Faculty & Staff

List of 43 members.

• 

  Kevin Warren 

  Interim Head of School

  B.A. History, Western State College

  Bio

  Born in the red rock country of central Arizona and growing up on the Verde Valley School campus, Kevin Warren is a legacy leader as the youngest son of the school’s founders, Hamilton and Barbara Warren.
  
  Following graduation from VVS and later college, he hired on as a wrangler for Skinner Brothers Wilderness School located in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. There he met his wife Amy. They were married during the Yellowstone fires of 1988 and together began working at VVS in 1989. During their time at the school they raised two children on campus. At VVS Kevin’s primary duties included being Dean of Students, Director of Residences, Barn Manager and Director of Community Life. In the summer months when VVS was not in session, Amy and he returned to Wyoming and were co-directors of Skinner Brothers Wilderness School.
  
  In 2009 they left VVS and returned to Wyoming full time for a new chapter in their lives. Kevin worked as a farrier, and as Director of Sublette County School District #1 transportation department and later as the Director of Rendezvous Pointe, a senior center in their community. He published his first novel with Kensington Publishing titled Ride a Fast Horse, in 2023.
  
  As of the summer of 2025 Kevin and Amy have rejoined the Community at Verde Valley School to provide a bridge into the next chapter of the school’s history. Working with high school students, observing wildlife, riding fine horses and creative writing are areas where he derives his greatest satisfaction. Kevin’s family continues to grow, with two young grandchildren, who are the source of his greatest joy.
• 

  Alexis Jaquin 

  Equestrian

  B.A. Education, Evergreen State College
• 

  AZ Palmer 

  Executive Assistant to the Head of School, Alumni Affairs, and Advancement Database Manager

  B.S. Computer and Information Systems, Florida Atlantic University
• 

  Caleb Kulfan 

  History Teacher

  B.A. Natural History and Ecology, Prescott College
• 

  Chris Bolton 

  Chemistry, Engineering, Physics Teacher

  B.A. Biology, The University of Chicago
  M.Ed. Education Leadership, University of Oregon
• 

  Cynthia Santillanez 

  Business Office Assistant
• 

  Dana Blavat 

  Admissions Associate & Registrar

• David Hill 

  English Teacher

  B.A., Temple University
  M.A., Louisiana State University
• 

  David Smeeth 

  Math Teacher

  B.A., University of California
  M.A., Prescott College

• Delaney Cook 

  Academic Support

  B.S. Elementary Education, Northern Arizona University
  M.Ed School Counseling, Northern Arizona University
• 

  Emma Woodworth 

  Science Teacher

  B.A. Biology-Environmental Studies, Whitman College
  MNR in Environmental Education and Science Communication, University of Idaho
• 

  Gary Farr 

  Dining Services
• 

  Jacob Jeffery 

  History Teacher

  B.A. History, University of Central Oklahoma
  M.A. Modern Israel Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  M.A. Judaic Studies, University of Oklahoma
• 

  Jeff Perkins 

  Visual Arts Teacher

  B.F.A. Ceramics and Photography, Arizona State University
  M.A. Ceramics, Northern Arizona University
• 

  Jeff Wurzer 

  Dining Services

• Jennifer Casilio 

  Science Teacher

  B.S. General Biology, Fort Lewis College
  M.Ed. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, Adams State University
• 

  John Chorlton 

  Dean of Students and Sustainability Coordinator

  B.A. English, Western Colorado University
• 

  John Sheedy 

  Spanish and Film Teacher

  B.A. Documentary Photography, Prescott College
  M.A. Education, Prescott College
• 

  Jorge Barrera 

  Maintenance
• 

  Jose Garcia 

  Maintenance
• 

  Josh Crawford 

  Information Technology and Sustainability

  B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, University of Arizona
  M.S. Management Information Systems, University of Arizona
  Verde Valley School
• 

  Kate Stanley 

  Director of Student Support Services

  M.S. Environmental Studies, of Montana
  M.Ed School Counseling, Northern Arizona University
  B.A. Anthropology and Environmental Studies, Wheaton College MA

• Katie Welty 

  Math Teacher

  B.S. Elementary Education, Wheaton College, IL
• 

  Katie Feld 

  Dining Services
• 

  Kaylyn Oates 

  Science Teacher and Director of Experiential Education

  B.A. Geosciences and Education, Smith College
  M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, High Tech High Graduate School of Education
• 

  LeAndrue McCoy 

  Dean of Enrollment

  B.S. Business Administration/Management, University of Phoenix
• 

  Leigh Carter 

  B.A. Anthropology, of Texas at Austin
  M.A. Anthropology and Applied Archaeology, Northern Arizona University
• 

  Leo Suer 

  Dining Services
• 

  Lianne Lydum 

  Spanish Teacher

  B.S. Industrial Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora (Mexico)
  M.A.T. Spanish, Northern Arizona University
• 

  Liz Turner-Bolton 

  Director of College Counseling

  B.A. Psychology, Northwest Christian University
• 

  Lori Perkins 

  CFO and HR Director

  B.A. English, Summa Cum Laude, Northern Arizona University
  M.A. Literature, With Distinction, Northern Arizona University
• 

  Maddie Smith 

  Equestrian Program Director

  B.S. Parks and Recreation Management, Northern Arizona University
  M.S. Applied Geospatial Sciences, Arizona University
• 

  Meg Haesloop 

  Director of Academics

  B.A. in English, Brown University
  M.A.T. in Secondary English, Brown University
• 

  Michael Jorgensen 

  Math Teacher

  B.A. Math, Physics, and Studio Art, Whitman College
  M.A.T. , Mayville State University
• 

  Mike Spielman 

  Farm Manager

  B.A. Creative Writing, University of Tampa
• 

  Natalie Plueger 

  Academic Coordinator

  M.S. Mathematics, Pennsylvania State University
  M.A.T. Mathematics Education, Northern Arizona University
• 

  Natalie Rockwell 

  Equestrian

  MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Case Western Reserve University
• 

  Noah Suby 

  Director of Facilities & Operations

  B.A. Geography, University of Arizona

• Sandra Bustillos 

  Spanish Teacher

  B.A. Education, Highland University
  M.A., New Mexico State University
  Philosophy, Theology, and Critical Thinking, Universidad La Salle, Guadalajara Mexico
• 

  Stephanie Sterrett 

  Office Manager, Business Office Assistant

  B.A. Psychology, University of Maryland
• 

  Sylvia Mann 

  English Teacher

  B.A. English, Warren Wilson College
  M.F.A. Creative Writing, Fiction, Warren Wilson Program for Writers
• 

  Todd Richardson 

  Art Teacher

  B.F.A. Art Education, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
  M.S. Educational Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
• 

  Zane Dickey 

  Director of Global Initiatives and Service, IBDP Coordinator, CAS, TOK Educator, Social Media Manager

  B.S. Marketing, Arizona State University