Teachers and Aides
We seek out highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals who are ready to partner with you in educating your children.
Kindergarten
Mrs. Erin Smith, Kindergarten A
Erin Smith is a Laramie native. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. Erin began working at Snowy Range Academy in 2016. She loves to read, paddleboard, and spend time with family and friends.
Mrs. Shelly Donner, Kindergarten B
Mrs. Shelly Donner has taught at Snowy Range Academy since it opened in 2002. Besides her role as a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Donner has served as a head teacher, employee representative on the board, and scheduler. She was born in Nebraska and has also lived in Rawlins, WY, and Brighton, CO. She is a 1997 B.S. Civil Engineering graduate of Colorado State University. In 1999, she completed her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction through Colorado University in Denver. Mrs. Donner enjoys paddle boarding, reading, traveling, dark chocolate, and being with her family. You will often find Mrs. Donner at the baseball fields in the spring and the football fields in the fall to watch her boys play.
first grade
MRs. Megan BROOKS, 1st Grade A
Megan Brooks was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Megan began her teaching career here at Snowy in the fall of 2023. Megan enjoys being outside and spending time with family and friends.
Mr. michael caraballo, 1st Grade B
Michael Caraballo grew up in Longmont, Colorado. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Following graduation he moved to Spokane, Washington where he taught Kindergarten for 3 years. Mr. Caraballo moved back to Laramie and began teaching at Snowy Range Academy in the fall of 2024. Outside of school Mr. Caraballo loves golfing in the summer, playing hockey in the winter, and spending time at Cowboys football games with family and friends!
second grade
Ms. Jessica Stoner, 2nd Grade A
Jessica Stoner was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado. She has an associate degree in elementary education from Laramie County Community College and a Bachelor's in elementary education from the University of Wyoming. She started teaching in 2022 and loves sharing knowledge, as well as making a difference, with all learners at the elementary level. With her free time, Jessica enjoys drawing and painting, reading, being outside, and hanging out with family and friends.
Mrs. LINDSAY CHRISTENSEN, 2nd Grade B
Mrs. Lindsay Christensen was born and raised in Lyman, WY. She moved to Laramie, WY in 2020 to attend the University of Wyoming. Lindsay graduated from UW with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in May of 2024. She began teaching 2nd grade at Snowy Range Academy in 2024. Lindsay has always loved learning, and she became a teacher to ignite that passion in others. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and their cat, visiting family, crafting, and baking.
third grade
Mrs. Carla Bayne, 3rd Grade A
Mrs. Carla Bayne graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and mathematics, and she graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2009 with a Master of Science in natural sciences. She worked in the Cherry Creek School District #1 as a classroom teacher for several years before moving to the wonderful state of Wyoming. She then worked for the Laramie County School District #1 as a classroom teacher. Mrs. Bayne has worked as a paraprofessional in the Albany County School District #1 for the past several years. In 2022, she accepted a third-grade teaching position at Snowy Range. Mrs. Bayne loves to run races and usually participates in one to two half marathons per year. In her spare time, Mrs. Bayne enjoys attending UW events, camping, skiing, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Mr. Samuel Adamson, 3rd Grade B
Mr. Adamson grew up on a ranch outside of Laramie and attended elementary school, junior high, and high school in town. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2014 with his Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. After spending three years as a substitute teacher in Albany County School District, Mr. Adamson journeyed to Northern Colorado where he got his first teaching job. He taught kindergarten in the small farming community of Galeton, Colorado for four years. Mr. Adamson started teaching at Snowy Range Academy in the fall of 2021. Some of Mr. Adamson's interests include reading, taking walks, and spending time with his family and cats.
fourth grade
Mr. Andrew Johnson, 4th Grade A
Andrew Johnson teaches 4th Grade A at Snowy Range Academy. He has been at Snowy Range Academy since 2022 and teaching since 2016. Andrew has taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade while also spending 3 years as a Math Instructional Coach. Mr. Johnson grew up in Laramie, WY and also lived in Arizona for 6 years after graduating from the University of Wyoming with his Bachelors in Elementary Education. In Mr. Johnson's free time he enjoys spending time with his two children, Ensley and Nash, and his wife, Hannah. He enjoys reading, camping, and coaching the JV Boys soccer team at LHS.
Ms. Sheila Monteith, 4th Grade B
fifth grade
Mrs. Diane Cook, 5th Grade A
Diane Cook was born in Sheridan, Wyoming and has lived in Laramie since she was two years old. She graduated with her Bachelor's in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming. She started teaching fifth grade at SRA in 2021. Diane Cook enjoys reading and baking. She and her husband have four daughters and they enjoy spending time together as a family playing board games and telling jokes.
