Administration

Duna Strachan, Executive Director. Duna founded Soaring Wings in 1987. She received a BS in Wildlife Biology from Arizona State University and was in the midst of a Master's degree in Environmental Zoology when parenthood suddenly drew her attention to the world of Montessori. Duna found that her science background lent itself to the science based Montessori method and enabled her to be a "Renaissance woman", dabbling in art, music, geography, literature and math as well as science. Duna holds Montessori credentials at the Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood levels. She was founding president of the Utah Montessori Council, coordinates the annual state teacher conference, hosts teacher training workshops and serves as consultant for teacher training programs in California and Colorado. She lives in Park Meadows with her husband, best friend, and administrator, Bruce King. Her two Montessori children, Lina and Leith, are grown but the family still enjoys frequent boating expeditions. Click here to download Duna's résumé. As Executive Director of Soaring Wings, Duna oversees classroom quality, curriculum integrity, faculty development and community projects aimed at continual improvement and growth of the school.

Alyssa Fought, Director of Park Avenue Campus, Early Childhood Teacher. Alyssa is from the rural countryside of Virginia. She graduated with a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Special Education from James Madison University, received a Masters degree in Education and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. She has had extensive experience in working with children of all abilities, as a Special Olympics coach, ABA therapist/tutor and camp counselor. Alyssa became proficient in American Sign Language after spending a semester living, working and studying at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. She and her husband Tyler and Montessori children, Alexander and Caton, love to hike, mountain bike, camp and ski. Click here to download Alyssa's résumé.

Lina Singleton, Director of Jeremy Ranch Campus, Early Childhood Teacher. Lina grew up in Park City and has been a part of the Soaring Wings experience since she was six years old. She has watched her mom, Duna Strachan, and her dad, Bruce King, transform the school from a single small classroom in her Park Meadows home to what it is today. Lina graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Communication and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. Lina & her husband, Lee, love to travel & spend as much time as possible on Lake Mead. Click here to download Lina's résumé.

Leah Linebarger, Toddler Teacher. Leah has a BS degree in Social Science from Westminster College. She holds an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler teaching credential. She attended a Montessori school as a child in Texas, loves the outdoors and is an avid runner.

Kasey Carmichael, Toddler Teacher. Kasey holds a BA in International Business with a minor in French from Westminster College. While in pursuit of her degree, she spent time studying in Chimay, Belgium and Paris, France. Kasey loves to bake, ski, read, watch movies and practice yoga.

Jennifer Sperry Camp, Toddler Teacher. Jennifer has a BS degree in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Arkansas Tech University, and holds an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler teaching credential. She loves everything outdoors, especially skiing, fly fishing and mountain biking.

Sara Buchanan , Toddler Teacher. Sara was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and attended Montessori Children's House of North Barrington as a child. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Arizona before moving to Park City with her husband, Paul and dogs Sam & Charlie. Sara loves all sports especially snowboarding & skiing, working out and spending time with her family.

Kim Norman, Early Childhood Teacher. Kim has a BA in Journalism from Brigham Young University and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. She enjoyed her photo-journalism internship in Cairo, Egypt.  She has taught youth art programs and worked as a children’s grief counselor. She was a research assistant in a pulmonary lab for seven years before coming to us. Her varied art and science background gives her a great foundation for the Montessori curriculum.  Kim loves photography, skiing and yoga.

Jules Grove, Early Childhood Teacher. A lifelong Parkite, Jules left Utah for four years to earn her BA in English Literature from California’s Chapman University. Jules holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential and "enjoying every moment in her class.”

Libby Bailey, Early Childhood Teacher. Libby was born and raised in Moab, Utah. After leaving Moab for Salt Lake City, she earned her BS degree in Gender Studies from the University of Utah. Libby lives in Park City with her partner Tim and their two Abyssinian cats, Sid and Joey. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, cycling, and reading.

Michelle Aldrich, Elementary Teacher. Michelle graduated Cum Laude with a BS degree in Social Work from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She is an accredited children's educator and supervised the children's programs at Deer Valley for five years before coming to Soaring Wings with high recommendations and holds an American Montessori Society Elementary teaching credential. Michelle is an outdoors woman who enjoys bike touring and traveling in the out-of-doors. She lives in Woodland with her husband Jim, and Montessori children Tobianna and Lily.

