New teachers

LIE/Riverside

Toby Wood
What grade/subject will you be teaching? Elementary physical education and adapted physical education
What colleges did you attend? University of Wyoming and Black Hills State University
Background? I was born in Newcastle, I moved to Basin when I was 6 years old. I attended Laura Irwin Elementary, Cloud Peak Middle School, and graduated from Riverside High School in 2008. I love hunting, fishing, spending time with my family, and being up in the mountains.
Why did you want to teach at this school? This is where I grew up and this is where I also want to retire. I feel as though I was given an amazing education here as a child, and I want to give back those same opportunities to the children that are being raised here. All my immediate family lives in the area and family is extremely important to me, so that is another big reason!
How long have you been teaching? This will be my sixth year teaching. The past five years I have been teaching physical education and coaching football, basketball, and track in Shoshoni.
What do you like about teaching? I love watching kids grow and see their success in every aspect of life. The relationships or building of rapport that comes with working with the students is awesome. Kids are amazing and I really like working with them on a daily basis.
Family? I am married to my beautiful wife Chelsea. Chelsea and I have two amazing boys: Brayon age 11 and Grady age 6.
 

Emily Asay
What grade/subject will you be teaching? K-12 Music
What colleges did you attend? Brigham Young University-Idaho, Kansas State
Background? Bachelors degree in education with health and music endorsement.
Why did you want to teach at this school? I loved the environment, staff, beautiful facility
How long have you been teaching? 3 years.
What do you like about teaching? Making connections with students, experiencing music with them, seeing them learn and grow as musicians.
Family? Husband, Michael, 18 years married; Stetson, 17, senior at Lovell High, awesome piano player; Kandace, 16, sophomore at Lovell High, loves volleyball; Janelle, 13, seventh grader at Lovell Mid, loves volleyball; Stahle, 9, fourth grader at Lovell Elementary, loves to sing.

Kevin St. Clair
What grade/subject will you be teaching? Algebra I and II, Math Apps and RTI for HS and MS.
What colleges did you attend? I received a B.A. in Classical Languages from the University of Montana (Go Griz!) and a M.Ed from SUNY Brockport in New York.
Background? I retired from the tradeshow and convention industry in 2019 and began my teaching career.
Why did you want to teach at this school? I felt welcomed during the interview process and love the idea of teaching smaller groups. Riverside checked all the boxes for my teaching goals.
How long have you been teaching? I was a substitute teacher for 7 years and taught at a correctional facility for 5 years.
What do you like about teaching? It is all about the kids. I get to not only share knowledge, but also learn from them on a daily basis.
Family? I have a beautiful wife, 2 dogs. 5 daughters and 7 grandsons.

Jenna Schultz
What grade or subject will you be teaching? 8-12 special education.
What college(s) did you attend? University of Wisconsin-Platteville (BS Ag Ed), University of Wisconsin-River Falls (MS-Biology), WGU (MS Special Ed).
Background? Education, science and ag.
Why did you want to teach at this school? I know other teachers in this district and I was ready to make a positive change in my career field. I look forward to teaching in Basin and working with great people and great kids.
How long have you been teaching? 15 years
What do you like about teaching? Making a positive difference in students’ lives and having a growth mindset.
Family? My husband, Jarren, and I have been married 10 years. We have two dogs - Sierra and Denali.

Burlington Schools

Cheyanne Jordan
What grade/subject will you be teaching? 2nd grade
What college(s) did you attend? University of Wyoming
What is your background? After graduation I got a job in Riverton teaching kindergarten. I was there for two years.
Why did you want to teach at this school? I grew up in a small community that was very family oriented. I’ve always wanted to teach in a school like that. I have family in the area and throughout sports in high school I saw that Burlington was a community that would fit into my life.
How long have you been teaching? This is my third year.
What is do you like about teaching? I love the kids! I love connecting with them and seeing all their different personalities. I love watching them grow and seeing their love of learning.
Family? My family lives in Encampment where my mom teaches kindergarten and my dad works for a natural gas company. My younger sister will be a senior this year and my brother will be playing football at Chadron State. My older sister lives in Lovell with her four kids who are 7, 5, 3 and 1.
 

Kylie Carson
What grade/subject will you be teaching? 6-12 Agriculture, Woods, and Welding
What college(s) did you attend? Associates in agricultural business-Laramie County Community College; Bachelors in agriculture education-agriculture business–University of Wyoming
What is your background? I grew up outside of Torrington and graduated from Southeast High School where I was an active member of 4-H and FFA as well as a three-sport athlete. When I wasn’t participating in extracurricular activities, I spent free time working for my parents’ businesses: Carson Cattle and 5C Fencing and Custom Buildings. I worked as the assistant barn manager at LCCC, and competed on their IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Team). I have judged horses collegiately and professionally and currently hold my Colorado 4-H judging card with plans to eventually be carded in other associations.
Why did you want to teach at this school? Graduating from a small school, I grew to appreciate the many of the benefits they had to offer. Students young and old develop a sense of pride and school spirit that cannot be re-created in larger schools.
How long have you been teaching? This will be my first year teaching in the classroom, but I have been teaching in varying capacities most of my life.
What is do you like about teaching? I enjoy watching students grow into young leaders and the future of our community.
 

