. His motto for teaching middle school is “Just embrace the crazy.”

Diane Taylor

Onsite Bend Teacher 5/6; K-8 Advisor

Diane is passionate about teaching and lifelong learning and has been an educator for over 20 years. She worked as a public elementary school teacher, homeschool teacher, and founded a tutoring/ACT Prep company. She has a BA Degree in Political Economy from Colorado College, a K-8 Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, and an MA in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Reading Specialist minor. Diane has lived in Bend for 23 years and raised 2 daughters who are now working as engineers. In her free time, she loves to read, play tennis, and hike.

Jason Tierney

Virtual Teacher; Onsite Redmond/La Pine Teacher 6/7/8; K-8 Advisor

Jason is in his second full year at Oregon Family School. He started teaching in 1995 and has taught elementary, middle, and high school classes in both public and private schools. His excitement and enthusiasm in the classroom hasn’t diminished. In fact, it seems to grow with each passing year! He grew up in Bend and graduated as a Lava Bear in 1987. He enjoys skiing, hiking, and body surfing in the summertime. After 30 years in California, attending college and teaching in Long Beach and Los Angeles, he returned to Central Oregon to continue his career in education and come back to his boyhood home.

Victoria Tolbert

Virtual Teacher; Onsite Redmond Teacher 1/2; K-8 Advisor

Ms. Victoria has been teaching Kindergartners, 1st, and 2nd graders for 12 years with a short break in the middle to stay at home with her little girls, Ada, 10, and Maddie, 7. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a BA in Elementary Education and has enjoyed teaching in traditional public schools, an inquiry based charter school that focused on project based learning, as well as Oregon Family School. Most of her teaching career has been in North Carolina where her family moved from in January 2019. Although North Carolina was wonderful, they have absolutely fallen in love with Oregon’s beauty and abundance of genuinely kind people! Ms. Victoria believes in a school environment where students are comfortable, free to move, involved in the learning process, and immersed in experiences.

Heather Wieber

K-8 Advisor

Heather started at Oregon Family School last year teaching 4th-5th grade on the Bend campus. This year she is taking on a new role as an advisor. She and her husband consider themselves native Oregonians. They have lived in Central Oregon for 25 years. They love the outdoors and enjoy riding bikes, playing pickleball, hiking, and fly fishing. They have two grown children who are married and live in Wyoming and Nebraska. They are enjoying their FaceTime visits with their new 5 month old grandbaby. Heather loves teaching any age. Foreign languages and art are some of her favorites things to teach.

Jenny Wright

K-8 Advisor; Onsite Teacher 7/8 LaPine 

Ms. Jenny is excited to be teaching middle school again and working with homeschooling families. She has taught in public and private schools in California and has homeschooled her two children. Jenny has a degree in history and education from Cal State Fullerton and a background in theatre and historical reenactment. In her free time she enjoys nature journaling, going on adventures with her family, tap dancing, and baking. Jenny is excited to be a part of the OFS family.

Savannah Arthur

HS Advisor / Counselor

Savannah was born and raised in Gold Beach, Oregon. Soon after graduating from high school, she enlisted in the Army where she met her husband of 13 years. They have four children ranging in ages from 2-10 years and currently live in Oakridge. Savannah enjoys crocheting, cooking and baking, target shooting, dirt biking, and spending time on the river with her family. She graduated from Lewis-Clark State College in 2017 with a BA in English and Secondary Education, and a minor in Special Education. She has attained a MA in School Counseling in 2022. After previously working as a special education teacher and school counselor, Savannah is excited to support students and families as an advisor and counselor.

Janice Cabahug

HS Teacher

With several years of industry and teaching experience, Janice Cabahug is the CTE and virtual computer science teacher at Oregon Family School in Bend. With a MA in Education, and in the process of pursuing a doctoral, Janice very much believes that there is no one-size-fits-all model for learning and motivation varies for every individual. Her goal is to instill a passion and love of learning in every student she works with. Outside of teaching and learning, she loves diving, crafts, cooking, research, sleeping under the stars, and spending time with her children.

