Elementary Teachers

Stephanie Bullock, K-6 Elementary Teacher, received a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming and an MA in Educational Technology/Library Media from Indiana State University. Ms. Bullock has taught in both public and private schools in Colorado and Wyoming for 8½ years.

Eugenia Farinha, K-6 Elementary Teacher, has worked for 4½ years as a para-professional in special education in Midwest, WY. For the last three years she has taught computers at the Douglas Primary School to K-2 graders.

Lynette Malm-Hunter, K-6 Elementary Teacher/Elementary STI Coordinator, and WYVA Booster Club Coordinator, earned a master's degree from Regis University, and hopes to begin working on a doctoral degree in online teaching and learning within the year. Ms. Malm-Hunter has been an elementary teacher for 22 years both in the virtual and traditional environments, and has taught nearly every grade. She is passionate about teaching and learning, especially online, and loves the endless opportunities technology is creating for children and adults. In working with parents and students in her virtual classroom, she looks forward to helping them unlock the doors to a successful future.

Faye Rankin, K-6 Elementary Teacher, was a music educator in public school in Nebraska before joining WYVA. She was school board member in Niobrara County, a member of the Wyoming State Board of Education, and early childhood spokesperson for the State of Wyoming. Ms. Rankin was owner, operator, and teacher of a Wyoming preschool center for many years, and has been a community junior and senior high school youth leader, youth choir director, scout leader, youth drama coach, and Sunday school teacher. She is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a degree in Elementary Education and an Early Childhood endorsement.

Kristie Spencer, K-6 Elementary Teacher, graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a minor in Art. She has been an elementary teacher for eleven years, mainly in upper elementary grades, except for one year as a first grade reading teacher. She spent two years as head teacher for grades K-8 in a country school in Nebraska. Most of her teaching experience was done in Nebraska, but she has also taught in Mississippi and Nevada. She loves being a part of Wyoming Virtual Academy.

Andrea Williams, K-6 Elementary Teacher, attended Northwest Community College in Powell for two years and then transferred to the University of Wyoming to complete her Elementary Education degree. She graduated from UW in December of 1999 with a BA in Elementary Education. After graduation she was offered a job teaching sixth grade at Gilchrist Elementary in Cheyenne. Ms. Williams taught at Gilchrist for four years and was grateful for that opportunity; it was a wonderful place to begin her teaching and coaching career. She then transferred to Dildine Elementary School where she taught fifth and sixth grades for five years. She is very excited to be teaching for WYVA and looks forward to a new teaching experience.

Middle and High School Teachers

Kimberly Dillon, Secondary Science Teacher, graduated from Goddard High School and went on to major in Biology and minor in Chemistry at the University of New Mexico. After graduating, she went back to school to get her master’s degree in teaching. She worked in a microbiology lab that studied archaea and bacteria in hot springs. She also did an independent study where she researched ecological restoration.

Sarah Glasser, Secondary German Teacher, grew up in Maine and attended the University of Maine. She then moved to Wyoming to teach German in 1997. In her spare time she coaches cross country in Wright and officiates basketball.

Cecelia Ihnat, Secondary History Teacher, attended University of Wyoming and University of Southern Maine on the National Student Exchange Program. She taught for eight years at Natrona County High School and coached skiing and tennis while there. She taught one year at Sage Valley Junior High in Gillette, and two years at Clear Creek Middle School in Buffalo. Ms. Ihnat has taught social studies at a wide range of academic levels, and has taught sixth through twelfth grade.

Rachel Kerr, Secondary English Teacher, has 15 years of instructional experience in Illinois, Hawaii, Guam, and Wyoming. In Illinois, she taught 9-12 grade English and Social Studies at two different rural schools. In Hawaii she taught K-6 at-risk reading for two years and worked at the University of Hawaii Lab School testing new curriculum on elementary students. She also taught at Hawaii Pacific University and worked at Calvary Preschool. In Guam Ms. Kerr taught accelerated English for grades 9-12 at St. John’s School. Last year she taught in the Natrona County School District.

Jennifer Marquart, Secondary Music Teacher, earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from UW. She received her master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from Walden University. She taught general music in elementary schools for four years, in junior high for one year, and in high school for one year, and gave piano lessons for 12 years. Ms. Marquart also taught preschool parent-tot music for three years. After finishing her master’s degree online, she became a believer in online education. She loves teaching for WYVA and envisions many more opportunities to help see that the music program for WYVA continues to grow and thrive.

Nancy Merrill, Secondary Math Teacher, has been a math teacher for over 30 years in New York, Massachusetts, and Wyoming. She was the Math Coordinator for Sheridan County District #1. She received her BA at the University of Colorado – Boulder, and MSNS, University of Wyoming. Ms. Merrill received the National Presidential Award for Mathematics for Wyoming, and was a Fulbright Exchange teacher to Japan. She was a member of the NSF writing team for middle school exemplary text (STEM project published as Middle Grades Math Thematics). She was also the adjunct teacher for University of Wyoming and the Instructor at NSF institutes in Arizona, Northwestern University, and Princeton University.

Virginia Nida, Secondary English Teacher, considers teaching her second career. After spending more than 20 years as a banker, she decided to return to school and get her degree in secondary education. Following graduation, Ms. Nida taught English at St. Joseph’s Children’s home in Torrington.

Yvonne Stewart Perry, Secondary Social Studies Teacher, started teaching in 1998 at the middle school level (seventh-grade geography) and then moved into high school social studies, teaching at-risk students at an alternative high school. While teaching there, she got her Special Education endorsement and did an internship in Special Education. She then taught sixth-grade geography, reading, and language arts for two years. In 2008, Ms. Stewart-Perry joined an online company and started teaching English to Korean students through the Internet. She joined WYVA in 2009.

Cynthia Smith Wilson, Secondary Art and Art History Teacher, earned her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, her teaching certificate from Weber State University, and her master’s degree from the University of Phoenix. She has approximately four years of teaching experience, mostly at the high school level. Prior to her work as a teacher, Ms. Smith-Wilson worked as a publications designer and editor and then as a contract writer. She feels this real-world experience has shaped her approach to teaching in that she is continually considering what students need to learn to be more marketable and successful in the workplace and incorporating those ideas into her curriculum. She has a deep belief in the value and potential of each student and is excited to be part of Wyoming’s first virtual school.

Jamie Study, Secondary French Teacher, has her B.A. and M.A. in French from the University of Wyoming. She has taught French for Gillette College for several years. This is her first year teaching high school French.

Sharon Wise, Secondary Technology Teacher, holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She received her master’s degree in Technology in Education and is ESL Endorsed. Ms. Wise has taught second- through fourth-grade reading and taught fifth grade in elementary school before switching to high School. She has also taught in Wyoming, Florida, and Missouri.