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!
Lindsay Leadbetter DeGroot, MEd, LCPC, LSC- Founder & Director
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 former adjunct faculty member at Montana State University where she taught 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 former adjunct faculty member at Montana State University where she taught 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.
Heidi Worley - Assistant Director & Classroom 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. She has completed trainings in classroom management, lesson planning, fundamentals of teaching & education, and implementing positive behavior management. She is a lifelong learner who is always pushing herself to develop her skills to best meet the needs of the students at MVAA.
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. She has completed trainings in classroom management, lesson planning, fundamentals of teaching & education, and implementing positive behavior management. She is a lifelong learner who is always pushing herself to develop her skills to best meet the needs of the students at MVAA.
Skye Wyrick, MSW, LCSW-School-based Counselor & Classroom Support Specialist
Skye lives in Montana and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with children and families since 2014 in a variety of settings, including schools, homes, and private practice. She received her Master of Social Work in 2014 from the University of North Dakota, and primarily uses a treatment modality called Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. As a CBT focused therapist, Skye helps her client to learn and understand the deep connection between thoughts, behaviors and actions and how to to acknowledge and alter thoughts according to set goals. As we begin to recognize this connection, our control over ourselves strengthens. Skye also intertwines mindfulness and breathwork into her practice regularly as she believes each of us have a powerful mind and body connection. Most importantly, Skye believes in a client-led approach to therapy, meaning she is willing to meet her client where they are, set goals together and move forward at their own pace. Joining into therapy should always be a safe and open space.Skye spends most of her time working with teens and pre-teens, learning to cope with and understand symptoms of anxiety and depression, managing ADHD, supporting self- advocacy, learning self- regulating skills and living with trauma. When she’s not meeting with clients, Skye is found with her husband, daughter, and doodle, usually outside hiking, camping, adventuring, and having fun together.
Skye lives in Montana and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with children and families since 2014 in a variety of settings, including schools, homes, and private practice. She received her Master of Social Work in 2014 from the University of North Dakota, and primarily uses a treatment modality called Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. As a CBT focused therapist, Skye helps her client to learn and understand the deep connection between thoughts, behaviors and actions and how to to acknowledge and alter thoughts according to set goals. As we begin to recognize this connection, our control over ourselves strengthens. Skye also intertwines mindfulness and breathwork into her practice regularly as she believes each of us have a powerful mind and body connection. Most importantly, Skye believes in a client-led approach to therapy, meaning she is willing to meet her client where they are, set goals together and move forward at their own pace. Joining into therapy should always be a safe and open space.Skye spends most of her time working with teens and pre-teens, learning to cope with and understand symptoms of anxiety and depression, managing ADHD, supporting self- advocacy, learning self- regulating skills and living with trauma. When she’s not meeting with clients, Skye is found with her husband, daughter, and doodle, usually outside hiking, camping, adventuring, and having fun together.
Dave Neal, MEd- 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.
Patti Harrison, MEd- Educational Consultant, Instructor, & Tutor
Patti joins us with a rich experience in education, curriculum development, and professional development. Her experience includes over 30 years in the K-6 classroom and supporting teachers. Because of her passion for teaching/learning in all the curricular areas of elementary education, Patti has participated in years of professional development focused on all the content areas in elementary education and best practices for successful learning. Involvement in curriculum development/assessment in math, science, social studies, technology, and reading also enhanced her educational practices. A focus on science/arts integration was a passion for her as she helped students create musicals, plays, paintings and sculptures to enhance learning across the curriculum.
Through her continuous learning journey, she completed degrees in Elementary Education and Education Leadership from Montana State University. Completing a Masters in Technology/Communication from Pepperdine University was a highlight. The focus was learning and collaborating with national experts from across disciplines to focus on technology integration and how knowledge is best shared. Because of her knowledge and expertise, Patti was encouraged to support teachers as an instructional coach. She has provided professional development across the state of Montana, other states, and countries. An extraordinary experience traveling with a team of teachers to Armenia where she supported teachers who were just starting to explore how to teach “differently” after their freedom from the Soviet Union. Her education has also been enriched through travels to Japan, Hong Kong, China, Russia, Greece, France, England, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, often visiting schools and learning with teachers. She shares the two most rewarding roles in her professional career are teaching students first and collaborating with educators to be the best they can be.
Patti and her husband Jim are born and raised Montanans who love camping, snowmobiling, biking, staying in touch with friends and traveling the state. As a child, she spent many summers camping in the Ennis area with her grandparents and uncle. Her dream was someday to relocate to the place that held her heart since a little girl looking up at Fan Mountain. Today she lives with her husband in an Ennis home, which overlooks Fan Mountain. Now she can share Fan Mountain, the river, and Ennis with her 3 children and grandchildren. Patti and Jim also enjoy spending time attending the many basketball, baseball, soccer and football games of their grandchildren. Traveling and exploring the world continues to be on her list of things to do. Because she missed working with children, parents, and teachers, she has sought out opportunities that would support education in Madison Valley and connect with her passions. The Madison Valley Adventure Academy is a great fit. Patti continues to believe it is important as an educator to see each child individually and provide learning experiences that not only exposes the child to knowledge and skills, but also integrates nature, art, music, science, mathematics, reading, writing, and engineering.
