Upper School Faculty

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 Intro to Architecture & Design 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 the 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 daughters and enjoys hiking, doodling, and performing with any of the many amazing theater companies in the valley.

Former Middle School Music and Theater teacher Matt Fiorentino transitiond to the Upper School in 2026. He is also the Arts Department Chair. 

Matt joined our Middle School team in 2023, and he was vital in igniting passion for the musical arts. He has also played a pivotal role in numerous Middle School arts productions alongside MS drama teacher Megan Mahoney and 6th grade team teacher Elle Lucas.

Prior to joining SVCS, Matt was an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Arizona State University, where, among other responsibilities, he taught bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral courses on pedagogy, research, and writing. Prior to that role, he was a music teacher at Andrus and Chief Joseph Elementary Schools in Boise, where he taught elementary strings and kindergarten general music and prepared students for schoolwide performances. Previous positions include Director of Orchestras for Centennial and Renaissance High Schools in Boise, Broadcast Coordinator for the Aspen Music Festival and School, and as a private music teacher for Sun Valley School of Music and Idaho Music Academy.

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Music, Music Education from Boise State University, and a Bachelor of Music, Music Education from State University New York of Potsdam. ing, getting outside, and exploring Idaho.

David Fleming joined the Upper School in the fall of 2026 as the new Upper School Visual Arts Teacher. He holds a B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Idaho. David brings more than 30 years as a dynamic, student-centered educator in art, art history, social studies, sports and service.

David most recently was at Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire. First as an Art and Art History Teacher, Dorm Parent, and Coach from 2001-2003, where he developed and taught courses in visual arts, sculpture, design, and created Proctor's Art History curriculum. From 2004 to 2008, he co-directed Proctor's immersive French program in Aix-en-Provence, France. It was here in the last two years that a new possible program incubated: European Art Classroom. This had to wait, though, as he returned to Proctor so his own two sons could have an American high school experience. And then in 2011, he took this role to Aix-en-Provence, France (2011-2025), where he co-founded and co-led an immersive program, integrating art, language, and European cultural studies and studio work, and designed a curriculum emphasizing visual literacy, cultural history, and hands-on learning through field trips and week long excursions to the various places they studied, believing fully that classrooms can easily exist outside traditional classrooms. Before Proctor, he taught visual arts to grades K-9 at The Bement School in Deerfield, Massachusetts from 1992-2001.

Having grown up in Moscow, Idaho, he is thrilled to have "returned home" to the Gem State. 

Caleb Horowitz joined the Marketing and Communications team as its new Video Production Manager and the US faculty as a Creative Arts Teacher in 2023. A 2019 graduate of Tulane University, Caleb holds a BA in Digital Media Production and Public Relations. Caleb has prior experience in the film industry and digital media production as well as outdoor recreation.

He served as a Digital Media Associate for New Orleans’ Urban South Brewery in 2019, creating high quality digital content to be used as promotional material on a variety of social media platforms. He also served as a Set Production Assistant for various film productions, helping maximize workflow efficiency on set for projects including Filthy Rich and NCIS: New Orleans. Since 2019, he has worked as a licensed Raft Guide and Safety Kayak for Idaho’s Payette River Company, The River Co., and North Carolina’s Rolling Thunder River Co. and since 2021, as a snowboard instructor for Sun Valley Resort and Grand Targhee Resort. 

Max Middleton joined SVCS in the fall of 2026 as its new theater teacher and theater manager. Max brings a wealth of experience as a director, educator, musician, and performer to his new role. A skilled vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, he most recently served as a Theatre Instructor and Music Director at The Brunswick Theatre Project in Brunswick, Maine.

A graduate of Bowdoin College with a B.A. in Classical Studies and a minor in Music, Max co-founded a production company with a fellow Bowdoin alum that grew into Empathy Theatre Project in Boulder, Colorado, a nonprofit think tank for original theatre of all stripes. From 2018–2025, he directed all of the company’s staged work while also teaching and leading youth theatre ensembles and planning full production seasons. Alongside this work, he developed his skills as an educator, performer, and theater technician at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in Denver, Colorado. 

