Sussex School Staff, Missoula Montana

Teachers and Administrators at Sussex School

Meet our Teachers and Administrators

Robyn Reed Gaddy, Interim Director	Robyn Reed Gaddy grew up in Northern California and Southern Oregon. She holds a Master of Science in Experiential Education. Robyn has worked for the last twenty years as a facilitator, educator and director in the non-profit field. As an educator and program director for Outward Bound, Robyn trained teachers in public and private school systems in experiential education techniques, service learning and leadership models. In her tenure as a facilitator and educator, she has served as the Marketing and Development Director of Oak Hill School, Alumni Relations Director for Southern Oregon University and the University of Oregon, a professor for Warren Wilson College and taught Speech Communications for Blue Ridge Community College. She is the founder and Executive Director of Girls on the Move, a national initiative of Outward Bound USA that brought together Fortune 500 companies, national service organizations and public and private schools to increase the self esteem of young girls and women across the country. Through this experience she facilitated a team of sixty-five women on a ten-week national bicycle expedition. Her personal interests are spending time outside with her husband and daughter, skiing, running and paddling white water.
Mary Dombrowski, 1st Grade Teacher	Born and raised near Chicago, Mary spent her post-college years teaching in Idaho and Illinois before moving to Missoula. After receiving her masters degree in Literacy, Mary enthusiastically joined the Sussex School Community in 2002. She is passionate about teaching beginning readers and writers, and weaves her love for poetry and music into her work with children. Mary enjoys running along Rattlesnake Creek, floating Montana's rivers, playing her guitar in the classroom and with friends, and hiking with her 1 year old son, Luka and husband, Chris.
Pam Ward, 2nd-3rd Grade Teacher	Pam grew up in Chicago, and spent lots of time at the Irving Park YMCA, where she learned to SWIM, twirl a fire baton, paddle a canoe and play guitar. She attended college at NMSU in Las Cruces, NM, where she rock climbed in the Organ Mountains, kayaked in the Rio Grande, and received a BS in Physical Education/Recreation, and Elementary Education Teaching Certification. She worked for the City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department, and later for NMSU as the Aquatic Director. Pam started teaching kindergarten at Sussex School in 1994, and initiated the Sussex After School Program in 1999. Currently she is the afternoon teacher for 2nd/3rd grade, integrating science, social studies, art, music and lots of field trips into the thematic curriculum. Pam tells her students that she aspires to be like Ms. Frizzle (Magic School Bus) ~ "Make mistakes, learn from them, and have boundless energy to explore, experiment and discover!" When Pam's not at Sussex, she takes classes at UM, plays with the pottery wheel, and teaches swimming at the Missoula Family YMCA. Her favorite thing to do is kayak with her 15-year-old son, who was in her kindergarten class and graduated from Sussex School.
Kathy Owens, 2nd-3rd Grade Teacher	Kathy began working at Sussex in 1980 when Sussex was located on Sussex Street. For the first three years, she worked part-time at the school while attending the University of Montana. She gradually assumed more teaching responsibilities until she reached full time status teaching middle school language arts, grades 1-4 math, and grades 5-8 art. She maintained a healthy workout regimen running up and down the stairs and between the two buildings. In 1997. she transferred to the first/second grade teaching position, which later changed to a second/third grade combination. Kathy started a job share with Pam Ward in 2003 and currently works mornings only. When she isn't teaching, Kathy enjoys spending time with her children, hiking the nearby mountains and working in her garden.
Lisa Hendricks, 4-5th Grade Teacher	Lisa Hendricks has taught for 16 years in a variety of schools and grades. She received her BA from Portland State, and a Master of Education from the University of Montana as a K-12 Reading Specialist. Recently Lisa got to try her hand at teaching adults as an adjuct instructor at the University of Montana Education Department. In her "other life" Lisa loves to swim, hike, bird watch, or read on the couch with her dog Stuart.
