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. Angela Isakson
Mrs. Isakson grew up in Lewiston, Idaho. She then attended Washington State University where she graduated with a BA in Communication. After living in the Boise area, her family of six had the opportunity to live overseas in Germany for ten years where she began teaching English to German teenagers at summer camps as well as teaching professionally online to English Language Learners. Her family returned to Idaho about three years ago to be closer to extended family. After substitute teaching for a few months, Mrs. Isakson soon started working full-time in Intervention at Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School in McCall, Idaho. While there, she worked with students from kindergarten to 5th grade providing targeted support in core areas such as phonics, reading, and math. She acquired her Idaho Teaching Certificate in K-8 All subjects while working full-time with this diverse group of students. Mrs. Isakson is excited to share her knowledge and love of learning with this year’s 2nd/3rd-grade students! When not teaching, she enjoys traveling and being in the great outdoors; gardening, hiking, biking, and skiing in the winter.
aisakson@mtncommunityschool.org
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
Ms. Sarah Lenda
office manager
Mrs. Heather Sprague
Heather has previously worked as a substitute Para Educator and substitute in the school office 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, skiing and anything else that gets them outside.