Elementary School

  • Betsy Trowbridge

    Lower School Curriculum Coordinator (Grades Pre-K-5)

    M.A., Education, University of California, Berkley
    Graduate Program of Teton Science Schools
    B.A., English, Kenyon College
                            betsy.trowbridge@journeysschool.org • 307.734.9863

    Betsy received her Bachelors degree in English from Kenyon College. After finishing the Graduate Program of Teton Science Schools in 1996, Betsy moved to Berkeley, California to complete her Masters degree in Education and teach in the public schools in Moraga, CA. Returning to Wyoming in 2003, Betsy joined the Journeys School elementary faculty in its third year. In the past decade, Betsy has taught every elementary grade. Betsy's professional interests include designing and implementing research based reading and writing curriculum and integrating a child's place into his or her learning. One of Betsy's favorite moments in teaching is watching a student transition from learning to read to enjoying reading.

  • Shannon Shuptrine

    PK-5th Grade Assistant Coordinator, Elementary Faculty

    M.A., Education, Antioch College
    B.A., English, Lewis & Clark College
    shannon.shuptrine@journeysschool.org  • 307.734.9860

    This is Shannon's 14th year of teaching which includes teaching at Waynflete School in Portland, Maine, Teton County School District, and Journeys School. This is her fifth year at Journeys School. Her experience includes experiential education and using a place-based and integrated approach to teaching and learning. She and her husband owned and operated a whitewater kayaking school in Maine for seven years before returning to the west. She grew up in Jackson Hole and enjoys spending time with her husband, Ben, and son, Flynn, on the water and in the mountains. Shannon hikes, rock climbs, skis and does yoga. She is on the board of a local "arts in the schools" organization, pARTners, and is a yearly organizer for the Friends of the Wind River winter blanket and toy drive.

  • Bari Bucholz

    Elementary Faculty

    Graduate Program of Teton Science Schools
    B.A., Elementary Education, University of Montana
    bari.bucholz@journeysschool.org • 307.734.9869

    Prior to joining Journeys School Lower Elementary School faculty in 2005, Bari taught 5th and 6th grade in Idaho. She co-founded the Swan Valley Science School to inspire Kindergarten - 8th grade students to discover and explore their local communities and habitats. At Journeys School, she enjoys creating innovative placed-based education curriculum. Bari often integrates science and social studies concepts about exploration, communities and beginnings into her Reading and Writing Workshop and Everyday Math activities. Bari also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, birding throughout the year and cooking.

  • Kjera Strom Henrie

    Elementary Faculty

    M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction with Literacy Emphasis, Lesley University
    B.A., English and Spanish, Utah State University
    kjera.strom@journeysschool.org  • 307.734.9852

    Kjera has been teaching at Journeys School since it opened its doors in 2001 after teaching in a small school district in southern Wisconsin. She has taught Spanish to each level of Journeys School students. She also takes pleasure in coaching faculty members and working with local Latino families. Kjera became a teacher following in her mother’s and grandmother’s footsteps. She is interested in how language learning builds communication skills and breaks down barriers in local and global communities. Outside of school, Kjera enjoys volunteering with local non-profit organizations, spending time with family and friends, playing cowgirl, skiing and rafting, and traveling to Spanish-speaking countries.

  • Jill Wright

    Elementary Faculty

    M.A., Education/Arts, University of Montana
    B.A., English, University of Alaska
    jill.wright@journeysschool.org • 307.734.9845

    Jill received her Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Alaska and went on to get a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Montana. Jill taught for twenty years in the Alaskan Public School System before coming to Journeys School. For the past four years Jill has been an adjunct faculty in the performing arts program here at Journeys. She is excited to finally have the opportunity to combine both her teaching experience and love for kids with a creative, innovative education for her students. When Jill is not in the classroom you can find her hiking, fishing, and reading.

  • Bridget Killian

    Elementary Faculty

    M.Ed., Special Education, Florida Gulf Coast University
    B.S., Elementary Education, University of Vermont
    bridget.killian@journeysschool.org • 307.734.9841

    Bridget is an experienced educator who has worked in both private and public schools in Florida and New England. For the last six years, she taught in the elementary school at the Community School of Naples in Florida. Prior to that, she worked for five years in public schools in Massachusetts. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree in Elementary Education (psychology concentration) and earned her Master’s Degree from Florida Gulf Coast University while teaching at her previous school. Bridget takes a very student centered approach to learning and is an advocate for differentiated learning to allow each child to reach his/her full potential. Bridget has previous experience with Singapore Math and Writer’s Workshop for literacy. She also has a strong interest in technology integration. Bridget brings a confident, experienced and caring personality to our elementary school team.

  • Tracy Mulligan

    Elementary Faculty

    B.A., Journalism, University of Southern Florida
    tracy.mulligan@journeysschool.org • 307.734.9846


    Tracy is a veteran teacher who will be focused on the younger grades in the elementary school. She has worked for the last 16 years at Park Maitland School in Florida teaching all levels ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade. Tracy is looking forward to bringing her knowledge of independent schools and her love of elementary school children to Journeys School this fall. Tracy has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Central Florida and has a strong passion for teaching all subjects from literacy to science.

  • Erin Niebling

    Elementary Faculty

    M.A., Elementary Education, University of Phoenix
    B.A., Visual Communications & Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
                            erin.niebling@journeysschool.org • 307.734.9844

    After finishing her Master’s in Elementary Education through the University of Phoenix, Erin taught a combined class of grades K-2 at the Bellwether School in Vermont for 2 ½ years. She strives to develop and implement lessons that incorporate all dimensions of whole-child development through a variety of learning domains. She also has a true affinity for the outdoors and tries to weave natural connections into her teaching whenever possible. Some of Erin’s personal interests are art, travel, and practically any outdoor adventure, preferably with her dog.

  • Olivia Wheeler

    Adjunct Elementary School Faculty

    B.A., History, Yale University
    olivia.wheeler@journeysschool.org • 307.732.7746

    Olivia graduated from Yale University in 2010 where she studied History and Architecture. She tutored throughout college and helped start a tutoring organization at a local high school in New Haven, Connecticut.. She led and organized the freshman outdoor orientation trips and in her summers she taught English abroad and worked as a camp counselor in Vermont. She is excited to be teaching in a classroom and looks forward to being a part of the Journeys School community. In addition to teaching, Olivia enjoys backpacking, taking road trips and dancing.

  • Megan Slater

    Elementary School Faculty

    MA, Elementary Education, University of Phoenix
    BA, Speech Communication, Colorado State University
    megan.slater@journeysschool.org • 307.734.9856

    Megan was a substitute teacher in Colorado for two years while getting her Master's degree. She then taught 1st grade for three years in a public school in Colorado. During which time she also coached girls' field hockey and lacrosse at the high school level. Megan is passionate about teaching and loves experiencing the "Aha moments" in a students' education. In her free time, Megan enjoys hiking, yoga, rock climbing, lacrosse, skiing and spending time with her husband and dogs. 

  • Hillary Rowse

    PreK-5th Grade Intern

    BA, Anthropology and Environmental Education, Colby College
    hillary.rowse@journeysschool.org • 307.733.3729

    Hillary recently graduated from Colby College in Maine where she studied Anthropology and Environmental Education. She has spent her life thus far in the Northeast and is very excited to be living and working in a new and different part of the country. Hillary has spent a lot of time working with children, both in school as well as extra-curricular settings. She has served as a mentor in schools, taught at an after-school program, and worked as a camp counselor. In her free time, Hillary loves spending time outside and especially enjoys skiing, hiking, and mountain biking.