Our Team

Staff Members

Jennifer Lutey

Executive Director

Jen has been the organization's Executive Director since obtaining her J.D. in 2004. She leads Brightways Learning in working hand-in-hand with students, educators, parents, and other stakeholders to support student academics and social and emotional wellbeing. Jen has a thorough knowledge of collaboratively implementing innovative change and developing education support programs. Bringing expertise in rural and remote education settings, she also leads grant-writing coordination efforts. She is the main contact for people interested in developing educational programs with Brightways Learning's assistance. Jen is responsible for managing multi-million dollar federal grant-funded programs, which have successfully implemented student growth and leadership components and support local leaders, schools, health organizations, and communities for long-term sustainability of positive change.

Aaron Baldwin

Technology Director

Aaron joined Brightways Learning in 2005 and has served as Director of Technology since 2006. He spent six years programming medical software during the day, while pursuing an M.S. in Computer Science from Boston University in the evening. He spent another couple of years in Washington, DC, analyzing afloat networks for the Navy and finding creative commuting options through the district. Aaron is responsible for our conversion to the Ruby on Rails framework and has led development on numerous applications both large and small. Aaron does not miss long East Coast commutes, since he enjoys being outside and in motion (running, biking, hiking, skiing, etc..). He is moving a bit slower these days, however, with his two young children in tow.

Lisa "Kersch" Kerscher

Education Director

Kersch co-coordinates, facilitates collaboration, and implements our Professional Development trainings and other opportunities related to our software products, educational projects, and supporting services. Joining our team in 2005, she also helps design our software applications and serves as our lead trainer, providing both group and one-on-one PD virtually and on-site. With an M.A. in Journalism and B.S. in Wildlife Biology, she has been doing online and print journalism, design work, and software development and training since 1998, specializing in educational, news, and interactive media most commonly related to science. As a consultant, she wrote content distributed to about a dozen Newspapers in Education programs nationwide and also co-developed many of the hands-on and interactive components of the original STEMscopes middle and high school Life Sciences curriculum. Most recently, she developed NGSS Middle School Life Sciences PD curriculum for the Kansas City Teacher Residency program. Kersch loves traveling and immersing herself in local cultures and communities, appreciating the nuances of humanity and different ecological regions.

Jamie Wheeler

Financial Manager

Jamie has been with Brightways Learning since 2004. She holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Montana and has worked in her field for more than 13 years. Jamie loves traveling with her husband, spending time with friends and family, and spoiling her two corgi pups.

Tina Hamilton

Partnership Development Director

Tina has been working in the K-12 educational technology field for more than 20 years. In her roles as a sales and marketing executive, she is experienced at introducing new technologies and products to educators. She currently heads up communications and partnership development for Brightways. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Montana and recently returned to her home state of Montana after living in Seattle for many years. She resides in Helena with her husband, Morgan.

Megan Brown

Marketing & Communications Manager

Megan has lived in Missoula all her life and has a B.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Montana. She loves spending time with her son, traveling, and being an active member in the Missoula community. Megan's background is in communications, sales, marketing and design.

Beth Buchanan

Teaching, Learning, & Resiliency Specialist

Beth has spent nearly three decades supporting youth. As a former teacher and coach, she transitioned to helping educators and parents create trauma-resilient environments and develop personal and professional resilience. Inspired by her own experience parenting adopted and fostered children with trauma, Beth delved into neuroscience to improve mental health and performance in schools for both students and educators. Beth holds degrees in secondary education, curriculum & instruction, and leadership education. Her expertise includes trauma-informed education, social-emotional learning, and youth & adult resilience.

Derek Peterson

Integrative Youth Development Creator

Derek has almost four decades of experience as a child/youth advocate in Alaska and worldwide. He guides local, state, national, and international policy makers and program leaders to see and understand youth through a new lens. Derek created Integrative Youth Development (IYD) and its Student Support Card assessment, transforming the complexity of youth development into an easy-to-understand framework that guides the best practices of numerous programs, communities, and school districts through Brightways Learning’s Kaleidoscope Connect.

Amy Killian

Resiliency Director

Amy has more than two decades of experience in K-12 education, including English Language Learning, classroom teaching, Lead Teacher, and School Counselor. She has a Bachelor’s in Linguistics, a K-8 Type B Teaching Certification, and a Master’s in K-12 School Counseling. She has worked in youth development since she started in education. Looking at the youth and the world around them has been a passion for her as she focuses on supporting youth. She continues learning from top leaders in the youth development field. Currently, she leads Kaleidoscope Connect events with both youth and adults in the United States and Canada. She also provides support and supervision to Regional Leaders throughout the state of Alaska as they implement the Integrative Youth Development framework and related activities in their areas. Amy provides a fresh look at youth development as she continues to work in multiple school districts and youth and tribal organizations in Alaska and outside the state.

