Gabriela Calderon, Kindergarten, Royalton Campus
Gabriela Calderon

Gabi has experience working with children in many different settings and truly enjoys it. She has been a camp counselor, community skills provider, and more. Gabi started her teaching experience as a long-term substitute working with 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade but is now excited to be a Kindergarten teacher. She started working for South Royalton Elementary in 2022. Gabi was raised in Vermont, having grown up in Roxbury and Berlin. She enjoys the South Royalton area, as she has visited frequently since she was young. When not teaching, Gabi is an avid sports fan, hockey being her favorite. She enjoys spending time with her family and pets, reading, and traveling. Please feel free to reach her at gcalderon@wrvsu.org.

Alexis Allen: Kindergarten, Bethel
Photo of a woman with her arms around to others at a celebration.

Alexis started working at South Royalton Elementary in 2021. Alexis began her teaching career working with infants and toddlers, then made a switch to WRES where she started teaching Kindergarten. Being local to central Vermont, she was thrilled to learn she would be teaching close to her hometown of Chelsea. Outside of school, Alexis loves to spend her time baking, walking with her dog, and most importantly spending time with her friends and family. You can reach Alexis at aallen@wrvsu.org

Hannah Thody: K &1st Grade, Royalton
Smiling Hannah

I am Hannah Thody. I was born and raised in Vermont. I went to the University of New England where I graduated with a degree in Environmental Science and Marine Biology. I have been working with children for the past 12 years. I have worked at the White River Valley School for 4 years

I live in Pittsfield with my husband, our two children and our fur baby.

I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, gardening, cooking, and playing in the river.

I can be reached at hthody@wrvsu.org

Tracy Gardner: 1st grade, Royalton
A woman standing in the woods with a dog on a leash.

Tracy started teaching in South Royalton in the fall of 2000. She started as a second grade teacher but has been teaching first grade, which she loves!  (First grade math is FUN!) She lives in Randolph with her family (husband,  2 children and dogs). She enjoys watching her son play sports, playing cards with her family, and sitting in the hot sun drinking iced coffee! You can reach Tracy at tgardner@wrvsu.org.

Stephanie Russ: 1st grade, Bethel
A woman dressed up, at night, wearing hearings and a black top.

Steph started working at Bethel Elementary back in 2004.  She teaches first grade.  She also works at the One Planet summer camp.  Steph has two children, Brayden and Greyson, who attend the WRVHS and WRVMS. She loves the game of basketball, loves to dance, and enjoys spending time with her family during her free time. Steph grew up in Tunbridge and attended high school in Bethel when it was Whitcomb High School before becoming WRVMS. She and her family have lived in South Royalton since 2006. Steph can be reached at sruss@wrvsu.org.

Monica Farrington: 2nd Grade, Royalton
Close up of a woman smiling in a denim jacket with long brown hair.

Monica began working at the South Royalton Campus in 2015 as a special educator and then 3rd grade teacher. She has taught from grades second to fifth grade. Outside of school she enjoys gardening, going for walks and spending time with her children and husband. Monica is a native Vermonter, but also likes to travel. You can reach Monica at mfarrington@wrvsu.org.

Michelle Doney: 2nd & 3rd Grade, Bethel
headshot of a woman with long brown hair.

Michelle has been teaching at Bethel Elementary School since 2018. She has taught first, second, third, and fourth graders in her time at BES. Ms. Doney enjoys spending time with family and her two fur babies outside of school. You can reach her at mdoney@wrvsu.org.

Jaime Rainville: 3rd Grade, Bethel
Headshot of a woman with wavy brown hair and a turquoise top.

Jaime started working for WRUD in December 2010. She has taught in the alternative classroom, was a special educator, and now teaches third grade.   Jaime lives in Bethel with her husband and daughter.  She has a love for cats, reading, swimming, and kayaking.  Jaime was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec and moved to the United States when she was 12 years old. In 2020, she became a United States Citizen. You can reach Jaime at jrainville@wrvsu.org.

David DeSimone; 3rd Grade, Royalton
wildcat

David started working at the South Royalton Elementary School in 2012. He loves Alf and learning about Bigfoot, Snow Leopards, and other elusive creatures. David can be reached atddesimone@wrvsu.org.

Kathy Fechter: 4th & 5th Grade, Bethel
Headshot of a woman in white with blonde hair with a big turquoise earring and a smile.

Kathy is a 4th and 5th grade teacher and has been at BES since 2019. Having discovered her passion for teaching later in life, Kathy has a somewhat unique appreciation for class games and read-alouds (these weren’t options for her at law firms). As a cartoonist published in The World and The Bridge, Kathy shares her weekly comic strip with students and strives to encourage their creativity. Kathy and her family live in Montpelier. You can reach Kathy at kfechter@wrvsu.org.

Hope Yeager: 4th & 5th Grade, Royalton
Selfie of a woman with a white dog.

Hope has been teaching in South Royalton since 2007. She has taught grades 2 - 5, but teaching the combined 4th/5th grade classes is her absolute, all-time favorite thing to teach. Before getting a Master’s degree in Education, Hope earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music and studied dance and theater. For fun these days, Hope goes on hikes with friends, reads mysteries, and knits. Hope can be reached at hyeager@wrvsu.org.

Laura Leavitt ; 4th & 5th, South Royalton Campus
wildcat

Laura Leavitt has been a high school science teacher on the Northern California Coast for the last three years, and recently returned home to South Royalton with her family. She is passionate about plants, insects, and the ocean. This year Laura is excited to transition to elementary school, and is looking forward to sharing her love of the natural world with her students. Laura can be reached at lleavitt@wrvsu.org

Rebecca Fors: 4th & 5th grade, Bethel
Rebecca Fors

Rebecca Fors currently teaches 4th and 5th grade at Bethel Elementary. She has worked at Bethel since 2017. Prior to coming to Bethel, she taught at Hartford Middle School for 17 years. She lives in Bethel with her husband Chris and children Andrew and Sophia. When not teaching she loves to be outside. She became a teacher because she thinks kids are the best people in the world and loves to share their excitement at figuring out the world. You can reach Rebecca at rfors@wrvsu.org.

Kylie Edwards: Special Educator, Royalton
A woman standing in a summer's field, dressed in black.

Kylie joined WRUD in 2021 as a Special Educator in the Elementary Alternative Classroom. Kylie has been supporting youth and families in alternative education since 2010. She is passionate about creating a nurturing educational environment where students can experience success. When not in school, Kylie enjoys outdoor adventures, trying new foods/recipes, and spending time with family. You can reach Kylie at kedwards@wrvsu.org.

Heather Harvey-Gibson: Special Educator
photo of a woman with blonde hair and sunglasses, a big smile and a bright blue puffy jacket.

Heather began working for Windsor Northwest Supervisory Union in 1996. She was a Paraeducator for 2 years at Bethel Elementary School, and then she was hired to be a teacher for a high school student at Whitcomb High School. She did this for 3 years (and loved it!) until the student graduated. The Special Educator at Bethel Elementary School was retiring, so Heather was hired to be the replacement. She has been at Bethel Elementary School ever since! For the 2021/2022 school year, Heather is the Special Educator at South Royalton Elementary School as well as Bethel Elementary School.Heather lives in Stockbridge, VT with her husband Luke, her daughter Madelyn, who is a freshman at White River Valley High School, and her Doberman, Ryder.  Heather loves hiking on the many trails on their property as well as running many miles. Heather can be reached at hharveygibson@wrvsu.org.