Staff
Head of School
Mr. Patrick Berg
Patrick Berg is co-founder of Mountain Community School. Patrick has over 20 years in education including classroom, special education, instructional coach, alternative school, and school leadership. Patrick is passionate about educating the whole child and working with teachers to help them transition to a mastery, personalized approach so students can be successful in their chosen pathways. Patrick brings strength to Mountain Community School with his drive and vision for providing students better learning opportunities as well as his experience leading schools through shifts in educational practices, including mastery and place-based.
In his spare time he enjoys mountain biking, skiing, paddle boarding, exploring the mountains and spending time with his family.
Director of academics
Dr. Jenny Schon
K-1st Grade Teacher
Ms. JoAnne Ryan
Ms. Ryan studied Secondary Education at Prescott College in Prescott, AZ. She spent her first few years in a high school science classroom, teaching everything from desert ecology, physical education, and marine biology to health science and creative writing. She returned to classroom teaching in 2019 after taking a break to start a family. During the 2109-2020 school year, she taught middle school ELA and history. Most recently, she taught all subjects to 4th and 5th graders at Meadows Valley for two years. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to spend this school year with our youngest learners in K/1! I can't wait to get a little messy, explore our beautiful mountain community, and learn right along with my students." When Ms. Ryan is not at school or planning for school, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and fishing with her family. She loves to read, write, and lift heavy things.
2nd-3rd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Rachel Farrow
Mrs. Farrow grew up in Northern Nevada and graduated from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington with a degree in Kinesiology. She met her husband while in college and moved to McCall in 2017. She attended MOSS and completed a Masters of Natural Resources in Environmental Education and Science Communication in 2018. She has worked in the McCall-Donnelly school district and done various camps and after school programs. She loves teaching in the outdoors and making nature a part of our everyday lives.
In her free time, Mrs. Farrow enjoys hiking, camping and spending time with her family. "I have a super rad baby girl who is my whole world, the best dog, Fletcher, and a chill cat named Sasquatch. I am very excited to teach at MCS and to get students involved in their own community!" She is looking forward to teaching and learning with all our amazing kiddos and immersing them in nature!
4h-5th Grade Teacher
Ms. Bre Anderson
Before joining the team at the Mountain Community School Ms. Bre has worn many hats. Most recently she served as the Children’s Librarian at the McCall Public Library where she focused on early literacy. Since 2019 Ms. Bre has been the Education and Programs Coordinator for Payette Children’s Forest. This outreach position allowed her to bring place based inquiry projects to classrooms all across in Adams, Washington, and Valley Counties. Since 2018 she has been the STEAM education specialist for the Cascade Cultural Arts Center, where she led project based afterschool programs ranging from kinetic sculpture creation to computer programing.
Ms. Bre is an East Coast gal at heart, growing up in Connecticut and attending the University of Vermont where she studied Fisheries Management. The wild landscapes of Idaho, and the fish that live in them, are what brought her to Valley County 9 years ago. After many wonderful years of backcountry fisheries research she decided it was time to follow her heart and pursue a career in education. In 2018 Ms. Bre received a Masters of Natural Resources, from the McCall Outdoor Science School, where her focus was place based environmental education. A winding path filled with hard work, amazing teaching opportunities, and a sincere love for our community eventually led her to the Mountain Community School.
She is beyond excited to join a school focused on place and inquiry. She believes in giving students autonomy over their learning and that there is no idea too big. With creativity, hard work, and willing educators, students have limitless potential. To be part of a team that shares these ideals is a dream come true! She can not wait to see where this school year takes her students! When not in the classroom you can find Ms. Bre guiding on the river, playing in the mountains, or relaxing with a good book. She is unbelievably excited to bring her enthusiasm and love of education to the Mountain Community School!
6th-8th Grade Teacher
Mr. Bryan Brasher
From 2019 to 2022 Mr. Brasher served as the Middle School ELA teacher at Cascade Jr High School in Cascade, Idaho. Previously, he was the fourth grade teacher at Cascade Elementary School. During his time in Cascade, he served on the school’s Building Leadership Team, which focused on enhancing student learning outcomes. Mr. Brasher is excited to join the Mountain Community School team and looks forward to connecting students to their local and global communities through authentic learning opportunities. When he is not in the classroom you may find him spending time in the great outdoors with his family hiking, foraging, paddle boarding, or playing music with his family and friends.
office manager
Ms. Heather Sprague
Heather has previously worked as a substitute Para Educator and substitute in the school office at a school district in Washington State. She and her family moved to Donnelly in July 2020 and fell in love with the area. "I am excited to work at Mountain Community School and watch not just my son, but all the children learn and grow in our amazing environment." When she is not at work she enjoys spending time with her family camping, hiking, kayaking, and anything else that gets them outside.