teachers – Syringa Mountain School

Tanner Riley

Having grown up in the Wood River Valley, Miss Tanner was able to experience first hand the beauty of growing up as a child in our valley. As a young adult in our community, she was a multisport athlete who spent her free time getting outside and/or working with children. Whether she was babysitting, coaching sports, or being a camp counselor, she was always happy to be surrounded by children. After spending her high school career working through the Architectural Mechanical Design Academy, she wasn’t sure she wanted to continue down that path. Being passionate about working with children from a young age, her mother nudged her to become a teacher.

After being recruited to play on their college soccer team, Miss Tanner decided to study Elementary Education at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. While studying to become a teacher, she worked as a preschool teacher for the Deer Valley Academy in Park City. Throughout her life, she has been passionate about visual arts, performing arts, and dance, so she earned a Minor in Visual Arts. Miss Tanner has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education (All Subjects K-8) with a Visual Arts Minor (K-12), a Master’s Degree in Instructional Design, and an Endorsement in Middle Levels Mathematics (5-9). In her 11 years as an educator, she has taught elementary school, middle school mathematics and science, and high school mathematics for the Blaine County School District. She is excited to make the shift to Syringa Mountain School!

When Miss Tanner isn’t in the classroom, she spends her time teaching dance classes at Art and Soul Dance Academy. During her summer vacations, she takes on the role of Art Director for St. Thomas Playhouse Company B productions where she teaches art to children ages 4-14 and enjoys coupling her passion for art with her love for teaching. In her free time, you can find Miss Tanner creating her own artwork/crafting and getting outside with her husband, Nolan, and daughter, Rell. As a family, they love finding the next adventure together!

Fun Fact: Miss Tanner grew up part-time on some of Idaho’s fish hatcheries because her father worked for Idaho Fish and Game, including Rapid River in Riggins, Cabinet Gorge in Clark Fork, and our very own Hayspur Fish Hatchery. She learned valuable outdoor life skills during her summer and winter breaks!

Erica Maxwell

Ms. Erica is thrilled to bring her passion for the natural world into the classroom at Syringa. With a Bachelor of Science from Boise State University and a love for outdoor learning, she’s dedicated to helping students discover the wonder of science through hands-on exploration, curiosity-driven projects, and real-world connections.

Before finding her home in education, Erica explored diverse paths in pharmacy, business operations, and public health — all experiences that shaped her holistic approach to teaching and her belief that science is deeply connected to every part of life.

Whether she’s guiding students through a nature investigation or sparking a classroom experiment, Erica encourages them to ask bold questions, look closely at the world around them, and think wildly!

Fun Fact: Erica was born and raised here in Hailey, Idaho.

Robin Englehardt

Mr. E grew up in North County, San Diego. Robin received a football scholarship to Stanford University, where he also discovered his love for film. He spent 30 years working in the entertainment industry as a producer, director, editor, and cinematographer, and earned his MFA from the American Film Institute in 1996.

In 2010, Robin moved from Santa Monica, California to Bellevue, Idaho. Since then, he has shifted his focus to working with children and education. Over the last 15 years, he has served as a Cub Scout Den leader, football coach, ski instructor, full-time teacher, and substitute teacher. Robin is excited to be a part of the team at Syringa Mountain School and is currently pursuing his K–8 teaching license.

When not teaching, you can find Robin walking his dog, Sunshine, riding his gravel bike, or snowboarding on Baldy.

Fun Fact: Before becoming a beloved teacher, Robin was nearly trampled by a silverback gorilla in Uganda—all in a day’s work filming for the Travel Channel! From dodging sniper fire in Sarajevo to testing shark-proof suits in the Caribbean, his camera has been on some wild rides. Now, he’s channeling all that adventure into the classroom at Syringa Mountain School!

Michele Harris

Ms. Michele is looking forward to beginning her fourth year at Syringa Mountain School as the full-time Special Education teacher. While she’s sad to step away from Farm & Garden, she’s excited to support the new teacher and help the program continue to grow.

Originally from Colorado, Michele moved to Bozeman, Montana after high school. She began studying Elementary Education before earning a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Montana State University in 2013. Although she initially planned to pursue nursing, becoming a mom shifted her path. After spending six years as a stay-at-home mom, her lifelong passion for working with children led her back to the education field. Michele holds an Idaho Exceptional Child Education (K–8) certificate and is currently completing CSI’s Non-Traditional Educator Prep Program (NTEPP).

In 2018, Michele and her husband, Jack—a Wood River Valley native—moved to his family’s 20-acre farm just south of Bellevue, where their sons, William and Luke, love exploring and getting their hands dirty. Syringa quickly became a central part of Michele’s life when William started kindergarten. She began as a dedicated volunteer, served on the Board of Directors, and later joined the staff as a paraprofessional. Michele also serves as Parent Council Chair and Board Liaison and remains actively involved in fundraising and school events.

This year, Michele is especially excited that both of her boys will be at Syringa with her—William in 4th grade and Luke starting kindergarten. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, gardening, tending to her chickens and ducks, and spending time outdoors camping, hiking, biking, and skiing with her family. She is passionate about Syringa’s mission and grateful to be part of such a supportive and inspiring community.

Fun Fact: Michele loves to travel and once spent a semester abroad in a small town in Italy.

Janessa Corrao-Bal

Ms. Janessa was raised here, in the Wood River Valley, where she spent time enjoying all that this beautiful place has to offer. Janessa graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Social Work, focusing on arts, psychology, and education. After graduating, Janessa returned home and began working with non-profits and local schools to find a place and position that matched her skills and interests.

