Interested in becoming part of our team? Please visit our Career’s Page.

Nikki Jones

Executive Director

Nikki comes to the Ivy school with over 17 years of experience in Montessori education as a Teacher, Coordinator, Principal and Program Supervisor. She served for five years as the instructional leader and Head Principal of a pk-12 grade Montessori public school. Her Montessori experience ranges from birth to high school and when asked which age group is her favorite she tells us, “I honestly don’t have an answer.  Each stage in the development of a child is a precious and meaningful experience.”

After earning her bachelors in Group Science with an emphasis in Biology and Minor in Elementary Education, Nikki began her career in education as a traditional classroom teacher but was soon fascinated by the Montessori program that her young daughter attended at the time. After one year as a traditional teacher she decided to accept an early elementary Montessori teaching position. She earned her Montessori Certification at the elementary level the next year from an American Montessori Society (AMS) accredited teacher training center. Upon successfully leading a Montessori classroom for 8 years she was promoted to Montessori Coordinator of a large school district and was soon the Principal of a Pk-12 public Montessori school.

Nikki is a mother of a college age daughter and feels deepened from the experience of being a mom. She treasures quality time with friends and family and enjoys quilting, reading, traveling, outdoor activities, cooking, learning and growing. She is looking forward to working with staff, students and families to ensure all students at Ivy receive a quality Montessori education.

Amy Stuhr

Assistant Director

Hello!  My name is Amy Stuhr.  I am looking forward to my 8th year at Ivy and my fourth in a student support/campus support role. I cherish this community of talented educators, curious, creative, loving children and supportive parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts and uncles.  I worked in alternative education, charter education, at Portland  Community College and at Jefferson High School before landing at Ivy.

I graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies and found my way to Oregon in 1989. I worked in the non-profit sector until my daughter was born in 1996. In my freetime, I enjoy doing anything outside, especially if it involves water!

Jenea Dennis

Campus Support Coordinator

I was born and raised in NE Portland and have two children, Jaylen and Adrian who is also employeed at Ivy. They both attend(ed) school in the neighborhood. I come from a family of educators and have worked with children in PPS, HeadStart and the NIKE pre-school before coming to Ivy.

In my free time I like to cook & have catered to large events of over 300 people (including Ivy’s Annual Black History Month Celebration). I also enjoy interior decorating and have a very large shoe collection. I love to sing. As a Middle School student I sang in the No Kidding Choir and before Covid was recording and singing in my church choir.

I believe that children learn best when they are seen, heard and held to high expectations and are held accountable. I am looking forward to another great year working alongside you to enrich your child’s educational experience.

Cassondra Salazar

Administrative Specialist

My name is Cassondra Salazar and I have been at Ivy for 14 years. I have 4 children. I am from Albuquerque New Mexico. I have worn many hats at Ivy, from preparing lunches, driving kids from one campus to the next, Ivy After School, covering for office staff, toy drive, graduations, Equity Team. There are not to many things that I haven’t done at Ivy. My grandson took his first steps at Ivy while I was doing childcare for the P.T.A. I am looking forward to meeting new parents and children this year.

Bruce Courtway

Facilities Coordinator

Hi I am Bruce, I have been involved with schools, students and facilities for over 30 yrs. Most of my time was spent with the Vancouver School District. I worked as a building operator, coached high school football, wrestling, and track. I also worked 5 plus years as a para-educator. I enjoy working with staff and students, and understand the importance of a clean, safe school. I have my Bachelor’s degree from Washington State in Vancouver

I have three children and five grandchildren. I have lived in the NW all my life and have enjoyed the diversity between the mountains, rivers, ocean, and city. I am a big fan of music and sports, I attend many games ( go OSU) and concerts for entertainment. I will end my personal synopsis with my favorite quote, “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

Antonia Duble

Learning Intervention Specialist

Hello! My name is Antonia and this will be my third year at The Ivy School. After two years at Ivy as the Learning Intervention Specialist, I am excited to transition into the role of Student Information Systems Coordinator. 

