Teachers and Staff
Tammie Sarver - Executive Director
I’m filled with joy and honored to be leading and learning with our Blue Mountain School community! I’m committed to nurturing our community's youngest citizens' love of learning, mindfulness, social emotional strength, and developmentally appropriate activism. I’m committed to caring and connecting with every family in our Blue Mountain School community. I want every child and family in our community to feel seen, heard, and valued.
I’ve been teaching in and out of the classroom for nearly 30 years. I’m very grateful that after a winding journey, as a teacher and administrator, I have found my pedagogical home at Blue Mountain School! I’m inspired by the philosophies of Reggio Emilia and constructivist education. I received my undergraduate education at Virginia Tech. In my masters work at ETSU, I studied Emergent Inquiry, and I’m proud to have attended training in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
I look for ways to celebrate and inspire each child’s unique abilities, sense of wonder, and feelings of success. I believe that students, families, and Blue Mountain School weave together a beautiful fabric of support, curiosity, and provocation. Together, we combine core academics with the rich alchemy of outdoor education and mindfulness. We weave a tapestry of curiosity, work, and learning that blanket a life rich with the love of learning and the tools to succeed in a diverse and rapidly changing world.
When I’m not at school you will usually find me in the woods, the river, volunteering, or cooking in my kitchen or reading a good book with my Eric, our 5 children, and many pets.
I’m filled with joy and honored to be leading and learning with our Blue Mountain School community! I’m committed to nurturing our community's youngest citizens' love of learning, mindfulness, social emotional strength, and developmentally appropriate activism. I’m committed to caring and connecting with every family in our Blue Mountain School community. I want every child and family in our community to feel seen, heard, and valued.
I’ve been teaching in and out of the classroom for nearly 30 years. I’m very grateful that after a winding journey, as a teacher and administrator, I have found my pedagogical home at Blue Mountain School! I’m inspired by the philosophies of Reggio Emilia and constructivist education. I received my undergraduate education at Virginia Tech. In my masters work at ETSU, I studied Emergent Inquiry, and I’m proud to have attended training in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
I look for ways to celebrate and inspire each child’s unique abilities, sense of wonder, and feelings of success. I believe that students, families, and Blue Mountain School weave together a beautiful fabric of support, curiosity, and provocation. Together, we combine core academics with the rich alchemy of outdoor education and mindfulness. We weave a tapestry of curiosity, work, and learning that blanket a life rich with the love of learning and the tools to succeed in a diverse and rapidly changing world.
When I’m not at school you will usually find me in the woods, the river, volunteering, or cooking in my kitchen or reading a good book with my Eric, our 5 children, and many pets.
Jenni Heartway - Forest Programs Director and Teacher
My passion is educating young learners using emergent curriculum and project based learning. I began my training as a Foxfire Certified teacher and have continued my love of learning that spirals from student interests, since that time. I truly enjoy helping students develop literacy skills in an authentic, meaningful manner, and scaffolding children’s play to create learning experiences. I have taught in a variety of settings; public schools, private schools, internationally and outdoors as a Forest Kindergarten teacher. This is my 20th year in the classroom. I am a licensed Birth through Sixth grade teacher and have an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with a second major in Psychology. My Masters Degree is in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support. I completed my North Carolina Environmental Educator’s Certification, and look forward to sharing my love of the outdoors with my students. When I'm not in the classroom you can find me in the woods with my family and our dogs. My four children attend Blue Mountain and my husband, Perrin works as a holistic veterinarian.
My passion is educating young learners using emergent curriculum and project based learning. I began my training as a Foxfire Certified teacher and have continued my love of learning that spirals from student interests, since that time. I truly enjoy helping students develop literacy skills in an authentic, meaningful manner, and scaffolding children’s play to create learning experiences. I have taught in a variety of settings; public schools, private schools, internationally and outdoors as a Forest Kindergarten teacher. This is my 20th year in the classroom. I am a licensed Birth through Sixth grade teacher and have an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with a second major in Psychology. My Masters Degree is in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support. I completed my North Carolina Environmental Educator’s Certification, and look forward to sharing my love of the outdoors with my students. When I'm not in the classroom you can find me in the woods with my family and our dogs. My four children attend Blue Mountain and my husband, Perrin works as a holistic veterinarian.
Lore Deighan - Art Teacher, Enrichment Director
As a Floyd native by birth carried away for many years, I have been happily settled back in this wonderful community since 2008. I have taught at Blue Mountain School now for ten years, spending that time as a parent, art teacher, forest school leader, upper elementary teacher, and administrator. I have learned so much about teaching, parenting and myself as I've grown into my role as an educator at BMS. My passion is painting, graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006 with a degree in Painting and Printmaking. I weave my artistic and creative self, my passion and awe for the natural world, and my enthusiasm for wandering and wondering through life into my role as educator.
As a Floyd native by birth carried away for many years, I have been happily settled back in this wonderful community since 2008. I have taught at Blue Mountain School now for ten years, spending that time as a parent, art teacher, forest school leader, upper elementary teacher, and administrator. I have learned so much about teaching, parenting and myself as I've grown into my role as an educator at BMS. My passion is painting, graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006 with a degree in Painting and Printmaking. I weave my artistic and creative self, my passion and awe for the natural world, and my enthusiasm for wandering and wondering through life into my role as educator.