David "Pav" Pavish

Resiliency Director

 David's combined 20 years of experience working with youth in direct care and administration in both the private and public sector has equipped him with a unique lens through which to see youth in Alaska and beyond. He was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and has had the privilege to live in that state's rural communities, as well as Northern California. Throughout his career, the training he has received from some of the top youth and experiential education professionals in the U.S. and Canada provides him with a solid understanding of what youth need to succeed. David brings a fresh perspective on supporting and guiding youth through their life and career paths; understanding that life is a journey in which growth and learning have no end.

Terri Beede

Principal & Lead Teacher

Terri completed her undergraduate degree with a double major in Elementary and Special Education, emphasizing in Supportive Employment from Montana State University-Billings. While living in Glasgow, Montana, teaching a range of 3rd Grade and PreK-12 Special Ed, she earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary Level Leadership from the University of Montana. She gets great satisfaction in providing support to and collaborating with home-educators and working with the innovative staff of Brightways Learning. Terri enjoys partnering and learning facets of new business, from restaurants and home staging to trucking and currently resides with her husband and two dogs in Billings, Montana.

Tonya Plass

Certified Teacher & Reading Specialist

Tonya is a certified elementary teacher and reading specialist with a diversified teaching path. Her career began with educating Hutterite students in a Montana colony, followed by teaching 4th-8th grade farm students in a two-room country school. After moving to Alaska, she taught preschool students in a remote Native Alaskan village, and then partnered with homeschooling parents for 21 years at an Alaskan homeschool program. Five of those 21 years included working with military homeschool families overseas. After retiring, Tonya moved back to her home state of Montana and joined the Brightways Global Academy team to continue working alongside homeschooling families. Her other interests include skiing, traveling, running, reading, and spending time with family.

Kim Troxel

Certified Teacher & School Counselor

Kim has worked with homeschool families for 21 years, including 20 years with Interior Distance Education of Alaska (IDEA) and for Brightways Global Academy. Kim has certifications as a K-8 teacher, K-12 reading teacher, K-12 special sd teacher, and K-12 school counselor. She lives with her family in Bozeman, Montana.

Melinda Haynes

Content Specialist

Melinda has lived in various places in the United States, but she has spent most of her time in Ohio, Montana, Utah, California, and Alaska. She has been a teacher for nearly two decades. During five of those years, she taught students from Fort Irwin, California, and she has also taught in a small Eskimo village in Alaska. Since 2004, she has provided services to homeschool families, including creating computer-based math courses. Melinda lives north of Anchorage in a converted barn, spending time outside in the beautiful state of Alaska and traveling.

Pat Cole

Content Specialist - Special Education & Early Learning

After graduating from Montana State University, Pat began teaching special education preschool and conducting Early Education Child Development Clinics for children birth through five. She worked to screen, identify, and support parents of preschoolers with possible learning disabilities. Pat and her staff followed up with early intervention services to support each child’s individual educational needs. She then worked with challenged, suspended high school students to continue their educations. After working as an educational contractor on the local reservation, and providing distant special education services for small schools, Pat took a full-time position teaching first and second grade Special Education. Pat lives on a farm with her husband and a variety of animals. Pat is a true child advocate who believes that all children deserve equal educational opportunities, regardless of their learning styles.

Todd Glaser

Content Specialist - Science

Todd has been an educator in the Glasgow Public Schools in Montana for over 25 years, along with a brief two years working for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Todd’s background includes a double major in Composite Science and Biology as well as a masters degree in Learning Development. The majority of Todd’s time has been spent teaching high school chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, with a few years of middle school math and science. He has thoroughly enjoyed his years in public education not only teaching prudent course work but also involving himself in the community serving on various boards. Todd is a big believer in helping others and it will be paid back to you.

Emily Hendriksen

Family Support Representative

Teaching, learning, and the arts are Emily’s passion. In her early college years, she majored in music education and liberal arts with a focus on clarinet performance. After college, she met and married the love of her life and they’ve been happily married for 18 years.  A few years after their marriage, her husband joined the foreign service, and they have since lived in many countries around the world. Emily and her husband have four children whom Emily has home-schooled for the past 10 years as they’ve trotted about the globe. During those homeschooling years, Emily taught music lessons and Spanish, headed co-ops, led story times and literature groups, and facilitated learning of all kinds. Emily is currently finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Marriage & Family science with an emphasis in Human Services and Family Counseling, with plans to begin her Master’s studies in clinical and arts therapy.   

