Natalie found her passion when she started teaching 4th grade at TRCS years ago (she switched to 5th grade last year). She became interested in reading early on because she was an avid reader but her younger brother struggled with reading.

Natalie wanted to understand the processes behind reading, so she studied cognitive psychology as an undergraduate and in graduate school. Eventually she earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology with a minor in Developmental Psychology and went on to teach adjunct at ASU for 13 years. During all of those years Natalie knew that she wasn’t in the “right” place but didn’t quite know how to make a change. For years, close friends had told her that she should teach young children. In 2006, she made a radical change and became a teaching assistant at TRCS and hasn’t looked back once!

When not teaching, grading or planning lessons Natalie likes to spend time with her husband and daughter. She enjoys photography, scrapbooking, cooking and watching sappy movies that make her cry.

Vicki was born in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. Her first language was Spanish and learned English when she began elementary school. Vicki had the calling to be a teacher since she was in fourth grade. She is the founding Kindergarten teacher at Two Rivers which means she has been the only Kindergarten teacher since the school’s beginning in 2005. She is also the early morning care provider.

She acquired her B. A. in Elementary Education from Columbia College in South Carolina and has worked the past 25 years with children in diverse settings to include teaching Children’s Choir, Melodee Bells and Sunday School, teaching English Language Learners as a tutor at her church, teaching at a Jewish Day school, as a teacher at Harmony School in Columbia South Carolina, a nanny, as a teaching assistant in summer school, translator, Dedicated Aide (Shadow) & Paraprofessional in Department of Defense Schools.

Vicki loves her family! She and her husband, Steven, have been married 36 years. They have four daughters, four sons-in-law, seven amazing grandchildren and a granddog named Jack. Vicki is a member and Elder of Boone First Presbyterian Church. She enjoys leading worship, singing in the Praise and Worship band and helping serve needs in the community. She loves the ocean (especially in Vieques, Puerto Rico where her family is from) and loves the color yellow because it reminds her that the sun is always shining somewhere.

Ms. Kim is our first grade teacher. She grew up on the Outer Banks of NC right next to the property where the Wright Brother’s took their first flight. She grew up with her mom (an artist/lover of books/professional super mom), her dad (a musician/friend to all/wall paper hanger) and her older sister Laura (who was never too cool to spend time with her little sister!). Her parents love the outdoors and fostered the same enjoyment of the natural world in Kim and her sister. They adventured to the beach, the mountains and everywhere in between. Kim moved to Boone to earn her BA in Elementary Education at App State. She has a son, two dogs and, if you pay a visit to our first grade classroom, you will meet their pet turtle Penny. If you see Ms. Kim around Campus ask her which she loves more, the beach or the mountains…it’s fun to ask a teacher a question that they CAN’T answer!

Tina teaches second grade at TRCS. She was born in Newport, Rhode Island, and grew up in small and large communities throughout California, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming and Colorado. Her family eventually settled in beautiful North Park, Colorado, where she married her high school sweetheart and started a family. Tempted by the thought of big city life, they moved their little family to Laramie, Wyoming where they added another daughter, went to college, and became teachers.

Tina earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary education from the University of Wyoming, with concentrations in Early Childhood, Music, and English. She also earned her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from UW, with a focus on early reading instruction.

Prior to coming to TRCS, Tina taught pre-school, kindergarten, transitional first grade, first grade, and second grade in Wyoming, Colorado, and Hawaii. She holds NC teaching certification in Elementary Education, and has since her arrival in 2014. She has more than 25 years experience as a fully certified public school teacher in schools large and small.

Tina enjoys being a part of a school community that fits her educational philosophy perfectly, is located in a beautiful mountain setting that does get snow, and is just a few hours away from her two daughters and their families in Richmond, VA and Huntsville, AL. She loves crafts of all kinds, hiking, reading, writing, travel, music, theater and Friday after school donut and coffee dates at Local Lion.

Katie Griggs teaches third grade at Two Rivers. She grew up outside of Orlando and moved to Banner Elk when she was twelve years old. Katie found her love for teaching at a young age when she began playing school with her younger brother (he wasn’t always a fan). Later, she would attend Appalachian State University, earn her degree in Elementary Education, and become a certified K-6 teacher. After college she moved to Asheville to further her career as a teacher. While in Asheville, Katie taught as a Title One teacher for a year and in 2015 she became a full-time 3rd grade teacher.

