Teachers and Aides
We seek out highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals who are ready to partner with you in educating your children.
Kindergarten
Mrs. Erin Smith, Kindergarten A
Erin Smith is a Laramie native. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. Erin began working at Snowy Range Academy in 2016. She loves to read, paddleboard, and spend time with family and friends.
Mrs. Trish Jacobsen, Kindergarten B
Mrs. Jacobsen earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming in 1998.She taught in Idaho Falls, Idaho and Encampment, Wyoming before moving to Laramie with her family in 2010, when she joined SRA as a part-time reading interventionist. The following year, she stepped into the role of first grade teacher. Later, she pursued a Library Media Science endorsement through Montana State University and served as the school’s librarian for seven years. In the fall of 2025, she returned to the classroom to continue doing what she loves most—teaching young children. With a deep passion for literacy and working with kids, she is especially excited to be teaching kindergarten. Outside of school, Trish enjoys mountain biking, hiking, water activities, reading, and spending time with her three young adult daughters.
Ms. Anna Skonieczny, Kindergarten C
Anna Skonieczny has been part of Snowy Range Academy since 2017, spending eight years as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher before becoming a kindergarten teacher in August 2025. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University in 2023. Originally from Colorado and upstate New York, Anna moved to Laramie in 2017. She enjoys paddleboarding, spending time outdoors, and watching and cheering on her daughter in all her sports.
first grade
MRs. Megan BROOKS, 1st Grade A
Megan Brooks was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Megan began her teaching career here at Snowy in the fall of 2023. Megan enjoys being outside and spending time with family and friends.
Mr. michael caraballo, 1st Grade B
Michael Caraballo grew up in Longmont, Colorado. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Following graduation he moved to Spokane, Washington where he taught Kindergarten for 3 years. Mr. Caraballo moved back to Laramie and began teaching at Snowy Range Academy in the fall of 2024. Outside of school Mr. Caraballo loves golfing in the summer, playing hockey in the winter, and spending time at Cowboys football games with family and friends!
second grade
Ms. Jessica Stoner, 2nd Grade A
Jessica Stoner was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado. She has an associate degree in elementary education from Laramie County Community College and a Bachelor's in elementary education from the University of Wyoming. She started teaching in 2022 and loves sharing knowledge, as well as making a difference, with all learners at the elementary level. With her free time, Jessica enjoys drawing and painting, reading, being outside, and hanging out with family and friends.
Mrs. LINDSAY CHRISTENSEN, 2nd Grade B
Mrs. Lindsay Christensen was born and raised in Lyman, WY. She moved to Laramie, WY in 2020 to attend the University of Wyoming. Lindsay graduated from UW with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in May of 2024. She began teaching 2nd grade at Snowy Range Academy in 2024. Lindsay has always loved learning, and she became a teacher to ignite that passion in others. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and their cat, visiting family, crafting, and baking.
third grade
Mrs. Carla Bayne, 3rd Grade A
Mrs. Carla Bayne graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and mathematics, and she graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2009 with a Master of Science in natural sciences. She worked in the Cherry Creek School District #1 as a classroom teacher for several years before moving to the wonderful state of Wyoming. She then worked for the Laramie County School District #1 as a classroom teacher. Mrs. Bayne has worked as a paraprofessional in the Albany County School District #1 for the past several years. In 2022, she accepted a third-grade teaching position at Snowy Range. Mrs. Bayne loves to run races and usually participates in one to two half marathons per year. In her spare time, Mrs. Bayne enjoys attending UW events, camping, skiing, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Madeline Buckwalter 3rd Grade b
Maddy Buckwalter teaches 3rd grade at Snowy Range Academy. She moved to Laramie in 2019 to attend UW. She graduate with her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. After attending UW, she got her Master’s in Theological Studies from the West Institute. She has been teaching at SRA since January 2025. When she is not at school, she loves to cook, teach/play piano, read, swing dance with her husband, and host game nights with friends.
fourth grade
Mr. Andrew Johnson, 4th Grade A
Andrew Johnson teaches 4th Grade A at Snowy Range Academy. He has been at Snowy Range Academy since 2022 and has been teaching since 2016. Andrew has taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade while also spending 3 years as a Math Instructional Coach. Mr. Johnson grew up in Laramie, WY, and also lived in Arizona for 6 years after graduating from the University of Wyoming with his Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. In Mr. Johnson's free time, he enjoys spending time with his two children, Ensley and Nash, and his wife, Hannah. He enjoys reading, camping, and coaching the JV Boys soccer team at LHS.
