Staff

I have worked in the field of education for 21 years. Following nine years of elementary teaching experience, I moved to the District Office as an instructional specialist supporting teachers and students in curriculum, instruction, and intervention in grades pre-k through 12.I then accepted an administrative position as Coordinator of Inclusive Schooling. In this position I worked collaboratively with district administrators, site administrators, teachers, and families, to support students with and without disabilities in general education. After four years I realized how much I missed being on an elementary campus and became the proud Principal of an Elementary school. Throughout my career, I additionally taught courses at Chapman University in the Masters in Curriculum and Instruction department as well as the Masters in Special Education program. After growing up, living, and working in Southern California our family decided to follow our dreams and move to the Palouse. We are thrilled to join the PPCS community! My deep-rooted philosophy and belief that all children can thrive and be successful in the education environment drives my passion to ensure a Multi-tiered System of Support for all students. I believe in using restorative practices to support positive behavior and problem-solving skills. I view a safe and collaborative school environment as key to a successful school culture. Partnerships with parents and community partners are essential components to that success. Lastly and most importantly, I am a proud mother of two beautiful girls Charlotte (11), and Caroline (9). As a mom of school-age children, I am keenly aware of the importance of family involvement and the significance of the school community. During my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities and spending time with my daughters, husband Jeff, and our family pets. As the PPCS Executive Director, you can expect that I will be visible, accessible, and collaborative. I am looking forward to working together as partners in learning.

I have a background in accounting and information services and have had the privilege to work in a variety of places including as an accountant in a CPA firm and a large corporation, and as an information specialist with the Colorado State Department of Education and the WSU Libraries. When the school’s founding board was looking for assistance in the spring of 2009, I was thrilled to join the crew. While I may answer the phone, my main focus is supporting the amazing Palouse Prairie staff through sound financial reporting and management, so they can do their great work with our students. I have a passion for supporting education and personal growth both at the school and in the community. You might find me teaching parenting classes or empowering people through life coaching support when I’m not at the school. I am the proud parent of two young men, one of whom is a PPCS and University of Idaho graduate. I am grateful for the qualities of character that were nurtured in him at the school, along with the academic rigor.

Ph.D. Environmental Science, University of Idaho
M.S. Nutrition, Cornell University
B.S. Nutrition Science, University of California
Endorsements:
7010 - All Subjects (K-8)

I have loved being a part of the PPCS community since the very beginning. I initially became involved with PPCS in 2008 as a volunteer for the board to help recruit the first Palouse Prairie students by informing Moscow area families about the EL model and the new school that was soon to open. From 2016-2022 I taught fourth-grade at PPCS, before transitioning to the Instructional Coach position in 2022. Currently, I split my time between Instructional Coach and teaching MS math (6th and 7th grades), writing, reading, and biology. In addition, since 2014 I have co-led the PPCS climbing club and competitive team. I feel very lucky to uplift the EL model at PPCS so that our students deeply enjoy learning content by engaging in processes that help them more deeply understand themselves, each other and the world we live in. I am overjoyed to join my students in their lifelong journey of self-discovery! I grew up in Sacramento, California and have lived on the Palouse since 2008. I have a PhD in Environmental Science from the Joint Doctoral Program between the University of Idaho and the Tropical Research and Education Center (CATIE), a master’s degree in International Nutrition from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science from the University of California, Davis. When I’m not teaching, I spend my time mountain biking, backpacking, running, cooking, enjoying the company of friends and family, and appreciating the beautiful world we all share.

I was raised in southern Idaho and spent my youth and young adulthood in the performing arts. I performed in musical theatre productions and with modern dance companies in Salt Lake City, Tucson, Chicago and New York. After returning to Idaho I pursued another passion and eventually received degrees from the University of Idaho in Biological Systems Engineering. Moscow, marriage and parenthood have changed my goals, but not my dreams. I find myself doing meaningful work supporting adults I respect and admire, and kids I cherish, in an environment of fun, challenge, and compassion. Who could ask for more?

