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 full-time 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!

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!

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 tried 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.

Alicia Doerrie

Instructor
In 2005, I graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Communication Disorders and Science, and Psychology. Immediately after this, I started working for the West Linn-Wilsonville School District as an instructional assistant. This position prepared me in taking on my new role as a teacher at TRCS. Thus far, my experience here has been full of learning, challenge, and fun. As an Oregon, and more specifically West Linn native, I’m happy to be back to my roots, working in this community. In the hours outside the normal school day, I work with a dance company in which I am a company member and the Education and Community Outreach Coordinator. This allows me to further employ my other talents that I’ve worked passionately on throughout the years and share them with others. As an Oregonian, I’ve also developed a love for our natural surroundings and will often be out exploring them during the summers that I am very grateful for.

Sara Steinbach

Instructor

I graduated from California State University Long Beach with a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 2003. From there I spent nearly two years working with high school aged at-risk foster youth in a residential setting. When I moved to Portland in 2005 I decided to go back to school and get certified as a K-8 teacher. I completed my student teaching at Emerson Charter School in downtown Portland before joining TRCS in 2008.

Office Staff

Kate Ray

Office Coordinator
I grew up in West Linn, attended Cedaroak, Bolton, (when it was a middle school), and West Linn High School.  I went to the University of Oregon, where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in 2002. I spent a lot my time in ESL classrooms and working with children of migrant workers.  After college, I moved to Portland and worked a couple of jobs before starting at TRCS in 2004. I am an avid traveler, hiker, reader, crafter and enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

Jennifer Lavender

Administrative Assistant

I am thrilled to be joining Three Rivers Charter School as your new Administrative Assistant! For the past 17 years, I have worked within an educational environment including- Orange County Outdoor Science School, Springfield Public Schools and most recently, Oregon Episcopal School. In addition, I’ve taken many courses in Early Childhood Education from Lane and Portland Community Colleges. In my free time, I enjoy camping and hiking in the outdoors, but I also love to cook, read and play with my beautiful Yellow Labrador, Tommy.  I am very excited to meet the students and families of Three Rivers and becoming part of this amazing community. I look forward to seeing you soon!