Marian Gonzales
Principal
Marian.Gonzales@kgbsd.org
225-5720
Joni Jensen
Secretary
Joni.Jensen@kgbsd.org
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
Lane moved to Ketchikan at the age of five, and is a Class of 1977 Kayhi graduate. He has bachelor's degrees from Oregon State University in Fisheries Science and Science Education, and a master's degree in Applied Behavior Science from Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. He has four children, his hobbies include kayaking, soccer, hunting, fishing, and boating.
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
Matt.Olsen@kgbsd.org
I grew up in Ketchikan and graduated from Kayhi. After high school, I left to attend college and received my BLA in Social Science and Masters in Education Technology from the University of Alaska Southeast. I enjoy the outdoors and have worked as an Archaeologist, Botanist and Kayak Ranger, as well as with youth programs. I enjoy hockey and rooting for Georgia Tech Athletics. Go Jackets!
Lori Orlowski
Third and Fourth Grade Teacher
Lori.Orlowski@kgbsd.org
Edelweiss Serlin
Third and Fourth Grade Teacher
Edelweiss.Serlin@kgbsd.org
I was born and raised in Ketchikan and graduated from Kayhi in 2000. After high school, I attended college and traveled internationally. I graduated from the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau with my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 2007. I enjoy creating and experimenting in the kitchen, crafting art, vegetable gardening, hiking, running, berry picking, exploring nature, helping animals as a volunteer and foster home for the Ketchikan Humane Society, and laughing and playing with my wonderful husband, Brett, and our family of one exceptional malamute and three outstanding cats.
Kaydee Jessee
First and Second Grade Teacher
Kaydee.Jessee@kgbsd.org
Kaydee was born and raised in Montana, and received a bachelor's degree from Montana State University. She taught third grade for three years in Montana before moving to Ketchikan. She loves the outdoors, and animals, especially her two basset hounds. Kaydee works as a CNA during the summer months.
Melissia Williams
First and Second Grade Teacher
Melissia.Hays@kgbsd.org
Melissia was raised in Colorado before moving to Fairbanks as a high schooler. She attended Abilene Christian University and Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, where she received her teaching degree. She met her amazing husband Jason in Fairbanks, and worked as a counselor at Kayhi for two years before moving to Tongass School. Her hobbies include fishing, cooking, and being outdoors.
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.
Jan Rafter
Special Education Teacher
janis.rafter@kgbsd.org
My home state is Montana, where I grew up in the Mission Valley, north of Missoula. I earned my teaching degree from Montana State University-Billings in Physical Education (1985) and Special Education (1992) My husband and I have three grown children. We love to hike, bike, fish and explore this beautiful new place we now call home. I am very excited to be teaching at TSAS with the dedicated staff and wonderful parents who complete our team in educating the students at TSAS.
Penny Connelly
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Penny.Connelly@kgbsd.org
I was born and raised in Ketchikan. I have a B.A. in Special Education from Gonzaga University, and an M.S. in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Oregon. My teaching career began in 1997 at White Cliff Elementary School. Since then I have taught at Houghtaling Elementary, Point Higgins Elementary, and several schools in Kanayama, Japan. I am very happy to be teaching at Tongass School of Arts and Sciences this year. When I'm not teaching I really love to sing, write, play music and travel. Most of all, I love being with my little boy James.
Katie Gaggini
Music Specialist
Katherine.Gaggini@kgbsd.org
Terri Robbins
Tongass School Home School Program Coordinator
trobbins@gci.net
225-5711
I was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska. I came to Ketchikan in 1990 and taught Special Education for 20 years. The last and best eight years of my career were spent here at Tongass School. I am thrilled to enter my retirement with this opportunity to stay connected as coordinator of the home school program.
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.
Sherie Reeves
Title I Paraprofessional
reevess@kgbsd.org
Sherie was born and raised in Ketchikan, and received a associate degree from Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington. She has two children, Christopher and Rachel. She has worked at Tongass School since it began in 2003. She enjoys camping, boating, and fishing.
Loren McCue
Artist-in-Residence (Art)
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
Hi, I'm Jane Hanchett, and this is my first year as an ESL paraprofessional. I'm enjoying working with students
learning to be proficient in English. I'm impressed most with their sense of responsibility and excitement
about learning. I have been interested in education since my children were young and I got my teaching certificate in 1995.
I have worked in this school district since the 1990s, first as a parent volunteer for seven years, then as a substitute
teacher, and the last six years helping kids learn to read as a Title 1 paraprofessional. I enjoy reading,
nature walks, pets and family.
Cheryl Stromme
Library Paraprofessional
Cheryl.Stromme@kgbsd.org
I lived most of my life in Washington & Oregon, working for GTE/Verizon for 22 years. I have 2 sons, 1 daughter & 8
grandchildren. I moved to Ketchikan in 2006 with my daughter and fell in love with the land & the people here.
I love working in the library and seeing the excitement on the children's faces when I help them to find the perfect book.
Evelyn Voorhees-Brown
Paraprofessional
Evelyn.Vbrown@kgbsd.org
Evelyn lived in Boston, Maine, and Vermont before receiving a degree in Art History from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She visited Ketchikan several times before finally moving here
permanently in 2006. She has two children and two grandchildren. Her hobbies include studying Northwest Coast Native Art, beading, and weaving.
Wendy Riley
Title I Paraprofessional
Wendy.Riley@kgbsd.org
Wendy has lived in Ketchikan for 20 years. She has a daughter, born in 1996, and a son born in 1998. She loves going out on her boat to go fishing, and camping.
Edna Glines
Building Custodian