Sam Cronin

HS Advisor / Teacher

A native Oregonian, Sam Cronin has spent the last 16 years in special education before making the jump to Oregon Family School as a high school advisor/virtual teacher. Twelve of those years were spent in high schools in the Boise area where he taught or provided interventions for students from freshman to senior, English to math, and many subjects in between. He is excited to join the OFS community where he will continue his passion of working alongside parents to help their students excel in the high school arena. Much of what he learned in the special education classroom translates into the types of interactions required to help students and families enjoy a successful experience at OFS. He lives in Redmond with his beautiful wife and first grade son.

Paul Harris

HS Teacher; CTE

Paul has led dozens of mountain classroom trips, showing kids the great outdoors for over 25 years. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder. He loves to bird, rock climb, canoe, paddle board, camp, hike, boulder, kayak, swim, climb trees, identify trees and flowers… if it’s outside, he wants to be there. Paul graduated from George Fox University with a MA in Teaching and a BA in Biology. He grew up and lives in Redmond. He’s married to Danielle, an Oregon Family School advisor, and is a proud dad to Elsa, Greta, Ingrid, and Dagne, and a proud papa to Carlo.

Danielle Harris

HS Advisor

Danielle earned a MA in Teaching and a BS in Writing and Literature from George Fox University. She is married to Paul, an Oregon Family School teacher. Although she has taught and tutored in a variety of subjects and positions, her main teaching role was homeschooling their four daughters, Elsa, Greta, Ingrid, and Dagne. She has written for a variety of magazines and newspapers and she is a freelance copywriter for businesses. She loves to play pickleball, travel, bird, hike, camp with Paul, and to read and write. She loves being a nana to her grandson, Carlo.

Teri Heaton

HS Advisor / Teacher

Ms. Teri is delighted to teach language arts alongside the Oregon Family School team this year. She has taught various subjects in assorted settings for over twenty years including German and public speaking to middle and high school students, computer applications and keyboarding to K-12 private school students, ninth grade composition and literature, and senior British literature and composition. On her favorite list of teaching experiences is her work over the past ten years diving into the classical model of learning with her own three daughters and incredible homeschool communities in Central Oregon and Katy, Texas. A snapshot of her leisure moments includes drinking chai tea, sitting by the fire, and enjoying the closeness of family.

Nathan Jenkinson (Long)

HS Teacher

Mr. Nathan joined OFS in 2018 as a math specialist and Geometry teacher. With degrees in Mathematics and Data Analytics as well as a background in tutoring, he now shares the HS math teaching positions, provides mathematics education support to the staff, and assists with the school’s data organization and use. When not enthusiastically going on and on about math and/or spreadsheets, he enjoys interactive storytelling, improv, and tabletop games with friends.

Jasen Lynch

HS Advisor

Jasen Lynch has been working in various student success roles for over 10 years, four of which were spent as an academic advisor for college students. He is passionate about helping others identify and achieve their goals and overcome their obstacles, believing that with the proper mindset anything is possible. He earned a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science – Applied Ecology from Oregon State University, and he uses many of these ecological principles to understand and improve the health and prosperity of people and their communities. Jasen loves to garden, cook, play games, and explore the outdoors.

Amanda McDermott

HS Advisor / Teacher

Amanda began working with teens before she graduated from college. She has always been drawn to the adolescent stage because it is a time of tremendous cognitive and personal development. Her roles have included co-founding a community center for teens, counseling at an adolescent psychiatric treatment center, and coordinating a mentor program for teen mothers. Having always loved literature and writing, Amanda became a high school English teacher in 2007. She earned her MA in Education and served as a teacher for 13 years in high school and university settings in the areas of English Language Arts, Special Education, and Teacher Education. Amanda recently added a Coaching certificate to her toolbox and is excited to bring the growth mindset of Coaching to her role as High School Advisor with Oregon Family School. Amanda is an Oregon native who moved from Portland to Bend in 2019. Outside of work, Amanda loves spending time with her husband and their two young boys, cross-country skiing, trail running, reading, writing, and having dance parties in the kitchen.