A few of her favorite quotes are-
“Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”
“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” Leonardo Da Vinci
Patti joins us with a rich experience in education, curriculum development, and professional development. Her experience includes over 30 years in the K-6 classroom and supporting teachers. Because of her passion for teaching/learning in all the curricular areas of elementary education, Patti has participated in years of professional development focused on all the content areas in elementary education and best practices for successful learning. Involvement in curriculum development/assessment in math, science, social studies, technology, and reading also enhanced her educational practices. A focus on science/arts integration was a passion for her as she helped students create musicals, plays, paintings and sculptures to enhance learning across the curriculum.
Through her continuous learning journey, she completed degrees in Elementary Education and Education Leadership from Montana State University. Completing a Masters in Technology/Communication from Pepperdine University was a highlight. The focus was learning and collaborating with national experts from across disciplines to focus on technology integration and how knowledge is best shared. Because of her knowledge and expertise, Patti was encouraged to support teachers as an instructional coach. She has provided professional development across the state of Montana, other states, and countries. An extraordinary experience traveling with a team of teachers to Armenia where she supported teachers who were just starting to explore how to teach “differently” after their freedom from the Soviet Union. Her education has also been enriched through travels to Japan, Hong Kong, China, Russia, Greece, France, England, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, often visiting schools and learning with teachers. She shares the two most rewarding roles in her professional career are teaching students first and collaborating with educators to be the best they can be.
Patti and her husband Jim are born and raised Montanans who love camping, snowmobiling, biking, staying in touch with friends and traveling the state. As a child, she spent many summers camping in the Ennis area with her grandparents and uncle. Her dream was someday to relocate to the place that held her heart since a little girl looking up at Fan Mountain. Today she lives with her husband in an Ennis home, which overlooks Fan Mountain. Now she can share Fan Mountain, the river, and Ennis with her 3 children and grandchildren. Patti and Jim also enjoy spending time attending the many basketball, baseball, soccer and football games of their grandchildren. Traveling and exploring the world continues to be on her list of things to do. Because she missed working with children, parents, and teachers, she has sought out opportunities that would support education in Madison Valley and connect with her passions. The Madison Valley Adventure Academy is a great fit. Patti continues to believe it is important as an educator to see each child individually and provide learning experiences that not only exposes the child to knowledge and skills, but also integrates nature, art, music, science, mathematics, reading, writing, and engineering.
A few of her favorite quotes are-
“Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”
“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” Leonardo Da Vinci
Chloe Goodson - Summer Camp Teacher
Chloe moved to Ennis in the fall of 2023, after calling Montana her home for the last five years. Growing up in southwest Virginia, with a childhood greatly rooted in the outdoors, cultivated an appreciation and deep love for nature that Chloe has carried well into the present. After completing her undergraduate degree at Liberty University, she went on to work as a teacher in a traditional private school setting. However, she quickly realized that the one-size-fits-all approach to education was not working for many of her students. Driven by her passion and her two young boys, Chloe decided to continue her own education in alternative forms of childhood education while homeschooling. She has since completed several courses and workshops on topics such as Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia approaches to education.Today, Chloe is a vocal advocate for education reform and is excited to be a part of a school such as MVAA, providing an alternative path of learning to students in the Madison Valley. She believes that every child should have access to an education that meets their individual needs and interests.
Chloe moved to Ennis in the fall of 2023, after calling Montana her home for the last five years. Growing up in southwest Virginia, with a childhood greatly rooted in the outdoors, cultivated an appreciation and deep love for nature that Chloe has carried well into the present. After completing her undergraduate degree at Liberty University, she went on to work as a teacher in a traditional private school setting. However, she quickly realized that the one-size-fits-all approach to education was not working for many of her students. Driven by her passion and her two young boys, Chloe decided to continue her own education in alternative forms of childhood education while homeschooling. She has since completed several courses and workshops on topics such as Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia approaches to education.Today, Chloe is a vocal advocate for education reform and is excited to be a part of a school such as MVAA, providing an alternative path of learning to students in the Madison Valley. She believes that every child should have access to an education that meets their individual needs and interests.
Kim Parson, MEd - Educational Consultant & Classroom Support Specialist
Kim Parson is so happy to be working with Madison Valley Adventure Academy! She started out as an Education major at North Georgia College and State University and then received her master's degree in Health and Physical Education. She taught for 15 yrs in Georgia where she gained experience in special education, reading, and health and physical education. Kim hopes to bring the experience that she has accumulated over the years to help the students at MVAA. She is truly looking forward to working with our students, parents, and teachers.
Kim Parson is so happy to be working with Madison Valley Adventure Academy! She started out as an Education major at North Georgia College and State University and then received her master's degree in Health and Physical Education. She taught for 15 yrs in Georgia where she gained experience in special education, reading, and health and physical education. Kim hopes to bring the experience that she has accumulated over the years to help the students at MVAA. She is truly looking forward to working with our students, parents, and teachers.
Melissa Reeve- Summer Camp Support & Substitute 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.
For daycare and play-based preschool for younger kiddos, please check out our sister school:
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