Phil Huss joined Sun Valley Community School in 2000 and currently teaches a variety of literature and writing classes in the Upper School, including: Interpretations in Law and Literature, American Environmental Literature, Moral Philosophy and Literature, Writing Across the Curriculum, and Hemingway. He also teaches Fly Fishing as an elective course in the OLA curriculum and coached varsity tennis for many years.

Phil holds a BA in English from Amherst College and a MA in English from Boston College.

Phil has served as Upper School Head, Department Head of English, Summer School Director, and currently holds the post of Upper School Teaching and Learning Coordinator. Inspired by "the high level of academic work students produce," Phil appreciates the opportunity to observe his students progress through their years at Community School and witness them flourish in college and in life. He also feels "the quality of teaching and the faculty's ability to lead in the classroom and the outdoors," set the school apart.

When Phil is not in the classroom, he can often be found with a fly rod in hand: "I am happiest standing in an eddy and fly fishing with a trout that is feeding ten feet above me," he says.

Phil and his wife, Chrissie, are parents to two Cutthroats: Nils '21 and Gretel '23.

Caroline Bomstein joined our Upper School history team in the fall of 2020. In addition to teaching, Caroline also serves as the Upper School History Department Head, Upper School Student Senate Head, and co-leads the Upper School Investment Club. Caroline is a graduate of Amherst College and earned her MS in Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2021. 

During her time at Amherst, Caroline played ice hockey and served as a co-captain her senior year. She also earned NESCAC All-Academic honors her final three semesters, while also being a double major in History and Environmental Studies. 

An alum of Teach for America, Caroline cut her teaching teeth in Memphis, Tennessee, teaching world history, government and economics, and U.S. history with that program, which fueled her passion for education. She is an avid outdoorswoman and has taught skiing in Park City, Utah and has led three-week hiking trips in Switzerland, Italy, France, and Iceland for 9th-12th graders.

Caroline brings intelligence, vibrancy, and passion for history to her Upper School history classroom!

J. Drennan Wesley joined Sun Valley Community School in 2015 and currently teaches Upper School United States History, American Government, First Nations, and History of the Holocaust, among others.

Drennan co-coached the Upper School track and field team from 2015-2025 and also served a year as the Upper School's cross country running coach in 2024. He is is active in the Outdoor Program, serves on the Outdoor Leadership Academy staff as an advisor, and is the Senior Project Co-Coordinator.

Drennan holds a BA in history from University of Michigan and a MA in the Art of Teaching from Pacific University.

Prior to his position at the school, Drennan spent nine years teaching and coaching at Neil Armstrong Middle School in Forest Grove, Oregon and was an adjunct professor in Pacific University's Outdoor Leadership program.

Drennan says he feels most successful in the classroom when students bring themselves to question their own understanding of themes and events of the past that then allow them to develop more insight in to the world they live in today. "This motivates them to be more mindful, kind, and thoughtful world citizens," he says.

Sun Valley Community School's commitment to student-teacher relationships through small class sizes and the Outdoor Program were powerful inspirations for Drennan to find a home at the school. He values and admires "the school's commitment to utilizing the outdoors to encourage students to push beyond comfort zones, find confidence in leading and working with others, and strive to be stewards of wild places," he says. "The transference of soft skills, relationships, and confidently facing challenges from the outdoors to the classroom is impressive."

When not in the classroom, Drennan's passions are his family and the outdoors. He and his wife, Heather, are parents to two daughters, Mikayla '25 and Amarah '28. The family loves to "explore wild places, strive to serve others, and aspire to learn about the world around them," he says. "We feel more than blessed to be a part of the Cutthroat family and love calling the Wood River Valley our home."