I received my bachelor’s in psychology with a focus in child development and education from Lewis & Clark College, followed by my master’s in behavior science from Oregon Institute of Technology. Before Ivy, I worked with children as a nanny, gymnastics coach, teacher’s assistant, tutor, early intervention specialist supporting children in academic and at home settings. I am passionate about education and creating spaces where kids can be themselves. I can't wait to contribute to Ivy from the Admin team! Outside of work, I love baking, playing soccer, and exploring Portland one coffee shop at a time.

Julia Murray

Lead Teacher @ Marquam

Hello! I’m so excited to begin my first year working at the Ivy School as the lead teacher in the Marquam Classroom. I’ve been working in early education for the last 15 years, and have loved getting better acquainted with the Montessori pedagogy while working at Ivy. 

I have a BA in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and have worked in various child-care/education settings since I was old enough to babysit. Before Ivy, I operated a small, in-home preschool in SE Portland. My focus was on play-based early education, hoping to set a foundation for a deeply intrinsic love of learning, gaining skills, and growing emotional intelligence. 

My partner and I moved to Portland from the Bay Area 10 years ago. We live just up the street in the Kenton neighborhood, with our three kids. My two eldest children started school in the Marquam classroom , and I couldn’t be happier with the community and quality of education they are building at Ivy. 

I love crafting (mostly sewing these days), park-hopping with my kiddos, and baking all things bread-related. One day I hope I’ll get back to learning to play the guitar.

Caroline Halaby

Lead Teacher @ Morrison Classroom

Hi! I’m Caroline Halaby, a recent Oregon transplant having spent the last six years living and teaching in DC. I grew up in Palo Alto, CA and moved to the East Coast in 2008 to attend Davidson College, where I earned my BA in History with a Music minor. Having assisted my mother’s Art Camp many summers during high school and college, I realized that teaching was my calling. After college, I joined a Montessori school in Arlington, VA as a Primary assistant for two years. It was there that I first learned about and fell in love with all things Montessori! I realized that I wanted to work with older children, so my school sent me to get my Elementary Montessori degree (AMI) from the Washington Montessori Institute and a Master’s in Education from Loyola University of Maryland. I then returned to my school and taught in Lower Elementary for three years. While there, I also started an after-school Art class, inspired by my mom’s Art camp.

I felt a pull to return to the West Coast to be closer to family, so I made the move to Portland in July 2018…and here I am! In my free time, I enjoy wandering around new neighborhoods, watching music and comedy shows, reading, cooking, and most importantly, sampling delicious food!

Brie Hiller-Hannan

Lead Teacher @ Broadway Classroom

I’m Brie Hiller-Hannan (she/they), the lead teacher in the Broadway Classroom. The 2023-24 school year will mark the beginning of my sixth year at Ivy and my sixteenth year teaching lower elementary in a public school. Before that, I worked with middle schoolers, high schoolers and I began my educational path in a Montessori early childhood classroom. Since that time, I have been  committed to social-emotional growth and problem solving through developmentally appropriate communication.  I love to talk about educational philosophy, child development and the visionary Dr. Maria Montessori and will engage with anyone about it if they give me the slightest opening or I have had any coffee. 

Like Maria Montessori, I believe in the potential of all students and that the role of a Lower Elementary teacher is to sow the seeds of interest so children can find what inspires them and be intrinsically motivated life-long learners. To this end, I prioritize social emotional development, equity and identity work and the balance of fundamental educational skills with individual student needs. I hold a Masters in Education,  lower elementary Montessori certificates from AMS and from NAMC and a GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) endorsement. 

In my home life, I am often reading, playing board games or riding a bike. I like to travel and hang out with my two children who are now both high schoolers. I am usually involved in some other pursuit as well, working on a novel, taking a class or considering whether I can learn a new craft.

I look forward to a wonderful year in the Ivy Community! 

Ray Luongo

Lead Teacher @ Hawthorne Classroom

Greetings Ivy families! My name is Ray Luongo, and I am the Lead Guide in the Hawthorne Bridge classroom. This is my tenth year at Ivy School. My partner, Carolyne and I are avid travelers, coming back from a summer in Australia (Carolyne’s country of origin), Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. We have been traveling down the road of life together for more than 30 years. I am originally from Brooklyn, NY, where I launched my first career as a chef. In my early 20s, I received my Associate in Applied Sciences for Hospitality Technology from the New York City College of Technology, and went on to work as a professional chef in New York City, then in Northern Italy and then on Magnificent Mile, Chicago, IL.

