Administrative + Educational Support Staff

Rachel Aanestad ’94 joined Sun Valley Community School in 2013 as Assistant Director of Development and currently serves as the school librarian and also teaches Architecture in the Upper School.

Rachel holds a BA in architecture and a BA in theater, both from University of Oregon.

Rachel’s decision to return to Sun Valley Community School as a faculty and staff member was a result of her love for the school community and the approach to education that guides learning here. “I appreciate the independent thought, genuine love of natural places, creativity, and uniqueness that are still foundations of this incredible place,” she says. In her teaching role, Rachel is inspired by her students’ love for learning and by her colleagues. “I am constantly amazed by the students capacity to create, absorb, and learn, and by the incredibly inspired and talented faculty with whom I work.”

When she’s not at school, Rachel loves to spend time with her two young daughters and enjoys hiking and doodling.

Aron Bayreuther joined our Outdoor Program team as the new Outdoor Program Associate starting in the fall of 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Community and International Development from the University of Vermont. Aron grew up kayaking and rafting on remote whitewater stretches of rivers in northern Maine and has guided wooden dories professionally on many rivers across the American West, including the Main and Middle Forks of the Salmon, the Snake River through Hells Canyon, the Owyhee River, and the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Additionally, she has been a lead 1st-grade teacher at the Futures School, a STEM-focused charter school, where she cultivated positive relationships with students and families and stoked her students’ curiosity. Aron is a Wilderness EMT and a certified CPR instructor. She most recently finished her second season on the Sun Valley Ski Patrol. Outdoor Program Director, Patrick Graham, said, “Aron is experienced in many terrains, organized, and connects with kids. Her background and passion will help make our program even better.”
 

Hannah BenDavid joined the Sun Valley Ski Academy staff as its Assistant Program Coordinator in 2023. In addition, Hannah will be the Assistant Director of Rufus M. Brown Hall.

A recent graduate of Brandeis University, Hannah holds a BS in Neuroscience and a minor in French. Hannah brings experience teaching Upper School- and collegiate-level students and has a strong grasp of the sciences. Most recently, she was a Science Teaching Assistant at Steamboat Mountain School in Colorado where she assisted in teaching 9th-grade Biology and 11th/12th-grade Anatomy and Physiology; she also led outdoor expedition trips and assisted with residential staff duties for the school’s boarding students. During her time at Brandeis, Hannah was a Teaching Assistant for the Quantitative  Biology Research Community, an Undergraduate Researcher for the Turrigiano Lab, and a Neuroscience Undergraduate Department Representative. She is proficient in French, is Wilderness First Aid-certified, and was the President of the Brandeis Mountain Club. 

Claudio de Freitas join our Cutthroat community as the new Director of Educational Technology in the fall of 2026. An EdTech Innovator and STEM Learning Scientist, Claudio brings more than 10 years of experience in learning and instruction, digital/blended learning, and AI-based tools. Claudio holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education with a concentration in Curriculum Design and Educational Technology from Purdue University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from State University of Campinas (Brazil), and a BS in Mechatronics from Higher Education Institute of Amazonia (Brazil). He holds certifications as a Google Certified Educator, a Post Graduate Certificate in AI and Machine Learning, and a Certification of Qualitative Research Methods from Purdue University. Most recently, he served as an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. Past roles include, among others, working as an independent Curriculum Specialist for TechTerra Education, Engineering Education Lecturer at Ohio’s Youngstown State University, and Senior Product Engineer at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Recife, Brazil. 

Maura Doyle joined SVCS in 2021, managing the Lower School admissions process and supporting the Middle and Upper School divisions.

She brings a background in education and boarding schools, having previously served as an Assistant Director of Admissions, Development Officer, coach, and dorm parent at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire. Earlier in her career, she worked with AmeriCorps supporting at-risk and homeless youth in Yakima, WA, and most recently, was a Field Instructor of a wilderness therapy program in Utah, where she combined her passions for outdoor education and youth development.

Maura lives in Rufus M. Brown Hall with her partner, Clark, as a live-in Resident Advisor and enjoys being part of the dynamic, close-knit SVCS community.

