Who We Are

Maura Bannon received BAs  in Environmental Ethics and Policy and Spanish from the University of Portland, Oregon.  She earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Masters in Teaching from National University in San Diego, California. Maura has several years of teaching experience with multiple grade levels.  Maura was drawn to SELS  because of the integration of outdoor adventure, community, [...]

Lynn Akers comes to SELS with an expansive resume of experience in the education field, including but not limited to teaching elementary education, leading teacher classes and field work, teaching the G.A.T.E (gifted and talented) program, teaching as a school-wide science teacher, special education paraprofessional, 504 coordinator, leading teachers in outdoor education workshops, board member of S.W.E.P (Sierra Watershed Education Program), successful collaboration in team teaching situations, administrative positions, and mentoring teachers in the preschool field. […]

Denise Strecker joined the Sierra Expeditionary Learning School crew as a part-time Reading Specialist. Her background is in education and counseling and has been teaching children and families since 2000. Over the years, she has worked in numerous schools and homes, at a variety of grade levels and age ranges, while serving diverse populations in San Diego and Marin Counties. At the start of her career, Ms. Strecker provided in-home parent education to low-income, at-risk families on early childhood development and behavior modification. She served as intermediary between clients and community resource providers while facilitating behavioral intervention plans, role modeling, and counseling. In 2005, Denise obtained her Master’s Degree in School Counseling fromthe University of San Diego. […]

Tiffany Connolly is excited to join the team of exceptional educators at Sierra Expeditionary Learning School. Tiffany earned her Master's Degree in Education and her Teaching Credential from Pepperdine University and she completed her undergraduate work at UCLA. She has been working in education since 2008. Tiffany has been a curriculum coordinator for ski athletes, [...]

Dana Seaborg was born and raised in Truckee, CA and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Reno. She comes to SELS with a wide range of experience working with elementary age children. Throughout college, Dana lead an after school and Kinder program while she worked toward becoming a teacher. After completing [...]

Zach Williams comes to Sierra Expeditionary Learning School with a wide range of experiences in education and the outdoors. Zach taught for several years in Oregon before moving to Truckee in 2011.  He spent the 2011-12 school year as the reading specialist at SELS before moving into the 7th grade classroom. Zach grew up in [...]

From hunkering in bird blinds along the Platte River to night-hiking the Costa Rican rainforests, Reenie McMains has convinced hundreds of young people to come along on her learning adventures. Teaching at SELS is the highlight of her career – Reenie loves working at SELS! It allows her the freedom to create in-depth learning experiences for her students in an environment that emphasizes creativity, caring and adventure. She enjoys the deep involvement of parents and the investment of the entire SELS community in developing children with strength of character and a passion for learning. For her, work is play! […]

At the confluence of her love of teaching and the outdoors, Julie Brisbin found her way into the Sierra Expeditionary Learning School community in 2010 as a Founding Teacher. Julie’s seven years of classroom experience range from not only guiding her students through dynamic thematic units and expeditions, but also coaching positions which include CRT Coach, Team Leader, and PLC Facilitator. Julie has taught locally in Tahoe City and Reno since 2005. Prior to teaching in the classroom, Julie was an Environmental Education/ Adventure Education guide for many outdoor education schools in Montana, Colorado, and Arizona. During Julie’s experience teaching for Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, Julie has achieved community accolades for her Fall 2011 Expedition titled “On American Soil,” in which students raised money for the Donner Summit 20-Mile Museum. The class then researched and graphically designed an interpretive sign for their petroglyph site. The sign still stands, prominently featured, at the petroglyph site on Old Hwy 40. […]

As one of the founding crew leaders at Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, Diane Welch is a veteran teacher of 20 years. Prior to arriving at SELS, Mrs. Welch taught for 8 years at a highly implementing Expeditionary Learning school in Pocatello, ID. Mrs. Welch has a high level of experience designing Learning Expeditions that align with newly implemented Common Core State Standards as well as a deep understanding of Expeditionary Learning practices. She has organized and led many crews on Adventure trips to Lake Tahoe, Yellowstone National Park and Crater’s of the Moon National Monument as well as taking her crew rock climbing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, swimming, and camping. […]

Elizabeth Bell comes to Sierra Expeditionary Learning School with 10 years of experience in elementary education, ranging from Adventure-Based Curriculum to international and public school classroom teaching.  Ms. Bell taught Kindergarten, First Grade and multi-age 1-2-3 in India, Vermont and Incline Village.  She was later employed as an Art Teacher for young children at the KidZone Museum, where she taught exploration-based classes and was responsible for creating new policies and programs.  Most recently, Ms. Bell worked as a home-study teacher, guiding her own children on a long-term, multidisciplinary study of local history.  Their culminating project, Going West with the Donners can be viewed on youTube. […]