My second career as a teacher began when I lived in Madison, WI, where I founded a Taekwon-Do school for children, providing classes for underserved populations. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with a diversity of students and families, and to share life- and social skills through the art of Taekwon-Do. I began my formal education in teaching at Edgewood College in Madison, while working in a high needs inner-city school in Madison. It was during this time that I developed a passion for teaching literacy and learning, predominantly working one-on-one with K-5 students on reading and social skills. During this time, I also had the opportunity to provide martial arts classes to TAG students enrolled in the College for Kids Program through the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

We relocated to Portland in 2007, because of the weather and the profound beauty of the Northwest, and also because of its proximity to Australia. I completed my undergraduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Concordia University, followed by my M.Ed. and a literacy endorsement. When I am not teaching in the classroom, I am teaching martial arts or violence prevention classes alongside my partner. We have community-based Martial Arts programs in Portland. I am very passionate about working closely with Ivy students, parents and colleagues, as we are all focused on supporting every child’s success!

Jeff Oliver

Lead Teacher @ Sauvie Island

Hello Ivy! I’m Jeff Oliver. I grew up in southeastern Massachusetts, son of a teacher and a banker. Since moving to Portland in 2005, I’ve started a family of my own: my partner Betsy, and our two children Eloise (6.5) and Oren (3) live in Northeast Portland. You might find us hiking and camping, at the farmers market, biking around town, in our garden, or at Pickathon. We love it here!

I have been working with children for most of my life, in all kinds of roles: church school helper, nanny, soccer/ultimate frisbee coach, assistant teacher, summer camp counselor… you name it, I’m likely to have done it! I went to college in New Hampshire and earned my Masters in Elementary Ed in 2005. Once in Portland, it wasn’t long before I found myself working as a Montessori Assistant. After four years in that role (both Primary and Lower El), I trained to be an Elementary Guide at Montessori Northwest in Portland. This is my ninth year teaching Lower El! I bring my loves of music and singing, wellness and fitness, drawing and nature into the classroom and the community. I’m grateful to work at a public Montessori school, and to have the chance to offer myself to my local community. I expect great things from this school year!

Sierra Vaughn

Lead Teacher @ St. Johns

My name is Sierra (she/her), and I am thrilled to be a part of the Montessori family here at The Ivy School. As a Lead Teacher, I am excited to embark on an educational journey with your child, nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning.

For the past few years, I have been fortunate to work in various capacities at Montessori schools, as well as teaching English to children aged 6 to 13 in China and South Korea. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for diverse teaching methods and the joy of witnessing the growth and development of young learners.

One of my passions lies in teaching Montessori math and history. I find immense joy in the array of materials that Montessori offers, creating endless opportunities for students to explore and manipulate concepts. I believe in a strength-based and curiosity-centered approach to education, where each child's unique abilities are celebrated and nurtured.

Having earned my Bachelor of Arts in History from Arizona State University, I find history to be a fascinating subject that can ignite a sense of wonder and understanding of our world's rich past. I aim to instill this same enthusiasm for history in my students, making it an engaging and captivating learning journey.

I am a firm believer in the Montessori method, and I am committed to creating an environment where students can develop a strong sense of independence, self-discipline, and a lifelong love for learning. I look forward to collaborating with parents and fellow educators to ensure each child's educational experience is nurturing and fulfilling.

Outside of the classroom, you can often find me exploring all the wonders Portland has to offer, particularly its culinary delights.

It is an honor to be entrusted with your child's educational journey, and I cannot wait to meet each and every one of you. Together, let's create a supportive and inspiring learning space where curiosity flourishes, and students are empowered to reach their full potential.

Rania Kanaan

Lead Teacher @ Ross Island Classroom

Hello, My name is Rania Kanaan and I am excited to start my second year with Ivy. I finished my undergraduate degree at Portland State University in Psychology and pursued my Masters in Education from Loyola University. I earned my Association Montessori International degree (AMI) from Montessori of Northwest in Portland. This will be my tenth year working as a teacher. I worked as a Montessori teacher for Crescent Montessori School, along with being the school director for three years. I also worked at Beaverton High School in their “Future You” program working with newcomers.

