Beth Adel started her teaching career at Kilquhanity House School, a progressive school in Scotland inspired by the Free School Movement and A.S. Neill. She has taught middle school social studies for more than 20 years– at Amherst Regional Middle School, The Springfield Renaissance School and Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School. Beth has lived and worked in more than a dozen countries around the world.  Beth loves to learn about new things, cook good food, and spend time in the woods. She lives with an amazing partner and four fabulous and vibrant children.

Eliza lives in Brattleboro, Vermont with her family. She enjoys having adventures outside that include cooking local foods over a fire, biking, climbing on trails or running. One of her favorite spots to explore ecology is at the ocean. Eliza joined Four Rivers in 2009.

Prior to joining Four Rivers in 2023, Joshua spent many years managing a popular Greenfield restaurant. He is the co-owner of Cocina Lupita, an authentic Salvadoran restaurant in downtown Greenfield. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Physical Education from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH.

Sage has been working as a Middle and High School Math Teacher in the valley for nine years. Sage joined Four Rivers in 2024.

Deborah lives in Wendell. Outside of school her passions are gardening, mushroom foraging, and ancestral living skills. Her career as an educator started with Outward Bound. She worked at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, Thompson Island Outward, and Outward Bound Wales, finishing her 10 year stint at the New York City Outward Bound Center. Her next 16 years were spent teaching Wellness at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School. She joined Four Rivers in 2013.

Lea Chiara joined the Four Rivers faculty in 2024, and has over eleven years of experience in teaching and curriculum development. Prior to Four Rivers, she taught and co-directed Language and Art programs at the Hartsbrook School, Atitlán Multicultural Academy, and the Robert Muller LIFE International School in Guatemala. Her love of languages, music and the arts has led her to live, work and study in Guatemala, Mexico, Spain and Italy.

Bio coming soon

Nikki Crosby got her start as a peer tutor and lab instructor at Greenfield Community College. After graduating from UMASS Amherst, she taught in Springfield for eight years before joining the Four Rivers family in the fall of 2020. Nikki grew up in Franklin County and loves fishing, gardening, hikes with her dog and foraging for mushrooms.

Mr. Etzweiler has over 15 years experience teaching nature through summer programs and other wilderness programs near his home in Putney, VT and in Pennsylvania where he is from. He joined Four Rivers in 2011.

Julia joined Four Rivers faculty in 2020 as the 9th and 10th grade math teacher, assuming her current role in 2024. Prior to joining Four Rivers she served in the Peace Corps as a high school math teacher in Mozambique. Julia enjoys swimming upstream, chatting with fish and hiking tall mountains.

Jessa Harger has spent her long career in education building and promoting place and project based programs. Most recently, she developed fieldwork and spent time traveling with students in Vermont, New York City, the US South, Vietnam, and France with Leland & Gray Union High School in Vermont. Jessa spent several years at The Putney School working with school leaders across the globe, to recruit and place students. Jessa has a strong somatic practice, loves to hike, run, yoga, swim, ski (Nordic), ride bikes, bake, grow flowers, and watch the Tour de France. She loves working with teenagers because of their curiosity, conviction, and playfulness.

Bio Coming Soon

Anna brings more than 17 years of eclectic teaching experience to Four Rivers, with a background in English, Outdoor Education, and Special Education. Anna’s passion is for serving special needs students and ensuring equity and inclusion in education. When not teaching, Anna can be found on a nearby mountain top.

Melissa worked most recently as a seventh grade science teacher at the Bancroft School, in Worcester, MA, and prior to that as both the seventh and eighth grade science teacher at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School in Franklin, MA. She has a deep passion for earth and environmental science, STEM education, place-based and project-based learning, with experience in both the EL model and the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair. Melissa is thrilled to return to the Pioneer Valley and joined Four Rivers in 2023.