Jennie Bucher, 6th Grade Language Arts, 6-8th grade French, 7th grade Social Studies, 6th grade Homeroom Teacher	Jennie has been teaching at Sussex since 1990. Originally from Minnesota, she graduated from the University of Montana in English and French. Jennie taught in Dijon, France before coming to Sussex, and now enjoys teaching French to Sussex students. Jennie is working on her Master's in Teaching English and is a graduate of the Montana Writing Project. She and her husband have two daughters at the school and two scruffy dogs (not at the school). When Jennie isn't teaching, she can often be found with some combination of family and dogs off on a hike.
Maree Mitchell, K, 3-8th grade Science, 7th grade Homeroom Teacher	After a childhood spent in Kansas, Maree vowed to spend her 20’s outside of the USA. She studied and worked in Scotland, worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia and the Dominican Republic. Maree returned to the USA to work as an environmental education (EE) instructor. Her work in Peace Corps and at several EE centers led her to seek and M.S. in environmental education from University of Michigan. Maree began her formal teaching career at a Quaker school in Detroit, MI. Since then she has taught in a variety of setting and locations: a girls boarding school in Connecticut, a public middle school in New York City and an alternative public high school in New York City. While she was living in New York she earned a Master in Education from Columbia University. Maree has been teaching at Sussex since 2003. In her spare time she plays hockey, snowboards, mountain bikes and chases around her son Jack.
Jennifer C. Ellis, 7-8th grade Language Arts, 8th grade Social Studies, 8th grade Homeroom Teacher	Jen grew up exploring the rivers, lakes, forests, and coast of Maine. These early wanderings and experiences have shaped her teaching and her ethic. From an early age she has lived and breathed experiential education, literally growing up at the Chewonki Foundation, a nationally recognized environmental education center, where her father was the executive director for more than twenty years. At Chewonki, Jen led wilderness expeditions with native Cree elders in Northern Canada and taught intensive field-based environmental education courses. Jen has traveled widely throughout East Africa, South East Asia, and Europe. She has lived and worked in London and has a keen interest in global development issues. Jen received her B.A. from St. Lawrence University in African Studies & Government and has conducted graduate-level research and course work in English Literature at the University of Montana. Jen has taught 7th and 8th grade Language Arts and 8th grade Social Studies for nine years at Sussex. In 2000 and 2001, she brought five Sussex students to New York City to participate in the Student Conference on Human Rights at the United Nations. Jen is excited about 6-8 writing workshop and expanding on Sussex’s already innovative writing program. When not at Sussex, Jen can be found playing with her children, Zoë (4) and Simon (1).
Matt Zunker, 6-8th grade Math Teacher
Bente Winston, 6-8th grade Math Teacher	Bente Winston is the Founder of Sussex School. She received her Danish teaching degree with a major in math education in 1963. She started her teaching career in Copenhagen, Denmark where she taught for three years before moving to Montana in 1967. Bente served as director and math teacher until 1991, and now teaches mathematics in grades 6-8. She also coaches the school's Mathcounts Team. Bente is recipient of the Honors Award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals (1988) and the Montana State Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Teaching (1990). Bente was a writer for STEM (Success Through Exploring Mathematics), University of Montana in 1991 and 1992. Bente has been a speaker at numerous international, national and state level mathematics education conferences. She has served as treasurer of the Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) from 1988 to 1991, and is currently serving on the Sussex School Board and on the advisory board of EdforDev (Education for Development). Bente and her husband Don have two children, Tor and Francisca who both graduated from Sussex School. In her free time, Bente likes to play tennis, ski, rock climb, sail, hunt waterfowl, play chess, travel, and spend time with family and friends.
Lorie Beck, Special Education and Reading Specialist Teacher	Lorie Beck was born Pennsylvania and raised in a small town outside of Philadelphia. After high school she moved to Lancaster to attend Millersville University to study education with a major in Special Education. She taught at a middle school there for three years. Lorie traveled around the country for 2 months, fell in love with Missoula, and moved there the following summer. She has been here for 11 years and dearly loves this community. A week after moving to Missoula, Lorie was offered a Special Education teaching position with Missoula County Public Schools. She piloted two new specialized classrooms and was with the district for six years. Wanting to explore a different learning environment, Lorie taught at the Missoula Community School for two years. Lorie now finds herself at Sussex and feels this is an ideal place for her to combine her love of teaching and desire to foster a sense of community and compassion. Lorie also is the creator of Montana Earth Herbs, a small local business that promotes the full cycle of herbalism, from the plant to the product.