Stefi Schafer - Early Childhood Lead Teacher
I am a native of Germany, and I settled in the New River Valley nearly 20 years ago. I found my true Heimat right here in Floyd. I have a degree in early childhood development and education from New River Community College, and I have been working in the early childhood field for about 15 years with various age groups. While my training is valuable, my experience as a teacher and as the mother of a college-bound daughter and two grown sons has taught me a lot about children that the textbooks left out. I strongly believe that children are capable collaborators in their own learning process: children are people, too! They deserve respectful and caring adults to guide them on their journey as they learn about themselves and others, and the world around them. In addition to teaching, I also am an active member of the Floyd Humane Society and provide foster care for puppies and dogs.
I am a native of Germany, and I settled in the New River Valley nearly 20 years ago. I found my true Heimat right here in Floyd. I have a degree in early childhood development and education from New River Community College, and I have been working in the early childhood field for about 15 years with various age groups. While my training is valuable, my experience as a teacher and as the mother of a college-bound daughter and two grown sons has taught me a lot about children that the textbooks left out. I strongly believe that children are capable collaborators in their own learning process: children are people, too! They deserve respectful and caring adults to guide them on their journey as they learn about themselves and others, and the world around them. In addition to teaching, I also am an active member of the Floyd Humane Society and provide foster care for puppies and dogs.
Mark Upson - Facilities Manager and Classroom Support
I have been a teacher in many different settings, and I have held a similar number of positions within the arts. As my working life has straddled the two disciplines, my heart has always found the common ground between the two to be the most personally rewarding. Without a doubt, my discovery of Blue Mountain and the community of Floyd has been the culmination of a very long journey and the beginning of a deeper exploration into teaching, learning, and creating. As in all endeavors born from inspiration and love, the spark of learning remains joyful and mysterious to those whose minds are open. The mere existence of mystery, makes me feel like I am on a wild frontier, along with my fellow teachers and students, embarking on some grand adventure, destination unknown, without a map, just our hearts leading the way. For us, it's the journey that is sacred, and together we probe the future, searching for meaning, researching the possibilities, investigating all leads with inspiration, spontaneity, and love. I am grateful for every student who brings this journey to our school, and opens the book on such a worthy pursuit as learning.
I have been a teacher in many different settings, and I have held a similar number of positions within the arts. As my working life has straddled the two disciplines, my heart has always found the common ground between the two to be the most personally rewarding. Without a doubt, my discovery of Blue Mountain and the community of Floyd has been the culmination of a very long journey and the beginning of a deeper exploration into teaching, learning, and creating. As in all endeavors born from inspiration and love, the spark of learning remains joyful and mysterious to those whose minds are open. The mere existence of mystery, makes me feel like I am on a wild frontier, along with my fellow teachers and students, embarking on some grand adventure, destination unknown, without a map, just our hearts leading the way. For us, it's the journey that is sacred, and together we probe the future, searching for meaning, researching the possibilities, investigating all leads with inspiration, spontaneity, and love. I am grateful for every student who brings this journey to our school, and opens the book on such a worthy pursuit as learning.
Mollie Walsh - Forest School Teacher
My love of nature was born in the swamps of coastal Virginia where I spent my early years. My love of working with young people sparked during my high school years as a student teacher in a small progressive school setting. I have spent time as camp counselor, family resource provider and educator in California and Virginia. My educational passion is to help young learners develop their connections to nature through art, birding, plant identification, adventuring and hiking. I enjoy those things in my spare time immensely but also love gardening with my terrier and reading Roald Dahl books aloud in silly voices.
My love of nature was born in the swamps of coastal Virginia where I spent my early years. My love of working with young people sparked during my high school years as a student teacher in a small progressive school setting. I have spent time as camp counselor, family resource provider and educator in California and Virginia. My educational passion is to help young learners develop their connections to nature through art, birding, plant identification, adventuring and hiking. I enjoy those things in my spare time immensely but also love gardening with my terrier and reading Roald Dahl books aloud in silly voices.
David Choquette - Upper Elementary Teacher
My teaching license says I teach math, reading, science, and social studies, but my true goal is to inspire students to be kind, curious, and confident. How do we build a caring community? How do we answer the zillion questions we have about the world? How do we get really good at stuff like long division, writing stories, identifying bugs, and making fires? Let’s figure it out together in the woods! I came to Blue Mountain after six years of public school teaching in VA and NC, and ten years of counseling at summer camps, year-round camps, and even a therapeutic wilderness camp. I have a master’s degree in teaching from NC State and a BS in psychology from Virginia Tech. I’ve also caught 21 species of snakes, paddled 500 miles, and played 100 different games. I’m excited to finally be able to combine all my skills and passions into one glorious, creative outdoor learning adventure with you.
