Dave Provost - Head of School, Admissions, Marketing
Dave has been an educator and administrator with a total of 31 years of independent school experience. He brings great experience across the capacities that are important to Headwaters—educational excellence, growing schools while maintaining and improving the quality of the educational experience, admissions, marketing and fundraising. Dave was a Klingenstein Fellow at Columbia University’s Teachers College and holds a graduate degree in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Oxford University, England. At HWA since 2018 Email: dprovost@headwatersacademy.org 
Abby Carruthers - Physical and
Outdoor Education Abby is originally from Northern Michigan. She spent five years in Driggs, Idaho before moving with her husband to Bozeman in 2008. She is currently our physical education and outdoor education instructor. She also serves as our student advisor and student council sponsor. She loves sports, being outside, and traveling. “I enjoy working for a school with Headwaters Academy’s reputation and having a great time with the students.” She enjoys spending downtime with her husband, son Brewer, and daughter Page. Abby has a B.A. from Ferris State University in Recreational Leadership and Management. At HWA since 2010 Email: acarruthers@headwatersacademy.org 
Brody Johnson - Visual Art & Technology
Brody graduated from Saint Cloud University with a B.A. in Art, and he also has a B.A. in Music from Minnesota State University of Moorhead. Brody is enamored by observing and moving in nature: field sketching, climbing, snow and water kiting, skiing and being present in the outdoors. He is a lifelong learner who has been a student and a teacher of many different subjects including: rock climbing, kayaking, guitar, and the visual arts. He achieved training as a licensed visual arts instructor at one of Minnesota’s most forward-thinking high schools focused on technology integration, 21st Century Skills and academic achievement. At HWA since 2013 Email: bjohnson@headwatersacademy.org 
Kimberly Magro - Math & Algebra
Kimberly is enthusiastic about joining the HWA community as the 8th grade Geometry teacher. She received an Undergraduate degree in Health Promotions from Montana State and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a certificate in Elementary Education. In addition to tutoring students of all grade levels for 17 years, she worked with Thrive as the CAP Coordinator at the Middle School level. When not at Headwaters, Kimberly is often found adventuring with her two children and husband in the mountains and pursuing faster times on her mountain bike. At HWA since 2017 Email: kmagro@headwatersacademy.org 
Hannah Meeks - World Cultures
and Speech & Drama Hannah is thrilled to be part of the Headwaters Community. Hannah is a local performer who has held various roles with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Intermountain Opera, the Ellen Theatre, the Verge Theatre, and the Shane Lalani Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, she is currently on staff at the Verge Theater teaching musical theater for grades K-5. She is so excited to be sharing this passion with Headwaters’ middle school students, and cultivating in them a love for the performing arts. World Cultures is another one of her passions. Hannah lived and attended school in Chatellerault, France where she studied economics. She has been teaching French language and culture for grades K-5 in the Bozeman School District as part of the World Languages program since it began, as well as teaching French in Montessori schools for the past 5 years. She is an impassioned traveler, and has spent time studying culture hands-on in India, Fiji, Panama, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Canada. When she is not performing or traveling, she loves to spend time with her family hiking, kayaking, and camping in our beautiful state. She graduated summa cum laude from Chadron State College with a B.A. in Theatre Performance and a B.A in Business Administration/Finance. At HWA since 2017 Email: hmeeks@headwatersacademy.org 
Hilary Pederson - Science and Math
Hilary has a BA in Biology and and an MES from Taylor University. She spent several years in Indiana pursuing various teaching interests and enjoying the South Bend community. When the time was right, she headed west. When it comes to teaching, Hilary has a passion for creativity and curiosity in the classroom, permaculture, organic farming, and observing and enjoying the natural world. Before coming to Headwaters, she spent her time farming and substitute teaching. In her spare time you can find her wandering mountain paths, listening to streams and trees, and laughing at her dog's antics. At HWA since 2019 Email: hpederson@headwatersacademy.org 
