teachers
Maddy Dahl
Ms. Dahl lives in Portland, Oregon and teaches English 11, Junior Survey, and Leadership. This is her second year teaching at FCA and her sixth year teaching at an online school. In her free time, Ms. Dahl loves playing games, reading books, and carving spoons. She also enjoys going on hikes with her corgi, Ron Swanson.
Ashley White
Mrs. White lives in Corvallis, Oregon and teaches 9th grade Language Arts. In her 12 years of teaching, she's taught reading intervention, social studies, and language arts in various grade levels. She loves running, cooking, spending time at the beach, and hanging out with her three kids.
Cassie Pierce
Ms. Pierce has a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor of Science with minors in English and Psychology and teaches fifth grade this year at FCA. She taught both upper and lower elementary and has worked at a not-for-profit hospice for six years where she was a recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Oregon Hospice Association. Ms. Pierce is knowledgeable in social-emotional learning needs, family resources, and brain-based research for teaching and learning. Ms. Pierce studied abroad in Florence, Italy, likes learning new languages and connecting her students to other children across the world as pen-pals! She enjoys running, writing poetry, traveling, and photography
Krista Geffre
Mrs. Geffre teaches 7th grade humanities and middle school electives at FCA. She has taught grades K through graduate level students but her passion lies in teaching middle school reading, writing, and history. When she isn’t teaching, she loves being outdoors with her family, traveling, learning languages, drawing, painting, playing board games, being near the water (swimming, fishing, and kayaking) and reading.
Meginn Nordstrom
Mrs. Nordstrom lives in North Portland and teaches 6th grade Humanities and Homeroom. Prior to coming to FCA, she taught at several different types of schools. No matter the school setting, though, she always taught her favorite grade level: middle school! She loves spending time with her husband, two kids, and pets.
Tony Mills
Mr. Mills loves to read everything from novels to comic books, comedies to drama. He spends most of his free time traveling with his wife and 3 sons, camping, listening to all types of music, and playing video games.
Shelley Gelfand
Mrs. Gelfand lives in Happy Valley, Oregon with her husband, two kids and 3 pets. She currently teaches 7th and 8th grade Life and Physical Science. In her 14 years of teaching (8th year in virtual education), she's taught Biology, Earth Science, Astronomy, Forensic Science, and high school Physical Science. She loves camping at Oregon State parks, road trips to National Parks, gardening, crocheting, pilates, and volunteering at her daughter's school.
Jessica Morris
Bio coming soon…
“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important”
Drew Arneson
Mr. Arneson teaches Math 6 and Physical Education at FCA and is currently in his second year of online teaching. He most recently graduated with his Masters Degree from Western Oregon University but has attended a variety of universities and lived throughout Oregon. Currently Mr. Arneson lives in Junction City with his Wife Sophia, Three Daughters Bella Juniper and Winnie, Two Dogs, Three Cats, and Four Chickens.
Melissa Burch
Mrs. Burch lives in Oregon City and teaches 3rd grade at FCA. She has been teaching at the elementary level for over 18 years and is thrilled to have landed at FCA. She loves running around with her 3 kids and husband. Together they enjoy traveling, exploring the outdoors, gardening, running kids to sports and dance practices, and are always looking for new hobbies or projects!
Jamie Dinsmoor
Mrs. Jamie lives in Portland, Oregon. She teaches Geometry and Biology. When she isn't teaching at FCA, you can find her teaching cycle and barre classes at Industrial Barre and Ride. You may also see her out in the woods looking for mushrooms. Her favorite mushroom is currently Pseudohydnum gelatinosum.
Amanda Van Buren
Mrs. Van Buren teaches Digital Photography and Visual Communication ad FCA. She lives in Portland with her husband, toddler, and rescue dog, Bagel. When not teaching, she enjoys exploring new places, practicing yoga, experimenting with food, and collaborating on messy art projects with her daughter.
Nicole McGowan
Mrs. McGowan teaches 4th Grade at FCA. She was born and raised in Portland, Oregon where she continues to reside with her husband, 3 kids, cat and dog. Mrs. McGowan constantly looking for the next adventure to go on with her family. Her family loves to ski, camp, travel, mountain bike, play sports, and just get outside!