The Upper School welcomed Stanley Fonseca as its new history teacher in 2025. Stan received his PhD in U.S. History from the University of Southern California in 2024, studying U.S., European, and Environmental History. He earned his B.A. magna cum laude in History, with a minor in Computer Science, from Lewis & Clark College in 2015. Prior to joining the school, Stan taught history at USC and Lewis & Clark and worked as a walking historical tour guide in Portland, OR.

Stan takes joy in sparking students’ curiosity about the world around them and helping them find themselves by exploring the past. His classes bring history to life as a subject through which we learn how to be responsible citizens, inquisitive thinkers, and passionate advocates for a better world. Stan’s teaching focuses on individual student-teacher relationships that push students to develop and pursue their passions.

Outside class, you can find Stan hiking, biking, and camping; playing jazz trumpet; drinking copious amounts of tea; writing crossword puzzles; and perpetually trying to make the perfect pizza. 

Jake Atwood joined the Upper School faculty as a Spanish teacher in 2022. He also serves as the school's World Language Department Chair. 

Jake is a graduate of Bates College, where he studied both English and Spanish. He also spent a semester living in Spain while in college to advance his Spanish. In addition to teaching Spanish, Jake helps coordinate Service Learning and The Community Table." He is also WFR-certified. 

Prior to joining SVCS, Jake completed a Fulbright Scholarship in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he taught in a public school. Jake’s international experience has only strengthened his deep appreciation for other cultures and, certainly, his command of the Spanish language. His experiences both inside the classroom and in the backcountry, coupled with his enthusiasm for working with high school students serve our community well.

Sean Flynn Upper School French Teacher Sean Flynn expanded his role to include the position of Learning Specialist in 2025. 

Sean holds a Master of Arts in Arabic and Middle East Studies from University of Utah, a BA in French with a Minor in Spanish from University of Utah. He completed a Teaching Certification Program from Prescott College.

Sean has been a part-time instructor in the Upper School since 2017, teaching various levels of French, ELL, and Arabic. In his role, he implemented student accommodations and differentiated instruction to support diverse student learners, in addition to providing one-on-one and small group support to students with learning differences. Prior to joining Sun Valley Community School, Sean served as an ESL instructor and program developer for Park City High School in Park City, Utah where he established the first full-time ESL program. Sean has also taught high school French and Spanish in England for Monkseaton School in Newcastle, and served in the U.S. Army from 1990-98 as a Military Intelligence & Arabic Language and Middle East Area Specialist.

Sean is also the owner and operator of Sun Valley Brewery in Hailey. Sean is a seasoned educator who has been an integral part of our Upper School faculty for many years. Not only is Sean a polyglot, speaking and teaching several languages, but he has been an advocate for many of our international students for several years. His kind and caring approach has endeared him to his students.

Leila Hauser joined the Cutthroat faculty as the US Spanish teacher starting in the fall of 2022. A graduate of Whitman College with a BA in Classical Studies and Spanish, Leila also holds a Masters in English from Middlebury College Bread Loaf School of English. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Spanish from Idaho State University. 

Prior to joining SVCS, Leila taught humanities and math at Carrabassett Valley Academy in Maine, where she also served as a tutor and dorm parent. Leila is no stranger to the Cutthroat campus, having served from 2020-21 as a Teaching Training Academy Intern, Residential Advisor, and Upper School Track + Field Coach. During her time with the TTA, Leila designed and co-taught curriculum for 7th-11th Grade Spanish, 10th Grade British Literature, 9th Grade World History and 6th Grade Math. 

Leila is WFR certified and has multi-year experience guiding week-long backpacking, canoeing, and canyoneering trips. When she isn't teaching, Leila enjoys trail running, sailing, backpacking, and adventuring on skis with her Husky Sitka.

Former Teaching Training Academy Intern and Residential Advisor Taylor Alexander joined the Upper School faculty as a full-time math teacher starting in the fall of 2023. He also serves as a coach for the MS/US Mountain Bike team. 