Mark Schulz

HS Advisor

Mark Schulz is a native Oregonian born in Tigard and moved to Bend in 1994.  He is a graduate of Oregon State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology.  He has since earned his teaching credential from Oregon State Cascades and a Masters in Education from Eastern Oregon University.  Mark taught and coached for the Bend LaPine School district for 26 years.  This is Mark’s second year as an advisor for Oregon Family School.  He has been married to his wife for 26 years and has three sons Luke (22), Titus (20) and Job (18).  He loves to spend time with them doing anything outdoors, especially fly fishing.

Sara Jo Slate

Onsite Bend HS Teacher & EA

Sara Jo Slate earned a BA from Wellesley College, MA in Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and is a Chicagoan who moved to Central Oregon in 2004. With 13 years of experience homeschooling her two children and a background in classroom teaching and youth leadership, Sara Jo’s teaching style is driven by her interest in educational research. Highlights of her career as an educator include establishing an in-school alternative program at Grants Pass High School, working with Boston youth to promote school reform through the Center for Teen Empowerment, and teaching at an elementary school in Morocco. In her free time, Sara Jo loves to dance, spend time with her family on the river, and take care of her three rescue dogs. She has worked as a choreographer on and off for the past 20 years and has choreographed for both the Metropolitan Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Reli Bird

Onsite LaPine EA

Reli is a logger’s wife for 13 years and a happy homeschooling mom to a wonderful and happy 11 year old boy (Garry Bird Jr). An immigrant from Indonesia, earned a philosophy degree from Bandung University. She is a proud and love being a citizen of USA for 8 years. Love cooking, fishing, hunting, gardening, taking her son to his sports practice and helping her husband process firewood to heat their home.

Austin Breedlove

Onsite High School EA Bend & Redmond

Austin was born and raised in Blue Springs MO. He joined Oregon Family School in 2021 as an educational assistant He received his Associates degree in 2022. And he is working on his bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in his free time. He enjoys cooking with his family and friends after school.

Ashley Burnell

Onsite Bend EA

A fellow homeschool mother, Ashley has been with Oregon Family School from the beginning and she is delighted to now be a staff member. She finds joy in creating a safe and structured environment for all people. Ashley has worked with children for over 25 years. When not hard at work, Ashley enjoys hanging out with her family, drinking coffee, lifting weights, hiking, playing volleyball, meeting new people, and learning anything new.

Kristin Curtis

Reading Specialist

Kristin Curtis has over 16 years of experience working with neurodivergent students in and out of the classroom. She has her MA in Reading Instruction from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and holds an Oregon Professional Teaching license with endorsements in ESOL and Reading. Kristin is a member of the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators at the Associate level and is certified through the International Dyslexia Association as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist. When Kristin is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, mountain bike riding, snowboarding, walking her dog, and traveling.

Rachel Curtis

Virtual & Onsite Bend EA; Admin Support

Rachel grew up in Washington State and earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Washington State University. She has worked for many years in education in different capacities and has a passion for seeing children and families learn and thrive. She moved to Central Oregon in 2023 and loves living here. She has two beautiful daughters who also attend OFS. She enjoys the outdoors, swimming in the summer, and seeing the mountains. She is passionate about helping the vulnerable and oppressed and spends some of her free time encouraging those in tough situations.

Nancy Gonzalez

Virtual & Onsite Bend EA

Ms. Nancy was born and raised in San Jose, California where she attended and graduated from San Jose State University with a BS in Business Management. After working in the payroll industry for several years, she opened a small daycare for kindergarten students for 10 years. She also worked as an Educational Assistant at her kid’s school for 8 years. Working with kids became her passion. Relocating to Bend in August of 2021, she found her Oregon Family School family. This will be her 2nd year as an Educational Assistant for the virtual high school ELA classes and also for 1st-2nd grade. In her spare time, Ms. Nancy loves to spend time with her three adult children, either visiting with her son who lives in Washington DC, or hanging with her other son and daughter when they are home on college breaks from CU Boulder and Gonzaga. She also loves to spend time exploring Bend and other parts of Central Oregon with her fur baby, Luke.