I enjoy reading, and mostly read Arabic novels, which is my native language. Apart from that, I am a proud mother of four amazing children. My 20 year old daughter is attending the University of Oregon, my 18 year old son is entering his freshman year at Willamette University, my 16 year old is a junior at West Linn High, and my youngest is beginning fifth grade.

My mission is to give each child a chance to maximize his or her own potential, through self-directed activities in a climate of mutual trust and respect. My goal is that each child leaves my class with a strong sense of self-worth, an abiding love of learning, a respect for themselves and others, and a healthy independence of action and thought. I am really looking forward to an amazing year!

Melissa Warren

Lead Teacher @ Steel Classroom

Hello! I am Melissa Warren, and I am so excited to be returning for my eighth year at Ivy! Working here has been an incredible growth and learning opportunity, and such a positive experience. I am honored and excited this year to be able to return to the classroom as the lead guide in the Steel classroom.

I have been teaching and working with children since 1998. I hold a Masters in Elementary Education, a Bachelor of Arts in Music, and a certificate in Gifted Education. I have taught in both traditional public school as well as both private and public Montessori schools. Though I have worked with a wide range of ages, my absolute favorite age grouping is upper elementary. I am passionate about meeting social-emotional needs of my students, promoting creative problem-solving and conflict resolution. My greatest joy in teaching is helping each of my students and their families find a love for school and their community there.

I grew up in rural Kentucky (child of two music educators), and have lived in Oregon with my spouse and two children for most of the last 15 years (there was that brief return to Kentucky in 2011; you can ask me for that story sometime). I absolutely love camping and hiking here in Oregon, and return to work each fall full of new adventures to share!

Will Latson

Lead Teacher @ Sellwood

Hey everyone! I'm Will Latson, and I'm the Lead Teacher in Sellwood. I grew up in Tarrytown, New York where I spent my entire K-12 education at Hackley School. In 2010, I made a major life change when I flew all the way across the country to go to Lewis & Clark College for my undergraduate degree in Psychology. While in college, I worked as a teaching assistant for the Statistics program and that was where I found my love for teaching. Right out of college, I worked as the Sony regional sales specialist where I also got to teach, albeit in a slightly different capacity, but I knew I always wanted to get back into the classroom. 

In 2016 I started volunteering my time at Boeckman Creek Primary School in Wilsonville, and discovered my love for working with the elementary age group. Soon after, I decided to get my Masters in Teaching from George Fox University. This will be my third year at Ivy, and I can't wait to start another fun, exciting, and productive year! My favorite thing about teaching is being able to connect with my students, make them laugh, and encourage them to follow their passions and interests. I'm a big movie buff, and I love to be able to incorporate multimedia in meaningful and enjoyable ways in the classroom. Every year, my goal is to make our class a safe space to be proud of who you are, make mistakes, and grow as a person! 

Outside of teaching, I love spending my free time writing, playing video games and board games, going to the gym, and spending time enjoying the outdoors (especially on my paddleboard). Currently, I am in the process of publishing my own children's book, and hope to get it published sometime this year! My fiance and I live in downtown Vancouver, WA with our two cats Salem and Pooze, and we love how easy it is to walk around the city whenever we feel like it. 

Travis Eddy

Lead Teacher @ Fremont Classroom

It feels so exciting to say that I am beginning my 11th year with the Ivy Middle School Program!  I have really enjoyed spending the past ten years working with very different groups of students in a wide variety of formats and settings.  I received my Masters in Teaching from Lewis & Clark College in the area of integrated science. While science will always be my first love, I really enjoy integrating curriculum across subject areas.

What I love most about Ivy is having the ability to really get to know each student and work with them to create meaningful learning experiences, and provide individualized opportunities to show what they know.  This connection with students is something that I have not experienced in other settings, and makes teaching more fun as well as more effective. Of course, the opportunity to spend lots of time out in the world, and engage students with projects helps too.

When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my nine-year-old daughter, growing vegetables, scouring the wild for rocks, and petting cats.

