FACULTY & STAFF
RITA ARCINIEGA
Custodial Staff
rarciniega@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I have worked at Waterville School District for 14 years. I enjoy making sure everything is kept clean in our building and helping students to stay healthy! I am married and have three daughters. I enjoy cooking, reading, making cakes, and spending time with my family.
MARSHA ASHLEY
Intervention Specialist
About Me: I grew up in Waterville before attending Eastern Washington University and Lesley University for my undergrad and Masters programs. After teaching in other districts for 12 years, I am so happy to be teaching here! I have taught many different grade levels and subjects over the years, and I’ve enjoyed them all. Each age and stage offers something wonderful, unique and challenging. My husband and I have three daughters that also attend school here. We are proud to be part of the Shocker community!
KEVIN AVEY
Maintenance
About Me: I was born and raised in Waterville graduated from Waterville High School! I am an avid hunter and fisherman and my hobby is camping with family and friends.
TAMRA AVEY
Custodial Staff
About Me: I was born in Provo, Utah. I am the oldest daughter and I have 4 sisters and 1 brother. Kevin and I have five kids. Starting age at 24 -38. Three are mine and two are his. I love to camp, fish and hunt and spending time at the ocean looking for sea glass and shells. Kevin and I love to cook. Our specialties are crab and shrimp boil, and bbq smoked ribs. I started working for Waterville School district 3 yrs ago as a substitute custodian. I am now on full time and get the pleasure of working with some wonderful people.
STACEY BIRAM
Wonders Pre-K Program
About Me:
I have been lucky enough to teach in Waterville since 1987, and have taught multiple generations in many families. Over the last 33 years I have mainly taught first grade, but I did get the opportunity to spend a few fun years in second grade. Looking forward to next year, I am so excited to help create the Waterville Wonders program and form an educational foundation with the youngest Shockers to begin their Shocker Legacy!
When I am not at school, I can usually be found running around the riverbanks or reading books in the Methow with my granddaughters.
SHANE BIRD
Industrial Arts
About Me: I have been in education for 24 years as a professional educator. I grew up in small town Eastern Washington, and have spent my career working in small town Eastern Washington schools. I love working with students and have been fortunate to have taught from 7th grade through 12th grade teaching various subjects. I am a husband and father, and enjoy spending time with my family. In my spare time I love watching my son in his sports and activities. I am also an avid hunter, and enjoy spending as much time outdoors as I can. I am excited and proud to be a Shocker!
NADINE BLANCHARD
MS/HS English Teacher
nblanchard@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: This is my second year as the Waterville High School ELA teacher and I am so excited to finally have connections with my students. I am very excited to be a part of this great community and the lives of the students’ here. Before teaching I worked in nursing as a birthing assistant and car seat specialist, an advertising executive, and catering at various times of my life. I am a mother to four children, three step children and three raucous wiener dogs. It’s always an adventure at my house! In my spare time I love watching my son learn new skate tricks at Hale Park, being outdoors on my paddle board, swimming at Chelan, and crafting or remodeling my old house. Thank you for allowing me to partner with your kids in their educational journey.
LOUANN BROMILEY
Transportation / Grounds
lbromiley@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I graduated from Waterville High School a LONG time ago and am starting my 30th year in the district. I am the mother of a son and daughter and grandmother to three of the best grandchildren ever!! I enjoy television, sports, and spending time with my family and friends.
CELIA CUMMINGS
High School Science
cecummings@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I am excited to be the new Waterville science teacher for grades 8-12. For the last 5 years I have lived on the Waterville plateau with my husband, Joel, and our three kids, Kal, Curtis and Ava. I grew up in Richland Washington and received my degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington. I love science and math because it is how we make sense of the world and how it functions. Science encourages us to make observations, identify patterns, be curious, ask questions and find solutions. Recently, I have used my skills in science to work with kids in our community through 4-H, tutoring and leading cooperative learning groups. I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve our local school by teaching our Waterville students.