Pepper Erlinger
I've always been an early adopter of new technology and FCA allows me to fulfill my passion of working with students and educational technology. I recently graduated from Boise State with my doctorate and now everyone calls me "Dr. Pepper." My house is a house divided -- one of my twins left to attend OSU and the other choose to attend UO! I spent time this fall going to so many football games with my husband of 30 years! I really love being a hobby chicken farmer and going on meandering road trips through Oregon on the weekends!
Alicia Sparks
Mrs. Sparks lives in Estacada with her husband and her Australian shepherd, Kylie. She teaches World History, Geography, and US History at FCA. Mrs. Sparks has a Masters in Education and a B.A. in History and International Relations from the University of Oregon. She enjoys discussing current events with her husband, hiking, gardening, cooking, and canning. Her kitchen is always stocked with jars and jars of crushed tomatoes, pickled veggies and flavorful jams.
Caitlyn Safley
This is Ms. Safley’s first year teaching at Frontier Charter Academy and she is absolutely loving it. She currently teaches Health, Sophomore Survey, and Discovery Hour. Recently. Ms. Safley moved to Camas, Washington, but she is originally from Boring, Oregon. Outside school, she enjoy being outdoors, spending time with her family, and traveling to new places.
Khema Williams
Bio coming soon…
Cait Alger
Ms. Alger lives in La Grande, OR and teaches Digital Art & Design and Digital Photography at FCA. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration followed by her Master of Arts in Teaching at the Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME. In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking, snowshoeing, cycling, playing with her 2 chihuahuas and of course creating pen & ink illustrations.
Marguerite Redelfs
Mrs. Redelfs teaches 8th grade Homeroom and Humanities. She lives in Canby with her husband, where she dotes on her garden and the local farm animals. She has a Masters of Arts in Teaching and a B.A. in English Literature. When she's not teaching, she loves reading, hiking, baking, and swing dancing.
Bekah Leighton
Bio coming soon…
Bridgette Macke
Mrs. Macke teaches kindergarten at FCA. She has a Masters of Education in elementary education from the University of Minnesota and in the past has taught fifth grade, sixth grade, elementary English language development, and has been an instructional coach. She began teaching kindergarten at FCA during the 2020-21 school year and it has quickly become her favorite grade to teach. Mrs. Macke lives in the Portland area with her husband and two young daughters. She loves to hike, read, travel, and explore the world!
FACULTY
Tim Batiuk
Mr. B is an avid gamer, cyclist, and cooker (not chef). Ask him what podcast or comic he liked lately. He is the Technology Manager and handles all that code and help tickets. Mr. B lives in SE Portland with his spouse, cat, and dog.
Katie Schweitzer
Katie is currently the Director of Student Services for Oregon Trail School District. She lives in Gresham OR with her husband, two children and a small zoo of animals.
Beau Neal
Beau lives in Oregon City, Oregon and is the principal and co-founder of Frontier Charter Academy. When he is not teaching he likes to read, write, and hangout with his family (a wife, three kids, and a poodle).
Colby Lee
Mr. Lee lives in Portland and is the Educational Technology Assistant here at FCA. Before arriving in Oregon, Mr. Lee worked as a Club Track Coach and an Enclosures Specialist at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman, Washington. When he is not supporting with technology issues you will likely find him frequenting Portland’s professional teams sporting events or in the backyard throwing a slobbery tennis ball for his dog, Henry.
Melissa Wolfer
Melissa Wolfer is the Business Manager at FCA. She has worked in public education for 24 years, 11 in school finance. Melissa lives in Woodburn with her husband and pets. She enjoys: being with family, photography, and trips to the Oregon Coast.
Joanne Johnson
Joanne is the Operations & Human Resources Manager at FCA. She loves to garden, hunt, fish, and play with her grandchildren. She has lived in Oregon for 40 years and loves the beauty of our home and state.
Jodi Hendershott
Bio coming soon…
Amy Gray
Amy Gray is the Registrar and Attendance Coordinator for FCA.
Born and raised in Portland, OR, Ms. Gray worked in Special Education for 12 years before coming to work for FCA. Along with handling registration and attendance responsibilities, Ms. Gray is also in charge of shipping out Chromebooks, grade-level supplies and processing returns. An avid Portland Timbers soccer fan (having played soccer for 20 years herself) you may find Ms. Gray at Providence Park cheering on her team and chanting along with the Timbers Army. Just recently she's traded in her soccer shoes for boxing gloves and taken up kickboxing to stay active.
Katie Cook
Bio coming soon…