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A Tuition Free Public Charter School

Author: Christi

Enrollment Open House

6:00pm – 7:30pm @ SMS

Syringa Mountain School is enrolling now for the 17-18 school year!

Interested in learning more about our free, public charter school? Meet and chat with parents of Syringa students, tour our classrooms, meet the director, and learn more about our Public Waldorf curriculum!

Pat Owen

Mr. Pat grew up in rural New England, just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean. He then had the opportunity to become landlocked at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. In Bozeman, Pat found his love for the mountains and culture of the Northern Rockies. After graduating with a degree in Geography, Pat spent a winter living deep in the Swiss Alps, immersing himself in the Swiss way of life. The following summer, he lived and worked on an organic sheep ranch in Montana. Here, he learned the values of sustainable land practices, but also the challenges of running a successful agricultural business. Soon after, he found himself in Jackson Hole, WY where he coached youth ski racing and guided ecology tours in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Thanks to his Geography studies and time spent in the field, Pat has an incredible talent to think and see the world through a holistic lens.

Pat spent a year teaching math and Human Ecology at The Sage School and has earned his K-8th Idaho Teaching License. Falling in love with the youth and recreation within the Wood River Valley, Pat enjoys immersing himself in the creative energy of Syringa Mountain School. A teacher at Syringa for 8 years, he believes that the best way to learn about your environment is by planting yourself right in the middle of it and observing using all five of your senses. When not teaching, Pat plants himself in the environment by backcountry skiing, camping, biking, and fly-fishing with his wife, Carter, two step-daughters, Piper and Tallulah and toddler Cassidy.

Fun Fact: Pat is a DJ on KDPI, the Wood River Valley’s community radio station.

Christi Thompson

Mrs. Christi is proud to be starting her fourth year as the leader of Syringa Mountain School. She has lived in the Wood River Valley for 20 years and is the mother of four boys—two of whom have graduated, with the other two currently in high school. Christi was first introduced to the Waldorf method when she enrolled one of her sons at Syringa, sparking a deep connection to the school’s philosophy.

She has been part of the Syringa community since 2016, when her youngest son began Kindergarten and just recently graduated from 8th grade. Three of her four sons have graduated from Syringa and gone on to thrive in high school and beyond—something Christi credits to the strong foundation and whole-child approach that Syringa provided.

Over the past nine years, Christi has worn many hats—supporting everything from Special Education compliance and Federal Programs to school operations. She has also served as a Special Education Director and classroom teacher. Even now, as school leader, she continues to pitch in and support many of these roles as needed, reflecting her deep commitment to the school’s success.

Christi dedicated many years to raising her family before returning to the workforce. Her strong organizational skills and commitment to process have helped create a supportive environment where teachers and students can thrive.

She holds an AAS in Administrative Assistance/Office Management, a BA in Applied Management, Special Education teaching certification, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership, which she completed in May 2022 while working full-time. Christi has also completed over 40 hours of Waldorf training and remains deeply committed to Syringa’s mission as a Waldorf-inspired public charter school.

As with many charter schools, Christi wears many hats. In addition to serving as Principal, she also functions as the Superintendent and Charter Administrator—leading everything from academic oversight and staff support to operations, compliance, and school culture. It’s a dynamic role that blends vision, leadership, and a little bit of magic to keep everything moving forward.to operations, compliance, and school culture. It’s a dynamic role that blends vision, leadership, and a little bit of magic to keep everything moving forward.

Fun Fact: Christi has a strong passion for sports and was a coach for many years at Wood River High School, where she continues to volunteer when time allows. She specializes in coaching hurdles and pole vault—events in which she also competed at a high level herself.