FACULTY AND STAFF, PAGE 2

Lydia Elgas
My ultimate teaching position includes bright, energetic students, supportive families and a team of talented teachers. I feel so lucky to have found that and more at Headwaters Academy. The greatest contributions I bring to my teaching are the recognition that I will always be a student and that teachers should "spark the imagination" rather than seek to "fill a vessel." Besides having taught history and English, I have been lucky to have had a variety of experiences that sparked my own imagination and will serve as tools for my position at HWA. During the course of my lifelong education, I coordinated service learning projects at Willamette University, served as a Carroll College admission counselor and assisted with a program to increase rural girls' participation in math and science. The greatest learning experience I have had is being "Mommy" to two amazing girls. My husband, girls, two dogs and I enjoy lots of time together outside. Some of my favorite activities include reading (shocking for an English teacher! Perhaps more shocking is that I find time for it!), running, riding bikes and hiking with my girls--and cheering on the Cubs with my family.

[Lydia brings much to HWA: several years of public school teaching, work experience at the collegiate level, enthusiasm, and loads of positive life experience. Her girls are delightful. She wears many hats, and she wears them well. ]

Abby Carruthers
Originally from Northern Michigan, I spent five years in Driggs, Idaho before moving with my husband to Bozeman in 2008. I love sports, being outside, and traveling. I am looking forward to working for a school with Headwaters Academy's reputation and having a great time with the students.

[Abby's self-written bio is quite modest. Abby has a BS in outdoor recreation, was a "starter" on her college basketball team, and has worked in multiple capacities as an outdoor trip leader. Among other things, she was a white-water rafting guide and served as a guide for school groups in Santa Barbara who enjoyed her leadership in surfing, biking, hiking and climbing. Abby brings experience, enthusiam and a positive attitude to HWA's outdoor ed, PE and guidance programs.]

Sam Francis
If you believe the adage “If your toes are cold, put on a hat,” then Sam must have some very warm toes.  Wearing “teaching hats” for science, geography, technology, outdoor ed., P.E. and even a little Spanish, Sam has to be on his toasty toes.  With an equally wide range of life experiences, Sam enjoys sharing his varied interests with Headwater students.  “I love being around middle school students – they are very curious about the world, and they are usually awake.  These are two traits I try to emulate.”

When not at Headwaters, Sam shares his home with his teen daughter and a half-tailed cat named “Bastet” (an Egyptian cat goddess).

[Sam is one of the most understated people I have ever had the pleasure to know. This Stanford alumnus is multi-talented, loves the students, and has creative, fun lessons.]

Meet more faculty and staff here >>