My teaching license says I teach math, reading, science, and social studies, but my true goal is to inspire students to be kind, curious, and confident. How do we build a caring community? How do we answer the zillion questions we have about the world? How do we get really good at stuff like long division, writing stories, identifying bugs, and making fires? Let’s figure it out together in the woods! I came to Blue Mountain after six years of public school teaching in VA and NC, and ten years of counseling at summer camps, year-round camps, and even a therapeutic wilderness camp. I have a master’s degree in teaching from NC State and a BS in psychology from Virginia Tech. I’ve also caught 21 species of snakes, paddled 500 miles, and played 100 different games. I’m excited to finally be able to combine all my skills and passions into one glorious, creative outdoor learning adventure with you.
Jacob Sission - Middle Elementary Teacher
Each day I am thankful to have the opportunity to learn, play, and create things with my students. It is important to me that my students feel safe, love learning, and are happy in their school endeavors. Among my favorite quotes is "Imagination is more important than knowledge." by Albert Einstein. Each day I spend time teaching I find new perspectives on his amazing words. When a child smiles at a new marvel that they have found in their world I know I am lucky to share in their adventure.
Each day I am thankful to have the opportunity to learn, play, and create things with my students. It is important to me that my students feel safe, love learning, and are happy in their school endeavors. Among my favorite quotes is "Imagination is more important than knowledge." by Albert Einstein. Each day I spend time teaching I find new perspectives on his amazing words. When a child smiles at a new marvel that they have found in their world I know I am lucky to share in their adventure.
Kiara Sprowls - Early Elementary Teacher
I became a teacher because I love helping students explore the world with wonder and develop their socio-emotional lifelong skills. I value encouraging students’ authenticity to shine! I’m very grateful for the Blue Mountain School’s values of learning through supportive community, self responsibility, and exploring and having stewardship for our natural environment. My childhood experience in community, nature, and social-emotional focused summer camps and schools was meaningful and connective. It’s wonderful to be contributing to a similar environment as an educator now. I feel contented to be learning and growing alongside our students and faculty as we welcome our new class of Early Learners. I am a licensed preschool through 6th grade teacher with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Childhood Studies. Last May I graduated with a Masters in Elementary Education from Christopher Newport University. I have taught Preschool at private schools and student-taught Kindergarten and 1st grade in public school. I am new to Floyd and grew up in Northern Virginia, though some of my family has lived in Floyd for years. When I’m not in school, you can find me adventuring outdoors, spending time with friends and family, or relaxing with journaling or crafting.
I became a teacher because I love helping students explore the world with wonder and develop their socio-emotional lifelong skills. I value encouraging students’ authenticity to shine! I’m very grateful for the Blue Mountain School’s values of learning through supportive community, self responsibility, and exploring and having stewardship for our natural environment. My childhood experience in community, nature, and social-emotional focused summer camps and schools was meaningful and connective. It’s wonderful to be contributing to a similar environment as an educator now. I feel contented to be learning and growing alongside our students and faculty as we welcome our new class of Early Learners. I am a licensed preschool through 6th grade teacher with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Childhood Studies. Last May I graduated with a Masters in Elementary Education from Christopher Newport University. I have taught Preschool at private schools and student-taught Kindergarten and 1st grade in public school. I am new to Floyd and grew up in Northern Virginia, though some of my family has lived in Floyd for years. When I’m not in school, you can find me adventuring outdoors, spending time with friends and family, or relaxing with journaling or crafting.
Jagadisha Rotella - Enrichment Mindfulness Teacher
Jagadisha has been helping children at Blue Mountain School cultivate mindfulness within themselves and their interactions within the world for over ten years! He shares his deep sense of calm, and love for the art of bonsai and plantings with the students at Blue Mountain School.
Jagadisha has been helping children at Blue Mountain School cultivate mindfulness within themselves and their interactions within the world for over ten years! He shares his deep sense of calm, and love for the art of bonsai and plantings with the students at Blue Mountain School.
Kris Koko-Cozy - Enrichment Music and Movement Teacher
Kris Kiko-Cozy has been facilitating groups of all ages in music and movement for over 30 years. She often teams up with her husband Jeff who also enjoys bringing people together to sing, dance and make music. Kris draws from rich and diverse personal experiences and resources to knit together the common threads of different movement and dance modalities, simple, traditional songs, spontaneous improvisations, nature themes and the world's many spiritual traditions for joyful and meaningful expression in a safe, group context.
Kris grew up the oldest of eight children on a farm in NE Ohio. She began at age 13 teaching private clarinet lessons and at 16 performing professionally in the classical music world. Her passion for using the arts for health and wellness and community building led to work in mental health, the Bosnian war zone and many diverse educational settings.
Kris Kiko-Cozy has been facilitating groups of all ages in music and movement for over 30 years. She often teams up with her husband Jeff who also enjoys bringing people together to sing, dance and make music. Kris draws from rich and diverse personal experiences and resources to knit together the common threads of different movement and dance modalities, simple, traditional songs, spontaneous improvisations, nature themes and the world's many spiritual traditions for joyful and meaningful expression in a safe, group context.
Kris grew up the oldest of eight children on a farm in NE Ohio. She began at age 13 teaching private clarinet lessons and at 16 performing professionally in the classical music world. Her passion for using the arts for health and wellness and community building led to work in mental health, the Bosnian war zone and many diverse educational settings.