Ms. Lindi Pojar, 4th grade B
Lindi Pojar joined the Snowy Range team as a 4th-grade teacher in 2025. Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, she attended Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education while playing collegiate volleyball. After graduating in 2022, Lindi moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she taught 4th grade for three years. Outside of the classroom, Lindi enjoys hiking, going to concerts, watching college football, and spending time with friends and family. She looks forward to a fun and engaging year in 4th grade and is excited to watch her students grow academically and personally.
fifth grade
Ms. Bailey Sprague, 5th Grade A
Bailey Sprague was born and raised in Leadville, Colorado. She has an Associate Degree in Science and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Elementary Education. She started working at SRA as a paraprofessional in 2024, but 2025 will be her first year teaching at SRA. Bailey is so excited to be in the classroom teaching! Outside of school, you can find Bailey spending time with her husband, sister, and friends. She loves fishing, hiking, rock climbing, and cornhole.
MRS. SALLY NORTON, 5th Grade B
Sally Norton was born and raised in North Carolina. She has lived in Laramie since 2017 with her husband and two daughters. Mrs. Norton graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8) in 2019. She has been teaching in Albany County since then, with 2024 being her first year teaching at Snowy Range Academy. In her free time, she enjoys reading or being outside with her family– especially camping in the mountains or playing at the beach.
sixth - eighth grade
Mrs. Boa Byeon, 6th-8th Grade Math
Boa Byeon was born and raised in South Korea. She came to the United States in 2012 and has been in Laramie, Wyoming since then. She has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and earned Wyoming Elementary Education Teaching Certificate from University of Wyoming in 2019. She has more than 3 years of experience teaching/creating math materials. With her positive attitude and enthusiasm in teaching, she loves interacting with students, helping others and making a difference. In her free time, Boa enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.
Mrs. Marilyn Specht, 6th-8th Grade Math
Mrs. Specht began working for Snowy Range Academy in 2016 and is a Middle School Mathematics teacher for Snowy Range Academy. She is originally from Aurora, Colorado but has lived in Laramie since 2006. Mrs. Specht began working for Snowy Range Academy in 2016. She holds a master's in elementary Education from the University of Phoenix and a master's in middle-level mathematics from the University of Wyoming. Mrs. Specht enjoys reading, math, playing music, spending time with her three boys, and is always ready to learn new things.
MRS. CASSANDRA BUSHMAN, 6th-8th Grade Social Studies
Originally from California, Cassandra Bushman has lived all over the United States. After over 10 years on the East Coast, Cassandra was thrilled to return to the intermountain West and has called Laramie home since 2014. A graduate of University of Utah (Go Utes!), she began teaching Social Studies in 2001 and started at Snowy Range Academy in 2024. Cassandra enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, playing games, doing puzzles and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Jennifer Weber, 6th-8th Grade Science
Mrs. Weber is a Wyoming native with a degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Natural Science from the University of Wyoming. She has been teaching since 1993, with experience in Crawford, Jeffrey City, Thermopolis, and most recently at the UW Lab School.
She has also coached volleyball, basketball, and track, and now referees volleyball. Outside of school, she enjoys photography and reading.
Mr. Sean Patrick, 6th-8th Grade LANGUAGE ARTS
Sean started teaching at Snowy Range Academy in 2025 and is excited to be part of such a great school community. He and his family ski most weekends come January and love camping when the weather is fine. His other hobbies are fountain pens, journaling, reading, and eating.
specials
Mrs. Jessica Arnold, K-5th Grade Spanish
Jessica Arnold, also known as Señora Arnold to her students, has been working as the Snowy Range Academy Elementary Spanish teacher since the doors opened in the fall of 2002. Mrs. Arnold also teaches third through fifth grade Character Education. Señora Arnold first learned Spanish her senior year in high school while studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. Mrs. Arnold received her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish at the University of Wyoming. While at the University of Wyoming, she also spent a semester in Montevideo, Uruguay. Mrs. Arnold received her kindergarten through sixth grade Master of Education from Western New Mexico University in 2002. While studying for her masters at Western New Mexico, Mrs. Arnold taught at an elementary school on the U.S./Mexico border where she taught all of her classes and students in Spanish. Señora Arnold has also earned a kindergarten through twelfth grade Master of Education from Montana State University in 2017. She has traveled extensively to Mexico and enjoys sharing the experiences of her travels and the cultures therein with her students who love to hear the stories that she shares. Señora Arnold has proven over the years to specialize in making second language learning a success for the students at SRA through her experiences in the language and culture.
Ms. Amy Cowell, Music
Amy Cowell has taught general music, choir, and orchestra at Snowy Range Academy since 2006. Amy received her bachelor of music education degree from the University of Wyoming in 2005. She earned her master of music education degree from the University of Wyoming in 2015. Amy is an active member of the Wyoming Music Educators Association as well as the American String Teachers Association. She is also a cellist and performs regularly with the Wyoming and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestras. She also enjoys spending time with her family participating in numerous Wyoming outdoor activities.