Outside of the classroom Katie enjoys hiking, fishing, kayaking, art, traveling and live music. The love she has for the mountains has remained the same from a young age, though she can rarely deny a trip to the beach.

Katie teaches fourth grade at Two Rivers. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Appalachian State University with a concentration in mathematics, science & technology. While attending App State, Katie ran Division I cross country and track and field, specializing in the 5k & 10k. Katie came to the mountains from Florida but has also lived in Utah and Thailand. Thailand is where she found her love of teaching! Outside of school she enjoys throwing pottery and spending time with family and friends.

Sam teaches 5th grade. Her roots go back several generations in Mitchell County, North Carolina, where she lived until she went off to NC State for College. There, she earned a BS in Parks & Recreation. After marrying her husband, John, Sam attended Appalachian State University, where she received a BS & MA in Elementary Education. Feeling the tug of adventure and the big city, Sam moved to the Pacific Northwest, and taught 3rd and 5th grades for 4 years. Despite herself, she’s never found a community that feels like home except here in Boone.

Sam loves working out and riding her mountain bike. She especially enjoys extended, grueling, sometimes unpleasant physical activities like mountaineering. When resting, she can usually be found with her cat, TApp, or spending time with friends and family.

Sam is also a huge sap for a good sci-fi or fantasy story. Recently, she’s been enjoying Westeros, as well as the “Dune” universe.

Adam Berk teaches middle school math at Two Rivers. He grew up outside of Chicago, Illinois, and while there will always be a special place in his heart for Chicago Style pizza, hot dogs without the catsup, and all Chicago sports teams, he has always felt a pull towards the mountains. After high school, he moved to Colorado and then Alaska for college.

After graduating from Alaska Pacific University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Studies and a minor in Education, he came back to the Lower 48 where he and his now-wife settled for a time in Salt Lake City, Utah. They worked as field staff for a wilderness therapy program and found time to ski, climb, hike, and camp across much of Utah, Idaho, California, Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming. Adam moved to Boone in 2010 and there’s no place in North Carolina he’d rather be.

After working at Grandfather Home for Children for one year, Adam decided to attend Appalachian State University to earn his teaching license in elementary education. He completed his student teaching in Watauga County in Fall, 2013 and joined the Two Rivers Community School team in January 2014. There’s no other school in the High Country where Adam could imagine teaching.

Kelly Lynn teaches Middle Social Studies and English/Language Arts. Kelly began teaching middle schoolers in 2005 after graduating from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia with a BS in Education. She is currently licensed in middle school science, social studies, and English/language arts. She has worked with children in a variety of settings from classrooms to summer camps since the 1990s. She has taught all four academic subjects and all three middle school grades in various combinations. She has worked in private, public, and charter schools, and homeschooled her oldest child.

Kelly came to the Mountains in 2005 following a childhood dream. She fell in love with these mountains as a young girl and vowed to herself that one day she would live here. After living here for many years, there is still no place she would rather be.

Kelly enjoys spinning, weaving, crocheting, reading, dancing, making cheese, cooking, camping, horseback riding, walking in the woods and communing with rivers.

Clint is the middle school science teacher at Two Rivers Community School. He is a North Carolina native and a graduate of Appalachian State University, where he earned his B.S in Secondary Education with a concentration in Biology. Clint has been teaching school for 17 years and is currently licensed in Science 6-9, Biology 9-12, and Mathematics 6-9. Before coming to Two Rivers Community School in 2014, Clint taught at the high school level in Wilkesboro, NC.

Prior to starting his professional teaching career, Clint served three years in the military and is an Honorably Discharged Veteran of the Gulf War. Clint also worked in experiential outdoor education at various camps including Camp Bud Schiele, Camp Buck Toms, and Camp Broadstone. These camp experiences gave Clint his first opportunity to work with middle-school-age children. Clint says, “It was these young minds which first got me excited about education and teaching. Coming to TRCS, in many ways, feels like returning to my roots.” Clint is truly committed to this school and its approach to teaching and learning; not only as a teacher but also as a parent; his children attend Two Rivers.

