Our Team
Our team of talented and dedicated teachers has over 100 years of cumulative experience in childcare and education. We value the uniqueness of each individual child and we are committed to providing an enriching and supportive environment in which children can learn and grow. Our amazing team of teachers helps kids to develop their autonomy through innovative, rigorous curriculum and interest-based educational activities while nurturing a lifelong love for learning!
Melissa Reeve- Program Director & Teacher
Born and raised on the island of Maui, Melissa moved to the Madison Valley in her early twenties to start a small town country life with her husband Michael. She’s been providing childcare for about 8 years and it has definitely become her passion. She’s gone from running an in-home daycare, to the director position at a local preschool, and now onto amazing things with Madison Valley Adventure Academy and our sister school Wild Rose Family Center! Having her son in public school the past couple years has been an eye opener as to the need for an alternative education that focuses on children’s individual needs and not in-the-box worksheets and test scores. Every child learns at a different pace or in a different way and sometimes different tools and strategies need to be put in place to accommodate them. Our small child-led environment helps us to provide a more individualized educational experience for those kids who thrive in a less traditional school atmosphere.
Born and raised on the island of Maui, Melissa moved to the Madison Valley in her early twenties to start a small town country life with her husband Michael. She’s been providing childcare for about 8 years and it has definitely become her passion. She’s gone from running an in-home daycare, to the director position at a local preschool, and now onto amazing things with Madison Valley Adventure Academy and our sister school Wild Rose Family Center! Having her son in public school the past couple years has been an eye opener as to the need for an alternative education that focuses on children’s individual needs and not in-the-box worksheets and test scores. Every child learns at a different pace or in a different way and sometimes different tools and strategies need to be put in place to accommodate them. Our small child-led environment helps us to provide a more individualized educational experience for those kids who thrive in a less traditional school atmosphere.
Heidi Worley - Assistant Director & Teacher
Heidi moved to Ennis in 2022 from Belgrade after her husband worked in Ennis seasonally for 8 years. Heidi grew up in Washington state, moved to Montana 11 years ago and instantly fell in love with our mountains. Heidi has a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health & Minor in Sociology from Montana State University. She has a 3-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. She has seen first-hand how Wild Rose Daycare & Preschool has helped develop her children into kind, thoughtful, and “beat to their own drum” children and she wants to help provide that same support to our students at MVAA . Heidi has a passion for Early Childhood education, holistic health, and has a special interest in positive behavioral guidance, outdoor education, and physical education. Some activities she enjoys are hiking, ice fishing, running, and eating yummy food!
Heidi moved to Ennis in 2022 from Belgrade after her husband worked in Ennis seasonally for 8 years. Heidi grew up in Washington state, moved to Montana 11 years ago and instantly fell in love with our mountains. Heidi has a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health & Minor in Sociology from Montana State University. She has a 3-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. She has seen first-hand how Wild Rose Daycare & Preschool has helped develop her children into kind, thoughtful, and “beat to their own drum” children and she wants to help provide that same support to our students at MVAA . Heidi has a passion for Early Childhood education, holistic health, and has a special interest in positive behavioral guidance, outdoor education, and physical education. Some activities she enjoys are hiking, ice fishing, running, and eating yummy food!
Dave Neal- Curriculum Director & Educational Consultant
Dave Neal comes to us with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University. Dave moved to Montana in 1999 from Seattle, WA. Since then, he has taught at Ophir Elementary school located in Big Sky, MT and he also constructed the Gifted and Talented Program at Monforton School in Bozeman. It was at Ophir that he received the acknowledgments of Educator of the Year presented by the Big Sky Chamber, he was the first recipient and inspiration of the regional Boyne Exceptional Educator Award, and was a runner up for Montana State Teacher of the year. Now Dave has moved to a new chapter in life and is a full time fishing and upland bird hunting guide at Ruby Springs Lodge located in Alder, MT as well as the Curriculum Director and educational consultant for MVAA. In his free time, you will find him riding his mountain bike, backcountry skiing, or traveling to fish in the salt.
Dave Neal comes to us with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University. Dave moved to Montana in 1999 from Seattle, WA. Since then, he has taught at Ophir Elementary school located in Big Sky, MT and he also constructed the Gifted and Talented Program at Monforton School in Bozeman. It was at Ophir that he received the acknowledgments of Educator of the Year presented by the Big Sky Chamber, he was the first recipient and inspiration of the regional Boyne Exceptional Educator Award, and was a runner up for Montana State Teacher of the year. Now Dave has moved to a new chapter in life and is a full time fishing and upland bird hunting guide at Ruby Springs Lodge located in Alder, MT as well as the Curriculum Director and educational consultant for MVAA. In his free time, you will find him riding his mountain bike, backcountry skiing, or traveling to fish in the salt.