Kim Tucker

Board President

From foster care to public radio, Kim has helped nonprofits develop programs, attract funding, and expand the delivery of their mission. Today, Kim is leading Impact Foundry in partnership with an engaged Board and stellar staff team. In 2006, Kim joined 3fold Communications to launch the nonprofit division, focused on capacity building for faith and community-based organizations, and serving the interests of corporate community benefit programs. Local, statewide and national foundations engaged 3fold to help strengthen grantee organizations; and Kim and her team developed grantmaking programs and training modules to help nonprofit organizations improve upon and demonstrate their impact. In 2015, 3fold sponsored Kim to assume the helm at Nonprofit Resource Center, and to lead its expansion and transformation to Impact Foundry. Today, Kim is having the time of her life creating new pathways of impact within the nonprofit sector in her role as executive director.  Kim believes our future depends on well-equipped, engaged youth. Kim is from Alaska, where she grew up playing with bears and catching salmon with her bare hands. Most of the time, she tells the truth.

Rhonda Knudsen

Board Secretary and Treasurer

Rhonda has more than 20 years of experience leading diverse teams, program/project management and strategy development in the life science, medical device and technology sectors in both for-profit and non-profit settings. She has held leadership roles in sales and marketing, human resources, operations, and business administration. Rhonda earned her Bachelor's degree in French from the University of Montana, a Certification to Teach English as a Second Language from Seattle University, and an MBA in Global Leadership from City University of Seattle.  She believes that education is vital to providing baseline skills to survive and ultimately achieve as adults in the world. Regardless of geography, economic circumstances or cultural differences, all children deserve the opportunity to receive a quality education. Rhonda is passionate about world travel and continuous learning. She lives in Seattle and enjoys painting in her spare time.

Diane Ryssel

Diane holds advanced degrees in mental health, and has worked as a clinical psychologist, serving the mentally ill who were either adjudicated or awaiting adjudication based on crimes committed that were associated with their mental illness. Additionally, she has counseled women dealing with issues associated with domestic and childhood sexual abuse, children and adults in the context of individual and family therapy, along with veterans dealing with homelessness and substance abuse.  She hails from Alaska, having grown up in Anchorage. Her love for nature and the outdoors birthed early during her Alaska years, and remains a vital component to her character and wellbeing. Since leaving Alaska in 1995, Diane has lived in southern and northern California, and now resides close to the capital of Idaho. Presently, she involves herself in activism including issues associated with social justice, the environment, and homelessness. She has a keen interest in young folk, and believes that many youth today carry a heavy load, often times lacking access to healthy communities, and sufficient support systems that teach effective social skills. Diane holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Biola University, a Master of Arts Degree from Azusa Pacific University, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology  from Azusa Pacific University.

Scott MacManus

Scott is the State & Federal Programs Director at Yukon-Koyukuk School District in Fairbanks, Alaska, where his interests have led him to specialize in funding and managing an array of projects and programs that improve the quality of education and life for communities in rural Alaska. He has been professionally involved in education for nearly 30 years. Scott grew up in an Inupiat village in Northwest Alaska, where his family lived a subsistence lifestyle. After high school, he enlisted and did an overseas tour of duty. Returning to Alaska, he completed an apprenticeship in the trades while attending the University of Alaska to earn degrees in Political Science and Education. As well as being a teacher and administrator, Scott has variously worked as a mason, carpenter, restaurateur, riverboat pilot, and fisherman, among others. These life experiences serve him well in his current position, where he works with people from a range of backgrounds to design and manage projects that range from one-to-one programs, preschools, residential summer schools, performing arts, and vocational-technical programs, to projects in curriculum and evaluation management, and facilities. He is currently working toward a doctorate in Education Policy. He has two grown sons and currently lives with his wife in Fairbanks.

Jesse Darling

Jesse is an established web developer and marketing professional with 15 years of experience in diverse sectors. Jesse’s journey began at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Web Development, Information Technology, and Business. Since then, he’s honed his skills in both government and private sectors, working on projects ranging from website development to video production and marketing campaigns. Growing up in Nulato and living in various parts of Alaska has instilled in Jesse a deep appreciation for unique challenges and opportunities. Jesse is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience to help others thrive, both professionally and personally. In his free time, Jesse enjoys spending time with his family, exploring the great outdoors, and teaching his daughters about their cultural heritage. Jesse is excited to join the Brightways board and looks forward to collaborating with our talented team to empower learners of all ages.