Jon Orris holds a B.A. in Recreation and Parks from the Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. in Elementary Education emphasizing Place-based Curriculum Design from Prescott College. Jon was an educator and administrator in the educational non-profit sector for 20 years before moving into Colorado Charter Schools.
Jon started his charter career in 2008 when he became the Executive Director and Principal of a small rural Colorado charter school with the enrollment of 28 students from preschool--8th grade. Within three years enrollment doubled. Jon received the Outstanding Charter School Leadership award from the Colorado League of Charter Schools in 2015. After 10 years, Jon spent two years as Head of School at two other Colorado charter schools.
Jon is an avid outdoor explorer, photographer, river runner, skier, and fly fisherman spending much of his free time in the desert southwest.

Alice is a seasoned special education teacher who embodies a purpose-driven ethos aimed at empowering communities and fostering inclusivity. With a master's degree in special education and a passion for making a positive impact, Alice's dedication to her students' success both inside and outside the classroom reflects her commitment to creating a better world for all.
Alice's journey into special education was inspired by her belief in the potential of every individual. Her comprehensive educational background and extensive experience enable her to support and advocate for students with diverse learning needs. At RWCS, Alice collaborates closely with parents and fellow educators to ensure her students receive consistent support. Her holistic approach ensures that the progress made in school is reinforced within the community.
Outside of work, Alice enjoys being in nature through running, cross-country skiing, hiking, and walking her dogs Bayne and Ivy. These activities not only provide her with a sense of balance and well-being but also reflect her appreciation for the natural world.

Evan is a transplant to New Mexico by way of Austin, Texas. He began teaching in 2014. While Evan began his tenure at RWCS as a classroom teacher, his current position allows him to support all classroom teachers through such avenues as coordinating outdoor trips, field work experiences, and other opportunities for student enrichment.
Along with a love of learning and discovery, Evan has a diverse background in music and video production, which he enthusiastically incorporates into his life at RWCS. Evan has a passion for exploring new places and loves to travel during his summer breaks.

Jaclyn was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University where she earned her B.A and M.A in Elementary Education.
Since relocating to Taos she's had the privilege to learn from the land by growing food on a couple of farms and forming genuine relationships with the community.
Her passion is being a facilitator of learning. One of her greatest strengths as an educator is creating an environment, inside and outside the classroom, that is filled with comfort, joy, and love

Rose emerged on the teaching scene in 2013, after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Early Childhood through Middle School Education. In 2017, Rose joined the RWCS community - first as the educational assistant in the K-2 classroom, then as the math and science teacher for the 3-5 and 6-8 cohorts, and finally, in her current position teaching all subjects in the 3-5 classroom. Rose is grateful to be working at a school which values each of the individuals that make up our community, and she is excited to see what the future holds at Roots & Wings.
When she is not in the classroom, Rose enjoys traveling, playing music, and spending time with her loved ones.

Amelia began teaching in 2011 and has worked in Expeditionary Learning schools since 2013. She first came to Roots and Wings as the middle school teacher in 2015. Before her work at Roots and Wings, she taught in other Expeditionary Learning schools in both NYC and Maine. She has been leading kids in the outdoors since 2015 and the unique outdoor program at RWCS is what brought her to New Mexico. Amelia is passionate about creating a fun, loving, and joyful environment for students in middle school, which is so often a difficult time for adolescents. Amelia loves the small community of Roots and Wings and being able to teach students for three years in the 6-8 cohort, developing strong relationships where students feel safe to be themselves. Amelia graduated from College of the Atlantic in 2011 with a BA in Human Ecology and from Hunter College CUNY in 2013 with a MA in Special Education.
In addition to her work as a teacher, Amelia is a volunteer firefighter with Latir Fire Department. When not at school, Amelia is often cross country skiing, hiking, or backpacking with her husband and their two dogs, Moseley and Juniper.

Valerie is in her fourth year here at Roots and Wings as the educational assistant supporting the K-2 classroom. She has lived in Taos for almost 10 years, and has worked in education in various capacities over the years, including two years as the assistant teacher in a forest kindergarten program.
When she is not at school, Valerie enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time in nature with her partner and their dogs.

Sara began teaching in 2005 and joined Roots and Wings in 2015 as an educational assistant, taking a break from full-time teaching to pursue her Master's degree. In the fall of 2017, she became the Reading Interventionist, and received a dual Masters in Educational Psychology and Child & Adolescent Development in the winter of 2017. She became a Certified Academic Language Practitioner in March of 2021.

Tyler brings a variety of experiences to his role at RWCS. Tyler began leading outdoor trips at RWCS in 2016, and he continues to love giving students the opportunity to fall in love with nature and our local wilderness! In 2011, Tyler began his career as a social worker in Haiti, working with children who had been in trafficking situations. Since then, Tyler has worked with DreamTree Project, the NM Human Trafficking Task Force, as well as in the agricultural sector with the Quivira Coalition and Alianza Agri-Cultura de Taos. Currently, he works as Latir Fire Chief and does contract work with the U.S. Forest Service for various projects. When not working, you can find him on the farm he and his wife run, or hiking, backpacking, or XC skiing with their two dogs.

Meet our wonderful team