Samantha Paulsen
What grade/subject will you be teaching? High school special education
What college(s) did you attend? Northwest College and University of Wyoming
What is your background? I am from Byron, born and raised on a farm and currently live in Cody.
Why did you want to teach at this school? I loved working in this district and love the community.
How long have you been teaching? This will be my first year.
What do you like about teaching? I love the relationships I get to build and being an influence in the lives of my students.
Family? No kids yet, just my husband and me.
 

Maren Gotfredson
What grade/subject will you be teaching? Fourth grade
What college(s) did you attend? Northwest College and the University of Wyoming
What is your background? I grew up in the area on our family farm south of Otto. I graduated from Burlington High School. I attended Northwest College, earning my Associates degree. Then I attended the University of Wyoming where I received my Bachelors degree in elementary education. I’ve taught reading and math K-3; kindergarten, and fifth grade
Why did you want to teach at this school? I am looking forward to teaching in the upper elementary. My children attend here in Burlington, and I’m looking forward to being at the same school as them again. Burlington is an outstanding school. They help every student to be successful.
How long have you been teaching? This will be my fourth year teaching.
What do you like about teaching? I really enjoy working with the kids. They each have such unique, fun personalities. I try to make connections with each of my students.
Family? I have six kids. My oldest got married this summer and is attending the University of Wyoming. I have a son who is finishing up a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Nashville in October. I have a senior, sophomore, eighth grader, and sixth grader all attending Burlington Schools.
 

Leah St. Clair
What grade/subject will you be teaching? I will be teaching fifth grade.
What college(s) did you attend? Though I began my journey at Casper College, I graduated with both my Bachelors and master’s degrees from the University of Wyoming in 2019 and 2024, respectively.
What is your background? Shortly after graduating in 2019, I began teaching fifth grade at a Title One school in Casper. Over the next five years, I dove into being a member of their educational team while continuing my education whenever I could. One of the opportunities presented to me over the last few years was the opportunity to serve on a computer science subject area community tasked with dissecting state computer science standards and developing a district curriculum for our schools to follow. This opportunity led me to pursue a degree in learning, design, and technology, integrating technology into learning and designing learning opportunities to push students to a deeper understanding. These opportunities actively shaped my educational practices and helped me grow as an educator.
Why did you want to teach at this school? When looking for opportunities to move closer to home, I found Burlington Schools. While researching if this was a school I could see myself at, it became clear to me that this is a school that values its community and strives to see every student excel. Their commitment to preparing students to live and contribute successfully in the future is a commitment I wanted to take part in.
How long have you been teaching? This will be my sixth year teaching, all of which have been in fifth grade.
What do you like about teaching? Hands down, my favorite thing about teaching is the excitement I see when a student finally understands a difficult concept. Everyone learns differently and too often humans want to give up when something becomes difficult (or turn to the internet), but I love helping encourage students to keep learning and finding new ways to break down difficult concepts. When a student finally understands a concept they’ve struggled with for a while, they get an “aha” moment that shows them all their hard work was worth it. To me, this is what is essential in creating life-long learners. I always look forward to helping students find that moment and seeing how proud of themselves they are when they do.
Family? I come from a very large, close-knit family with 11 children and a mother that homeschooled most of us for many years. As someone who has lived away from home for many years, I look forward to living closer to my family again.
 

Carson Heinen
What grade/subject will you be teaching? Sixth through eighth grade special education.
What college(s) did you attend? Minot State University in North Dakota.
What is your background? I was born and raised in Powell, so I am familiar with the surrounding area. I went to Minot State in 2019 and played five years of college football as a tight end. I went to school to become an adaptive P.E teacher, but after my student teaching placements, I fell in love with the general classroom aspect of teaching. After spending time with the special service staff in Burlington, I knew I was meant to teach in the general classroom environment.
Why did you want to teach at this school? I student taught in Burlington during the spring of ‘24, and during my time here, I felt a family-like environment inside the school. Everyone cares about one another, whether it’s students or staff. I knew this is where I wanted to start my teaching career.
How long have you been teaching? This will be my first year teaching on my own.
What is do you like about teaching? I like making connections with students and their families. I care deeply about my students, and want to give them the tools and resources they need to become successful.
Family? I am the youngest of three children in my family, and have happily married parents that support me. I have been involved in special education in certain aspects my entire life, as my older sister is autistic.
 

Karen McKay
What grade/subject will you be teaching? K-12 Music
What college(s) did you attend? Northwest College in Powell and Montana State University-Billings
What is your background? I come from Fromberg, Mont. I have taught in Fromberg, Red Lodge and Joliet where I taught general music, concert band, jazz band, modern band, guitar, choir, swing choir and musical theater.
Why did you want to teach at this school? Burlington has a reputation for education excellence and I wanted to be a part of a team that stresses education importance.
How long have you been teaching? 26 years
What do you like about teaching? My passion is music and helping others to create it whether through voice or instrument. I get excited when I see a student experience success and demonstrate their love for music.
Family? My spouse Mike and I have been married for 30 years. We live on a 60-acre farm in Fromberg. Our daughter, Dymond, graduated last year and is now living in Nampa, Idaho, pursuing cosmetology.