Paola Torres – 8th Grade Spanish
She moved to Montana from Lima, Peru, where she worked as a journalist to start a new career as a foreign language teacher. She has experience teaching Pre-K, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and adult students. She taught both in Bozeman and Helena, areas where she promoted foreign language education and interest by sharing her knowledge and culture with the community. Paola enjoys traveling and learning more about her heritage and Spanish speaking cultures; she backpacked around Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico. She reunited with friends and family, enjoyed the richness of each place, and learned about the cuisine of the different communities she visited. Paola, as a former sports journalist, enjoys soccer and playing outside. Biking, trail running, and hiking are among her favorite activities too. Cooking her traditional Peruvian food is one of her favorite hobbies. She and her husband, who are now expecting their first child, enjoy big cooking parties, where both can bring the best of Peruvian, Italian, and French food to the table. Paola is currently working on her master's in educational research at MSU. She is the Program Lead for the BELLA project- a program that is looking to help at-risk EL students in the Bozeman School district- and now teaches 8th grade Spanish at Headwaters, which brings her great joy, thanks to the fun and sweet energy kids show in her classes. At HWA since 2020 Email: ptorres@headwatersacademy.org 
Sayer Wickham - Geography, Life Science Earth Science and Outdoor Education
Sayer grew up exploring the streams and forests of Vermont. He graduated from Hampshire College in Massachusetts where he studied science and sculpture. Before moving to Montana, Sayer worked as an educator in a program that focused on place based, hands-on learning for at-risk students. Most recently, he spent the summer as an instructor for the Montana Outdoor Science School. Sayer enjoys getting children outside to share his passion for exploring and understanding the natural world. He spends his free time hiking, fishing, and rock climbing. At HWA since 2015 Email: swickham@headwatersacademy.org |
Faye McDonough - Associate Head of
School, Admissions Faye is our Associate Head of School, Admissions Director & U.S. History Teacher. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the Headwaters Academy community with her vast experiences in independent schools. She most recently served as Head of School at Capital Day School in Frankfort, Kentucky. Engaging students in educational experiences has been a life-long career for Faye as she has enjoyed teaching learners of all ages. Now she will be recruiting her favorite age group to Headwaters Academy. “Letting the Gallatin County community know about the choice that our middle school offers students will be my pleasure. Our offerings are enhanced because of the small class size and the willingness of the faculty to go beyond the traditional school goals.” Originally from Kentucky, Faye moved to Bozeman in 2012 with her husband who is also an educator. She earned a B.A. in music from the University of Oregon; K-12 elementary M.A. from the University of Louisville; and most recently worked as an administrator after receiving an M.A. in administration from Bank Street College of Education and the Parsons School of Design. Faye has fallen in love with Montana. At HWA since 2012 Email: fayemcdonough@headwatersacademy.org Gennifre Hartman - English & History
Gennifre is thrilled to be part of the Headwaters community. Before joining Headwaters, she worked as a Head of School for Great Beginnings Montessori School, and was the Founder and Head of School for The Traveling School. Her career path has supported her primary passions: experiential education; international travel, and authentic learning opportunities. During her 25-year career, she has been an international guide, a published writer, an entrepreneur, an Executive Director, a wilderness guide, a novelist, a college professor, a peace advocate, a philanthropist, an editor, and more. Gennifre’s primary passion is authentically working to make the world a better place. Her personal mission is to improve the lives of people, and she does this through travel, peace and humanitarian efforts, and experiential education. For her, this means: connecting genuinely with real people; changing the status quo regarding education; and creating ethical, safe international experiences for people who want to learn about the world and, in turn, make their differences. She believes that when people are inspired to grow, every single one of us has the ability to change the world. At HWA since 2020 Email: ghartman@headwatersacademy.org 
Ellie Lehrkind - Algebra
