Meet the Educators of Cascade Public Schools

McKenzie Wilcox
Jumpstart/Early Literacy (PK) Teacher

My name is Mckenzie (Kenzie) Wilcox. I have been teaching at Cascade since 2020. I have experience in small-town schools, I was born and raised in Sand Coulee where I attended Centerville school. I then moved to Dillon to obtain my Pre-Kindergarten through third-grade degree. I am a proud member of the Cascade community. When I am not in the classroom teaching, I am in the mountains either hunting or fishing. I also love camping, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. I am looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you.

Sharon Stevens
Kindergarten Teacher

Since 1993, I have been the kindergarten teacher in Cascade. I am Sharon Stevens. Teaching kindergarten is the best job! When I am not teaching, I love helping my husband, Lester, on the ranch. We have 3 boys who all graduated from Cascade. Skiing, refurbishing furniture, and traveling are some of my pastimes. I was born in Ft. Collins, Colorado where my parents where going to college. Montana has been a home for the majority of my life. 

Karen Allen
1st Grade Teacher

 Hello, my name is Karen Allen. My husband and I live just outside of Cascade on a small ranch where we raise Scottish Highland cows. We have 5 children and 8 grandchildren that are spread out over the US. I enjoy fishing, hunting, and I am an avid runner (jogger). I love teaching 1st grade and look forward to a wonderful year of growth, academic challenges, and adventures. I received my master's degree from Alaska Pacific University in 1995, and have been a teacher for the last 21 years! I've enjoyed teaching preschool, 1st, 3rd, and 4th grades in Anchorage, Alaska, Great Falls and now Cascade. I am extremely excited to be a part of the Cascade community and look forward to serving the students and families of Cascade Elementary.

Alexis Culp
2nd Grade Teacher

My name is Alexis (Lexi) Culp. I grew up in Oregon and we moved to Cascade in the summer of 2023. This has been a dream of ours for quite a while. I have 5 daughters, 5 horses 5 dogs, goats, ducks, and chickens (hopefully more soon). My oldest finished her first year at the University of Montana as a freshman. I also 4 girls here at Cascade. I have been teaching at a private school in Boring Oregon since 2009. I started as a kindergarten teacher there, but also taught 1st, 3rd, 3rd, and 7th grade
literature. I grew up doing classical ballet, track, and cheerleading. I stayed connected in the ballet world teaching, or helping at the studio I grew up at until my youngest daughter came. I love being outside, gardening, doing yard work, or just reading a good book outside. I love all animals and am always trying to talk my husband into another one. I am hoping we will add to the critters now that we are settling into our new home. I have loved my first year here at Cascade and can’t wait to see what memories are made in the next years here.

Jessica Porter
2nd Grade Teacher

My name is Jessica Porter, and I am going to be one of the 2nd grade teachers this year. I grew up on a ranch in eastern Montana and graduated from the University of Montana Western with my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2015. I began my teaching career in Big Timber where I taught 5th grade for eight years. I obtained a Masters in Literacy Education from  Montana State University-Billings in 2019. 

My husband and I made the decision to move to Cascade in 2023, which allowed me to stay home with our daughter, who recently turned two. I enjoy photography, reading, and spending time outside. As a family, we have enjoyed kayaking/paddle boarding on the Missouri and skiing at Showdown. We continue to explore the area. 

I had the opportunity to join the Cascade teaching team in the spring when I was a long-term substitute in 2nd grade. I am excited to be back in the classroom again and look forward to meeting my future students!

Elizabeth Allen

3rd Grade Teacher

I am extremely excited to be teaching the third-grade this year. We are going to have a blast exploring math, reading, writing, science, and social studies together. I have been teaching for 18 years. Twelve of those have been here at Cascade. I began my teaching career in Oregon with third, fourth, and fifth grades. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree at Montana State (Go Bobcats!) and my Master’s Degree with a reading endorsement at Concordia University. Reading is a passion of mine. I have an obsession with buying books as evident by the many, many books filling our classroom. My favorite outdoor activities include hiking, gardening, and bird watching. While indoors I like to scrapbook, crochet, and of course read. I love animals. We have four dogs, four cats, and a new horse in our household.

Kourtney Gearing

4th Grade Teacher

Hello, my name is Kourtney Gearing! I was born in Shelby, MT but grew up in Snohomish, WA. I spent many summers visiting Montana. I  earned my bachelor's degree and special education endorsement from the University of Montana in 2019. (Go Griz!) I am entering into my 7th year of teaching. I have said since the third grade that I wanted to be a teacher and I am so proud to be a part of the Cascade School and community. My husband Adam and I moved to Cascade in 2019 and we have loved every minute of it. When I am not teaching, I enjoy hunting, fishing, playing with my dog and cat, and spending time with my family! 