Wendy MacNeill - Educational Consultant & Individual Tutor
Teaching and exploring all aspects of the world with children has been Wendy's passion for decades. An award-winning investigative journalist for 40 years, Wendy began homeschooling her son in 2nd grade back in 2001. She has just finished her homeschooling journey with her daughter who is headed off to college in September. She has homeschooled a total of 20 years, teaching both her children through high school. Two years ago she entered the Montana Rural Teacher Project and has completed most of her master's degree requirements in teaching at MSU, including high scores on all the teaching certificate exams (Math, English, Science, Social Studies.) Her undergraduate work is from the University of Southern California where she graduated magna cum laude with bachelor's degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. She ran television newsrooms in major cities across the nation, covering some incredible stories. Her homeschooled son is now a television news producer himself in Las Vegas. Wendy still works with young journalists and meteorologists as a mentor and agent. She comes to MVAA after spending the last year teaching English to children in rural areas of Argentina, Colombia and The Galapagos Islands/Ecuador with her 19-year-old daughter by her side. Wendy adores leading children through hands-on learning adventures and is known for her endless energy, enthusiasm and crazy, creative ideas. She has lived in Montana since 2000, now residing in a slightly tilting historic home in Virginia City with her dogs, cat and two very funny parrots.
Teaching and exploring all aspects of the world with children has been Wendy's passion for decades. An award-winning investigative journalist for 40 years, Wendy began homeschooling her son in 2nd grade back in 2001. She has just finished her homeschooling journey with her daughter who is headed off to college in September. She has homeschooled a total of 20 years, teaching both her children through high school. Two years ago she entered the Montana Rural Teacher Project and has completed most of her master's degree requirements in teaching at MSU, including high scores on all the teaching certificate exams (Math, English, Science, Social Studies.) Her undergraduate work is from the University of Southern California where she graduated magna cum laude with bachelor's degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. She ran television newsrooms in major cities across the nation, covering some incredible stories. Her homeschooled son is now a television news producer himself in Las Vegas. Wendy still works with young journalists and meteorologists as a mentor and agent. She comes to MVAA after spending the last year teaching English to children in rural areas of Argentina, Colombia and The Galapagos Islands/Ecuador with her 19-year-old daughter by her side. Wendy adores leading children through hands-on learning adventures and is known for her endless energy, enthusiasm and crazy, creative ideas. She has lived in Montana since 2000, now residing in a slightly tilting historic home in Virginia City with her dogs, cat and two very funny parrots.
Kristee Sturgill- Substitute Teacher
Kristee was born in Southern California, but relocated to the Gallatin Valley in middle school. From an early age, she knew she wanted to work with children. She has over 20 years education/ childcare experience. She graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She taught first grade in Las Vegas, but decided to move home to Montana after fallinng in love with her now husband, Chris. For 4 years she was the executive director of a Reggio Emilia preschool in Bozeman. After the birth of her second child, she decided to take an admin position to make more time for her family, but continued her education through online trainings, and matters courses in education. In 2017 her family moved to Ennis when her husband took a position with Madison County. She is currently homeschooling her own children, and is looking forward to working with the children at Madison Valley Adventure Academy.
Kristee was born in Southern California, but relocated to the Gallatin Valley in middle school. From an early age, she knew she wanted to work with children. She has over 20 years education/ childcare experience. She graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She taught first grade in Las Vegas, but decided to move home to Montana after fallinng in love with her now husband, Chris. For 4 years she was the executive director of a Reggio Emilia preschool in Bozeman. After the birth of her second child, she decided to take an admin position to make more time for her family, but continued her education through online trainings, and matters courses in education. In 2017 her family moved to Ennis when her husband took a position with Madison County. She is currently homeschooling her own children, and is looking forward to working with the children at Madison Valley Adventure Academy.
Lindsay DeGroot- Founder
Lindsay holds a Master's degree in Education, has completed extensive coursework in early childhood development/elementary education, and has worked in the public school system as a school counselor. Lindsay has a large role in MVAA's curriculum planning, teacher training, and student support. She is a licensed mental health therapist (LCPC) specializing in children, adolescents, families, parenting, and postpartum support services. She is a clinical supervisor for pre-licensed therapists with a focus on perinatal mental health and interpersonal neurobiology. Lindsay is a faculty member at Montana State University where she teaches courses in Health and Human Development including a master's-level course on Child and Adolescent Counseling. She comes from a long line of Montana natives, growing up on a cattle ranch in the Madison Valley and has strong family ties to the area. Lindsay and her husband Martin, a Physician Assistant at the Madison Valley Medical Center, live in Ennis with their two young children and are excited to bring alternative educational opportunities to the beautiful Madison valley.
Lindsay holds a Master's degree in Education, has completed extensive coursework in early childhood development/elementary education, and has worked in the public school system as a school counselor. Lindsay has a large role in MVAA's curriculum planning, teacher training, and student support. She is a licensed mental health therapist (LCPC) specializing in children, adolescents, families, parenting, and postpartum support services. She is a clinical supervisor for pre-licensed therapists with a focus on perinatal mental health and interpersonal neurobiology. Lindsay is a faculty member at Montana State University where she teaches courses in Health and Human Development including a master's-level course on Child and Adolescent Counseling. She comes from a long line of Montana natives, growing up on a cattle ranch in the Madison Valley and has strong family ties to the area. Lindsay and her husband Martin, a Physician Assistant at the Madison Valley Medical Center, live in Ennis with their two young children and are excited to bring alternative educational opportunities to the beautiful Madison valley.
For daycare and play-based preschool for younger kiddos, please check out our sister school:
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