Alexa Hansen

Virtual Teacher / Barton Tutor

Ms. Alexa was born and raised in Tigard, Oregon and received her degree from Oregon State University in Child Development. She started working at Oregon Family School in 2020 as an Educational Assistant. This summer she moved to Houston, Texas and works virtually as an IEW teacher and Barton tutor. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and playing with her golden retriever, Dixie.

Savannah Hargett

Onsite Redmond & La Pine EA, Enrichments Coordinator

Ms. Savannah moved to Oregon from North Carolina a year ago where she worked with a summer collegiate baseball team. Working at Oregon Family School is her first time working in education and she has been loving this new experience. She graduated from Western Carolina University with a BA in Sport Management and Marketing. Ms. Savannah loves being outdoors and keeping up with all of her favorite sports teams.

Jill Harrell

MAP Assessment Coordinator

Jill (Miss Harrell as some kids know her) has taught elementary school in Bend since 2003. She received her BA in Anthropology with a minor in Archaeology from the University of Maryland before earning her MA in Teaching from George Fox University. As a Forest Service Archaeologist, Jill backpacked throughout the United States, researching Native prehistory within some of America’s most beautiful ecosystems. A STEM and math nerd, Jill balances that trend with the simple farm life east of Bend. She and her husband, Mike, have 2 sons, 6 dairy goats, 17 chickens, 2 dogs, and a cat. When they are not working you can find them kayaking, backpacking, camping, and cycling around the world. This year Jill has a new Oregon Family School position as the MAP Assessment Coordinator. Her motto: “Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing” Helen Keller.

Rian Kilgore

Onsite Bend EA

Rian Kilgore was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Vancouver, Washington. Rian joined the military at the age of 23 and served 6 years in the United States Air Force as an air traffic controller, both stateside and overseas. After his time in the military, he continued to work in air traffic overseas and in California before deciding to return to Oregon to attend college at Oregon State University. This is Rian’s second year with Oregon Family School as an Educational Assistant in the kindergarten class on the Bend campus.

Barbara Lang

Virtual & Onsite Redmond EA

Mrs. Lang is new to the area, relocating with her husband in June 2022 from San Jose, California following his retirement. A credentialed teacher, she taught primary grades for a total of 22 years, sneaking in a 10-year hiatus to enjoy raising their 2 kids when they were young. Ian, 26, is an engineer and Annika, 21, is a visual-effects artist. Mrs. Lang is looking forward to supporting the great work that Oregon Family School teachers do in a role that will allow her to continue helping kids thrive! In her free time, she’s likely bouldering, hiking, trail-running, and/or day-dreaming of their kids’ next visit to their new home in Bend.

Amber Mahaffey

Onsite Bend EA

Ms. Amber has worked as a full time Educational Assistant at Oregon Family School for 3 years. She is an artist of different mediums and has been hired for her art skill sets for graphic art projects, movie projects, and other works. Ms.Amber enjoys drinking coffee, drawing, shopping, playing video games, and spending time with her husband and son.

Tania Rebolledo

Onsite & Virtual EA; High School Front Desk

Tania was born and raised in Yucatan Mexico. She moved to Central Oregon 10 years ago from San Diego to enjoy the outdoors with her three beautiful children. Her love for children and especially those developing English as a 2nd language has sent her on a trajectory towards education. Tania has shown excellent leadership skills as DLAC President for the SMUSD and DLAC representative for Paloma Elementary in helping to promote partnership between the school community, school personnel and the district. Tania has worked closely with the Director of Special Programs and advised the school board of developing a comprehensive program that will benefit our English Language Learners. Tania’s compassion and dedication resonates in her opinions and ideas at the DLAC & ELAC meetings. She is a passionate speaker. Tania’s education includes Certification of Awards in the following: Property Management, General Office Skills, Essentials of Communication with Diplomacy and Professionalism, Coaching and Team-Building Schools for Managers and Supervisors, Commercial Secretary, Childcare Provider Certification, CPR Certified, EA Certification. At the moment she is taking classes at COCC for Early Childhood Development. In her free time she enjoys being with her children either traveling, swimming, hiking, bicking, drawing or writing poems.