LAILEE DALING
3rd Grade
About Me: I have been in the education arena for many years, as a librarian, para professional and a classroom teacher. I love working with kids and continuing my education to enhance the learning of my students! I have lived in Waterville for 23 years. Both of my children attended and graduated from Waterville School.
ANGIE DEISHL
Junior High Science / PE
About Me: This is my 16th year teaching in Waterville. I am excited to be back in the middle school teaching math and PE.
LUANN DODGE
1st Grade
About Me: I've been teaching for 14 years. I have a Bachelors degree in elementary education with an endorsement in K-8 reading and early childhood education. I have a masters in teaching English As A Second Language. I'm married and have twins - a girl and a boy. I like to spend time with my family and vacation across the northwest.
KIETH FINKBEINER
High School Social Studies / History
kfinkbeiner@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: HS Girls Basketball Coach, HS Football Coach, JH Girls Basketball Coach, married to the wonderful school nurse, and proud dad of Holly, Mac, & Evan.
JACKIE FINKBEINER
School Nurse
jfinkbeiner@waterville.wednet.edu | (509)-888-8599
About Me: I’ve been a registered nurse since 2006. I graduated from WSU with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and got married two weeks later to my husband Kieth. We have three children, Holly (9), Mac (6), and Evan (3). We love living in Waterville! I enjoy baking, gardening, golfing and reading in my spare time.
SAMANTHA FLETCHER
5/6 Grade Teacher
sfletcher@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I have been teaching at Waterville for five years. I started teaching middle school English and history and now teach those same subjects but to 5th and 6th graders. After graduating from Eastern Washington University I substitute taught down in the Spokane Valley area for four years before coming to work in Waterville. I am a Wenatchee Valley girl. My family moved to Cashmere in 1995 and I graduated from Cashmere High School. I always knew I would come back to this area. It’s why I refused to change my doctors, dentist, or bank after moving away. Some hobbies include: hiking, cross-country skiing, tennis, swimming, kayaking, reading, and baking.
REBECCA FRALEY
Elementary Special Education
About Me:
I'm so excited to be a Shocker! I grew up in a little town in Eastern Washington and moved to the Waterville area in 2018. I'm a mom to two future shockers, Felton and Mason. As an educator, I have the privilege to see the world through the eyes of a child. Children have an immense amount of knowledge to share with the world, and I believe that it is my job as an educator to provide children with the opportunity to validate their inquiries and honor the work they do. In my classroom, we celebrate neurodiversity! We are each uniquely gifted learners who all think and learn differently. We embrace our challenges and work together to solve problems. We are each learning to take care of our whole-self body and mind. I seek to empower students to empower themselves through self-advocacy, resilience, and mindfulness to foster their success in the classroom, community, and world.
JONATHAN GASBAR
MS/HS Principal
About Me:
Jon Gasbar is a bilingual school administrator committed to personalized and equitable education, instructional coaching, and strong community partnerships. Jon has been a Seattle-area administrator at bilingual and blended learning schools and, most recently, at a project-based learning school. Earlier in his career, he taught at bilingual schools in New York City and Bogota, Colombia. He also trained university and high school students as well as English professors in Indonesia while developing curriculum for educators to use in their own classrooms.
Utilizing the research of collective efficacy and visible learning, Jon has created school cultures where all stakeholders work collaboratively, and in alignment towards collective goals. He believes that all students can meet their greatest potential when they learn in a safe, warm, and welcoming environment with high quality educational opportunities.
Jon is a graduate of Cashmere High School and is excited to return to North Central Washington and support the area in which he grew up. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Spanish, a master’s degree from Hunter College in Bilingual Education, and an administrative certificate from the University of Washington Danforth Educational Leadership Program. Outside of work, Jon loves spending time hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and skiing.