Taylor is a 2022 University of Utah graduate with a B.S. in Environment + Sustainability Studies and Communications. He spent the 2022-23 school year interning with Upper School faculty members, Jud Ford and Scott Runkel, teaching sections of Algebra 1 and Algebra II Honors and Chemistry. 

Johanna (Jo) Edwards joined the Upper School Mathematics Department in the fall of 2016. She currently teaches PreCalculus, PreCalculus Honors, Trigonometry, and  Calculus BC. She served as the Head of the Mathematics Department from 2018-2024. 

A graduate of the University of Oxford, where she earned a BA and a MA in Mathematics, she has worked on A Level curriculum design for the national examination boards in the U.K. and has extensive experience as Head of Mathematics on both sides of the Atlantic. Prior to joining Sun Valley Community School, Jo worked at Alton Convent School in Hampshire, U.K. as the Head of Mathematics for grades six through twelve, and also at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, London. Jo was also Head of the Upper School Mathematics Department at Rowland Hall - St. Mark's in Salt Lake City for ten years. 

Jo initially came to the U.S. in 1996, when she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Her desire to return to the mountains and the wide open spaces of the American West and to work at a school that incorporates an academic setting with an outstanding Outdoor Program brought her to Sun Valley Community School.

The Upper School welcomed back Reggie Hackleman as its new Upper School math teacher for the 2026-27 school year. Since 2021, Reggie has been the Upper School mathematics teacher at Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine, where she taught five sections of Algebra 2, Precalculus, and AP Calculus AB. Reggie is no stranger to the Cutthroat community: from 2019-2021, she was the Middle School STEM teacher and transitioned to the Upper School where she taught Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2. Prior, she spent 14 years with North Yarmouth Academy in Yarmouth, Maine. During this time, she served in various roles including Upper School Mathematics Chair, Class Dean, and taught sections of Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Precalculus, and Trigonometry.

An experienced and enthusiastic educator with a passion and love for mathematics, Reggie holds a BA in Mathematics with Secondary Education Certification in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science from SUNY Geneseo and an EdM in Mathematics Education from Boston University. 

Crispin McDonald joined the Upper School as its new Physics Teacher in the fall of 2026. Crispin brings a wealth of teaching experience in both physics and computer science to his role. Since 2018, Crispin has taught Computer Science and Physics at Davidson Day School in Davidson, North Carolina, focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-world application. Prior, he taught AP Computer Science Principles, Honors Physics and Physical Science at SouthLake Christian Academy in Huntersville, North Carolina and also served as the Science and Math Teacher at Immaculate Heart Central High School in Watertown, New York. Crispin holds a BA in Mathematics with a concentration in Biology from the College of the Holy Cross and has completed coursework in Computer and Information Sciences from Syracuse University (University College). Crispin is also passionate about the outdoors and has extensive experience in skiing, backcountry travel, and is AIRE Certified in Avalanche Rescue, Level 1. 

Scott Runkel joined Sun Valley Community School in 1994 and currently teaches chemistry, ornithology, and other science electives in the Upper School and serves as Sustainability Coordinator, leads the Green Team, and coaches the Ultimate Frisbee team.

Scott holds a BS in natural resources from Cornell University.

Prior to joining the faculty, Scott taught middle and upper school science courses at Knox School on Long Island and at Mission Hill School and St. Sebastian's School, both in Boston.

At Sun Valley Community School, Scott appreciates the fact that learning happens everywhere. "I enjoy the value that the school community here places on authentic learning outside the bounds of a traditional classroom—through the Outdoor Program, of course, but also in a million other ways as students engage with learning through real-world projects and connections with the greater community and environment," he says. "The school supports this kind of learning and the students get excited by it."

Scott's life outside of school mirrors much of what he does on campus, which, he says, is a good thing: "I get to pursue so many of the things I love in my work, which is actually the reason I love teaching here—environmental work, fly fishing, ultimate frisbee, gardening and growing food, and all things to do with creating a sustainable way of life."

Scott and his wife, Naomi, are parents to two Cutthroat graduates: Sara '15 and Eric '12.