Sandra Thompson

Onsite Redmond & LaPine EA

Ms. Sandra is new to Oregon Family School this year. She loves being around kids and watching them learn and grow. She previously comes from a Film and Audio Recording school. She loves archery, working out, having fun, and her chickens. She attended San Diego State University.

Amber Torgrimson

Barton Tutor

Ms. Amber is a Certified Barton Tutor for the beginning levels. Ms. Amber herself has Dyslexia and wants to help others who struggle the same way she has with reading, writing, and spelling. She has been working for Oregon Family School since 2018 and loves to see the faces of her students when they discover a new rule that will help them in their journey to become better readers and spellers.

Paige Torgrimson

Onsite Redmond & LaPine EA

Miss Paige grew up In Redmond Oregon. This is her first year at Oregon Family School as an Educational Assistant. She loves to help our youth any way she can. In her free time she enjoys going on hikes, photography, art, and has a love for all animals.

Allison Utterback

Onsite Bend & Virtual EA; Barton Tutor

Allison has a long history of being involved in education, teaching her own four children as well as tutoring and assisting teachers. She is a Phoenix native and moved to beautiful Bend 5 years ago to enjoy a slower pace of life. While life might not be as slow as she’d like (haha), she makes the most of her free time by getting outdoors to hike or paddle board with her family. She is currently in graduate school for a Master in Counseling at Townsend Institue, Concordia University. She loves to grow and learn and hopes to use all her experience to bless the OFS Community.

Lisa West

Onsite Bend EA; Barton Tutor

Miss Lisa is originally from Los Angeles, California and has lived in Oregon for 22 years. She has worked in many capacities in the school system over a span of 25 years. Lisa is an Educational Assistant as well as a Barton Tutor. She has 2 grown kids. Her daughter, Chloe, lives in Chicago, and her son, Spencer, lives in Chattanooga and builds out ravel vans. This is her 4th year at Oregon Family School. She also likes to spend as much time outdoors as possible hiking, kayaking, and hanging out with friends.

Elizabeth Wright

Onsite Bend EA

This is Elizabeth’s first year at Oregon Family School but she has been in the field of Elementary Education and Teaching for over 25 years. She was originally born and raised in Southern California, and as an adult she has lived and taught in each of the western states. She and her husband have 2 children who still live and work in California. They visit often because Bend is such a cool place to have family! Elizabeth loves everything outdoors from skiing to hiking, but is also an avid pickleball player these days.

Lyndsey Zapalac

School Counselor

Ms. Lyndsey is proud to serve Oregon Family School as the K-12 School Counselor. She is an Oregon native, raised in Astoria. She graduated from Southern Oregon University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and an MA of Education in School Counseling. Her 20 years of experience as a social worker and school counselor brings insight to unleashing the immeasurable potential of our students through building trusting relationships with them and their families. After being away from Oregon for many years, she now resides in Bend with her husband and 2 children, ages 4 and 11. As a family they enjoy all things outdoors including biking, backpacking, skiing, paddle boarding, and kayaking, along with an immense desire to find time to tap into her creative side of sewing, crafting, painting, and constantly increasing her life skills!

Jen Baxley

Bend Secretary & Admin Support

Jen moved to Bend from Vancouver, Washington 12 years ago and enjoys everything about it. She married the love of her life, Warren, three years ago and they have five children and six grandchildren between the two of them. They also have two cats, Lily and BoBo, and a puppy named Pepper. Jen loves spending time with family, hiking, paddle boarding, and listening to live music.

