Heritage Administration & Teaching Staff
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Brianna Anderson- 3rd-6th Humanities, History
anderson05mt@gmail.com@gmail.com
Brianna Anderson grew up in Northern California and graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in History in 1998 and, a few years later, her secondary teaching credential from Sonoma State University. She taught Social Studies, English, Math, Special Ed and Leadership in Petaluma, California. In 2005 she married her husband, Fletcher, and they set out for the best adventure, moving to Bigfork, Montana. In Bigfork, she taught Health, Social Studies and Leadership for several years. In 2011 she took a sabbatical from professional teaching to be a full-time mom to her three amazing kids: Ty, Mickie and Jack. Knowing that God had a better plan for her family, Brianna and her husband began homeschooling their kids in 2017. In her free time you can find her on the family farm in Bigfork in the garden or with all of their animals.
Kamela Anderson- English Studies
Kamela is a life-long native of Montana who developed a love for learning in a variety of different school settings. Educated in Christian schools and public schools alike, Kamela embraced the rewards and challenges of homeschooling her three daughters and is committed to teaching a new generation a love for and excellence in imparting the word in all its forms. She received her B.A. in English and Theatre along with her teaching certification in grades 6-12 from Montana State University in 2000. After a year of teaching sixth grade at Heritage Christian School (HCS) in Bozeman, MT, she worked with the school to develop and launch its high school program in 2003. She then returned to the classroom taking her original sixth graders through their years of English studies until they graduated in 2007. In addition to English studies, she has taught pre-Algebra, Biblical Studies, and produced and directed multiple theatrical productions for HCS and the Bozeman community. After six years at home with her young children, Kamela is privileged to return to the classroom alongside of them teaching and instructing in wisdom and virtue.
Tara Bailey - Elementary
Tara Bailey grew up in Southern California and graduated from Westmont College in Santa Barbara with a B.A. in elementary education. After teaching for a year she married her husband, Matt, and continued teaching 4th and 5th grade until the birth of their first of five children. They moved to Montana in 2002 right out of residency and Matt began his practice as an orthopedic surgeon in Whitefish. Tara homeschooled until her oldest reached high school, learned of Heritage, and enrolled her into it’s amazing program. Now with most of her children attending, she is excited to join the staff of teachers. She enjoys skiing, hiking, mountain biking, running, and reading as well as spending time with and taking care of her family.
Kristin Cotton- Kindergarten morning, K-2nd Science
Kristin Cotton, a life long Montanan, grew up in Bozeman. She and her family moved to the Flathead valley four years ago, now residing in the beautiful, little town of Lakeside. Kristin attended and graduated from Gonzaga University with a BA in Spanish and a minor in Biology. During this time, Kristin was able to live in Valencia, Spain and finish her Spanish studies. After graduating from Gonzaga, Kristin moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend Creighton University’s accelerated nursing program, graduating with a B.S.N, Magna Cum Laude. Kristin has practiced nursing over the last nineteen years in many areas of health care. She has considered it such an honor and privilege to be able to help and care for people during difficult times in their lives. Kristin has been married for fourteen years to her amazing husband Ted. They have two wonderfully fun kids, Macy and Teddy, and a handsome, red, golden retriever, Willie Nelson. She and Ted have been classically educating their kids for four years. Kristin has a passion for God’s word and has enjoyed studying with BSF. When there is free time, Kristin enjoys being outside hiking, mountain biking, and taking the cold plunge into Flathead Lake.
Rachel Cremer- 2nd grade morning, K-2nd Science, Head of K-3rd
Rachel grew up in Fargo, North Dakota and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a BA in Elementary Education in 1996. She taught school and coached swimming until marrying Jake in 1999 when they moved to Plains, Montana. She continued to teach in Hot Springs, Montana until the birth of their first born, Isaac. Rachel homeschooled her three sons and daughter until 2014 when she returned to full time teaching and pursued an Integrated Arts (MFA) Degree at the University of Montana. She is very excited to teach at Heritage and return to homeschooling. In her free time she can be found drinking a hot cup of chai, reading, hiking, and driving between Hot Springs and Kalispell.
Joyce Whitney-Davies- Elementary Science
Joyce worked as a wildlife biologist for 20 years before she and her husband Rob decided to homeschool their two children Tove’ and Soren. She received her B.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management with a minor in Environmental Education from Ohio State University in 1991 and later completed graduate courses at Idaho State U and Montana State U in Environmental Education and Biological Sciences. During her professional career she worked for several state, federal and non-profit wildlife agencies in Greenland, Alaska, Montana, Washington and Ohio conducting research on Federal species of concern. Before coming to Heritage, Joyce tutored/directed a classical education program in Kalispell and co-taught science courses for five years in a local cooperative. Sharing her quest for understanding God’s creation with her children and others has become her passion, and she LOVES the sense of awe knowing we will never truly understand its complexity until we reach heaven!