Becky began her academic journey in Social Work at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, ultimately completing her undergraduate degree at Westfield State University. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Social Work at Springfield College. Over the past 20 years, Becky has worked in various mental health settings as a psychotherapist, assisting individuals and families in resolving issues, managing relationships, and identifying challenging patterns. For the last 8 years, she served as a school-based therapist in Springfield Public Schools, where she discovered her passion for education. Becky joined Four Rivers in 2023.

With over 20 years of teaching experience in various studio and school settings, Zack’s approach to music instruction is to encourage lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of music in his students. He sees music as a never-ending puzzle with all sorts of nooks and crannies to check out and explore.

Zack has performed with Royal Caribbean Cruises, George Kilby and the Road-dogs, Shokazoba, Lostdog, Crackin’ Foxy, and various pit orchestras and other bands.

He has studied with Lynn Klock, Mario Bernardo, David Jenkins, Craig Sylvern, and the renowned saxophonist Scott Mullett.

Outside of music, Zack enjoys spending time on his farm with his wife, 2 children, and many animals big and small! Outside of music, Zack manages the terrain park and snowboarding program at Berkshire East as well as training whitewater raft guides. Zack really enjoys tacos.

Before working at Four Rivers, Ms. Johnson worked at Franklin County Technical School in the Pre-Employment Program for five years. She lives in the county with her dog Remy, and loves reading, going on walks, and baking sugary snacks for her friends and family.

Trey began his teaching career in the Woburn Public School District before serving as a High School English Teacher in Michigan and a Middle School Humanities Teacher at the Gateway School in Manhattan. Most recently, Trey taught Middle School English in the Northampton Public School District, joining the Four Rivers community in 2024.

SiriNam is a Nationally Board Certified teacher and a published author of several educational trade books. For 23 years, he served in the Springfield Public Schools as a teacher, Inclusion Coach and Instructional Learning Specialist. SiriNam is also the owner of GoBerry ‘n Cream in Amherst.

Bio coming soon

Senna Lauer is very excited to be joining the Four Rivers “Crew”. Before coming to Four Rivers, Senna worked as a private tutor in New York City (her hometown), at Greenfield Middle School as a special education paraprofessional/teacher/ advisor, and (most recently) at Cutchins Programs for Children and Families as a therapeutic support specialist. Senna loves to speak Spanish, spoil her puppy, and write short stories at the end of each day.

Matt joined Four Rivers in 2003 as a member of the founding faculty. After teaching 7th grade Humanities for the first 5 years of the school, he transitioned to being the Dean of Students and then Assistant Principal of Crew and Culture.

Mr. Lederer has had web design and systems administration positions in private industry. He has had technology and teaching roles at area schools, including 10 years at Hilltown Cooperative Charter School in Haydenville. He joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Emma has worked as a manager and operations organizer in the private sector for over a decade.  She applies her background in creative thinking to her work to advance equity and human rights in organizations.  Emma has been with Four Rivers since 2024.

Madeline is a Teaching Assistant and Crew Leader with a Masters in Public Policy and Administration and a plethora of experience in different fields. With a background in social work, she is brings a strong skill-set to offer students to help them manage their emotions. As a writer, poet, and woodworker, Madeline empowers students to express themselves and invites creativity into every classroom she inhabits.

Ms. Locke comes to Four Rivers with a B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Environmental Studies from Hamilton College and a M.S. Environmental Education with Middle School General Science Certification from Antioch New England Graduate School. Perhaps her best training for teaching middle school is her experience as an Outdoor Educator, Life Skills teacher and Wilderness Trip leader with teens prior to joining Four Rivers as a founding faculty member in 2003. Nominated by her colleagues, she was honored to be a 2018 finalist for the KLINGENSTEIN TEACHER AWARD .

Mr. Lufkin works with K-12 and adults at numerous schools and programs in the region, teaching nature literacy and organizing sustainable food-access initiatives. He joined Four Rivers in 2008, co-teaching Nature Tribs and club, with a focus on the campus permaculture gardens.