Anne Marie Gardner has worked for St. Luke’s Family Medicine in Hailey since 2014 as a Registered Nurse, Triage Nurse, and Clinic Nurse Manager, performing clinical nursing duties, supervising a nursing staff of 23, and managing daily clinical operations. During her time with St. Luke’s, she worked in pediatrics, general health, and helped set policy. Anne Marie holds a BS in Environmental Science and Education from Huxley College at Western Washington University and an AS in Registered Nursing from the College of Southern Idaho.

Prior to her position at St. Luke’s, Anne Marie shared her passion for the outdoors with others through guiding, teaching, and organizing river trip logistics. Her past roles include professional ski patroller, avalanche forecaster, and helicopter ski guide. When her three children all entered grade school, she decided to pursue a degree in nursing to combine all of her wilderness first aid and education into a professional role. Her goal? To become a school nurse. Her vision of combining her background in education and nursing in a school setting that is centered on the whole individual and their place in the environment is her ideal.

Meghan Doyle joined Sun Valley Community School in 2025. Since 2023, Meghan has worked for the Wood River Land Trust, serving in their Development Office, most recently as the Development Project Manager. In that role, Meghan generated strong momentum for the organization's capital campaign, as measured by $14.2 million raised in 10 months through detailed donor research and prospecting, an organized moves management pipeline, and targeted fundraising appeals, events, and communications. Through application writing, grant reporting, and utilizing FreeWill's Grant Assistant software, she increased the organizational slate of private and foundation grants to 40+ entities and over $2 million in funding awarded over the past fiscal year. Meghan has also worked closely with Sun Valley Company since 2024 as an On-Hill Coordinator for the 2025 Stifel Sun Valley Finals-Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals, where she coordinated a meaningful, safe, and successful volunteer experience for 430 unique on-hill volunteers. Previously, she worked at Palisades Tahoe from coaching U10 ski racing and serving from 2021-2023 as the resort's Competition Events Supervisor. 

Meghan received her BA in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, where she also served as a Dartmouth Student Ski Patroller from 2013-2017. A lifelong water polo player, Meghan played for Dartmouth Women's Club Water Polo team. She has been lucky enough to spend her life living in some of the most beautiful places on Earth: the coast of California, the rural New Hampshire forests, the tundra of Alaska's North Slope, the mountains of Lake Tahoe, and, as of June 2023, the Wood River Valley! When she's not working, Meghan loves to be outside skiing, trail running, hiking, camping, and more - all with her husband  Dan and canine counterpart JoJo (Jolene) in tow.

Christy Giles joined the Admissions team 2017. Christy brings invaluable experience in admissions and recruiting to this role, having served as Assistant Director of Admissions at The Bush School in Seattle and as Director of Admissions and Recruiting for the University of Washington College of Education Seattle Teacher Residency (STR) Program. Prior to her work at Bush, Christy worked for five years as the Senior Trainer and Curriculum Developer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

As Associate Director of Admissions, Christy works with Sun Valley Ski Academy Program Director Jonna Mendes and Director of Admissions Alessia Carega in a variety of capacities throughout the admissions season. Christy holds a BA from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Teaching from Seattle University. Christy and her husband, Eric, are proud parents to Jackson ’21, Brady ’23, and Kenzie '25. Christy loves that all three of her children, with very different interests, have all found a place to pursue their passions at SVCS.

Oliver Guy '18 was born and raised in Sun Valley, Idaho, and is a 2018 SVCS graduate. He has always enjoyed his time in the outdoors as well as pursing his passions of photography and learning about different parts of the Information Technology field. Oliver currently attends Boise State, majoring in Information Technology Management and Business Analytics. He also works as an IT Administrator for DECKED LLC, and as the Systems and Network Administrator for Sun Valley Community School. During his very limited amount of free time, you can find Oliver outside exploring the wilderness or shooting photos somewhere in the PNW.

Celeste Holland, a graduate of St. Lawrence University with a BA in Environmental Studies and Philosophy, serves as Outdoor Program Associate Director. She served as an Outdoor Program intern for the 2020-2021 school year and as Outdoor Program Associate until 2025.  

Celeste is an avid outdoorswoman who has led trips throughout the West for Wilderness Adventures and spent a semester living “off-the-grid” in yurts. Celeste participated in the Teacher Training Academy program for the 2019-20 school year and worked with a variety of students across grade levels. This included the Upper School English Department as well as the fourth grade class. She thoroughly enjoyed her time with students of all ages. She is excited to continue to work with a variety of age groups and explore the outdoors with students.

