Specialty Teachers

Lindsay Wellman, Visual Arts

Hamilton College, BA

Quote: “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”   — Henry David Thoreau

During her time at Hamilton College, Lindsay Wellman studied ceramics and glass under the guidance of internationally recognized glass artist Robert Palusky.

Inspired by his dedication and passion, Lindsay decided to focus her studio art degree in pottery, and stayed on after graduation to work in the ceramics studio as an artist-in-residence. For two years she was responsible for all studio materials and equipment, and assisted with undergrad instruction in sculpting, pottery, and glass.

During this time Lindsay worked on developing her portfolio, participated in various art shows, and was featured in several local galleries. email >

Skye Shelton-Hoffmeister, Lower School Math
University of Utah, BA
Brigham Young University, Urban Teaching Program

Quote: “With self discipline, most anything is possible.” —Theodore Roosevelt

Skye Shelton-Hoffmeister’s love of learning and passion for teaching has unerringly led her to be a professional educator. She enjoys exercising her creativity and knowledge when planning original lessons. She has taught several grade levels from 2nd to 8th in her 13-year career and is enthusiastic to teach every day.

As a recipient of a Japan Fulbright Scholarship, Skye values diversity and strives to teach her students valuable skills for our global community. She has taken groups of students on education experiences to Washington D.C. and Italy as well as numerous camping trips throughout Utah. Hands-on community service learning projects have been an integral part of each class that Skye has taught.

Skye and husband Jim live in Salt Lake City with a family of dogs, a cat and their young son, Zephyr. Outside teaching, her passions include yoga, hiking, snowboarding and traveling. email >

Tanya Taylor, Performing Arts 

University of Utah, BA

Quote: "Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off the goal." —E. Joseph Cossman

Tanya Taylor has taught performing arts at The Colby School, Park City Arts and Music Conservatory, and Park City Academy. She is a founding member and performer of The Park City Three Sopranos, and spent several years in college performing with the rock band Pure Element.

Tanya also serves as Managing Director for both her companies, Taylor Productions and Taylor Studios. Most recently, her production company teamed up with The Egyptian Theatre to produce A Night Out With MJ, a tribute concert in honor of the legendary Michael Jackson. In 1998 Tanya signed on to professionally accompany The Park City Singers and in 2006, after 13 amazing seasons with the singers, she was asked to become their Artistic Director. She continues today in this capacity. Tanya loves spending time with her daughter, Kendyl, playing sports, and studying history. email >

 
Caitlin Fowler, EC Music & Strings Performance
University of Utah, B.Mus

Caitlin Fowler began playing the violin at age six . She studied with Deborah Moench and, later, with Gerald Elias. Caitlin received her Bachelor’s of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Utah where she played with the Honors Quartet, New Music Ensemble, and the Philharmonia. While there, she studied with Hasse Borup. Prior to attending the University of Utah, Caitlin studied at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Thornton School of Music where she played with the USC Symphony and various chamber groups. While at USC she was a student of the renowned teacher Eudice Shapiro. Caitlin played professionally with the Ohio Light Opera Pitt Orchestra and is the founding member of the Cumberland Quartet.

Caitlin teaches at the Utah Conservatory and has managed her own private violin studio since 2007. She recently took part in Suzuki Teacher Training programs in both Utah and Idaho and looks forward to completing the rest of the training. Caitlin is a native Utahn and currently resides in Salt Lake City. email >

 

Joanne Staral,  EC & Lower School Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison, BS

Quote: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” —Mahatma Gandhi

Encouraged to enter the world of education by an inspirational high school instructor, Joanne Staral began her teaching career at the middle school level in Madison, Wisconsin. She came to Park City with a strong background in child development and reading, and had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of students at the middle and elementary school level. Nearly three decades later, she now puts her teaching expertise to work for first graders at the Park City Day School, where she enjoys the challenge and creative freedom of the independent school setting.

Joanne’s teaching approach emphasizes engaging activities that bring learning to life and collaborative projects that teach children to work cooperatively in the classroom. She has a passion for educating her students about the earth and the significance of “treading lightly” as we go about our daily lives. Joanne co-founded the greenhouse program at the Colby campus and looks forward to expanding the instructional reach of the gardening program in the future.

Away from the classroom, Joanne likes to ski, bike, fly fish and hike in the beautiful mountains surrounding Park City. email >

Peggy Fadling, Lower School Science
Oregon State University, BS
University of Colorado, Science Teacher Certification

Quote: "Imagination is more important than knowledge." —Albert Einstein

As the Lower School Science teacher, Peggy Fadling involves her students in active investigations of the science process. Her career in science began after receiving a BS in Resource Management/Environmental Interpretation from Oregon State University. Peggy, an Oregon native, then obtained her Science Teacher Certification from the University of Colorado.

She has taught various grades from Kindergarten through High School in Colorado, Oregon and Utah. Peggy enjoys camping and hiking with her family when she’s not inspiring young scientific minds. email >

Charlotte Friedman, Middle School Science
University of North Carolina at Wilmington, BA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Teaching License

Quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world."  —Mahatma Gandhi

Charlotte was born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina and spent her summers on the coast of Virginia. She spent her time exploring her natural landscape, instilling a love and curiosity for the world around her, which led to a love of Science to help unlock the world's mysteries that she encountered during these explorations.

After graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Charlotte shared her love of nature and science with local school children at Don Lee Environmental Education Center. It was here that she found her passion and excitement for teaching and sharing science and nature with children. Charlotte continued to work at environmental education centers around the country, working as an naturist, youth volunteer coordinator and environmental educator.

While at UNC, this time in Chapel Hill, to become a classroom teacher where she could continue to share her love of Science, Charlotte married husband, a soldier.  After moving around for several years for his career, they decided to set down roots and moved to Park City to be a part of the amazing community found there.

Charlotte loves to spend her free-time cooking, gardening, hiking and learning about the unique ecosystem that surrounds the Park City area.


Jessica Huser, Spanish

Keiko Ito, Spanish
Sophia University, BA

Quote:  “Only fierce compassion can overcome hatred” -  His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Keiko Ito was born and raised bilingually in Tokyo, Japan. She attended the American Schooland other International Schools in Japan while being home schooled in Japanese. Spanish was the third language she began studying in middle school. At age 16, she knew she would someday become a teacher when she opened a Language Club for children at a local park in her neighborhood. She graduated with a BA in Comparative Culture from the International Division of the Sophia University in Tokyo, and continued her studies in Spanish at the University of Montana and the University of Guadalajara. With more than 30 years of teaching English and Japanese as a second language, and Spanish for a decade, Keiko’s mission is not only to share her love of languages but to coach global tolerance, acceptance, compassion and empathy to the next generation. She is the mother of two trilingual children. email >

Melanie Pickens, Academic Dean
Brigham Young University, BA
University of Tennessee, MS 

 

Quote: ”When life hands you lemons, make orange juice and leave them wondering how you did it.” --Anonymous

Melanie Pickens began teaching as a middle school history teacher in Texas. During her eleven years in the classroom, Melanie has taught in five states, in both public and private settings, to a wide range of students, including gifted and special needs students.

After completing her Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision, Melanie served as the Middle School Dean of Students at an independent school in Memphis and as the Director of Educational Technology, Summer Programs and After School Programs at Park City Academy. email >

Melanie enjoys spending time with her daughters. Whenever possible they love to take advantage of the recreational opportunities in the Park City area. 

Susan Parker, Visual Arts
BA, University of Vermont
5th Year Certificate in Art Education, University of Vermont

Quote: "Children will forget what you say, forget what you do, but will never forget how you make them feel" -- Maya Angelou

Susan is a state certified art teacher with 25 years art teaching experience with Kindergarten-8th Grade in Vermont. Upon moving to Park City, she started the after school program, ARTSPARK, to provide more art education opportunities for Park City children.

Experienced in all media, her first love is painting. She is an abstract painter and a member of Park City Professional Artists' Association. She has exhibited her work at the Kimball Arts Festival, Park Silly Market and local venues.  Susan enjoys skiing, biking and hiking in her free time.


Molly Alden-Rabenau, Academic Support Services

Miami University, BA
Boston College, MA

Quote: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” —Anne Frank

With such a friendly smile, love for learning, and warm personality, it’s no wonder that Molly’s passion in life is teaching. Throughout her career, she has worked with many different types of people in a myriad of settings. She has been teaching second grade for the last four years in Park City.

While living in New England, Molly taught second grade within the Boston Public School system, worked for the New England Aquarium, and served as a counselor in a therapeutic wilderness setting. Before arriving in Park City, Molly taught in a private bilingual school in Costa Rica for three years. Still deeply connected to Costa Rica, Molly and her husband, John, own a company called Costa Rica Explorations, which takes middle school and high school students on cross-cultural, service-learning trips.

In her free time, Molly enjoys participating in outdoor activities including road biking, hiking, camping, golfing, and skiing. She also enjoys visiting with friends and family, reading good books, and spending time with her two cats.

Kathryn Belczyk, Educational Facilitator
University of Delaware, BS, MS

 

Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi

Kathryn was born and raised in the first state, Delaware. She attended the University of Delaware for both her Bachelor Degree in Education and Masters Degree in Reading. She taught in Delaware for the past six years in grades 6th-8th as a special education teacher.

She knew she wanted to be a teacher at a young age, as her own teachers had inspired her. She strives to continue her life-long love of learning. She takes any opportunity she can to learn more and conveys her passion of learning in her teaching.

She has always taken the opportunity to travel during the summers. She has traveled throughout many countries in Europe, and has studied abroad in South Africa. She has also driven across the U.S. four times. Her love of travel and experiencing life out west led her to make a permanent cross-country trip to Park City. She has found knew hobbies in mountain biking and rock climbing, since she has moved here. email >

 

Tom Gatta, Athletic Director/Physical Education
Castleton State College, BS

Quote: "Competition is the spice of sports; but if you make spice the whole meal you'll be sick."  - George Leonard

Tom has taught for three years, this year he will be filling the Physical Education roll and the position of Athletic Director. During his first year at PCDS, Tom worked as a Jr. Kindergarten Assistant and Athletic Director.  Prior to that, he was at The Colby School as an Instructional aide.

His interest and enthusiasm for sports carries over into his teaching.  He teaches his students the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, self-motivation, physical fitness and health through sports education.

Tom, an avid athlete, was a four-sport varsity athlete in high school and two-sport, Division 3 athlete at Castleton State College.  He continues to be involved in competitive sports, playing ice hockey Park City Pioneers.  Originally from Niskayuna New York, now a resident of Park City, Tom enjoys all the outdoor activities that Utah has to offer. email >