MRS. SALLY NORTON, 5th Grade B
Sally Norton was born and raised in North Carolina. She has lived in Laramie since 2017 with her husband and two daughters. Mrs. Norton graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8) in 2019. She has been teaching in Albany County since then, with 2024 being her first year teaching at Snowy Range Academy. In her free time, she enjoys reading or being outside with her family– especially camping in the mountains or playing at the beach.
sixth - eighth grade
Mrs. Boa Byeon, 6th-8th Grade Math
Boa Byeon was born and raised in South Korea. She came to the United States in 2012 and has been in Laramie, Wyoming since then. She has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and earned Wyoming Elementary Education Teaching Certificate from University of Wyoming in 2019. She has more than 3 years of experience teaching/creating math materials. With her positive attitude and enthusiasm in teaching, she loves interacting with students, helping others and making a difference. In her free time, Boa enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.
Ms. Samantha Cripps, 6th-8th Grade Math
Ms. Cripps joined SRA in August 2009 after completing degrees in math and business education at Black Hills State University. She believes that every student can be successful in math and works diligently with students to reach their full potential. She strives to create a learning environment that is both challenging and fun which results in the enthusiasm and laughter of her students radiating from her classroom. Outside of school Ms. Cripps can be found hiking through the mountains she loves or at home sewing the parts of a quilt together.
Mrs. Kadria Drake, 6th-8th Grade Science
Kadria Drake earned her degree in education from the University of Wyoming in 2010. She started teaching that fall. Kadria has been at SRA since August 2017. Kadria is passionate about all areas of science. She worked in chemistry labs in Wyoming and Arizona during her undergraduate degree. She enjoys computing and LEGO's and bringing them together. Kadria likes to travel with her husband and 4 kids. She also enjoys sewing, baking, reading and hearing fun facts about her favorite animal the hippopotamus.
MRS. CASSANDRA BUSHMAN, 6th-8th Grade Social Studies
Originally from California, Cassandra Bushman has lived all over the United States. After over 10 years on the East Coast, Cassandra was thrilled to return to the intermountain West and has called Laramie home since 2014. A graduate of University of Utah (Go Utes!), she began teaching Social Studies in 2001 and started at Snowy Range Academy in 2024. Cassandra enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, playing games, doing puzzles and spending time with her family.
MRS. ALLISON KLIMA, 6th-8th Grade LANGUAGE ARTS
Mrs. Klima is from Miami, Florida, where she started her career as an English teacher in 2012. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Boston University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from The University of Tampa. She has had a variety of teaching experiences and has taught English to students in 6th through 12th grade, as well as one year as a K-8 librarian when she first moved to Wyoming in 2021. She has a passion for every aspect of the English language and literature, especially creative writing. If she’s not reading a book or exploring coffee shops in and around Laramie, she is spending time with her husband and two dogs.
specials
Mrs. Jessica Arnold, K-5th Grade Spanish
Jessica Arnold, also known as Señora Arnold to her students, has been working as the Snowy Range Academy Elementary Spanish teacher since the doors opened in the fall of 2002. Mrs. Arnold also teaches third through fifth grade Character Education. Señora Arnold first learned Spanish her senior year in high school while studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. Mrs. Arnold received her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish at the University of Wyoming. While at the University of Wyoming, she also spent a semester in Montevideo, Uruguay. Mrs. Arnold received her kindergarten through sixth grade Master of Education from Western New Mexico University in 2002. While studying for her masters at Western New Mexico, Mrs. Arnold taught at an elementary school on the U.S./Mexico border where she taught all of her classes and students in Spanish. Señora Arnold has also earned a kindergarten through twelfth grade Master of Education from Montana State University in 2017. She has traveled extensively to Mexico and enjoys sharing the experiences of her travels and the cultures therein with her students who love to hear the stories that she shares. Señora Arnold has proven over the years to specialize in making second language learning a success for the students at SRA through her experiences in the language and culture.
Ms. Amy Cowell, Music
Amy Cowell has taught general music, choir, and orchestra at Snowy Range Academy since 2006. Amy received her bachelor of music education degree from the University of Wyoming in 2005. She earned her master of music education degree from the University of Wyoming in 2015. Amy is an active member of the Wyoming Music Educators Association as well as the American String Teachers Association. She is also a cellist and performs regularly with the Wyoming and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestras. She also enjoys spending time with her family participating in numerous Wyoming outdoor activities.