Her favorite part about being a part of Sun Valley Community School are the countless opportunities to step outside of the classroom in order to learn or appreciate where we live!

Yvonne Inman joined Sun Valley Community School in 1999 and currently serves as administrative assistant in the Middle School and SVCS SAT Supervisor, SSAT Assistant Administrator.

Prior to joining the school, Yvonne's professional experience included working as a Legal Secretary, A/R & AP clerk, real estate appraisal assistant, and State of Idaho health and welfare self-reliance specialist.

In her work in the Middle School, Yvonne is inspired by the mission of the school and "the sense that we are all here to inspire, guide, and teach our students to not only survive in the world today, but also to excel at their passions and make a positive difference in and outside of our community." She enjoys all the various ways she can support the school, students, and families: "I am always willing to help out when needed, so whether it is a school BBQ for Engl Cup, driving students to Sagewillow for P.E., covering a period in a class for a teacher, or assisting with the 20/20 Lunch Program, I know that people feel that they can ask me for help knowing that I am willing and reliable. I enjoy helping others!"

When Yvonne is not at school, she loves to spend time outdoors hiking in the Valley and around the West.

Elliot Jacobs joined Sun Valley Community School in 2008. Until 2022, he taught a variety of Upper School English courses, including: English 9, Multicultural Literature, Revisions in Literature and Science, and Nature Writing. He joined the College Counseling Department as Associate Director in 2022 and was named Co-Director of College Counseling in 2026. 

Elliot is a graduate of Bowdoin College earning a BA in English and Philosophy. He also earned his MA in English and MEd in Curriculum Instruction, both from University of Montana. Elliot was also awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching for 2015-16 and has had his writing published in a number of teaching and adventure publications. 

He spends his time outside the classroom reading, writing, running, and sliding on dance floors and ski hills. He and his wife, Kate, have two children. 

Keith Keim joined Sun Valley Community School in March 2007 and serves as Facilities Manager. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance and construction management of the Trail Creek, Dumke Family Sagewillow, and Ketchum Campuses. This includes over 100,000-square-feet ft buildings and over 40 acres of grounds.

Prior to joining the Cutthroat team, Keith spent 21 years in construction and construction management in the Seattle area.

Drew Kirk joined the Business Office as Assistant Controller in the spring of 2024. He shares this role with his existing role with the Tech Department.

Drew earned a degree in Business and a minor in Music from Washington State. He started his career in The Netherlands as the assistant controller for the German hotel chain Dorint managing their Benelux Region. After his European tour, Drew founded two high-tech headhunting firms Redskool and Payette Group, both instrumental in consulting and hiring for emerging technology growth companies. Drew is also the proud father of Cutthroat graduate Anhwei Kirk ’21 and Goldie Kirk. Julie Siegel, Chief Financial Officer, says, “Drew has been a great addition to our team in the Tech Department, and we are excited to have him work with us in the Business Office.”

Pilar Lindahl, a native from Spain, received her Bachelors at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid with a major in Philology and a minor in English. Pilar started teaching Spanish at SVCS in 1988 and has taught all levels from Elementary to Middle to Upper School. In 1990, she became the World Language Department Head, a position that she held for 26 years. She received her Masters in Hispanic Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While she was taking a year sabbatical in Spain (2019-2020), she became the school translator, a job that she continued while teaching the upper levels of Spanish in the Upper School. After 34 years working as a teacher at SVCS, she decided to retire from the classroom in 2022 but is still connected to the school by continuing as the school translator.

Sarah McDermott joined Sun Valley Community School in summer of 2020. Her professional background is in education as a school counselor. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Virginia and a BS in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington. She most recently worked as a counselor for Positive Connections Plus, LLC based in Bellevue, Idaho. From 2017-2019, she worked for Essex High School in Virginia as a school counselor. 

Paige McNeil returned to the the Cutthroat campus as the school’s new Community Connections Coordinator in 2024 and transitioned to the role of School Counselor in the fall of 2026. 

