Did You Know? JHHS offers more Advanced Placement courses each year than any other high school in the area.
Did You Know? Summit High School is the premier alternative high school in Wyoming and recently achieved full NCA accreditation status.
Did You Know? JHHS has the highest ACT scores in the state and offers all juniors the opportunity to take the ACT for free.
Who We Are
Our History
The Teton County Education Foundation was established through the directives of the Teton County School District #1 as a means to support the district’s strategic plan and promote student success in a global economy. The TCEF became an independent 501(c)(3) organization in April, 2008.
In its start-up phase, the TCEF worked with the Jackson Hole Rotary Foundation, New Initiatives in Public Education, and the former Public Education Coalition (PEC). These three partners lent their expertise and provided financial assistance to establish and support the Foundation.
The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole has provided expertise and advice to the TCEF about organizational development, non-profit governance, and strategic fund-raising. It has also provided financial support of our educational initiatives through its competitive grants program. Prior to receiving 501(c)(3) status, the TCEF functioned as a Community Foundation Special Project.
In addition to the organizations listed above, we have also partnered with Rendezvous PTA, Wilson PTO, Alta PTO, Kelly and Moran Elementary, the Rotary Breakfast Club, Off Square Theatre, Dancers’ Workshop, the Center for the Arts, and the Lion's Club to bring financial and cultural resources to TCSD#1 students.
Our Goals
- Support Teton County School District’s Strategic Plan.
- Support teaching excellence and student success.
- Provide balance between the community's educational interests and the School District's need to meet state and federal mandates.
- Communicate the School District's message.
- Maintain relations with education donors.
Our Board
Carlen Carney, Treasurer, was recently elected to the TCSD#1 School Board of Education where she serves as their Treasurer, on CWC BOCES, and as a state legislature liaison. She has more than 20 years of experience as a financial professional, including responsibility for businesses with $1 billion in assets and annual sales, and directing more than 100 Finance employees. Her expertise includes managing budgets, evaluating alternatives for capital projects, developing and implementing strategic plans, and employee development. She has degrees in Forestry and Accounting and was a Certified Public Accountant. Carlen is an officer for the Teton Village Fire District and the Wilson Elementary PTO. She volunteers with the Teton County Library Foundation and for the Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center. She is a third-generation Wyoming resident, whose grandparents arrived in Cody in 1908. Carlen and her husband Tim have two sons at Wilson Elementary. She is an avid skier, enjoys rice krispie treats and is grateful for healthy, happy kids.
Elizabeth "Biz" Doyle, Vice President, is originally from NYC, NY and the third of seven children. She attended St. Lawrence University and graduated with a BA in History in 1992. Biz first came to Jackson in the summer of 1991, and after graduation from college – she returned to Jackson to work and ski. Biz met her husband Doug Doyle in 1994, and they married two years later. They built their home in Wilson where they live with their three children (Owen 10, Wyatt 9, and Paige 7). All three children attend Wilson Elementary. Biz currently sits on the boards of the Wilson PTO and The Literacy Council at Teton Literacy Program where she helps with their community out reach. She is passionate about providing all children with stimulating and effective education and looks forward to being a part of TCEF.
Syd Elliott has served on the TCSD#1 Board of Education as its Treasurer and Chair of the Performance and Monitoring Committee. Syd moved to Jackson in 1971 after graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz (in the pioneer class) and UCLA with her degree in education. Over the years, she has worked for TCSD#1, Teton County Clerk, and Central Wyoming College. She was the director of JH Therapeutic Riding and the coordinator of the University of Wyoming Outreach office. She also serves as the Chairman of the Teton County BOCES Board. Syd and her husband, Gary, have seen four Elliott boys graduate from Jackson Hole High School.
Audrey Hagen, President, has lived in Jackson since 1986. She has a busy computer consulting business which includes many nonprofit clients. Her area of expertise includes database development and management and creating strategies for managing critical information. She is past President of the Rendezvous PTA, representing almost 800 children and over 100 staff. She has three children, one at Jackson Elementary, one at Colter Elementary, and one at Jackson Hole Middle School. They have invigorated her passion for public education.
Cherie Hawley earned her MA in Reading and Language Development and her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has been an elementary classroom teacher, reading specialist, Professor and Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Dean of the College of Education at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Hawley is currently a CSULA Professor Emeritus, a Trustee on the Teton County School District #1 Board of Education where she has served as Clerk, Treasurer, and Board member for the Central Wyoming College BOCES. She is on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, a publication of the International Reading Association. Cherie and her husband, Jim, enjoy many interests including hiking, skiing, and photography. Their daughter, Brienne, is completing her degree at the Rutgers University School of Law.