Karen Dunham - High School Humanities
Karen and her husband, Brad, have had the privilege of homeschooling their 5 children for the past 17 years. Karen has enjoyed teaching Latin, history, and literature for several years in both homeschooling and co-op settings. She loves classical education and is committed to teaching her students to think. Karen is well-loved by her students for her passionate and engaging presentation of the course material. If she had any free time, she would read Newberry Medal winners and blog about each of them.
Alissa Finlayson - 6th-12th Choir
Alissa majored in voice at Montana State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She has been teaching private vocal, piano, and saxophone lessons for over 10 years. While living in Port Orchard, WA, she taught elementary general music, band, and choir for 4.5 years. She has worked with junior high and high school vocal ensembles, and has directed various community choirs with members of all ages. Alissa has experience in musical theatre and has participated in several opera workshops. She brings a wealth of musical talent and experience in performance and teaching. Some of her greatest passions are teaching music literacy, expression, and vocal technique so that children can spend a spend a lifetime enjoying music. She also enjoys loving on her four young children. We feel very blessed to have had Alissa at Heritage for six years and have been told that she is one of the best music teachers in Montana!
Nicole Fisher - Humanities- 6th & 9th-10th, Head of 4th-6th grade
Nicole attended Southern Methodist University where she received a B.A. in English, with a creative writing minor, and a B.F.A. in Communications, with an emphasis in film. One-semester short of receiving her M.A. in English, she left the world of academia in 1994 to embrace the high-calling of motherhood. For the past 17 years, she and her husband Dan have homeschooled their six children. Nicole delights in educating herself and others. She has taught writing and humanities at Heritage Learning and has worked as curriculum advisor and developer for several years. Nicole earnestly desiries to point families and students toward God, the ultimate source of all truth, goodness, and beauty.
Michelle Hernandez - 7th & 8th History
michellehikarihernandez@gmail.com
Michelle Hernandez was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to Montana when she was three. Surrounded by huckleberries and wildflowers, she grew up homeschooled with her four siblings. When she was twelve, Michelle moved back to Japan where she and her family worked as organic farmers for Nozomien, an organization for special needs adults, which was run by her grandparents, the pastor and wife of Tokyo Covenant Church. Six years later, she returned to Kalispell with her family and attended Flathead Valley Community College, transferring to Montana State University to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in English Education. Upon graduation, she moved to Okinawa, Japan, and taught at an international, bilingual church school for a year. Once again returning to Montana, she worked at Whitefish Christian Academy where she fell in love with the classical Christian education model. There, she taught both in the elementary and middle school. Michelle is married to her best friend, Nik, and is the happy mother of her spunky boy, Gabriel. She is blessed to be a part of the Heritage community and have the opportunity to teach students everything from prepositions to paragraphs -- all to the glory of our Lord.
Trina Karow - Art
karowacademy@gmail.com
Trina has been immersed in art for her whole life. She began painting in adult oil classes at age 10 and went to work at an art gallery at age 13. There she learned matting, framing, and art restoration. In high school, she studied under nationally recognized NWS/AWS watercolor artist Judy Morris, was art editor of the Student Literary Magazine, first place winner of the Harry & David Bear Crk Corp card design/scholarship, and her artwork was featured in the Best of the Best art shows at the Rogue Gallery. Trina went to college to become an art teacher at the University of Oregon and Southern Oregon State University, and graduated from Bilmes School of Art in 1993. She taught art before having children, and has spent the last several years as full time, homeschool mom of three boys: Caleb, Nate, and Elijah. She has continued to use her talents for the Lord through some mural work at schools, churches and private homes, VBS stage and classroom designs, and occasional art workshops for home school students in both Wyoming and Montana. Trina has been in the classroom at Heritage for five years, and her talent speaks for itself.