JUSTIN GRILLO
4th Grade
About Me: My mission both in my personal and professional life is to ‘serve, encourage, and discover.’ I have been part of the Waterville School district since 2002 and am fortunate to have my own children being served by the professionals in this district. Throughout my career it has been fulfilling to help our school serve our students and community to the best of our abilities.
AUSTIN HINDERER
Special Education
ahinderer@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: "It is our actions far more than our abilities that show who we truly are." - Albus Dumbledore
"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes." - John Wooden
KELLY HINDERER
Intervention Specialist
khinderer@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I have been lucky enough to be a part of the Waterville Staff for more than 30 years. From teaching my first class of students to now teaching some of their kids, it has been an incredible journey.
"The measure of who we are, is what we do with what we have." - Vince Lombardi
REBECCA I'ANSON
K12 Art
About Me: I am the K-12 art teacher and have been working in education for nine years. As a lifelong learner, I am currently working on my Principal Certification at EWU. My husband and I have been living in Wenatchee, Washington for just over a year. Previously he was in the USMC and we have been stationed in Illinois and North Carolina. I hold dual citizenship for both Australia and the UK, I was born in Australia a few hours south of Sydney and immigrated to England when I was twelve. I completed my teaching certificate in the UK and then moved to the US after meeting my husband whilst being stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Having the amazing opportunity to teach all over the world has really developed my understanding of a variety of educational systems. When I am not working or studying you can typically find me hiking up a mountain or exploring national parks and forests.
MANDY KOPTA
Para Educator
About Me: I moved to Waterville in 2017 and started working for the school district in 2019. I am married and have 3 daughters that are currently enrolled in Waterville. All three of my daughters race quads so our hobbies are racing, dune riding, camping, boating and traveling. I love spending time with my family and watching my kids do sports and all of their activities.
BLAINE PELLEGRINI
ESD / Technology Desktop Support
bpellegrini@waterville.wednet.edu
About me: I am a lifelong Washington resident and appreciate the variety the state offers. My years with the Federal Forest Service took me through the state and across state lines and it was an incredible way to travel. I enjoy working with technology and I'm fascinated with how it advances. My partner works as a nurse at Central Washington Hospital. We both have artistic passions and enjoy exploring the Olympic Peninsula.
STEVEN KNEMEYER
Business & Marketing
sknemeyer@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I have experience in a wide variety of skill sets from massage therapy and entrepreneurship to computer hardware and a variety of software. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, learning, and teaching. I have a wonderful wife, Rachel, a 16 year old daughter, Tierah, and a 6 year old son Ian. I graduated from CWU in 2018 with a Career and Technical Education certificate.
TAYN KENDRICK
Elementary Principal / Facilities Director
tkendrick@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I graduated from Waterville High School in 2000 and attended Eastern Washington University. There I received my BAE in special education. I went on to teach special education in Hermiston, Oregon. I have coached multiple sports and finished my Master’s in school administration. I am excited to work with some of the best kids in the state.
RENEE LANDON
About Me: I work with students of all ages with their different subjects and enjoy the rewards that come with this such as smiles, hugs and a lot of laughter. You could say I have always enjoyed and been around kids as my mom had a daycare from the time I was little to taking care of my kids. My hobbies consist of reading, spending time with family including my 4 legged ones.
JOLEE LOBE
Special Education Director
About Me: : I am a recent and proud graduate of the University of Washington ECSEL Program (Enhancing Capacity for Special Education Leadership). In addition to program administration, my educational certifications are in secondary English, history, and social studies with a master’s degree in social work (MSW) and ESA certification in school social work (K-12). For the past 16 years, I have served in the Ephrata School District where I also raised my two, now college-aged, sons. I began in Ephrata as a teacher and counselor, with the most recent 12 years as a school psychologist serving students preschool through 21. While my commitment is to the development of quality educational systems for all students--regardless of disability--I am eager to put my education and experience to work for the Waterville community as your new director of special education!