Molly Parks

5th Grade Teacher

Hello! My name is Molly Parks. There are many things that I enjoy about teaching. Children have such unique personalities. One of my favorite things is getting to know them individually and learning their strengths and things they want to improve upon. I strive to create a classroom environment where children enjoy exploring interests, develop strong peer relationships, grow academically, and of course smile and laugh often.

I was born and raised in Montana. After leaving and exploring city life for a time, I returned to this beautiful state. I have a grown son that lives in the Flathead Valley. I work as a fishing guide in the summer and spend a great deal of time casting a fly rod in my spare time.  Most of my days off are spent exploring rivers and our amazing outdoor wonderland. 

Leah Costa

Title I Teacher

My name is Leah Costa. My family and I moved to Cascade from Idaho in July of 2021. We absolutely love this community! I worked as a paraprofessional at Cascade Schools for one year while obtaining my Montana teaching license and have been the Title 1 Teacher since fall of 2022. 

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Minor in Literacy from Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. I taught preschool in Nampa, Idaho for 6 years before moving to Montana. I have always had a passion for working with children. I am also VERY passionate about developing a love of reading in our students as well as confidence in their ability to read.

Coleen MacDonald

EL Sped Teacher

Hello, my name is Coleen MacDonald. I am the Elementary Special Education Teacher. I work with students from grades EK-5. I have moved downstairs this year and am excited about being closer to all of the kids. I have been teaching in Cascade since 2016. I graduated from Montana State University with my degree in Elementary Education and then attended the University of Montana where I earned my endorsement in Special Education. I started my career in Geyser, MT, where I spent 12 years. I then moved to Centerville Public Schools, where I taught and ran the after-school program for 5 years. I live in Great Falls with my husband and 2 children. In my free time, I love to be with family and spend time outdoors. I am looking forward to a great year!

Sonja Mazaira

Elementary PE

Hello, I am Sonja Mazaira and I am excited about another year as the elementary PE teacher for the Badgers. I have been teaching at Cascade since 2017.  I earned a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration from Concordia University. My husband Rick and I have four children. Two of which are Cascade alumni.  I love spending time outdoors. Hiking, fishing, paddleboarding, riding my dirt bike, and snowboarding are some of my favorites.  Teaching at Cascade has been a great experience.  Go Badgers!

Alissa Johnson

JH Math Teacher

I am excited to introduce myself to the community (for some of you, again). My name is Alissa Johnson and I am currently the junior high Math teacher. I have a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in Mathematics from MSU-Billings. I also received my Master's Degree in Learning Development from MSU-Northern in Havre. I am married to a handsome Great Falls Firefighter named Trevor Johnson, and we have three beautiful daughters: Braedyn, Addisen, and Taerin. My children also are excited to be attending school here at Cascade. Braedyn is going to be starting her sophomore year, Addisen is going into 6th grade and Taerin will be in the 3rd grade. My family and I recently were able to move back out to Cascade from spending many years in Great Falls due to his job. We are enjoying being back in such a wonderful community. I have had the pleasure of being apart of the Cascade School District since 2003.

Lynn Formell

JH History

Hello, my name is Lynn Formell. I moved to Ulm with my husband and two children in 2015 and we absolutely love being part of Ulm and Cascade community. I was given the opportunity to be a paraprofessional at Cascade Public School for the school year 21-22 and I am very excited for the opportunity to teach JH English and History. I am currently completing my master’s degree in elementary education at Grand Canyon University. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and barrel racing. I am looking forward to the new adventures in teaching and preparing our students for their future.  

Chad Boedecker

JH English Teacher

Amanda Iverson

HS Business Teacher

Hello! My name is Amanda Iverson, and I am excited to be teaching the business classes at Cascade High School. I was born and raised in Cascade and while I’ve lived here and there over the years this wonderful little town has always been home. My husband, Dustin- who was also born and raised here in Cascade- and I are raising our three children and a herd of other critters just south of town in Chestnut Valley. In 2017 I graduated from MSU Bozeman with my degree in Secondary Education and since then I’ve worked as a substitute teacher, social studies teacher, and bookkeeper/business manager for several family businesses. I am so excited to be returning to teaching after taking time away from the classroom to raise babies and look forward to exploring the world of business, technology, economics, and finance with your kiddos! 