Greetings and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to teach in such a wonderful school community. Although I grew up in Western Washington State, I have lived on the Palouse for the past 29 years. I have been married to my wonderful husband, for the past 20 years and we have made our home in the north eastern part of Latah County. My family is small, having only myself, husband and our red heeler dog named Mick. Mick is my baby and I love spending time playing with him. When I am not working, I enjoy gardening, reading, and relaxing near a body of water. I recently acquired a boat and can't wait for spring and summer so that I can go boating on the many lakes and rivers in our area. Before coming to Palouse Prairie I was fortunate to spend 7 years teaching on the Coeur d' Alene Indian Reservation in the public school system. I love Native American culture and was blessed to be a part of the community. Previous to my time in Plummer, Idaho I worked for the Moscow School District for a total of 10 years working at Lena Whitmore and at the middle school when it was still a junior high.

Hello! I was raised in Moscow and attended the University of Idaho out of high school where I gradated in 2014 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduation I headed out to western Washington to be with my husband, who was serving in the U.S. Navy, and spent a year and a half working with young children with developmental delays. We moved back to Moscow after my husband fulfilled his duty to the Navy and I started teaching special education to preschool aged children. In the summer of 2020, I graduated from the University of Idaho with a masters in special education, focusing on behaviors. I have loved the population of students I have been working with but always knew my passion was in a general classroom, which is what brought me to Palouse Prairie! I have two children, two dogs, and a husband at home that I love to spend time with. We enjoy camping and swimming in the lake with our boat in summers and playing in the snow (sledding or skiing) in the winter. I am very excited to be at Palouse Prairie!

My name is Alissa Klemencic and I am originally from Bishop, California. Growing up in the Eastern Sierra I was spoiled with endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. After graduating from Gonzaga University (Go Zags!) I spent a few years teaching outdoor education. I spent many summers at a camp near Lake Tahoe facilitating a challenge course and sharing my love of rock climbing with campers. I lived in North Carolina where I taught environmental education and discovered how much I love bugs. Taught coastal and forest ecology on the central coast of California where I made friends with raptors and learned the art of falconry. With these experiences in experiential and outdoor education it became clear that Expeditionary Learning was the model of education that I was most passionate about and where I knew I needed to be as an educator. This brought me to Moscow and Palouse Prairie. I am grateful to have been welcomed into this wonderful school community. I love seeing the ownership that our students take over their own learning and getting to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities for them. Watching the students grow as they face challenges throughout the year and the excitement they have to share their learning with the world around them continues to drive my teaching and excitement for what primary students are truly capable of.

Greetings! I am Moscow born and raised. I graduated from the University of Idaho in 2006 with degrees in Sport Science and Community Health. After graduating I moved to the woods of New Hampshire where I fell more in love with the outdoors and teaching children science through experiential learning. I came back to the West Coast and attended Oregon State University to get my M.A. Teaching. I enthusiastically returned to Moscow ready to jump into schools and incorporate my background in experiential education. I began working at Palouse Prairie in the Fall of 2013, and have loved the opportunity to work with second graders who are enthusiastic about learning and more compassionate than people twice their age (or older!). I enjoy challenging my students and giving them real-world opportunities to share their learning with the world. I am excited to continue working with Palouse Prairie and learning from our community of wonderful staff, students, and families.

Hello Palouse Prairie Families! My name is Erika Larsen and I am very excited to begin my teaching career this year at Palouse Prairie Charter School. I was born in Montana, but raised in Cody, Wyoming. I come from a whole family of teachers going as far back as one of my great grandmothers, who taught in a small farm schoolhouse in the Big Sky countryside. I will be graduating from UI in December with a BS in Education. During my time at UI, I was a student-athlete and thrower for the Track and Field team. Moscow’s environment has been a change from what I grew up in, but I have loved every minute and opportunity it has given me. When I am not at school, I love to spend time with my family and friends, go hunting or fishing, try new activities, and take my Springer Spaniel dog on runs. I am excited to be able to teach and learn from the wonderful and welcoming staff, students, and families at PPCS!

I am thrilled to officially join the PPCS team as a teacher! I am a recent graduate from the University of Idaho where I pursued teaching certification in K-8 Education and secondary English. During my undergrad, I ventured into additional studies that allowed me to explore English Language Learning, as well as courses specific to teaching neurodivergent learners. In 2019, I was connected to the PPCS team while completing a directed study focused on investigating sociocultural responsive school models and teaching practices in K-12 classrooms. I immediately fell in love with the school, became a substitute, and returned within a year to complete my student teaching internship with the Palouse Prairie Middle School! Since then, I was invited to share my love of the Palouse with K-5 students at Virgil Phillips Farm where I co-taught my first sessions of nature-based learning. While I am a proud Moscow native, I've found that the Palouse provides me with endless opportunities for exploration and learning. While away from school, I’m spending time with my people and dabbling in all sorts of hobbies—botany, geology, painting, reading, guitar, and so much more! My most favorite pass time is traveling and hiking with my fur-babies! If I’m not found in the water, I’m found in the hills! I couldn’t be more excited to begin my career with such an amazing crew!