Gwen Kashmier- Latin
Gwen Kashmier has lived in Montana all her life and moved to Kalispell in 2010. She attended Montana State University and received her B.A. in K-12 Health Enhancement (P.E. and Health) in 1999. She taught In West Yellowstone for 4 years as she coached, advised classes, and organized track meets. Gwen has taught classical studies for 3 years with Classical Conversations, which included Latin. She has been involved with co-op groups and serves the children and youth at her church. Most of all, Gwen loves to see kids know the love that the Lord has for them, which includes her 2 children that she has homeschooled for 11 years. Gwen also enjoys the outdoors, crafting, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Angela Kenney- PE
Angie is a fourth generation Montanan, growing up in the majestic Flathead Valley. Teaching her 3 children at home, she values how partnering with Heritage Learning provides support, relationships, accountability, and enhances their education. She and her husband, Mark, are passionate about supporting and investing in their homeschool community as they are both Flathead Valley Homeschool graduates. Angela is actively involved in the Flathead Valley Homeschool Athletic Association, coaching 5th-8th grade girls’ volleyball and supporting her husband as he coaches high school basketball. She enjoys skiing, camping, playing basketball and volleyball, paddle boarding, and recreating in God’s beautiful creation with her family.
Marlo Lancaster - Science
Marlo has taught the biological sciences for the past 17 years. She has her secondary teaching certificate in Biology, Health, and Physical Education and has held her certification in Washington, Arizona, and Montana. Teaching in both the private and public sectors she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her subject area. Marlo currently homeschools her two boys. Well-known at Heritage for her dynamic personality, Marlo has a unique ability to make science entertaining. Her students are engaged because her enthusiasm is contagious!
Buffi Lloyd - 5th & 6th English
Buffi grew up adventuring in California and met her husband while finishing radiology technology certification at LLU, Florida. She obtained her certification in abdominal, obstetrical, and gynecological as well as cardiovascular sonography at ADU and Guam where she worked at a mission clinic with her husband for six years. California was then home for 10 years before moving to Montana last year with their four children. Buffi has worked as a radiologic technologist and sonographer for the last 23 years but reduced to per diem schedules starting in 2009 when she decided to attempt her lifelong goal of teaching. Her children and a few friends were her first victims and all have survived. She has worked with others in co-op situations and taught Essentials in Classical Conversations. After two years at Heritage, she has fallen in love with the mixture of strong Classical Christian curriculum, prayerfully friendly staff, and fabulous children. She is in the process of actually getting a degree to officially do what she really wants to do – teach.
Byron Longenecker- 7th, 8th, 9th Humanities & Assembly
Byron graduated from Briercrest College, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 2004 with a B.A. in Business Management. Upon his return to Montana, he met and quickly married (do not ask how quick) his beautiful wife, Jessica, and they now have four kids. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to build and sell several businesses while serving in various ministries. Upon completion of his Masters of Divinity from Covenant Seminary in 2012, Byron served as an Associate Pastor in Billings, MT for three years before returning home to the Flathead Valley. Byron loves people and is passionate to see their faith lived out in every aspect of life. He is especially excited to join Heritage and help students explore and engage the world of learning through the lens of a deep Christian faith. When not chasing after his adventurous wife and kids, Byron can be found making new friends, handing out his favorite theology books, shepherding his literal sheep, and doing typical Montana man "stuff".
Ashley Mason- Science
Ashley started her career in music in 1986 as a voice major at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem North Carolina. She was nearly finished with her degree in voice performance when she transferred to Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina to receive her B.S. in Geology with a minor in field biology in 1992. Ashley then came to Montana to teach for the Glacier Institute and completed graduate work at The University of Montana – Missoula in Environmental Studies. A veteran naturalist and conservation educator, Ashley is a former Ranger Naturalist for Glacier National Park and educator for organizations, such as The Glacier Institute, Swan Ecosystem Center, and Flathead Audubon Society. In 2012 she was voted Audubon Educator of the year. Currently she teaches Geology courses at Flathead Valley Community College and is a Naturalist/Instructor with Road Scholar, The Glacier Institute, and the MSU Outdoor Campus Ministry Program. Ashley loves to take the miraculous drama of God’s Creation and turn it into a story that will captivate her students. She has homeschooled her two daughters for the past 8 years.
Niki MacLean- Spanish
nikiscottaspen@yahoo.com
Niki became fluent in Spanish while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1996-1998. A lifelong learner, Niki has been teaching Spanish and ESL classes for students in preschool through college in both public and private school settings for the last 18 years. She has led student trips to Argentina and Mexico and has also traveled in Paraguay and Venezuela. Originally from Denver, CO, Niki and her family moved to her husband’s hometown of Whitefish in 2010. She holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Oregon and a Colorado teaching license. Locally, she has worked as a Music Together teacher at North Valley Music School, taught Kid’s College and Continuing Education Spanish classes at FVCC and served as a Youth Minister for six years. She has also coordinated field trips for Heritage for the last three years. She is passionate about dynamic, relationship based education, serving Christ and forming future disciples for our Lord!