Ellie is excited to be back at Headwaters after taking a few years off to raise her growing family. This is her fifth year teaching math at HWA. After receiving a BS in Animal Science from University of Georgia, she moved to Montana to continue her education and work on various guest ranches. She earned a BA in Secondary Education from University of Great Falls. She then started her teaching career in Whitefish, MT at a therapeutic boarding school. After 17 years of teaching and tutoring math, working for Thrive as a CAP mentor coordinator, tutoring student athletes at MSU, and working for the USFS as a river ranger in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Ellie is back at HWA where she loves teaching Algebra. When she’s not teaching, you’ll find Ellie camping with her family, running mountain races, floating the river and relaxing at the lake At HWA since 2013 Email: elehrkind@headwatersacademy.org 
Shannon Mahoney – English & Spanish
Shannon has a passion for teaching, learning, family and the outdoors. After earning a degree in English from UC Berkeley, she pursued a second degree in Education and an M.A. in English from Montana State. Shannon has previously taught ESL on the Montana State University campus and writing at both MSU and Gallatin College. Outside of the classroom, Shannon can be found running in the mountains, chasing her two boys, skiing Bridger, or riding her mountain bike. At HWA since 2017 Email: smahoney@headwatersacademy.org Cristina Marian – Visual Art
Originally from Romania, Cristina moved to the United States in 2013. In Bozeman, she divides her time between teaching, working in the studio, and exhibiting her artwork. She received a B.A. in Painting from the National University of Fine Arts “Nicolae Grigorescu” in Bucharest, Romania, and an MFA in Arts from Montana State University. Since 2006, Cristina has taught art for children and adults in Romania, Senegal, Austria and the U.S.. Most recently, she taught drawing and painting classes at Montana State University and at Longfellow Elementary School. Her new position at Headwaters Academy intersects with Cristina’s teaching interests in both traditional and experimental art practices that explore a wide range of materials, processes, and other disciplines.“My career goals are to continue to learn and grow as an art educator and artist. Being at Headwaters Academy is an exciting opportunity for me to expand my teaching experience with an age group that I’ve never worked with before. I remember my time in 8th grade well, when I left family behind and moved by myself from the countryside to a city of two million, in order to study art.” Cristina works with a variety of artistic mediums including painting, sculpture and installation. Her work has been exhibited in Romania, Austria, France, Israel, Senegal and the U.S.. At HWA since 2020 Email: cmarian@headwatersacademy.org 
Deborah Schuerr - Music
Deborah loves coaching students to develop as musicians and creative young artists. Since 2006, she has taught piano and songwriting and has an active studio of 50 students. Her students have won the BHS Hawks Night Live contest and several songwriting contests. During the summer, she’s taught at Equinox Summer Theater Camp and Kids Singers Club. Deborah has her B.A. in English and B.A. in History from Calvin College and her M.A. in History from Montana State University. She was active in public speaking, fundraising, and event planning during her tenure as Development Director for Gallatin Valley Land Trust and Habitat for Humanity. She also has the equivalent of a music degree and private studies degree from Montana State University. She has performed her original compositions on Yellowstone Public Radio, toured with a Windham Hill artist, composed music for a fashion show, jazz orchestras, and short films. She’s accompanied for the Ellen Theater, Missoula Children’s Theater, and Equinox Theater Co., played violin in the Bozeman Symphony, and sang in a variety of church choirs. She also likes to hike, bike, Nordic ski, play tennis, dance, read, and spend time with her friends. At HWA since 2011 Email: dschuerr@headwatersacademy.org Adrienne Webster - Business &
Office Manager Adrienne is thrilled to be part of the Headwaters community. She has a B.A. in Media Arts from Montana State University and recently completed the graduate program in Addictions Counseling there as well. She has worked in public and private schools and various non-profits for 20 years. She is an avid photographer whose work has been published in various local and national magazines. For the past six years she was the Chief Administrative Officer and ran the daily operations of a local start-up here in Bozeman. She loves to read, hike, practice yoga and watch movies with her kids. At HWA since 2020 Email: office@headwatersacademy.org |