Erin Martin, Elementary Intern. Erin grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. She earned a BS in Recreation Administration with a minor in Child Development at Chico State University and an MS in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science from Utah State University. Erin has taken the American Montessori Society Elementary teacher training and worked as an Early Childhood Assistant at Growing Light Montessori School for three years. She lives in Heber City with her husband Dave, son Connor and their two dogs, Sierra and Nevada. Erin enjoys exploring the outdoors while hiking, biking and skiing and especially enjoys the unique environment found in Southern Utah.

Elizabeth Jensen, Teaching Assistant. Elizabeth graduated from Park City High School in 1998 and received a BS in Marine Biology from Occidental College in Los Angeles in 2002. She enjoys music, reading and all kinds of crafts and is learning to play the didgeridoo. Elizabeth was a member of the Park City Leadership class of 2006.

Sara Swenson, Teaching Assistant. Sara grew up in El Paso and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Park City.  She has two teenaged children and has volunteered extensively in the local public schools. Sara loves to mountain bike, skate ski and go boating with her family.

Lisa Snyder, Teaching Assistant. Lisa grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where she earned a BS degree in Nursing from San Jose State University.  She came to Utah in 1999 and lives in Park City with her husband, Ed, sons Dominic and Andrew, and dog, Max.  Between chauffeuring the boys to soccer and skiing, Lisa enjoys reading and taking long walks.

Lynn Chadderdon, Teaching Assistant. Lynn holds a BA from University of California, Berkeley and has lived in Park City since 1988. She has been a part of Soaring Wings as a parent and as a teaching assistant. She left to start her own business, an organizing design company, which she continues to develop. We are delighted to have Lynn back on our faculty once again. She enjoys fly fishing, climbing, cycling, camping and being mom to Max.

Stevie Harrison, Teaching Assistant. Born and raised in Park City, Stevie is a true local. Graduating from the University of Utah in 2007, she holds a B.S. in Interpersonal Communication. She holds the dream and vision of being able to give back to a community that experiences the everyday pressures of an ever increasing and anxious world. She owns and operates a Bobby Lawrence Karate school with her sister in Heber City; and is passionately dedicated to propel and implement children’s education and their role in the world. During her free time she enjoys, karate, reading, dancing, and snowboarding.

Danielle Thomas, Teaching Assistant. Danielle recently relocated to Park City from Boston, Massachusetts.  She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BS degree in Business Administration & Finance.  Her passion to work with children brought her to Soaring Wings.  In her free time Danielle enjoys the outdoors through running, biking, and skiing.  She also practices yoga and loves to cook.

Jackie Gasparik, Administrative Assistant. Jackie grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where she earned a BS Degree in Urban Design and Planning from the University of Utah.  She worked as an area City/County planner for eleven years.  Jackie moved to Park City in 2006 for a more relaxed lifestyle with her husband and two daughters.  As a mother of two young Montessori children Carmen and Anna, She has changed her attention toward early child development and child education.  Jackie loves working with children, yoga and meditation, skiing, boating, reading and spending time with her family.

Sally Vollbrecht, Administrative Assistant. Sally was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and graduated with a BS in Textile Design from Buffalo State College.  She lived in Park City from 1994 -1997 and moved back ‘home’ to Park City in 2006.  During that time, Sally acquired over six years experience as a Montessori Teaching Assistant.  She is also mom to Tucker and Sienna who attended Montessori through their Elementary years.  Sally enjoys teaching yoga, running, skiing, and generally hanging out with husband Tom, the kids and two big dogs.

Bruce King, Administrator. Bruce left a successful 15-year career in Engineering to take the AMS Montessori teacher training and establish the Elementary program in 1993. He lent his talents in science, math and scouting to the popular elementary traditions of weekly field trips, family camp outs, a fascination with science and dissecting all things mechanical. Bruce holds a Masters of Education degree from the University of Utah as well as the BS in Engineering he completed at Arizona State University while courting his soul mate, Duna Strachan. Click here to download Bruce's résumé.