Paige is a familiar face to many at the school as well as throughout the Valley. From 2018-22, she taught Upper School Spanish. Fluent in Spanish, Paige most recently served as a Bilingual Victim’s Advocate for The Advocates in Hailey, providing bilingual emotional support and case management for victims of violence. Prior to that, she was a Family Support Coordinator for the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and she helped launch a family outreach program at the Wood River YMCA for Spanish speaking families. 

Paige holds a BA in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Georgia, a MA in Spanish from Middlebury College, and a MEd in Counseling from College of William and Mary.

Madeleine Morariu joined the Lower School as its new Administrative Assistant in the fall of 2026. She holds a BA in Psychology from University of Oklahoma and a Master of Clinical Professional Counseling from University of Oklahoma’s Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education. Before joining SVCS, Madeleine worked for Lakeview Elementary School in Norman, Oklahoma, as a Student Mental Health Provider where she provided one-on-one and group counseling sessions to meet students’ individual needs to promote emotional, social, and academic wellbeing. Prior, she worked as a Teacher’s Aide for the Institute of Child Development in Norman, Oklahoma. Past roles as a restaurant server and receptionist at busy establishments honed Madeleine’s ability to multi-task, build excellent time management skills, and handle a wide range of situations.

Jinny Olsen joined our Business Office in May, 2026 as Sun Valley Community School’s new Controller. Jinny holds a MS in Professional Accountancy, a BS in Cell Biology and Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry from Montana State University. Previously, Jinny was the CEO and part-owner of Geneva Equities, where she, among other responsibilities, managed private equity investor portfolios, supervised staff, and administered payroll, retirement, and benefits programs. Prior to that, Jinny worked for Lallman, Felton, Peterson & Pierce as a Certified Public Accountant from 2009-13. In her role, she prepared tax returns for high net worth individuals, businesses, and nonprofits, conducted annual auditing and testing for retirement plans, and provided bookkeeping services for a wide range of businesses. Jinny is also the proud parent of a Cutthroat student. 

In her long tenure at Sun Valley Community School, Nancy Parsons-Brown has enjoyed her many roles such as French teacher, soccer coach, Outdoor Program Advisor, choreographer, World Language Department Chair, and Teacher Training Academy Co-Coordinator.

Currently, Nancy serves as the Coordinator of Teaching and Learning. In that capacity, she mentors and coaches teachers to both improve their instructional practices and support their professional growth. In addition, Nancy oversees the design and delivery of professional development programming which aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of faculty members, to foster a culture of continuous improvement and lifelong learning, and to enhance students' education. In her role as the World Language Department Chair, she enjoys working with our talented world language teachers who embrace the best teaching strategies for language acquisition. She continues to be Co-Coordinator of the Teacher Training Academy which is a teacher preparation program dear to her heart. 

Throughout her time at the school, Nancy has been inspired by the spirit of community that characterizes the school. "The school is a big family," she says. "My colleagues are phenomenal, and the students are creative, lively, and often hilarious."

When Nancy is not teaching, she enjoys running, skiing, hiking, playing hockey, reading and spending time with her family. She and David are parents to three Cutthroat alums: Finn ’04, Connor ’08, and Nellie ’10.

Anne Pugh joined the Cutthroat community as its new Co-Director of College Counseling in July 2026.

Anne brings a wealth of college counseling and education experience to this new role. Most recently, Anne served as the Associate Director of College Counseling and College Board Testing Coordinator at St. Agnes Academy in Houston, Texas, where she guided students and families through every aspect of the college search and application process. Before her role at St. Agnes Academy, Anne was the Senior College Admissions Counselor for PathIvy, a specialized college admissions consulting and career coaching firm based in Washington State, where she advised 7th-12 graders on academics, extracurricular activities, and college admissions. Before that, Anne spent four years (2019-2023) at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston, Texas, serving in various roles in college counseling, including Director of College Counseling.

Anne holds a BS in Applied Learning and Development: Youth and Community Studies from University of Texas at Austin and a MS in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University. 

Students and staff at Rufus M. Brown Hall welcomed Christine Reid as the new Residence Hall Chef in August 2024.

Christine has 25+ years of experience in the restaurant industry, with a focus on menu development, front and back of house staff management, and comprehensive cooking instructions. She currently is the principal for Chez Christine, a Boise-based company where she serves as a personal chef and kitchen concierge services. From 2010-2022, Christine was the owner and Executive Chef for Locavore in Boise, where she developed evolving menus, oversaw staff and established close relationships with local farmers, neighbors, and clientele. Between 2001-2010, she served two stints as co-owner and Executive Chef of two Boise-area restaurants, Pair and Aubergine.