Christa Hardy

K-12 Art Teacher

I am entering my 15th year of teaching and my 10th as a K-12 art teacher in Cascade, MT. I grew up in Cascade, Class of ‘04, and am thrilled that the road led me back home. After an undergrad program in art education and high school math from the University of Montana-Western, I began my career in Fort Benton before returning to teach and coach at my alma mater. I rediscovered my love for clay during a studio class while completing my Masters in art education from Eastern Illinois University in 2017. It became my mission to bring the clay experience to my students at Cascade School. We have since acquired a kiln and 10 pottery wheels so students of all ages are able to create in this wonderful medium. Along the way, I also started building my home garage studio with the help and support of my wonderful husband, so that I could continue to experiment and create on my own. Though time is sparse, I find every moment I can to have my hands in clay, often with my two young kids alongside me. We are in love with where we live and take full advantage of the recreation, scenery, and adventuring possibilities of our wonderful state. I have coached a number of sports over the years but have currently settled in Track and Field for the Badgers since 2011. I am thankful to be able to raise my kids in this wonderful small community and school and work with all the amazing staff here at Cascade while bringing a variety of art experiences to our students.

Jeff Skogley

K-12 Band & Choir Teacher

Hello, again, I'm Jeff Skogley. I have taught here in Cascade since the fall of 1992, mostly band, but also general and choral music.  I'm an active member of several professional organizations, MGMTA, MBA and MMEA, and have served as State Manager / Treasurer for MMEA and President of MBA.  I'm currently on the MHSA Music committee. I enjoy mentoring younger music teachers, conducting massed and honor bands, and any other way I can help music students. In 2013 I was chosen as Montana's selection for "50 Directors Who Make A Difference" by School Band & Orchestra magazine. I enjoy playing trumpet, French horn, and euphonium in several area groups, as well as directing a church choir. I live in Cascade with my wife Melody, who keeps me supplied with chocolate chip cookies. We have one daughter, Jennifer, who teaches music in Helena and has acquired our love of BBQ and grilling.

Sean Thornton

JH / HS Science

Greetings!  My name is Sean Thornton and I am excited to be teaching Science at Cascade Public Schools.  I recently retired from the US Army and Montana National Guard after 23 years of service.  Some things I enjoyed in the Army, some I didn't, but by far the most rewarding was serving as the Executive Officer of the University of Montana (Go Griz!) and Carroll College ROTC programs.  It was then that the realization came to me how much I missed teaching, having taught Science previously at Geyser Schools and CMR in Great Falls.  This is why I am thrilled to be coming to Cascade Public Schools.  This is a community where I have deep roots.  My mother was raised in Cascade and graduated as a Badger.  My grandparents lived a couple of blocks from the school and as a result, I spent many of my childhood summers roaming the streets of Cascade and the banks of the Missouri River.  I grew up in Helena and graduated from Capital High School.  After high school I bounced around between colleges, Gonzaga (Go Zags!) and Wheaton College in Illinois where I received my BA.  I then spent several years traversing between Graduate School, fishing boats in Alaska, joining the Army, teaching Science, and fishing the Missouri every chance I could.  With a family consisting of three children, I eventually chose a career in the Army.  But now that my time with the Army is complete, I am thrilled to be returning to teaching here in beautiful Cascade Montana.  

Mike Nelson

JH/HS PE & Math Teacher

Hello, my name is Mike Nelson. I graduated from MSU in mathematics (I have a minor in Health/PE). I worked in Highwood, MT for 17 years. I taught all levels of math 7-12 and PE/Health K-12. Although, for most of my tenure, I was the HS math teacher and taught the strength and conditioning class. Also, I was the head football coach. While I was there, I was very fortunate to be a part of a lot of successful teams. I left teaching for a few years and was a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company.  After that, I went back into teaching and coaching and took a job at Great Falls Central as a math and S&C teacher, as well as a head football coach for 6 years and assistant for 3 years. I have two wonderful children. My daughter, Peyton, and her husband Neil, live in Great Falls.  She is a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Benefis Hospital. I have a 1-year-old grandson, Neil Jr.  My son, Reid, is a mechanical engineer in Chicago. My special lady, Sue Olson, is also a teacher in the Great Falls Public School system.

Jennifer Ward

JH/HS Ag Ed Teacher

Hello! My name is Jennifer Ward. I have the BEST job here at Cascade as the Agriculture Instructor and FFA Advisor! I have been at Cascade Schools since 2019. I graduated from CSU, Chico in 2000 with a degree in Agriculture Science with an option in Agricultural Education. I have previously developed a high school Agricultural program in a rural area in Northeastern California, which was very similar to the Cascade area. My husband cowboys for a living, so we have had the opportunity to raise our two beautiful daughters in ranch settings. Both our daughters graduated from Cascade High School and
are now attending MSU, Bozeman. One majoring in Agriculture Sciences and the other majoring in Environmental Law and Wildlife Biology. I do not like being stuck inside, so every chance I get, I go into the great outdoors - from hiking, hunting, fishing, ranch work, or just stopping for a moment to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us! I am excited to share some real-world agriculture experience to our students at Cascade. I am excited to be back to continue building student relationships and our competitive FFA teams with our amazing students! GO Cascade FFA!