Mark Russell

Lead Teacher (Math)

Hello, my name is Mark Russell. My wife, Wendy, and I are very happy to be in Portland and I’m excited to be teaching at The Ivy School. 

Late in the 20th century, I received a BS in Art and Graphics from Biola University. More recently, I earned my teaching credentials through Western New Mexico University and am continuing there for my MAT. In the decades between Biola and WNMU, I held a wide variety of positions, from graphic designer to newspaper editor to math tutor. As a teacher, I’ve been fortunate to work with a diverse range of students in both New Mexico and rural Oregon.

Since before the first Star Wars movie was in theaters, I’ve been building with LEGO bricks. It’s a healthy obsession. My collection has not yet become unmanageable. For a few years I was a volunteer leader of a 4-H LEGO Club. I’ve used LEGO to create pieces for several art shows and I am connected with an online community of other builders. I have used LEGO in my classrooms since 2018 and I expect that practice will continue.

I enjoy the taste of good coffee and the intelligent, witty humor of wordplay. When I’m not teaching (or creating with LEGO), you might find me exploring the city, exploring number patterns, or exploring my collection of old science fiction movies. I look forward to continuing the process of building relationships with students, their families, and the Ivy Community.

Elizabeth Autio

Lead Teacher (Language Arts)

Hello, Ivy! I’m excited to start my second year as the middle school Humanities teacher. I have been in the education field for roughly 20 years wearing different hats: tutor, researcher, parent, and now teacher. In Humanities, we explore history, social studies, and English language arts. I love supporting students as they develop skills and knowledge in these areas. My greatest hope is that our curriculum will help students understand how our past influences our present, and inspire engagement in our current world.

Before coming to Ivy, I taught in the middle school program at the Franciscan Montessori Earth School. I completed my teacher preparation work at Pacific University, have a bachelor’s degree in history from Oberlin College and a master’s degree in public policy from Columbia University. When I’m not teaching, you can find me on my sofa with a good book. I also enjoy cooking, puttering around my yard, working out, and spending time with my kids and our family dog, Viggo.

Carole Johnson-Smith

Learning Center Teacher

I am the middle school special education teacher.  I started my teaching career in 1985 working for Multnomah Education Service District teaching high school students in a self-contained special education classroom.   In 1987 I moved to Clackamas Education Service District and taught elementary students in a self-contained special education classroom.  In both settings my students spent time each day in general education classrooms.  I worked closely with staff to provide curriculum and support for students to be successful in those settings.  In 1993 I became an inclusion specialist at Chinook Elementary School in Vancouver School District where all of the special education students were included full time in general education classes.  I trained and supervised 13 paraeducators and collaborated with general education teachers to provide special education services to those students.  

In 1996 I became a stay-at-home mother to raise my children.  I returned to the classroom in 2005, teaching a self-contained classroom for special education students in the David Douglas School District.  IN 2006 I moved to Portland Public Schools where I was a special education learning center teacher at Markham Elementary School.  In 2012 I became a new teacher mentor, mentoring first and second year teachers in PPS who were new to the profession.  My main focus was special education teachers, but I also mentored K-12 general education teachers as well as specialists such as music and dance, English Immersion, general education high school teachers and teachers in alternative programs.  By 2021 I was ready to go back to the classroom and work with students again and I joined the Ivy School. I really enjoy the students, families and staff at Ivy School and I am very happy to be here.
I grew up in Birmingham, Michigan and I have my undergraduate degree in elementary and special education from Michigan State University.  I have my master's degree in special education and an administrator's certificate from Portland State University.  I have three children, all in their 20's.  In my spare time I enjoy knitting, swimming, yoga, walking my dog in my beautiful Irvington neighborhood and spending time with my husband and family. 

Franchesca Johnson

Mrs. Johnson-Learning Center Support Teacher

I have two young boys ages 3 and 5 who keep me on my toes.  I love the outdoors, swimming in nearby rivers/lakes, paddleboarding, camping, reading and going to the coast for recreation and relaxation time. My family and I also love music. We try to sing everyday to keep the joy alive despite our busy schedule.