A paraprofessional position opening at Syringa presented itself at just the right moment in Janessa’s life. After accepting the role, Janessa went on to teach 3rd and 4th grade for several years. She is now thrilled to be part of the middle school faculty as the teacher for 7th and 8th grade. Supporting students as they grow into adolescence—navigating deeper questions, big ideas, and new challenges—is a part of teaching that Janessa has always been drawn to, and she feels incredibly fortunate to do that work here at Syringa.

Outside the classroom, Janessa enjoys spending time in the natural world—skiing, backpacking, hiking, and camping are among her favorite activities. She is also passionate about the arts and loves finding ways to bring creativity and self-expression into both teaching and daily life.

Fun Fact: Janessa played rugby for six years as a flanker—an experience that taught her a lot about teamwork, grit, and staying grounded under pressure!

Kori Paradis

Ms. Paradis’s journey to becoming a teacher didn’t start in the most traditional way. With a bachelor’s degree in business, she began her career coaching volleyball and softball at Wood River High School and working as a one-on-one SPED aide back in the valley. It was during that time she realized how much she loved working with students and wanted to have a classroom of her own. That passion led her to pursue her teaching certificate through an alternative route.

Since she began teaching seven years ago, she has also completed her master’s degree in education. This is now her fifth year at Syringa Mountain School and her third year teaching 2nd grade. Over the years, Syringa has become more than just a workplace—it has become a part of who she is. She has grown alongside this community, embracing the values, energy, and culture that make Syringa such a special place for students, families, and staff.

This year, she is especially looking forward to continuing to support students in building confidence and becoming well-rounded individuals, each in their own unique way. Family is at the heart of everything she does—both her family at home and the school family she helps create. Whether they’re learning, exploring, or simply enjoying time together, it’s these shared experiences that bring her the greatest joy.

Fun Fact: Kori once had a pet mini pig and hopes to have another one someday!

Shawn Myers

Ms. Myers is a sixth-generation Wood River Valley native on her father’s side, with maternal roots in the Basque Country of Spain. Shawn’s mother’s family had a sheep ranch, and her father’s family were farmers and ranchers before eventually becoming excavators—deeply tied to the land and the legacy of this valley. A graduate of Wood River High School, Shawn earned her Elementary Education degree from Boise State University. After college, she followed her love of teaching and traveled the world, gaining experiences that deepened her understanding of people, cultures, and education.

Eventually, the mountains called her home again. She returned to raise her two sons in the valley that raised her—both of whom now carry the same deep love for this place that generations before them have passed down. Traveling remains a big part of who they are as a family, blending local roots with a global spirit.

At Syringa, Shawn blends Waldorf-inspired philosophy with a deep love for nature-based, experiential learning—alongside structured, research-based instruction that supports the whole child.

Outside of school, Shawn simply loves being outdoors. Whether she’s skiing in the winter, hiking local trails, camping under the stars, or fishing with her tenkara rod, nature is where she feels most grounded. She’s equally at home on a backcountry path or an international journey—adventure is a core part of her life.

Fun Fact: Shawn serves on the Board of Directors for the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, a role she deeply values for its celebration of heritage, storytelling, and land-based traditions. It’s one way she honors her roots and helps carry forward the cultural fabric of the valley she’s proud to call home.

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.

Ashley Mekeel

Ms. Ashley was born and raised in rural, northern Illinois. Ashley and her husband Keith felt drawn to move to the mountains of Idaho after a cross-country road trip in the summer of 2019. They have been living in the Wood River Valley since November of 2019. They have 3 puppy children who act as “teacher helpers” in the music classroom at Syringa.

Ashley holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Master of Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Iowa. She holds a certified teaching license in the state of Idaho. Ashley also owns and operates Wood River Piano, LLC, where she teaches classical piano to many local students. Every Sunday, Ashley can be found working as the musical director/piano accompanist at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hailey.

Prior to teaching at Syringa, Ashley taught K-12 music in Shoshone, Idaho, piano at several music academies, also a community college back in Illinois. Ashley enjoys seeing her students grow as budding musicians.

Fun Fact: I love watching WNBA basketball, specifically Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

Crystal Oliphant

Ms. O is thrilled to continue her work as both the Kindergarten teacher and librarian at Syringa Mountain School. A Hailey resident for 17 years, she loves living in the mountains with her husband, Matt, and their three children: Samuel, Sarah, and Mabel.

Crystal holds degrees in general studies, library science, and early childhood education, as well as Waldorf teacher certifications for both early childhood (preschool and kindergarten) and grades 1–12. Since joining Syringa in 2017, she has dedicated herself to fostering a love of learning, creativity, and curiosity in her students.

In her Kindergarten classroom, Crystal blends the Waldorf philosophy with her deep understanding of early childhood development. She creates a warm and nurturing environment where children learn through hands-on activities, storytelling, song, movement, and plenty of time outdoors. Her program emphasizes social-emotional growth, a love of nature, and the development of strong foundational skills that set students up for success in the grades.

Alongside her classroom work, Crystal launched Syringa’s library program in 2018 and has worked tirelessly to grow and enrich it. Starting with a small collection, she has developed the library into a vibrant hub for the school community. Crystal is passionate about fostering a love of reading in every child and thoughtfully curates a collection that inspires curiosity, celebrates diverse voices, and supports students’ learning journeys.

Crystal believes deeply in the power of stories to connect and inspire. As she says, “Everyone is a reader… some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.”

She finds great joy in guiding children as they grow into curious, compassionate, and capable learners and is honored to support them during these formative years both in the classroom and in the library.

Fun Fact: She grew up in Alaska, where she learned how to dog-sled in high school!