Eliza Papke

JH/HS Sped Teacher

My name is Eliza Papke and I grew up in a small town in Northern Minnesota with two teachers for parents. I have always loved to travel, and when it came time to choose a college, I decided to go to Washington DC. While at American University, I also had the opportunity to study abroad in France. After my sophomore year, I applied to work as a camp counselor in Montana and fell in love with the mountains and rivers. After college, I worked different seasonal jobs in Missoula and Bozeman and taught preschool at the YMCA. Working with preschool students made me realize that I wanted to go back to school for teaching. For the past three years, I have been working as a paraeducator and earning my teaching certification in the Seattle area. I am so excited to move back to Montana and meet the people of Cascade. 

Laura Park

JH/HS FCS Teacher

Greetings!  I’m Laura Park and excited to serve as the new Family and Consumer Science Teacher for Cascade.  I graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree and am working on a masters from MSU.  My husband, Rocky, and I are blessed with four incredible children.  We fell in love with the Craig / Cascade area many years ago and made it a goal to finish raising our children here.  Two are Cascade alumni and two attend Cascade high school.  I’m enthusiastic to embrace new opportunities in teaching while helping our students grow and prepare for their future success!  

Steven Pettis

HS Math Teacher

My name is Steve Pettis.  This is my second year teaching High School Math at Cascade High School.  I was born and raised in Great Falls and returned two years ago to help take care of my family.  My wife Shannon and I have been married almost 41 years.  We have been blessed with 5 children and 19 grandchildren.  I graduated from Montana State University with a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1986. 

I worked for approximately 20 years as an Environmental Engineer before transitioning to teaching Math.  This year is already my 17th year of teaching.  My employment travels have taken us to Alaska, Arizona, Utah, New Hampshire, and Idaho.  It is good to be back in Montana.  I thoroughly enjoy teaching Math at Cascade High School and look forward to enjoying the beautiful Montana outdoors this summer.

Giulia Weeda

HS English Teacher

Hello, my name is Giulia Weeda, and I am the high school English and Spanish teacher. I am originally from Manhattan, Montana, where I was inspired by my exceptional teachers to pursue a career in education. My choice was solidified by the genuine joy I found while spending time in my mom’s classroom and coaching club volleyball. I graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Secondary English Education and a minor in Spanish Teaching K-12 in May 2021 and completed a Master’s of English Education from MSU in December 2024. My Master’s research focused on the concept of rural place and its relationship with writing instruction and classroom community, and I have had the privilege of sharing stories about Cascade’s talented students as a presenter at NCTE’s 2024 Conference in Boston and as a guest author for Virginia Tech’s Rural Education Blog. I enjoy bringing my love for all things language into the classroom, and I cannot wait to continue to get to know the students, families, and community of Cascade as we read, write, think, and create together. Let’s have a great year!

Rebecca Beuthien

HS Social Studies Teacher

My name is Rebecca Beuthien. I was born and raised in Australia where I graduated from a rural high school and went on to study a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Criminology, and a Master of Criminology. I decided to move to Japan to teach English as a Second Language in junior high schools in the larger Tokyo Metropolitan area. I even learned Japanese along the way. I moved to Montana to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Social Studies Broadfield at MSU. History is a passion of mine, especially folklore, and I cannot wait to share it with you all. When I’m not in the classroom I am often gaming, both video and tabletop, often with my husband or my friends around the world. I love to read, crochet, and cook, too. I’m always up for a new challenge, learning a new skill, or just learning something new, and I cannot wait to learn more from the Cascade community. So please don’t hesitate to say hi and have a chat if you see me around. 

Kelsey Brown
Counselor

Hello- My name is Kelsey Brown, and I am honored to serve as the new K-12 School Counselor of Cascade Public Schools. My career in education began with teaching Science at the Jr/HS levels for three years followed by earning my Master’s in School Counseling from Lewis and Clark College in 2015. Over the years I have had the privilege of supporting students across every level of their education; from kindergarten through university and job placement. As a school counselor I have experienced four years at the high school level, two years at the middle school level, and one year at the elementary school level. Beyond school counseling, I have served as a Career and Academic Planning Coach at George Fox University and most recently as a Regional Career Coach under the Montana Ready initiative for the OPI. These experiences have instilled in me a deep appreciation for what can be accomplished when educators, families, and communities collaborate to nurture student’s success at every stage of their educational journey.

I grew up in Ulm, but after graduating from Great Falls High, left Montana to explore other places and eventually settled in Oregon where I met my husband, Jonny, and lived for nearly ten years. In the summer of 2022 we moved back to Montana with our two kids Ollie (7) and Audrey (5) and are making our home in Great Falls. As a family we love getting to explore the River’s Edge Trail, attending all of the local parades and events, and doing DIY home improvement projects. I look forward to being a part of the community in Cascade!