Staff Bios

Bob Wentsch - Principal Educator, Lower Elementary
Bob received his Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Drake University in Iowa. Bob began teaching as a Teacher Corps intern in 1972, developing community programs and activities for inner city children. During his nearly 30 years of teaching, Bob has continually analyzed and experimented with different methodologies and philosophies to develop programs that best serve the children he is teaching. In 1976 he and his wife Terri and a small group of parents co-founded the Rivendell School in Colorado, designed to allow each child to achieve his or her academic potential and become a responsible and contributing member of society. The school began with 7 students. When the Wentsches left in 1993 it had 240 students in preschool through eighth grade. In 1994 Bob was hired as the director of the elementary program at our school. This led to his becoming the Principal Educator for Sedona Charter School's Lower Elementary classroom when the school opened in 1995. Bob has completed his Montessori (AMS™) training for teaching children ages 6 to 9 and is also Arizona state-certified to teach grades K through 8. Montessori teachers from throughout the state come to observe and learn from Bob's class, which has developed a reputation as a model of student choice within a safe and dynamic structure, where students develop responsibility, independence, and a strong foundation in academics, arts, and music.

Shandra Light Ryan - Facilitating Teacher, Lower Elementary
Shandra is a native to Sedona and even attended the very first Sedona Montessori Preschool. She and her two children recently moved from Flagstaff to join the Sedona Charter School team. Her son Michael is a student in the lower elementary classroom. Shandra studied Elementary Education at NAU and has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past six years. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and specializes in cultural diversity education.

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Cindy Rothwell: Facilitating Teacher - Lower Elementary

Cindy, who joined our staff with the 2007-2008 school year, loves teaching and learning. She has taught numerous subjects to all ages, from infants to the elderly. Cindy has over seventeen years of experience teaching children in diverse settings. Prior to moving to Sedona, Cindy directed an early childhood music program in Seattle, Washington. She delights in encouraging growth and creativity in children. Cindy has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Boston College. She is excited to be teaching in the Lower Elementary classroom.

Terri Wentsch - Facilitating Teacher, Lower Elementary
Terri has been teaching as Sedona Charter School since its start in 1995. Prior to this she taught and co-managed Rivendell School with her husband Bob for 17 years. Before joining Rivendell, Terri taught in a school for underprivileged children and in a Montessori school. Terri has completed Montessori training (AMS™) for ages 3 to 9. Beyond teaching, Terri's duties include pursuing state and federal grants and expanding the technology curriculum. When she has a spare moment she devotes some time to her passions for computer arts and fiber arts.

Marsha Johnson – Principal Educator, Upper Elementary
Marsha Johnson joined the Sedona Charter School staff in 2001 after teaching 13 years in California schools. She developed a multiage program at an innovative, alternative school in Monterey prior to moving to Sedona. Marsha taught in the Lower Elementary class for five years, then took on the Upper Elementary Principal Educator position with the 2006-07 school year. Marsha is Arizona-certified to teach grades K-8 and has Montessori certification. She holds a Liberal Arts degree from Mills College in California and took post-graduate courses in education and administration. Marsha grew up in Alaska and worked and traveled in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. She particularly enjoys teaching math, art, foreign languages, and geometry. She also enjoys developing curriculum that is interesting and engaging for all children. Marsha lives in Sedona, is married and is the mother of two children enrolled in Sedona Charter School.

Bill Baker - Facilitating Teacher, Upper Elementary
Prior to joining our Upper Elementary staff in 2006, Bill Baker worked with children and young adults for more than 20 years in schools in California and in Mesa, Arizona. In Mesa, he worked as an animal handler for elementary schools, conducting classes with live indigenous animals from all over Arizona. He also led science camps for Arizona schools in various outdoor settings including the Grand Canyon. He spent several years as an instructor for grades 7 through 12, developing individualized curriculum for students to meet and exceed Arizona State standards. Bill especially enjoys teaching science and geography, and coaching volleyball and tai chi. Bill has hiked over 3,000 miles in the Grand Canyon and has ridden a bicycle across the United States from Ventura, California to Key West, Florida. He is happy to make his home in Cottonwood.