Ms. Anne Hedderman, 6th-8th Grade Spanish and K-8th GRADE ELL
Originally from Powell, Wyoming, Ms. Hedderman has been part of the SRA community since 2015. She holds a BA in history, a MA in Spanish and certifications in ESL (English as a second language) and Spanish language education from the University of Wyoming. After college, she worked for the US Senate in Washington D.C. for two years and then spent about five years in southern Chile. While in South America, she traveled, taught English at an agricultural vocational high school and started a small tour business. Her experiences abroad strengthened her belief in the power of language as a tool for building bridges and fostering cross-cultural connections and understanding. Anne appreciates the ability to teach both English and Spanish daily at SRA. She believes that language learning is not just about learning vocabulary and grammar rules; it also opens doors to diverse worlds and opportunities. When not teaching, Anne enjoys spending time outside with her husband, two young children and dog Benny.
Mrs. Patricia Jacobsen, Librarian/Interventionist
Trish Jacobsen joined SRA in 2010 as a reading interventionist. She then taught first grade for six years before becoming our librarian in 2017. Prior to teaching at SRA, Trish was a reading interventionist, elementary teacher, and junior & senior high English teacher in Idaho and Wyoming. She enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time in the outdoors with her children.
Mrs. Laura Palmer, Physical education
After earning her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2008, Laura Palmer worked as a strength and conditioning coach and youth counselor in Turlock, California. She then moved back to her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana to open Whole New You, LLC, providing personal training and health education for families while employed with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as an adjunct instructor in the Kinesiology department. In 2014 she earned her K-12 Physical Education teaching certification in the state of Louisiana and went on to found LASOAR, the Louisiana Association of Sports, Outdoor Adventure, and Recreation, a non-profit organization based in Lafayette, Louisiana promoting the power of play and reconnecting families to the natural world, serving as chief executive officer for six years. Laura earned her Master of Science degree in Physical Education Teacher Education from the University of Wyoming in 2023 and became licensed to teach Physical Education in the state of Wyoming. She was thrilled to be hired as the Physical Education Teacher at Snowy Range Academy shortly after her graduation. When not at SRA, Laura can often be found hiking at Happy Jack, paddleboarding at Curt Gowdy, gardening, or cooking Cajun southern soul food in her kitchen.
Mrs. Megan Smerud, Instructional facilitator
Megan Smerud joined SRA in 2011. A student at heart, Megan earned an MS in elementary education with an emphasis in elementary math from Walden University in 2012 and an MA in educational leadership from the University of Wyoming in 2021. Megan also enjoys being outdoors, reading, and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Marilyn Specht, Literacy/Technology
Marilyn Specht is an interventionist for Snowy Range Academy. She is originally from Aurora, Colorado but has lived in Laramie since 2006. Mrs. Specht began working for Snowy Range Academy in 2016. She has a master's in elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. Mrs. Specht enjoys reading, math, playing music and is always ready to learn new things.
Mrs. MICHELLE VISSER, Art
Michelle Visser joined SRA in 2024 as the art teacher, however she brought with her educational experiences that span pre-K through high school classrooms. She has been an elementary teacher, museum educator, Mindfulness teacher, and art teacher. Originally from Minnesota, she moved to the Tetons in 1993 for a summer job and never left Wyoming, falling in love with the stunning landscapes and outdoor activities available here. She moved to Laramie in 1996 to complete a BA in elementary education and went on to complete an MA in Curriculum and Instruction and a BA in Studio Art at UW. Additionally, Michelle is a certified Mindfulness teacher for children. She is also involved in local efforts to support teachers in developing Place-Based curriculum, particularly as it relates to Pilot Hill. When not teaching art, Michelle is a coach for the 7220 Speedgoat high school mountain bike team, loves multi-day river trips with her husband and two sons, Ansel and Ezra. You also might catch her playing ukulele or guitar.
Mrs. Connie Klements, Resource Room
Connie Klements has been a special education teacher in Laramie for the past 23 years. She enjoys helping students with reading fluency, writing structured paragraphs and learning math facts. Outside of school Ms. Klements enjoys hiking in the Snowies, traveling and visiting her grandchildren.
Ms. Katherine Fink, Resource Room
Ms. Fink is a new member of the Laramie community, having recently moved here from Lovell. She has a long history of working in special education and is passionate about supporting all students. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and being crafty. She has two grown daughters who inspire her every day. Please feel free to reach out to her with any questions or concerns you may have. She is happy to be here and looks forward to working together to support your children.