Christine holds a BA in French and English from Seattle University.

Joey Sides joined SVCS as its new High Performance Coordinator in the spring of 2026. Joey has deep roots in the Wood River Valley, having grown up here as a rising youth hockey player before attending Avon Old Farms to pursue hockey at a higher level. He went on to play Division III hockey for Wentworth Institute of Technology, and after graduation, embarked on a professional career that took him around the globe. Over the course of his career, Joey played for numerous international and North American teams, developing a wealth of experience in high-level training, competition, and athlete development.

In addition to his athletic career, Joey is an accomplished physical trainer, having worked extensively with athletes of all ages and disciplines to improve strength, mobility, and overall performance. His background in sports science and individualized training brings a valuable perspective to our high performance program, ensuring our athletes continue to receive top-tier support both in and out of competition.

SVSA Program Director Jonna Mendes says, “Joey’s professional experience and long-standing ties to this community make him an excellent fit to lead our high performance efforts with all of our sports teams and our middle schoolers during their spring fitness unit.

Joining Christine Reid in Rufus M. Brown Hall’s kitchen is Mitch Thompson.

Mitch is a graduate of the University of Idaho with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Prior to working in the restaurant industry, Mitch was a Design Database Manager at Micron Technologies. Since leaving the electrical engineering field, Mitch has devoted himself to the restaurant and service industry, helping Christine run successful restaurants in the Boise area for over 20 years.

Anneliese Turck joined Sun Valley Community School in 2015 and serves as a part-time Marketing + Communications Associate. She assists the Director of Marketing + Communications with internal and external communications for the school, including the school's biannual magazine, website, app, newsletters, social media, marketing/advertising, press, public relations, and photography, which includes managing the school archive of more than 850,000 photos. 

Anneliese holds a BA in Rhetoric and a minor in German from University of California, Berkeley where she also played Division 1 Field Hockey all four years and was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She also holds a MS in Journalism (focus on television) from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

Prior to joining the school, Anneliese spent 18 years in New York City where she served in editorial roles for American Express Publishing's Travel + Leisure Golf, and numerous freelance and volunteer positions in the field of journalism for organizations such as CNN, NY1 News, Pelham Art Center, PACT, Prospect Hill Elementary School, and Junior League of Pelham. Despite her loyalty to New York, she is a Bay Area native, having grown up in Los Altos Hills, California.

She and her husband, Matt, have two children, Parker (Wood River High School Class of '23, University of Pennsylvania, Michigan State University Class of 2026,  University of Michigan Class of 2027), and Easton (SVCS Class of 2025, University of Utah Class of 2029) along with two dogs: "Shelter Special" Harry and Mo, a wannabe native of Boise. When she isn't taking photos or writing, Anneliese can be found at the Valley Club golf course, hiking local trails with her puppies, and tending to her pollinator plants. During Easton's time at SVCS, she only missed one Cutthroat soccer game in all four years he played. In a past life, she found herself behind the wheel driving to destinations beyond the Wood River Valley for everything from baseball, soccer, and skiing to equestrian and hockey competitions. Why? Because life is short. 

Richard Whitelaw initially joined Sun Valley Community School in 1992 as boys' varsity soccer coach and currently serves as Director of Athletics, boys' varsity soccer coach, and Middle School P.E. assistant.

Richard is grateful for the opportunity to pass along his love for sport to students, and he comes to work each day inspired the Cutthroat family. "Being surrounded by young, talented, intelligent students, and empowering, caring, positive faculty is a gift," he says. "I have the greatest job in the world."

In his many years coaching boys' varsity soccer, Richard has been committed to sharing a love for the game and a spirit of sportsmanship among his players. "I strive to instill in these young men that it's not about the wins or championships, it's about making the most of your short high school career, experiencing all the emotions associated with a successful team, playing to the best of your ability, and exuding good sportsmanship every step of the way."

Richard's love for the game of soccer doesn't end when he steps off the field. His favorite way to spend his time away from school: "Watching soccer, reading about soccer, writing about soccer, thinking about soccer . . . soccer never sleeps."