TRCS Staff

 

Katherine Holtgraves
Administrator/Instructor
Graduate degree was earned in 1981 in Elementary Education from Oregon College of Education (Western Oregon University). I moved to Kansas City and taught for two years (grade two) in Olathe Kansas. I then returned home to Oregon and was hired in West Linn-Wilsonville to teach 2/3rd grades at Willamette Primary. I taught 2/3, 3/4, 3/4/5, 2/3/4/5, during the next 11 years at Willamette elementary, West Linn High School and Rosemont Ridge Middle School. During those 11 years, I returned to College and earned my Masters in Education from Lewis & Clark College in Portland. While I was teaching at Rosemont Ridge Middle School, I earned my Administrative Certification, where I had my administrative practicum. In 2005, I completed my Continuing Administrative Credential from Lewis and Clark College. I have spent the last 18 years working with parents and the West Linn-Wilsonville community to develop engaging and exciting school environments. I am very proud to be a part of this organization where students are at the heart of everything we do!

Merilee Bales
Curriculum Director/Instructor
I received my undergraduate degree from Portland State University in 1985. While completing these studies, I wrote and implemented a grant for the Housing Authority of Portland that provided in home services to elderly clients on the borderline of needing residential care. I was hired in September, 1986 as a fifth grade teacher at Laurelhurst Elementary in downtown Portland. In 1991, I moved to West Linn-Wilsonville and was hired to teach a 4/5 blended classroom. During this time, I completed my Masters Degree in Teaching at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. I worked as a 4/5th grade teacher until 1995 when I was asked to implement an alternative program for 4/5/6 grade students at West Linn High School. I stayed in this position until 1998 when the program was moved to Rosemont Ridge Middle School. During 1999, we started writing the grant to begin Three Rivers Charter School and received our start-up funds in 2000. I continued to work for West Linn-Wilsonville for that year and then began at TRCS. I have been employed by Three Rivers Charter School in my current capacity since 2000.

Denise Collins
Instructor
I received my Bachelors of Education degree in 1978 from Illinois State University. My majors were mathematics and biology. That same year, I began work as a sixth grade math and science teacher at Clarence Olson School in Woodstock, Illinois. One year later, I moved to Oak Grove School in Libertyville, Illinois and taught 5th-8th grade math and science, coached cheerleading, and was pep club sponsor among my many activities. In 1985, my husband’s work moved our family through several states until we landed in Oregon in 1990. Being the fulltime mom of two energetic boys, volunteering at school, and part-time work as the educational coordinator at a local church kept me busy until October, 1994. I then became an Instructional Assistant and enrichment teacher at Boeckman Creek Primary School in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.  I’ve been teaching at TRCS since 2003 and am truly thankful and blessed to be a member of this innovative Charter School!

Heather Paris
Instructor
I graduated from Portland State University with a BA in social sciences and spent a year in the public school system as an aid. It was during this time that I realized my desire to become a teacher. The following year I went on to acquire my masters in teaching. I graduated from Concordia University with a certification in all subjects for grades kindergarten through eighth grade. I worked for three years in the Portland Public School system upon graduating with my teaching credentials. Two of those years were spent as a substitue teacher and one year was spent working as a sixth grade teacher in a charter school. I was looking for a change, and was thrilled to be accepted into the TRCS community. It is an exceptional environment which facilitates my love of teaching. I made my way out to Oregon eight years ago and fell in love with the scenery.  When I am not teaching you can find me out on a trail running, hiking, and spending time with my family and friends. 

Rebekah Averette
Instructor
I received my undergraduate degree in History and German from the University of Oregon in 1997. Following a stint teaching English in rural Ukraine, I decided to pursue a teaching career. After receiving a Masters in Teaching from the University of Washington in 2001, I moved to Madison, Wisconsin. For nearly three years, I taught high school Social Studies and German in Wisconsin before making the decision to return to Portland. Before beginning a sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies position at Athey Creek Middle School in West Linn, I held a temporary position as an “academic coach” at the Urban League of Portland. I am extremely excited to be part of the unique Three Rivers environment!

Nicole Masters
Instructor
I graduated from Portland State University in 2000 with a BS in Sociology and a minor in Elementary Education.  I found great pleasure working in the school setting and it was during my student teacing practicum that I recognized my devotion to children.  While continuing my profession as an office manager, I completed my Masters Degree in Elementary Education at the Unversity of Phoenix in early 2002.  Soon after acquiring my Oregon teaching credentials, my family relocated to Northern California where I taught for 3 years.  We are now back in Oregon and and I’m prepared to put my education, experience and enthusiasm to work in order to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children.
 
Lorraine Robinson
Instructor
I received my bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in business and a minor in Spanish from the University of Idaho in 2000.  I taught high school Spanish I and Spanish II for four years, and I loved it. I found great satisfaction there; each day I hoped to not only teach kids Spanish, but I treid to touch their lives, inspire them to learn, and make learning as fun and worthwhile as possible.  I moved to Portland this fall, and I am so excited to be a part of this inspiring, connected family at TRCS.

 

Office Staff

Teri Mays
Office Manager
I received my Bachelors degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1985. After working several jobs including toxicology lab tech, printing company manager and seamstress for my grandmother’s alteration shop I had the opportunity to stay at home for several years to raise my children. I decided to get back into the work-force and found this terrific place. Our family is very active in sports and activities.

Kate Ray
Secretary
I grew up in West Linn, attended Cedaroak, Bolton, (where it was a middle school), and West Linn High School. Truly a local girl! I went to the University of Oregon, where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in 2002. During college, I spent time abroad in Mexico, studying language and history and fell in love with the culture!
After college, I moved to Portland, worked a couple of jobs at Starbucks and in the office of a carpet company before starting at Three Rivers. I have two cats, love traveling and hope to begin my journey through grad school in the next year or so. This is my third year at Three Rivers and I love it!