Anne Graham, Spanish Teacher	Anne grew up on the East Coast and came in 1995 to Missoula, Montana, where she landed by chance at Sussex School, teaching Spanish. Anne received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Virginia, and recently participated in the Western Institute for Language Learning through the University of Oregon. Anne has taught Spanish to people of all ages, from children in preschool through adults taking university Spanish classes, but she has spent most of her career developing and teaching the Spanish curriculum at Sussex. Anne enjoys traveling when she has the opportunity, and she has been fortunate enough to spend time in Spain, Mexico, Nicaragua and Cuba. Anne’s two daughters attend Sussex, and she also has a baby boy who helps round out the family. When she is not teaching or spending time with her family Anne enjoys reading, playing soccer, being outdoors and making music.
John Ledyard, PE Teacher	John has been teaching P.E at Sussex since 1997. Growing up in Michigan, but spending summers in Montana, it was an easy decision for him to attend the University of Montana and study Elementary Education and health and Human Performance. A self proclaimed fun hog, John guides fly fishing trips in the summer and when not teaching he can be found playing tennis, ultimate Frisbee, hockey, skiing or anything else that does not require him to sit still. John’s family includes his wife Tracy, his two boys Henry and Christopher, and their black lab Rosie who all keep him sane and give him passion.
Steve Krutek, 4-8th grade Art Teacher	Steve has taught students from the ages of three to 83. His devotion to teaching began over a decade ago while serving as a residential advisor and art instructor for emotionally disturbed teens at a boarding school near the Pecos Wilderness Area in northern New Mexico. There he learned that art is a powerful tool for helping students resolve emotional struggles and learn about the merits of other disciplines. Steve has been blessed with the opportunity to teach art courses for the Colorado College's Summer Institute, the University of Montana, the Missoula Art Museum, Willard School of Missoula, Camp Mak-A-Dream, programs for developmentally disabled adults, and children in therapeutic substance abuse programs. Steve developed his own art through study at the Colorado College (BA 1996), the University of Montana (MFA 2006), the SALT Institute for Documentary Field Studies in Portland, Maine, Pacific Northwest College of Art, and study with photographers Stuart Klipper and Dan Burkholder. Steve is now enthusiastically teaching art at Sussex and drawing and photography at the University of Montana and promoting his photography-based artwork nationwide. In the spring of 2006, as a graduate student, he was one of five selected internationally to present work at the Society for Photographic Education's 43rd national conference in Chicago. When he isn't teaching or creating and promoting his own work, Steve is spending invaluable time with his wife Kinza, his father in-law David, and his sons, Finn and Rowan.
Jennifer (Jas) Slayden, 2-8th grade Music Teacher
Robin Etingen-Ayers, Assistant Director	If you've spent any time at Sussex, you know who runs the school. "Where's Robin?" and "Ask Robin!" are two consistent phrases heard throughout the halls of Sussex. Robin disperses Band-Aids., collects forms, organizes drivers, answers phone calls, soothes frayed nerves, and much, much more. She knows everything about the school, but how much do we know about her? Robin and Scott enrolled their children at Sussex in the early 1980s. In 1990 Robin began working at Sussex. She has been with us ever since, watching her own children graduate and her job grow into a full-time position. It's difficult to imagine Robin finding time to do much except work at Sussex, but she is a woman of many talents. She has been gardening since she was 19, and she has never missed a season. She is passionate about skiing and playing soccer (she played competitively again this year) and spending time with family and friends on Flathead Lake. She helps Scott run his construction business, and she spends lots of time with her grandson, Liam. About Sussex, Robin enthusiastically says, "The kids are the best part of the job." Today she was asked by the eighth graders to come to their music class and listen to a song they were learning. She listened, gave them feedback, and then went back to the office. Robin also commented that the Sussex parents are a creative group to work with. She's been involved with a variety of interesting people over the years. "They've impacted the school in many wonderful ways. The parent cooperative model has helped make Sussex the vibrant educational community it is today."