Category: support

Ms. Cheryl and her husband Paul moved to the Wood River Valley in 2007. She is a proud mother of two and shares her home with two dogs and two cats. For the past 16 years, Cheryl has dedicated her career to education and family programming, serving the youth and families of the valley in a variety of roles.

She owned and operated a state-aligned preschool for 11 years, which also offered an after-school program and year-round summer camp. Cheryl later joined the Wood River YMCA as the Associate Director of Child Care. She has volunteered as a coach for Girls on the Run and Boys Soccer, continuing to support children outside the classroom. Most recently, she spent three years as a substitute teacher for the Blaine County School District and worked as a first grade summer school teacher.

Cheryl has a deep love and passion for working with children and is excited for the opportunity to serve as a paraprofessional and be part of the Syringa Mountain School family.

Fun Fact: Cheryl is a certified yoga instructor and enjoys sharing yoga and mindfulness practices with our students.

Mr. CJ began his career immediately after high school, working as a full-time floor mechanic and providing services across Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Washington. After five years in that field, he shifted careers and joined the Cassia School District, where he spent two years as part of their Maintenance and Custodial team—until a district staffing change led him to explore new opportunities.

During his summer breaks, CJ (Clifford) began volunteering at Syringa Mountain School, helping out with maintenance and custodial projects as needed. That’s how his journey with Syringa began—and he’s been an important part of the team ever since!

Fun Fact: CJ has a passion for exploring new cultures and cuisines. Japan is one of his favorite places to visit, and he hopes to return again soon.

Señora Jen grew up in a rural town in the beautiful Hudson Valley region of New York State. A natural-born vocalist and performer, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts with a minor in Musical Theater from SUNY Plattsburgh and studied abroad at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

After college, Jennifer pursued a professional singing career, performing across the country in nightclubs and piano bars. She also had a successful recording career in high-energy dance music, with songs that landed in the top 20 on the Billboard charts. Her music was featured on the Radio and played in nightclubs, on airplanes, and in retail and fitness venues across the country. While living in Boston and later Manhattan, Jennifer also worked as a Senior Project Manager for several advertising agencies.

After meeting her husband, Stephen, in Las Vegas and experiencing the events of 9/11 firsthand in New York City, Jennifer made a life-changing move to Nevada. She later became a paraprofessional in the Clark County School District, where she discovered her passion for education.

Jennifer’s sister, a long-time resident of the Wood River Valley, often invited her out to visit—and over the years, Jennifer fell in love with the area. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down both the hospitality and school industries, it opened the door for her family to make a permanent move. Her husband now serves as a deputy for the Blaine County Sheriff’s Department, and Jennifer is grateful for the opportunity to bring her diverse life experience and passion for helping children to the Syringa Mountain School community.

Fun Fact: Jen’s daughter is named Hailey after our very own town—a place she loved visiting while spending time with her sister here and never imagined she’d one day call home with her own family.