Jackie is returning to Four Rivers as the Div 3 English teacher after three years as an Academic Coach working one to one with high school students, facilitating Parenting 4 Social Justice book groups, and being an online host for the Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership. In her spare time, Jackie loves to read YA novels and graphic novels, cook Thai and Indian food, walk around the woods and rivers of Rattlesnake Gutter, fish and make art with her two children, and travel with her whole family.

Jenni attended Springfield Technical Community College for two years then transferred to UMass Dartmouth where she studied marine biology earning a B.S. in Biology. At Springfield College, she served two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the Springfield Public Schools and earned her M. Ed. in Psychology and Urban Secondary Education. For 18 years, she served in the Springfield Public Schools as a teacher, advisor, STEM academy resource teacher, counselor, and administrator. During the three years prior to joining Four Rivers in 2022, Jenni was an administrator in the Northampton Public Schools.

Laura Markstein comes to Four Rivers with a background of supporting young people’s social and emotional growth in a variety of settings including as a high school counselor, after school supervisor, trail crew leader, and summer camp counselor. She joined Four Rivers in 2024.

Prior to joining the Four Rivers team in spring 2022 as a one-on-one TA, Maki spent five years teaching music in public schools. She is also a singer, writer, and an avid doodler.

Ms. McIntyre comes to Four Rivers with 18 years of teaching experience in mathematics. Ms. McIntyre has experience with standards based grading and running advisory. She began her journey as a math teacher in a small school and is delighted to be at Four Rivers. One of her favorite things to experience in the classroom, or individually with students is seeing that moment when the math suddenly “clicks.”

Joanna began her career in adventure education, working at Project Adventure and Farm and Wilderness. She trained teachers in a Burmese refugee camp in Thailand, and taught ESL to adults in El Salvador. In over two decades of teaching high school and middle school Social Studies, Joanna has taught at Amherst Regional High School, the Springfield Renaissance School, the Hilltown Charter Charter Public School, and has served as history department chair at South Hadley High School. Joanna joined Four Rivers in 2021. When she’s not teaching, she loves outdoor adventure and playing the fiddle.

Julio has taught art and lead theater prop-making with the Multi-Arts programs for 8 years, focusing on kids ages 6-12. He also led the Approaches to Drawing through Nature workshops in Western Mass for two years, which was open to all ages and levels of experience. He joined Four Rivers as a substitute in 2023, and as an art teacher in 2024.

Leah joined Four Rivers in 2007 after several years teaching in Springfield. She taught Div 3 English at Four Rivers for 17 years. In 2024, she shifted into the role of College and Career Coach. Leah has directed the annual Four Rivers drama productions since 2009, including Grease, Godspell, and Once Upon a Mattress. She is also a multi-published author. Leah enjoys most of the same hobbies as retirees, such as jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, baking, birdwatching, and talking to strangers in the grocery store. She is especially fond of pigeons.

Bio coming soon

Cheryn joined the Four Rivers team in 2025. With 25 years of experience in public administration, government finance, nonprofit management, and board leadership, Cheryn specializes in domestic policy and compliance, as well as special revenue fundraising and community development.

Beginning her career as an auditor for the federal government in Washington D.C., she’s worked for and with government agencies and institutions of higher education in several states, most notably Massachusetts. In addition to her administrative work, Cheryn taught graduate and undergraduate courses in public budgeting, public policy, project management, and nonprofit fund development at Springfield College and American International College. She’s also been a trainer and led in-person and virtual learning on municipal partnerships and logic models.

She is the designated MCPPO (Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official) and Notary Public for the school district. 

Foster had a brief career in research psychology before switching to education. They completed a MEd program for teaching middle and high school English in 2023, and they worked as a substitute at Four Rivers last year before being hired on as an assistant teacher this fall. Before working at Four Rivers, they taught U.S. Literature as a student teacher at Greenfield High School. They’ve served in a wide range of educational roles over the years, notably as a teaching assistant for writing-intensive courses at Simon Fraser University.