I grew up in North Portland, went to Kenton Elementary and Ockley Green Middle School. One thing I learned about myself early on in life is that I am very competitive when it comes to team sports and games whether its Crazy 8s with my 5 year old or recreational soccer.

I worked as a Paraeducator and then a Reading Educational Assistant for several of years before deciding to become a Special Education Teacher.  I earned my Masters degree from Portland State University in 2017-2019 and this is my third year teaching as Learning Center Support Specialist. 

Erin Bishop

Speech-Language Pathologist, M.S. CCC-SLP

Hello! My name is Erin Bishop and I’m the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) at Ivy. I started working at Ivy during the year most of us will not forget, 2020! Working from home was nice, I had my second child in April 2020 and loved the extra snuggles, but I am delighted to work with students at school. As a SLP, I work with students in kindergarten-8th grade on improving their communication skills. Students in my office can be working on a variety of skills including: articulation (how to pronounce different sounds); stuttering; language (grammar, word use, listening, speaking,reading, writing); social communication; augmentative and alternative communication (using a

device or other ways of communication than voice); and cognitive skills.

I have attended the University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Eastern New Mexico University while obtaining an undergraduate degree inPsychology and a Masters of Science in Communication Disorders. I was born in Boston Massachusetts but call the west coast my home now, this is where I met my husband and am raising my 6 and 3 year old. In my spare time I love to read, travel, attend live music, cook and bake, go camping and explore the PNW, take my dog Chicken on walks, and garden (flowers and vegetables are my favorites).

Kelsi Kramer

Paraprofessional

I have been at Ivy for almost a year now working as Paraeducator for Portland Public Schools and I am very excited to be back. I am from Eastern Washington where I worked as a Nanny for many years which included homeschooling and various other things outside of academics. I have been living in Portland for over a year now and so far I am loving it!

When I am not working you can find me reading, hanging out with friends or singing my lungs out at the nearest show.

Sade Blake

Assistant Teacher

Hello!My name is Sade . I am a teacher assistant in the Children's house. I am a mother of two Kai and Lyric. My daughter attends The Ivy. I enjoy cooking, spending time with family, and reading.  I have worked with children for 10 plus years. Before coming to The Ivy I worked with infants. I also worked at the Multnomah county library for 4 years. I am so happy to be a part of The Ivy family.  

Adrian Dennis-Bell

Assistant Teacher/Basketball Coach

Hello, my name is Adrian. I'm an assistant teacher and basketball coach here at Ivy. I graduated from Grant high school in 2020. I have a passion for sports, as well as bringing our community together to form great bonds. Working at Ivy has allowed me to do so in many different ways. Being an assistant here at Ivy allows me to go through the everyday grind of school and try to help navigate the children through their journey. As a basketball coach here at Ivy I'm also able to balance teaching them life skills, as well as basketball skills. Basketball to me is much deeper than just a game. It teaches you how to work as a team and work together with people you may not necessarily get along with. It also is a way for me to show the importance of hard work and discipline. The game of basketball, just like in life, has its ups and downs. Some games you win, and some you lose, but how we deal with those outcomes and learn from them is what's important. These are just a few of the life skills that I'm able to teach the kids through the game of basketball. 

My core principle, and something I tell the kids all the time is ¨if you all become great basketball players, but not great people I failed as a coach.¨ Having the unique role of classroom teacher and Basketball coach allows for lots of fun times and memories with the kids! Outside of teaching I enjoy playing, and watching basketball. Really anything sports related I'm all for. I also love listening to tons of music and playing video games! I place high value on quality time spent with friends and family, recognizing the importance of maintaining personal relationships that enrich my life and contribute to trying to build a great community.

Myles Washington

Assistant Teacher

Hello, my name is Myles Washington. I'm an Assistant teacher and one of the school’s basketball coaches. I graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 2020 but my year was cut short due to the covid-19 outbreak. After graduating I began taking classes at PCC to work towards a general studies degree because I wasn’t quite sure what field I wanted to go into at the time. After about two terms at PCC I decided it would be best to take a break and return when they went back to in person learning because I didn’t feel like I was actually retaining the information I was being taught while trying to do it over zoom meetings. I’ve spent the last year modeling while at the same time trying to figure out what my interests and passions are, which is one of many reasons I am extremely grateful to be working at Ivy! Working at Ivy has opened my eyes to a career choice I had never thought about and am now heavily considering. I am thankful to be around such great staff and students everyday and love the new relationships being built. On my free time I like to play basketball, watch sports, and spend time with friends.