Outside of teaching, Clint is passionate about living history (especially colonial North Carolina), muzzleloading, blacksmithing, and 18th-century horn work. "I love tying these subjects into math and science class whenever I can. I feel if I can make that connection for myself, then I can help the students make that connection to the things they are interested in and give the math and science personal meaning and purpose for them."

Rachel Wood is our Guidance Counselor. She is one of Two Rivers’ founding teachers. In 2004 Rachel graduated from ASU with a degree in Middle Grades Education. She worked as a middle school teacher for 8 years. While working at Two Rivers, she completed her Master’s Degree in Professional School Counseling also from App State in 2012. She has worked as the TRCS School Counselor for 8 years. In addition to loving her job, Rachel has a love of music, especially hip hop, blues, and jazz. She also loves adventure sports like bouldering, snowboarding, and paddling.

Shannon McCaa is the EC Coordinator and Teacher. She grew up outside of Washington, D.C and then the suburbs of Atlanta. Shannon traveled and lived in a variety of places including Aspen, Colorado, the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, south Florida, and completed her student- teaching in San Ignacio, Belize. Shannon graduated with her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education for Elementary grades K-6 from Kennesaw State University. It was in south Florida where she became certified in Special Education K-12, was Endorsed in Autism and finished her Masters in Educational Leadership/School Leaders from Florida Atlantic University. Shannon worked in a K-5 inclusion setting for 3 years and then spent the next 4 years as a Lead Teacher specializing in behavior and autism at a public charter school in Stuart, Florida. She is also a Registered Behavior Technician. Her passion for working with students with disabilities has remained strong and she loves what she does. She happily joined the Two Rivers family in 2016 and has been teaching for 12 years total now.

When she is not working, she enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, playing soccer, kayaking, snowboarding, horseback riding, and loves music and animals. The mountains have proven once again to be a wonderful place to call home.

Bill Ireland began working at Two Rivers in 2015 as an EC teacher. Prior to working as a school teacher, he served as the Director of Mountain Alliance at Watauga High School and as a juvenile and district court mediator for the Mediation & Restorative Justice Center here in Boone. He worked in the outdoor education world for many years leading wilderness leadership and team building programs for organizations such as the North Carolina Outward Bound School, Cornell University, and CampFire USA.

Bill moved to Boone in 2009 from Portland, OR with his wife - a NC native and Professor of Biology at Appalachian State University. As a self-proclaimed "worst student ever," Bill has degrees from four colleges/universities and has attended six academic institutions in five different states and two different countries. Bill has an AA - Environmental Studies from Paul Smith's College (Saranac Lake, NY), a BS - Experiential Education from The Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA), a Master's in Educational Leadership from Portland State University (PDX), and a Masters in Special Education from Appalachian State. "College sometimes happens differently," says Bill.

As a parent, both of his children have attended TRCS. In his free time, he's either playing soccer, watching soccer, or driving his kids to soccer. Sometimes he can be found telemark skiing, riding mountain bikes, rock climbing, hiking in the woods, or playing with his dogs. His favorite thing to do is travel with his family.

Austin Pack is the Adventure Fitness instructor at Two Rivers and is one of the school’s founding teachers. After earning his BA in Anthropology from Appalachian State many moons ago, Austin sought the expertise of Nathan Roark, director of Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center. Austin worked for BCOEC and other wilderness camps for roughly six years, leading backpacking trips and helping to teach primitive skills.

When Austin heard about a new school forming in the High Country in 2005, Austin applied for a teaching assistant position. Lo and behold, Austin quickly transmogrified into Coach Pack and has been leading the Fitness program at TRCS ever since, acquiring his NC teaching license in 2017 in Physical Education.

In his down time, Austin can be found trail running, bouldering, hiking, weaving, and perusing bookstores. Although, no activity usurps the joy of romping through the woods with his little girl, his wife, and Koda, his trusty canine companion.

Kelly Snider earned her BFA from East Tennessee State University in 2006. She has been teaching at Two Rivers Community School for 16 years! She earned her teaching license in 2009 while teaching art at TRCS. Kelly loves working with young people of all ages. She is energized by their enthusiasm, sense of wonder, and fearlessness when it comes to creating art. She loves music too and plays fiddle in The Sheets Family Band. Kelly lives with her husband and two children and many plants & animals on a small farm in Ashe County. She has gained a new appreciation for our community by becoming a Two Rivers parent in 2019. .