Jennah Mitchell- 8th-10th grade English
Jennah is originally from Port Angeles, Washington, and relocated to Kalispell with her family in 2000. In 2008, she graduated with honors from Northwest University in Kirkland, and holds a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis on English. She lives in Columbia Falls with her husband of eleven years, Derrick, and their three daughters - all of whom will be attending Heritage this coming school year. In the last decade, Jennah has honed her writing and English skills in the professional realm by writing and editing - both as an independent contractor with clients all over the world, and also for a time as the associate editor for Flathead Living. Jennah is incredibly excited to teach English at Heritage and looks forward to getting to know the students and their families.
Angela Nye- Logic
Angela received a Bachelor of Science in business in 1994 and worked as an international forecast and systems analyst until leaving to be at home full-time with her children in 2006. Analytical and methodical by nature, after much research of various methods, she chose to teach using a classical Christian model. She has 9 years of experience with home-schooling and began at Heritage Learning helping with bookkeeping and registration. Angela loves the classical method of teaching and developing students’ ability to think through what they are learning. In her spare time she loves reading, spending active time outdoors: skiing (all kinds), bike riding, hiking and camping. Free time is always sweeter when it’s with her husband, Mike, and children, Joshua and Haley.
Kimberly Roobish- K-5th Choir
Kimberly Roobish was born and raised in the beautiful Flathead Valley. She holds a BA in Sacred Music with an emphasis in vocal performance from Prairie Bible College, Alberta, Canada, a MA in Teaching from George Fox University, Oregon, and active teaching licenses in both Montana and Oregon. Kimberly has had the privilege of directing numerous children’s choirs, including, most recently, the Flathead Valley Homeschool Choirs and Trinity Lutheran School’s 7/8th grade choir. This Fall, she will celebrate 14 years of marriage to her wonderful husband, whom she met while on a trip to Ukraine when she was 18 years old! They now have three energetic and lovely children: Alina, Andrei, and Aleksei. Life is very busy and full! As a family, they enjoy cooking Greek and Ukrainian food, traveling, gardening, bicycling and making music together!
Erin Tintzman - Community Development & Assistant Director
erintintzman@gmail.com
Erin grew up in Idaho, immersed in classical education. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a BS in dental hygiene. Erin has a unique passion for life and helping others grow. Married to her fabulous husband, Dan, and mother of four amazing children, she has homeschooled for ten years by the Lord’s faithful leading. With an appreciation and love for people, Erin uses her gifts to build up the Heritage community through organizing and overseeing the class days, as well as many "behind the scenes" tasks, which are too numerous to list. She cherishes the Heritage community and the support, opportunities, and relationships that come from studying together. Erin enjoys the sun, hiking, biking, singing, crafting, camping, skiing, down comforters, Sweet Peaks Ice Cream and coffee.
Jane Turner - Science & Program Director
heritagelearningkalispell@gmail.com
Jane and her husband, Josh, are the founders of Heritage Learning. Jane graduated from Covenant College in 2003 with a B.S. in Biology, and a minor in chemistry. While attending college, she worked with a homeschool supplement group in Chattanooga, TN. For several years, Jane tutored math and science and has now taught elementary and middle school lab science classes at Heritage for eight years. She is a homeschool mom of nine children who loves all kinds of curriculum and research, hiking, camping, traveling, and a clean house. Jane loves to share her passion for science because the study of creation reveals much about our great Creator.
Susan Wagner- Art & Model UN
Susan Wagner, mother of five, has been a committed homeschooler for the last 24 years. She received her B.A. in Home Economics Education with an emphasis in Clothing and Textile Design and a minor in Art Education from the University of Montana. She taught high school home economics before having children and has led many homeschool activities over the years, including teaching a Model United Nations class. Besides enjoying teaching students, she loves art and working with a variety of mediums. She worked with ceramics in college and has since been enjoying watercolor when time allows.
Joy Weaks- 4th Grade English
Joy is from Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997 with a Bachelor's in Psychology & Organizational Behavior. After marrying the man of her dreams, she and Chris moved to his favorite place on the planet, Montana, to raise their sweet family. Before receiving her Master's in Mental Health & Addiction Counseling from the University of Montana, Joy supported and developed educational and community outreach programs for UNC-Chapel Hill, the United Way, Georgia Tech and UM-Missoula. She loves learning and is grateful to God for the "wonderfully hard" privilege of teaching her children and Heritage students from a biblical worldview. When Joy isn't homeschooling or teaching, she works as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and has worked as a therapist in the state of Montana for over 10 years.