Liz Jeffers was raised in Atlanta, GA, and later married her high school sweetheart (who serves in the Air Force... so they've lived all over the place). They have two kids at PPCS and one goofball dog. Her hobbies are cooking, hiking, camping, and traveling. Liz's background includes:

• Graduated with a BA from University of Richmond, double major in Spanish and International Studies, minor in History.
• Graduated with an MS from Our Lady of the Lake University in Nonprofit Management. Taught middle school social studies and Spanish.
• Taught preschool/early elementary Spanish.
• Worked in child welfare (specifically the foster care system).

She has subbed in every single classroom at PPCS, as well as for Special Ed, the front office, and all the aids/paraprofessionals!

I am so excited to be a part of the Middle School team at PPCS! I have been teaching at PPCS for over 5 years now and can honestly say I’ve never taught the same year twice. I started out as the K-8 PE teacher, then switched to teaching 6th grade, and am now part of the 6-8 Middle School team. Outside of teaching, the way that I experience the world, and center myself, is through rock climbing. My partner and I have traveled all over the western states on climbing trips and have climbed everything from desert towers in the Southwest to technical peaks just shy of 14,000ft in the high Sierras. A few years ago I began to share my love of the vertical world with a few middle school students at Palouse Prairie and this eventually evolved into the Palouse Prairie Climbing Club. As climbing club and its members progressed we saw a real need to expand those opportunities and so I created the Outdoor Leadership course series for our middle school. I am so excited to continue fostering a love for adventure, the outdoors, and the journey of self. I believe there are many ways of helping a middle school student discover these things, and I am thankful every day that I get to do it in a way that I am so passionate about!

I grew up in Spokane, WA with a boisterous family of five kids. After high school and living abroad in Germany, I ventured to Oregon State University for my geology undergraduate. Then I attended the University of New Mexico for my M.S. in geology. From there I lived in Alaska, Montana, and Hawaii before settling in Moscow. I have a secondary teaching certificate from Lewis Clark State College along with lots of years of professional experience working as a field geologist, water and environmental specialist, and university instructor. I am a parent of two Palouse Prairie alumni and have been affiliated with Palouse Prairie School since its founding. I am proud of my rich content background and am intrigued by the many different ways people learn. I love understanding the world and the people around me. I also enjoy anything outdoors, especially backpacking, skiing, and hiking. My favorite description of education is Howard Gardner’s vision of education for all human beings: “a world citizenry that is highly literate, disciplined, capable of thinking critically and creatively, knowledgeable about a range of cultures, able to participate actively in discussions about new discoveries and choices, willing to take risks for what it believes in.” I think our school excels at supporting this vision of education, and I am excited to be part of the talented and committed PPCS Crew.

B.S. Elementary Education, University of Idaho
Undergraduate Certificate: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning, University of Idaho Endorsements: 7010 - All Subjects (K-8) 7126 - English as a Second Language (ESL) (K-12) 7139 - Literacy (K-12)

My passion for education began in Wisconsin, where I worked with youth in urban gardens. This passion deepened as I gained experience in the fields of Northwest Washington, where I learned the value of hands-on learning. Ultimately, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and am finishing completing a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Idaho. Since arriving on the Palouse in 2020, I've been actively involved in the community. My time at the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute fueled my enthusiasm for inquiry-based learning. There, I played a key role in developing and leading successful outdoor afterschool programs, summer programs, and volunteer and internship opportunities. Last fall, I had the opportunity to student-teach alongside Andrika. This experience allowed me to build relationships with the amazing middle schoolers, learn the EL model from a seasoned expert, and refine my classroom teaching approach. I'm grateful for the experiences and people that have led me to this exciting opportunity to teach at PPCS! Outside of the classroom, you'll find me completing coursework, experimenting in the kitchen, gardening, or tackling creative projects, perhaps even home renovations! When I'm not learning, I enjoy exploring the region through biking, backpacking, and cross-country skiing with my husband and friends.