Kevin Breedlove

Technology & Facilities Assistant

Kevin Breedlove, a Technology and Facilities Assistant at Oregon Family School, assists in keeping our tech running smoothly and our facility in order. He believes that if a school is well-designed, well-organized, and well-maintained, it will help create a more productive learning environment. In his free time, he enjoys hanging with his family, preferably in the great outdoors. With his wife, you will find him on a leisurely walk along the river or sipping a latte at a local coffee shop. If he is with his three boys, it’s wheels in the dirt or camping. Kevin believes that anything is possible in this life; for himself, his family, our staff, and for our students, as they learn, achieve, and succeed.

Anna Kluckow

Business Manager; Admin Support

Anna was born in Oregon and loves the outdoors and the wonderful community of families in Central Oregon. She has three awesome kids that attend Oregon Family School. When Anna isn’t working on spreadsheets or homeschooling she can be found working on projects around their property or enjoying time with her amazing friends and family.

Robert Mahaffey

Facilities Manager

Mr. Bob has served Oregon Family School since 2018 in the area of Building Maintenance and oversees the daily facilities and maintenance operations. He is a former general contractor, former IICRC certified water damage specialist, as well as carpet cleaning specialist. He is a journeyman carpenter and exceptional mentor in all phases of building trades. He has supervised many crews throughout his career and is a wealth of knowledge! He is a Navy veteran. Mr. Bob is married to the OFS Music teacher, Tami. and they have 5 children and 3 grandchildren.

Donese Pogue

Special Education Liaison

Donese was born and raised in Bend, graduated from Bend High School, and is the daughter of a Bend public school teacher. She has been a classroom teacher, tutor, CASA volunteer, educational bookstore owner, and a coordinator and coach for the Battle of the Books program. Donese has been involved in the start-up of three schools, including one of the founders of Oregon Family School. She graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a BA in Elementary Education and has held an Oregon teaching license for 39 years, has an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon, and a Special Education endorsement through Eastern Oregon University. Her passions are her 3 kids, collecting books, TWD, her pets, the band Hanson, baking pumpkin chocolate chip bread, and making fudge.

Noah Reed

Technology & Purchasing Coordinator

Noah Reed graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Sociology and a focus in Computer Science. He has a passion for helping people and eventually would like to teach around the world. In his free time you will find him outside with friends, or working on various projects.

Rhonda Scheresky

Registrar; Office Manager

Rhonda grew up in Oregon and has lived in Bend for 44 years. She has spent the last 20 years as a homeschooling parent to 3 boys and has worked with kids in various capacities over the course of that time. She is excited to join Oregon Family School as the Registrar and an Administrative Assistant and hopes to begin working on her teaching degree soon. She loves the outdoors and spending time with her family. She hopes to relocate to the Midwest in the next few years as her husband retires and they begin the next season in their lives.

Cassandra Torgrimson

Receptionist Bend

Ms. Cassandra homeschooled both of her daughters through high school. She has lived in Redmond since 1999. She started working for Oregon Family School in 2019 and enjoys the opportunity to interact with homeschooling families as the receptionist on the Bend campus. When not working, she may be found hiking, doing chores on her small farm, or studying to be a Master Herbalist.

Angie Williams

Receptionist Redmond & LaPine

Angie has lived in Central Oregon for 11 years. She moved from Keizer, Oregon and fell in love with this place. She has a son who is 6 and lives on a little farm in Terrebonne. She enjoys doing things with her family, especially outdoor activities. She has a background in customer services for the last 25 years. She loves helping others and this will be her 2nd year at Oregon Family School.

Ami Zimmerman

HR & Business Manager

Ami is a Bend native who received her BA in Social Science from the University of Oregon. Her love of children started early on with babysitting but was further developed by working at a horse youth ranch in Tumalo for 6 years. Ami started working in schools as an Educational Assistant, then moved quickly into the office as Secretary and Office Manager. Once her first daughter was born she had the opportunity to become a health insurance agent while being able to work from home. This is Ami’s fourth year at Oregon Family School and she enjoys working with staff and families while focusing on the Human Resources and Business part of the school. Ami and her husband spend most of their spare time remodeling their new home, raising their 2 girls, and trying to get outside camping and hiking with their 2 Australian Shepherd dogs.