Meet the Place Network Team

We're excited to work with you!

Leslie Cook Head of Professional Learning
Leslie’s interests in science and getting kids outside led her to attend Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center’s Graduate Program in Finland, Minnesota. She completed her Master’s degree at Prescott College focused on understanding how educators connect students to place. Those graduate studies led her to Teton Science Schools where she has been since 2008. Leslie works with Professional Learning and Graduate Program teams, facilitating training for in-service and pre-service teachers near the Tetons, across the US, and around the world.
Shannon Shuptrine Interim Place Network Director & Professional Learning Coach
Shannon grew up in Jackson Hole and attended Teton Science Schools as a fifth and seventh grade student. Most of her a-ha moments have occurred in the natural world or when connecting and working closely with others in challenging situations. She was naturally drawn to place-based education because of the care, community, and citizenship involved. Shannon received her Masters of Education from Antioch New England Graduate School and practiced place-based education at her first teaching job at Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. She and her husband, Ben, also ran a place-based summer program in Maine for eight years. For over twenty years she worked as a classroom teacher in both public and independent schools and most recently was Director of the Elementary School at TSS. Currently, she works as a School Coach and Program Designer for Place Network.
Krista Hollis Professional Learning Coach & Network Manager
Krista served as a founding teacher at a new Expeditionary Learning middle school in Massachusetts. This experience led her to the Graduate Program at Teton Science Schools, where her educational perspective was further informed by Place-based Education. She completed her Masters degree in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Colorado while a teacher leader at a Colorado public school. Her most recent focus has been on K-12 students at the margins, through her Masters thesis and work in literacy education and out-of-school time. She is thrilled to bring her diverse experiences to Place Network Schools.
Kate Gessford Professional Learning Coach
Fascinated by the science of learning, Kate collaborates with students to make learning “stick.” She guides learners to grow their understanding and use it to take action that makes a positive impact in their communities. Whether she is leading wilderness expeditions, classroom teaching, coaching teachers, writing curriculum, or just exploring the garden with her young daughter, Kate values a sense of adventure. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Masters in Science Education.
Kelly Gaskins Professional Learning Coach
Kelly grew up on a small family farm in Columbia, Missouri where her love of the outdoors began. Fascinated by people and all the things they can do, Kelly was drawn to “the spark” students have when they use their minds. As an educator, Kelly quickly discovered her passion for authentic learning and meaningful education. Before joining TSS, Kelly taught high school Social Studies for 6 years and received her MA from the University of Missouri in Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum, with a focus on inquiry-based learning. Throughout her career, she has focused on building strong relationships and inspiring students to become lifelong learners and wanderers. Her goal as a Professional Learning Coach with TSS is to bring joy back into the instructional environment, connect schools with their local communities, and reconnect kids to their natural world. When Kelly is not educating, she is spending time with her husband and dog outside, gardening, and getting out to the mountains as often as possible.
Bridgit Reichel Professional Learning Coach
Bridgit has embraced a growth mindset her entire life and loves to share the joy of learning along with a love for the outdoors. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Natural Science from Washington State University. She enjoyed almost 20 years as a public school classroom teacher before transitioning to school leadership. She completed her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Western Washington University. She used this knowledge and experience to serve public school communities as an Instructional Coach, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and as Principal in both Washington State and Texas. Her love for the outdoors brought her to the Greater Yellowstone area and Teton Science Schools. She is excited to join Place Network Schools in the quest for inspiring curiosity about our world.
Alex Sivitskis Education Research Faculty & Professional Learning Coach
Alex Sivitskis (He/Him) – Alex is originally from the small town and glaciated landscapes of Princeton, Massachusetts. After completing his undergraduate studies in Earth sciences, he began a career in environmental education through an AmeriCorps position in Casper, Wyoming. Alex first joined Teton Science Schools in 2018 as a participant in the graduate program. He completed a Master’s degree in Natural Science Education from the University of Wyoming. From 2019-2021, he was teaching place-based education, GIS, and remote sensing at The Royal University of Bhutan and other nonprofit organizations through a fellowship with TSS.

Alex joined the TSS Field Education department as a lead instructor for the 2022 season. Now returning to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, he is excited to engage with the land alongside students respectfully. His educational philosophy is centered around the implementation of a critical pedagogy of place and inquiry-based learning. He is currently living in Wilson, WY.
Sharon Laidlaw Director of Online Learning
Sharon is passionate about using technology for the greater good, amplifying the best aspects of quality in-person learning while increasing educational opportunities for all. In rural Costa Rica, New York City, and Austin, TX, she has served as a district technology lead, high school English teacher, instructional coach, and teacher trainer. Areas of focus include: liberatory design for equity, personalized learning, relationship-based and goal-driven coaching, mindfulness in education, and authentic assessment. She has a Master’s degree from the University of Georgia in Instructional Design and balances her use of digital tools with screen-free experiences such as rock climbing, van camping, and backpacking with her two sons.
Teresa Diaz Instructional Designer
Teresa’s love of learning has led her on a varied journey to her current role as an instructional designer for TSS. A former teacher and library media specialist in both public and independent schools in Texas and New York, Teresa is a divergently creative educator with over 20 years of hands-on experience designing innovative, engaging, and dynamic learning experiences for a range of learners in a spectrum of formats. She has a Masters in Teaching from Brown University, a Masters in Library and Information Science from UT/Austin, and a Graduate Certificate in Digital Literacy from the University of Rhode Island. She was drawn to the field of instructional design because of its endless possibilities to put ideas into action and realize the power of learning to transform. She also enjoys connecting to the offline world through hiking and walking with her pack of rescue dogs as often as she can.
Christopher Mouanoutoua Professional Learning Program Administrator
Christopher is a first-generation Hmong American outdoor educator. His ultimate goal is to remake the outdoors into a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive space for marginalized communities and BIPOC. He studied at Mount Olive College but is now formally known as the University of Mount Olive and earned his undergraduate degree in Recreation & Leisure Studies.

Through Teton Science Schools, Chris hopes to cultivate ideas, create platforms, and make appropriate changes to benefit everyone in outdoor and educational spaces. He loves the inspiring atmosphere and vulnerability of the mountains. One favorite thing of his; is being able to work in wild places and be put in a position to mentor, play, and share his love for the natural world with those he encounters.