DOUG MALONE
High School Math
About Me: I came in to teaching in 2017 after a 24 year military career. My goal in teaching is to have a positive impact in student’s lives and to provide a different perspective on all the wonderful opportunities life has to offer. I’ve been married for almost 30 years to the greatest girl on the planet, and have two wonderful and very successful boys. My hobbies are skiing, hiking, and hanging out with good friends.
TABATHA MIRES
Superintendent / High School Principal
tmires@waterville.wednet.edu | 509-745-8583
About Me: I am proud to be a lifelong Shocker! I am a 13 year WHS graduate, and I feel lucky to have been provided an amazing education at Waterville. I returned to teach English and History at Waterville after graduating from Eastern Washington University. I loved every minute in the classroom working with students! I am married to Dell, and the mom of Wyatt, Alexandra and Marshall.
JILL MOOMAW
Counselor
jmoomaw@waterville.wednet.edu | (509)-888-5592
About Me: I started my journey to become a school counselor in 2003. I wanted to pursue a career where I could make a tangible impact on the lives of children and adolescents. I started my career as a school counselor in 2012, and am convinced it is the most rewarding career I could have pursued. I am married and have one daughter and our family loves to travel and scuba dive together.
JOHN MULLEN
Spanish / ESL / Leadership
jomullen@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: My love of learning led me into teaching. I have taught for more than 25 years here and around the world. With my lovely wife we have raised 5 adventurous children who like us, enjoy travelling and meeting new people. Every day is a new adventure here.
GINA MULLENDORE
Business Office / Human Resources
gmullendore@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I have been in the education field for over 24 years. I am thrilled to serve this school, community, and students. I am married to my best friend, we have five children and six grandchildren. My hobbies include gardening, sewing, and spending time with my grandchildren every chance I get!
NIMFA PARCELLS
Food Service / Head Cook
nparcells@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I have worked for the Waterville school district since 2007. I am originally from the Philippines, and moved to Waterville in 1993. I earned my Associates Degree in Secretarial Studies from Manto University. I love being interactive with all the students and staff. When I am not at work, I enjoy camping, traveling, gardening, and baking homemade pies and Filipino food!
MARICELA SALDANA
High School Secretary
msaldana@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I am so lucky to be part of the Waterville School District. I’ve been working for the district for 4 years now. I enjoy spending time with my son and my younger sister. I enjoy going to the lake and going on hikes.
TIENA SHERIDAN
Registrar / Athletic Secretary
tsheridan@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I have worked at Waterville School since November of 2016. I have lived in Waterville since i was 12 and graduated in 1998 from Waterville High School. I have been married for 19 years and have 3 boys ages 8, 9, and 10. I spend most of my summer involved in swim team, camping with my family, and working in my yard. I love being a part of the school that I spent most of my childhood in and hopefully helping to make a difference, if only a little along the way.
THERESA SHRINER
Para Educator
tshriner@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me:
I was born and raised in Waterville. I went to grade school and high school here. I have three daughters and I love drawing, gardening, baking and being in the same town as my parents. I am blessed to be part of this community! Go Shockers!
KIRSTEN THOMSEN
Kindergarten
kthomsen@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I graduated from EWU and have a MA in Early Childhood Development with a reading minor. I have been teaching since 1982, and began my career here at Waterville in 1984. I absolutely love working with children, helping them make new and exciting discoveries. I am happily married and have four children who grew up here in Waterville. I enjoy taking care of my family, spending time with them, and attending to my faith. We are boxer lovers and have four boxers in our family. My hobbies include baking and cooking, reading, and gardening.
MIA THOMSEN
AG / CTE Teacher
mthomsen@waterville.wednet.edu
About Me: I graduated from WSU December 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Education and a minor in Horticulture. Go Cougs! I love being outside hiking or taking walks. I also love reading in my spare time. I have two Pygmy Angora goats that I like to work with. In the summers I work on my family’s wheat farm here in Waterville. I am also a Young Life Leader for the Waterville group.