Lisa Johnson, Secretary, first came to Wyoming in the early 1980's to work as an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). After receiving a Masters degree in Environment Studies from the University of Montana, she and her husband moved to Teton Valley in 1994. Since having children, Lisa has been an ardent supporter of education and library services. To help provide an educational choice to local Idaho families, she was part of the core start-up group for the independent Teton Valley Community School. Now Alta, Wyoming residents, her two sons are matriculated in the District, with one at the Alta Elementary School and the other at Jackson Hole High School. Lisa is currently the President of the PTO for Alta School.
Amy Madera has been serving as the Director of Hospitality and Culinary Programs for Central Wyoming College for the past year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Michigan State University and will begin her Masters in Adult Education through the University of Wyoming in January 2011. She spent the early part of her life in West Palm Beach and Chicago before moving to Jackson in 2007 when her husband was transferred as the General Manager of Homewood Suites. They traveled all over the world before the birth of their two beautiful daughters. The oldest is enrolled in the Spanish Immersion Program with Jackson Elementary. Her two year old enjoys going to Hilltop Preschool. Amy is an active member of the Rotary Lunch Club of Jackson Hole.
Gary Trauner is currently COO of St. John’s Hospital. He was a candidate for Wyoming’s lone seat in Congress in 2006 (missing election by a mere 0.4% to a six-term incumbent) and in 2008. Prior to running for Congress, Gary used his financial and entrepreneurial background to work with start-up and early growth companies. He served as CFO and a Board member of OneWest.net, a regional Internet Service Provider, and CFO of Cell Response Formulation, LLC, a Jackson-based health and nutrition start-up whose main product is Mulligan Stew Pet Food. He is past Chairman of the Teton County School District #1 Board of Education and lives in Wilson with his wife Terry and their two boys.
Ex-Officio Board Member (non-voting)
Pam Shea’s leadership as the Teton County Superintendent of Schools caps over twenty-nine years of dedication to our schools. She has been a teacher of science, mathematics, English, and reading; an Assistant Principal, then Principal of Jackson Hole Middle School; the district’s Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCR) Officer; and the Principal of Wilson, Kelly, and Moran Elementary Schools. When Pam was Principal, JHMS was one of three top-achieving middle schools in state mathematics testing (WyCAS), and it was deemed one of the “100 Effective Middle Schools” in a National Association of Secondary Principals research study. Pam received a full scholarship from the Danforth Foundation in its Good LEADer program. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Pam holds a dual Bachelor’s with Honors in Environmental Studies and Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master’s in Education and Administration from the University of Wyoming. She is ABD for her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from U.W. Pam and her husband, Steve, enjoy skiing, reading, and playing with their twins, Ann and Steve.
Staff
Katherine Dowson, Executive Director, was hired as a part-time employee for TCEF in October 2009, after serving two years as a TCEF Board member. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Katherine moved to Jackson permanently in 1988, after spending many of her summers at Teton Valley Ranch Camp in Kelly. Katherine has spent the last 20 years working for, or serving on non-profit boards in Jackson, WY and Teton Valley, ID. She and her husband live in Wilson, Wyoming, and have three children attending Jackson Hole Middle School and Wilson Elementary.
Advisory Board: These former TCEF Board members have graciously agreed to continue providing support and advice to the Foundation. We thank them for their energy and contributions to the TCEF.
Lindy Sayers has over thirty years of private and public education experience as a consultant, a middle school English teacher at The Ensworth School, Chair of the English Department, and as Director of the Middle School at Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, Tennessee. Lindy holds a B.A. from the George Peabody College for Teachers and a M.Ed. in Counseling from Vanderbilt University. She has served as Vice-Chair of the Teton County School District #1 Board of Education. As President of Peregrine Education Network, Lindy works with non-profit agencies to develop strategic plans, improve board structure, and plan for fund raising events.
Gary Silberberg moved to Jackson in 2000 from New York. He is a co-founder of StoneRiver Capital, an investment management firm. Gary is involved in a number of non-profits including New Initiatives in Public Education and the Center of Wonder. He previously served a number of years on the board of the Public Education Coalition. Gary and his wife Veronica have three children.
Janine Bay Teske moved to Jackson Hole following a 25 year career as an auto executive for Ford Motor Company. At Ford, she was Chief Engineer for the Ford Mustang and Managing Director for Vehicle Personalization, Ford's global after-market business. Since her move to Jackson, Janine has been elected to three terms on the TCSD#1’s Board of Education where she is currently the Vice-Chair and Chair of its Planning and Development Committee. Previously, she was Chair of the entire Board of Education. She is a legislative liaison for both TCSD#1 as well as the Teton County Board of Realtors. Janine enjoys skiing, hiking, and camping with her husband, daughter, and her three dogs.