Jan Montgomery -- Facilitating Teacher, Upper Elementary and Special Education Director for all gradesJJan Montgomery holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Kent State University and a Masters in Educational Administration and Psychology from Southeastern Louisiana. Jan is Arizona-certified as a K-12 special education teacher and supervisor; she also holds a Structured English Immersion endorsement for grades K-12.
During her thirty-three years of service as a teacher, counselor, supervisor, and district administrator, Jan has taken on many leadership roles and special projects. She traveled to Japan and China to lecture about learning disabilities, and was invited to the Oxford Round Table in England to discuss reform in education. In 2003, Jan moved to the Sedona area and built a new home in the Village of Oak Creek. She began working at Sedona Charter School and quickly became a key member of our staff. Her passions are finding the right learning styles of children, teaching reading, helping students with learning challenges, and teaching students to solve problems arising from everyday conflicts. Her interests outside the classroom include travel, reading, music, and environmental issues.

Jo Burke - Principal Educator, Middle School
After 40 years in the field of education, Jo Burke joined Sedona Charter School as our Middle School Principal Educator beginning with the 2002-03 school year. Although Jo has taught children in grades 4 through 12 during her teaching career, she particularly enjoys Middle School. The range of subjects she has taught includes honors English, gifted science, physical education, jazz dance, and the full Upper Elementary Montessori curriculum. Jo has served as Assistant Principal and Principal at private and public schools in Phoenix and Dallas, Texas. Jo holds a BS degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Texas Woman's University, a Master of Science form Nova University in Florida, and has participated in gifted/talented education training programs at Baylor University in Texas. She has a Montessori teaching certificate from AMS™ for ages 5 to 12 and is Arizona state-certified to teach grades 7 through 12.

Dorene Calhoon - Facilitating Teacher, Middle School
Dorene brought a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, and teaching talent to the Middle School when she joined our teaching staff in 2003. In the past she has been awarded a science research fellowship, a Mountains and Minds Institute Grant, and South Dakota's Christa McAuliffe Grant. She has been an exchange teacher in Australia. She has mentored students on land and aboard ship as a counselor for Sea Education Association, and she has participated in a residential seminar for teachers on the Navajo reservation. With some 25 years of teaching experience, Dorene has a BS degree from the University of South Dakota, and she is Iowa state-certified to teach grades 7-12 chemistry, biology, general science, and athletics. Dorene enjoys hiking, mountain biking, reading, and travel - but she is most enthusiastic about sharing her love of science and sports with middle school students.

Jon Anderson - Facilitating Teacher and Assistant Principal Educator, Middle School
Jon joined our middle school staff in 2006. A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jon spent several years traveling the world and pursuing his education. He has traveled extensively in East Asia, focusing much of his time teaching English in Taiwan between 1998 and 2001. He is a 1999 graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in both Political Science and Asian Studies. In May of 2006 he received his Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he also taught U.S. history and government at Mayfield High School. In November of 2007, Jon completed his Certificate of Adolescent Studies through the North American Montessori Teachers Association, an affiliate of Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Jon is Arizona state-certified to teach grades 7-12 social studies. He teaches social studies, photography, community involvement, physical expression, and portfolio. In his free time, Jon enjoys hiking and climbing, activities he shares with his students through the Middle School Hiking Club.

Laura Schuurman - Facilitating Teacher, Upper Elementary
Prior to coming to Sedona Charter School, Laura attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in reading. Laura is licensed in the state of Minnesota to teach grades K-6.
During the fall of 2005, Laura student taught in Antwerp, Belgium. She taught second grade at the Antwerp International School. There she was able to work in a classroom with students ranging in diverse backgrounds including Japanese, Korean, British, Dutch, French and Indian. Laura enjoys the individualized program in the Lower Elementary Classroom and enjoys being able to work closely with other teachers to form a sense of community.