Alison has worked as an Instructional Coach in the Holyoke Public Schools and as as an Instructional Coach and then Director of Professional Learning at the Christa McAuliffe Charter School. Alison has a deep background in and passion for EL, with initial training in outdoor/experiential education. Alison joined our team in 2020.

Bruce taught ESL for two years in South Korea before working as a high school English teacher in Boston from 2014-2020. During the height of the pandemic, he stayed home to raise his new daughter before moving to the Pioneer Valley and joining Four Rivers in 2022. He loves exploring the woods and streams around his home in Colrain.

Elizabeth is a native of Chile, where she maintains strong ties to her family and culture. She has traveled extensively throughout Latin America, enriching her understanding of Hispanic culture and expanding her teaching through diverse experiences. Immersing herself in various countries has allowed her to acquire a broad range of knowledge, which she brings into the classroom. Elizabeth is passionate about cooking, nature and wildlife photography, sewing, painting, and hiking. Her creativity and dedication shine through in everything she does, both inside and outside the classroom. A proud mother, friend, and active community member, Elizabeth has been a valued part of the Four Rivers community since 2018.

Up until 2025, Orion was involved in physics research, searching for gravitational waves with the LIGO and LISA detectors. However, his true passion is science education, which led him to join Four Rivers near his home town of Ashfield, MA. He is looking forward to sharing his love for observing and understanding the universe with anyone who will listen!

Robin returned to Four Rivers in the summer of 2023 in the role of Front Office Manager after having worked in the middle school as an Advisor and Assistant Teacher a few years prior. Living and raising her 3 children between Greenfield and Bernardston for over 20 years, she has had the pleasure of working for some of our amazing local organizations like Stone Soup Cafe, Center for Human Development, Center for Responsive Classroom, and GCC in their Dual Enrollment department. She is thrilled to be back at Four Rivers in this role and loves being able to connect with all of our school community.

Mr. Stenson has extensive teaching experience in technology and special education, and he has also worked as an Outward Bound instructor. He joined Four Rivers in 2004.

Abigail comes to Four Rivers from Southern VT. She has previously worked at Brattleboro Union High School and is happy to be back teaching middle schoolers! She lives in Guilford, VT with her husband and extended family nearby. She loves history, swimming (and all things water), traveling and cooking! She is excited to be joining the team at Four Rivers, and is looking forward to exploring Franklin County with all of her students!

Ms. Walk is a graduate of Four Rivers and was a member of the founding 7th grade here in 2003. She returned to serve for several years as an Ultimate Frisbee coach, and worked at Sheffield School as an after school teacher. She joined the teaching staff at Four Rivers in 2019.

Emma is originally from Park City, Utah. Her background is in fine dining and technology. Emma enjoys cooking and being outside with her 14 year old pitbull, Jasmine.

Alex works with the Four Rivers faculty to help them become the teachers and change makers they want to be. He’s a longtime history teacher, for 13 years at Four Rivers and before that, in West Hartford CT, Portland OR and Marin County CA. Alex has worked on political campaigns in New England and California and he played professional basketball in Copenhagen, Denmark. Alex loves tinkering on his 1800’s farmhouse, gardening, and getting outdoors in all seasons. In addition to his work at Four Rivers, he coaches his daughters in a variety of youth sports in Shelburne Falls.

Carolyn has many years experience in office management and advertising research and teaching at Full Circle School in Bernardston. She joined Four Rivers in 2004 and subsequently developed the SPED Secretary role. She assumed the role of School Secretary in 2009 and became Registrar and Special Education Clerk in 2024.

Catherine has many years of experience in education ranging from early childhood to 21 years old. Before joining Four Rivers in 2024, Catherine was a 6th grade teacher. In her free time, she loves doing jigsaw puzzles.