Janet Johnson
Principal
johnsonja@kgbsd.org
225-5720
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee with two brothers and one sister, my family spent time at church and in scouts. We all learned how to play musical instruments and participated in the high school marching band. After high school, I went to the University of Tennessee where I earned my B.S., M.S., and advanced degrees in Elementary Education and Supervision.
My husband, David, and I both became elementary teachers in Blount County, Tennessee. We raised our five children in the schools where we taught and watched as they all participated in baseball, basketball, and football. Even though those were very busy times, I wouldn't change anything.
While I miss my children and my two grandchildren very much, I have found that the warmth in Ketchikan does not come from the sunshine but from the people, and I already feel very much at home here. I am looking forward to working with the students, faculty, and parents at the Tongass School of Arts and Sciences as we make our school the best it can be.
Rachel Hodges
Secretary
Cindy Moody
Office Aide
moodyc@kgbsd.org
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, I moved to Ketchikan in 1983. While it wasn't exactly love at first sight, I have come to love the ocean, temperate rain forest and Island life I call home.
My passion for working with children started in 5th grade when I would help my mom in her preschool class. I have been involved in early education in some capacity ever since.
I was part of the Tongass School when it was just a dream, and like a proud parent have seen our school crawl, walk, and now run as it continues to grow. After working in classrooms and teaching preschool at Head Start, I have come back to working in the office because I love working with families. If your child is hungry or sick I will most likely be the one taking care of them.
My husband Dennis, an electrician and commercial fisherman, and I have been married for 20 years and together have raised 2 sons. Gregory, 19 years old and in his 2nd year of college in Idaho, and Bryan who is 16, a junior at K-High, and also a commercial fisherman. Together we enjoy beach combing, fishing, hiking, camping and soccer. In the winter months it's reading, board games by the fire, watching K-High basketball, and attending community art events.
Lane Johnson
School Counselor and Physical Education Teacher
johnsonl@kgbsd.org
Taylor McKenna
Fifth and Sixth Grade Teacher
mckennat@kgbsd.org
I was born in Florida, but grew up in Georgia. I earned a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree and a Master's of Education degree from the University of Georgia. In addition to teaching, I have worked as a freelance theatre director and professional puppeteer. My stage production Bed Sheets, a collaboration with local poets Evon Zerbetz and Erin Hollowell, was a feature of the 2006 Pacific Rim Forum at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.
Matt Olsen
Fifth and Sixth Grade Teacher
Leia Vandersnick
Third and Fourth Grade Teacher
Leia.vandersnick@kgbsd.org
Laura Kinunen
Second and Third Grade Teacher
kinunenl@kgbsd.org
Valerie Sloane
First and Second Grade Teacher
sloanev@kgbsd.org
Melissia Hays
First and Second Grade Teacher
Carol Stanton
Kindergarten Teacher
stantonc@kgbsd.org
Carol Stanton has been teaching kindergarten at Tongass School of Arts and Sciences since the school opened. Before that, Carol taught kindergarten and second grade at Houghtaling Elementary School. Mrs. Stanton likes to learn languages and travel. For three years, she taught English in Hong Kong, China. Mrs. Stanton earned a B.A. degree from Willamette University in Oregon and an M.A. degree from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. She went to the University of the Pacific in her hometown of Stockton, California to get her teaching credentials.
Terri Robbins
Special Education and Third Grade Math Teacher
robbinst@kgbsd.org
I was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska. I received a degree in Special Education from Arizona State University, and came to Ketchikan to teach at White Cliff Elementary School in 1990. After several years of teaching, I took a year of leave to get a master's degree in Special Education at University of Oregon. I began teaching at the Tongass School in March 2005. I enjoy socializing, reading, cooking, travel, drama, creating wearable art, and the time I spend with my husband, Hall, and our dog, Tucker.
Penny Connelly
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Sherie Reeves
Title I Paraprofessional
reevess@kgbsd.org
Mary Hillberry
Pre-Kindergarten Paraprofessional
hillberrym@kgbsd.org
My name is Mary Hillberry, and I have been living in Ketchikan for about 13 years. I lived the first part of my life in the desert city of Phoenix, Arizona. I am married and I have a son and daughter that attend T.S.A.S. I have been working at T.S.A.S. since the winter of 2007, and I have a lot of fun working with kids. I am a watercolor artist, fisherwoman and baker. I enjoy being outdoors, and I have a very curious mind. I love living in Southeast Alaska, and sometimes I even like the rain.
Bonnie Harris
Music and Reading Specialist
Bonnie.harris@kgbsd.org
Loren McCue
Artist-in-Residence (Art)
mccuel@kgbsd.org
Karen Stafford
Speech and Language Pathologist
staffordk@kgbsd.org
Karen was born in Indiana and raised in California. She received both her BA in Communication Disorders/Education and MSPA (Master of Speech Pathology and Audiology) from the University of Washington. Karen is ASHA certified and has been an SLP for 30 years-21 in Ketchikan, 4 in Southeast Island School District, and the remainder in school districts in Washington and Utah.
Karen has been privileged to be on staff at the Tongass School of Arts and Sciences since its inception. She provides speech, language, and hearing services to students at TSAS, Ketchikan Charter School, Schoenbar Middle School, and Ketchikan High School.
Karen has 2 wonderful daughters, one in college at the University of Alaska Anchorage and one attending Ketchikan High School. Her interests include travel, reading, hiking, enjoying local sporting and cultural events, and spending time in the company of family and friends.
Jane Hanchett
ESL Paraprofessional
hanchettj@kgbsd.org
Cheryl Stromme
Library Paraprofessional
Cheryl.Stromme@kgbsd.org
Evelyn Voorhees-Brown
Paraprofessional
Evelyn.Vbrown@kgbsd.org
Tamara Ilten
Paraprofessional
Tamara.ilten@kgbsd.org
Dave Lieben
Paraprofessional
Born and raised in the underrated city of Detroit, I received an associate degree in Computer Science Technology in 1984. My lovely wife Katrina and I moved to Ketchikan in 1998. We have two wonderful children, Danny was born in 2001 and Sara in 2003. I've been involved with Tongass School since it started as webmaster, volunteer classroom helper, and substitute teacher. I enjoy hiking, kayaking, playing music, and learning new things.
Wendy Riley
Title I Paraprofessional
Edna Glines
Building Custodian
glinese@kgbsd.org