Sunshine Bender

Assistant Teacher

Hello! My name is Sunshine (pronouns she/her) and I’m very excited to be entering my second year at Ivy. I have been drawn to education and working with children for nearly a decade now, starting in programs at the Oregon Zoo and various childcare jobs throughout high school and college. I grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Flagstaff, Arizona for college, stayed there for six years and moved back home in 2022 to be closer to my family. 

I love all things nature related but especially rock climbing, backpacking, and biking! I am very interested in nutrition and cooking, fiber arts (especially knitting!), and curling up with a good book and my dog. 

Frances Erlandson

Assistant Teacher

Hello! My name is Frances Erlandson and I am so excited to join the Ivy community this year. Originally from Santa Monica, CA, I arrived in Portland via Bennington, VT and Green River, UT. I received my bachelor of arts in architecture and poetry from Bennington College, and from there, spent 2 years in Green River, UT, a rural town of 800 people. I’ve always loved the classroom, but was officially introduced to teaching as an AmeriCorps in Green River, teaching art & literacy in an after-school program.

I loved the close-knit community and enchanting landscape so much that I stayed an extra year, taking over as the Youth Director at the community center and subbing at the elementary school. I moved to Portland to work as a strategist and project manager for a small woman-owned design studio, but found myself craving the engagement of teaching, leading me to the Assistant Teacher role at the Ivy School. I feel incredibly lucky to be here and can’t wait for the wonderful year ahead.  In my free time, I enjoy exploring my neighborhood on foot, biking, rock climbing and exceeding my holds-limit at the library. 

Teyah Reynolds

Nutrition Director

My name is Teyah Reynolds and I am the Nutrition Director here at Ivy. I am from Portland andwas raised in both NE and N Portland. I attended and graduated from De La Salle North Catholic High School in 2008 (Go Knights!). I then chose to further my education at one of the World’s leading culinary colleges, Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. I received my A.S. degree in culinary arts in 2010. Later earning my B.S. degree in culinary food service management in 2012. Triple minoring in entrepreneurship,psychology, sports and entertainment management.

I moved back to Portland and began my career at The University of Portland working for campus dining. After 10 years I found my way to my dream job here at Ivy. I have a passion for food and children. This place serves me as much as I serve it. Shortly after starting at Ivy I welcomed my first earthside child, a beautiful baby boy. His name is JoShwan and he is literally my heart outside my chest. I enjoy being his mom more than anything.

Taylor Salazar

Aftercare Teacher

My name is Taylor. I’m 20 years old and ivy has been a part of my life since I was a child. I went to ivy from first grade all the way to 8th grade. This is my first year working at ivy as an aftercare teacher and so far I love it. Some things that I like to do in my free time are anything that has to do with art, playing video games, enjoying nature, and hanging out with my friends. Ivy has such a special place in my heart and it always will!

Ysabella Portello

Aftercare Teacher

Hello! I am Ysabella, and this is my second year working with The Ivy School, where I am a part of the Aftercare program. I am a newer resident of Oregon, having only currently lived here for about a year so far. I am originally from the bay area in California and am currently in college. I thoroughly enjoy being outside, going on hikes, camping trips, and where I just feel at my best when I am with nature. I also have an inkling for playing role-player video games, working in ceramics, and spending any extra spare time learning as much as I can about various things from varied subjects and topics, whether it be from reading works from recognized philosophers, or reading about black holes and galaxies in space. 

I truly appreciate being a part of such a welcoming and progressive community that values the importance of equity and inclusivity in education for the youth, where all students are in an environment that encourages, supports, and uplifts their individual journey’s into their learning experiences. Being a part of the Aftercare program at the Ivy School is one way in which I can provide not only any support and guidance for the kids at Ivy, but where I can in return actively learn and gain valuable insight from them, and that is truly rewarding, where it is something I can not experience anywhere else.