Cyndi Rapenske was invited by the founding Board of Directors to lead Brain Gym®, a movement- based program that is part of the Two Rivers Community School Charter. Cyndi has been licensed with Educational Kinesiology Foundation/Breakthroughs International since 2004, and has worked with the school since it first opened its doors in 2005.

Cyndi says her best training comes from working with the students. “The students’ ideas, needs, movement patterns and discoveries inspire me to share the activities and concepts of Brain Gym in new ways and with continued awe for how we learn.”

Cyndi’s experiences include working 15 years in Outdoor Education, facilitating adults and children in adventure programs, challenge courses, team building, and primitive living skills.

Starting the 2019-20 school year, Cyndi has taken on the role of Garden Coordinator, bringing 35 years of organic gardening experience to our students.

Cyndi loves swimming in her pond, farming sustainably, traveling, hiking, biking, kayaking, and being a lifelong learner.

Lindsay is a proud North Carolina native who grew up as a beach girl and city girl in Wrightsville Beach and Charlotte. Her love of learning began teaching environmental education lessons while completing the work-study program and earning a BA in Environmental Studies at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. Before moving to the area to teach at Two Rivers, she earned her elementary teaching license and taught at an Expeditionary Learning school called Evergreen Community Charter. After 11 years of experience, she has transitioned from a classroom teacher to the school’s reading specialist and testing coordinator while working towards completing her masters in reading education at Appalachian State. The path that led her here includes a lot of hard work and a little serendipity. She loves travelling, being outdoors, and pretending she can play the guitar.

Linda is the assistant in Ms. Katie’s 3rd grade class. She enjoys working with such an awesome teacher and such wonderful students. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and also lived in Spain, Michigan, and South Carolina before moving to Boone. She taught 20 years in public elementary schools. She is married and has one son. Linda is a big sports fan and she enjoys traveling, reading, and baking.

Michaela grew up in Texas and briefly lived in Alaska to help build cabins. In the summer of 2020, she packed up all her belongings and her cat named Flan and moved to Boone. She loves exploring the beautiful mountains and waterfalls here, foraging, cooking, growing food, and making things out of polymer clay. She's excited and honored to become a part of the Two Rivers community!

Zulma is the teaching assistant in Kindergarten. She’s worked with children in school settings for the past 6 years, working as an assistant in an ESL classroom and also working with children with severe disabilities. She moved to Boone in the summer of 2019 to work at Two Rivers and has called the U.S. home for the past 30 years minus a couple years when she had an opportunity to live in Sweden. She’s also lived in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Florida and New Hampshire, where she earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Outside of work, Zulma loves animals, reading, the outdoors, traveling, dancing, art and the mountains, which were a big part of her life in her native Colombia.

Ms. Liz grew up in the midwest and enjoyed every summer at her cabin in northern Minnesota. She developed a great love of reading during those summers as she and her sister were not allowed to have a TV or phone. After graduating from Iowa State University, she began an amazing journey of teaching every grade from Kindergarten through seventh grade.

Three years ago, she and her husband found their dream home within a half-mile of TRCS.

Ms. Liz has three boys, two live in Boone and one in Philadelphia. She enjoys gardening, painting, cooking and playing her favorite rock music on the piano. You can often find her running with her two dogs or chasing her kitty and ferret around the house.

Julie Mansius is the second-grade teaching assistant and after-school director. Julie considers herself a lifelong learner and graduated from nursing school in the UK as an RN; from Piedmont Community College in Charlotte with an “accidental” AA in Horticulture Technology (only because she wanted to know which plants would grow in the heat and humidity of the South) and from Queens University in Charlotte with a BA in Elementary Education. Julie has taught students in both preschool and elementary school.

Julie grew up in England and met her husband while working as the school nurse at an American school just outside London. Julie and her family settled in Charlotte but she was eager to move to the mountains one day as they reminded her of family holidays spent in the mountains of Wales. Julie and her husband, Greg, have one grown son, Edward, who lives in Washington DC.

Julie loves to spend her time outdoors working on landscaping projects in the garden or hiking with her husband and their rescue pup, Jim. When she’s not outside, Julie can be found working on various knitting projects and trying to perfect new knitting skills, spinning fiber, reading, or experimenting in the kitchen learning to make plant-based meals and treats.