Ms. Antonia Garner, music
Nia Garner will be joining Snowy Range Academy for the 2025 school year as a part-time general music teacher. She grew up in Casper, Wyoming, and later moved to Laramie to attend the University of Wyoming. While at UW, she earned degrees in both Music Education and Music Performance, along with a Certificate in Audio Technology. Since sixth grade, her primary instrument has been the tuba. Outside of school, Nia enjoys practicing music, reading, and spending time outdoors, especially when the weather is warm. She is excited to become a part of the SRA community.
Ms. Anne Hedderman, 6th-8th Grade Spanish and K-8th GRADE ELL
Originally from Powell, Wyoming, Ms. Hedderman has been part of the SRA community since 2015. She holds a BA in history, a MA in Spanish and certifications in ESL (English as a second language) and Spanish language education from the University of Wyoming. After college, she worked for the US Senate in Washington D.C. for two years and then spent about five years in southern Chile. While in South America, she traveled, taught English at an agricultural vocational high school and started a small tour business. Her experiences abroad strengthened her belief in the power of language as a tool for building bridges and fostering cross-cultural connections and understanding. Anne appreciates the ability to teach both English and Spanish daily at SRA. She believes that language learning is not just about learning vocabulary and grammar rules; it also opens doors to diverse worlds and opportunities. When not teaching, Anne enjoys spending time outside with her husband, two young children and dog Benny.
Mrs. ruth troyanek, Librarian/6-8 Computer Science
Ruth Troyanek has called Laramie home since 2003. She received a biology degree from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in library science from the University of Iowa. Ruth worked at the Albany County Public Library for 14 years, especially enjoying being the Youth Services Librarian. She was also an early childhood home visitor for Parents as Teachers for six years, partnering with parents to support their children’s development through literacy and play. Ruth began working as the SRA librarian in 2025.
When she’s not hunting for books, Ruth delights in running, cycling, and being outside. She loves drinking tea and spending time with her son, husband, and friends.
Mrs. Laura Palmer, Physical education
After earning her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2008, Laura Palmer worked as a strength and conditioning coach and youth counselor in Turlock, California. She then moved back to her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana to open Whole New You, LLC, providing personal training and health education for families while employed with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as an adjunct instructor in the Kinesiology department. In 2014 she earned her K-12 Physical Education teaching certification in the state of Louisiana and went on to found LASOAR, the Louisiana Association of Sports, Outdoor Adventure, and Recreation, a non-profit organization based in Lafayette, Louisiana promoting the power of play and reconnecting families to the natural world, serving as chief executive officer for six years. Laura earned her Master of Science degree in Physical Education Teacher Education from the University of Wyoming in 2023 and became licensed to teach Physical Education in the state of Wyoming. She was thrilled to be hired as the Physical Education Teacher at Snowy Range Academy shortly after her graduation. When not at SRA, Laura can often be found hiking at Happy Jack, paddleboarding at Curt Gowdy, gardening, or cooking Cajun southern soul food in her kitchen.
Mr. Corey Henschel, Physical education
Corey Henschel joined the Snowy Range team as a Physical Education teacher in 2025. Corey grew up in Laramie Wyoming and pursued a bachelor's degree in teaching physical education at the University of Wyoming. He graduated in 2022 and taught as an elementary PE teacher in Elko NV for the last three years. When he isn't teaching Corey enjoys going to the gym and spending time with his wife and three children.
Ms. Kynlee Jolley, MS Art
Kynlee Jolley started teaching at Snowy Range Academy in 2025 . She has experience in over 8 years of childcare and a lifetime of creating art. She earned her bachelor’s degree in K-12 Art Education from the University of Wyoming in May 2025, just before becoming the elementary art teacher at SRA. Ms. Jolley was born and raised in Wyoming, originally from Cowley. She lived all over the state before moving to Laramie in 2020. She loves art, teaching, music, reading, and spending time with friends and family
Mrs. Shelly Donner, Interventionist
Mrs. Shelly Donner has taught at Snowy Range Academy since it opened in 2002. Besides her role as a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Donner has served as a head teacher, employee representative on the board, and scheduler. She was born in Nebraska and has also lived in Rawlins, WY, and Brighton, CO. She is a 1997 B.S. Civil Engineering graduate of Colorado State University. In 1999, she completed her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction through Colorado University in Denver. Mrs. Donner enjoys paddle boarding, reading, traveling, dark chocolate, and being with her family. You will often find Mrs. Donner at the baseball fields in the spring and the football fields in the fall to watch her boys play.
Ms. Katherine Fink, Resource Room
Ms. Fink is a new member of the Laramie community, having recently moved here from Lovell. She has a long history of working in special education and is passionate about supporting all students. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and being crafty. She has two grown daughters who inspire her every day. Please feel free to reach out to her with any questions or concerns you may have. She is happy to be here and looks forward to working together to support your children.
