Missoula International School

Teachers define the quality of the Missoula International School. Our faculty and staff are a professional team of educators and administrators who are committed to every student's education.

Current Employment Opportunities

At MIS, teachers embrace the values of respect and kindness toward other individuals, other cultures, and diverse ideas. The IB framework for student learning complements this as it emphasizes critical thinking, challenging academic standards, and exposure to diverse points of view that develop and nurture intercultural understanding. Teaching in another language provides a conduit to the development of these values and prepares our students to meet the challenges of a future where English is only one of many languages used in daily life.

Jenny Ferguson 3/4 Preschool Teacher	Jenny received a B.A. in history and women’s studies from Oberlin College. She has worked as an early childhood literacy advocate, as well as an ESL teacher for organizations in Montana and Oregon. Jenny is a Montana native who learned to speak Spanish as an adult.
Adriana Cardozo 3/4 Preschool Teacher	With a B.A. in Social Work with a minor in Human and Family Development, Early Intervention, Adriana joined the MIS Preschool Teaching Team in 2007 after a year of substitute teaching at MIS. She is a Colombian native and brings lifetime of Spanish language and Colombian culture to MIS’s youngest students.
Jenny Gómez 4/5 Preschool Teacher	Jenny comes to Missoula from Bolivia where she taught for seven years prior to moving to the US. Jenny has worked at MIS in a variety of teaching support positions since 2002. Jenny brings a warm presence and a lifetime of Spanish language experience to the MIS 4/5 preschool.
Jessica Eirkson 4/5 Preschool & PE Teacher	Jessica joined MIS in the fall of 2008. Jessica has a B.A. in Environmental Education from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA and an M.A. from UM in Elementary Education. Jessica has spoken Spanish since childhood; her mother who is Puerto Rican and she has studied abroad in Ecuador, Peru and China. She brings a rich background of experiences in working with young children.
Rocío Muhs K/1st Grade Multiage Teacher	Rocío is a native of Ecuador, but her international experience extends throughout Europe and South America. Rocío has two B.A.’s; one from La Universidad Equinoccial in Quito, Ecuador and the other from Evergreen College in Olympia, WA. She brings fifteen years of teaching experience to MIS, where she has taught since 2005.
Krista Drendel K/1st Grade Multiage Teacher	Krista returned to MIS during the 2007-2008 school year after teaching in CA for three years. She taught at MIS for two years prior to that. Krista earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming and spent two year as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic before coming to MIS.
Karim Del Pozo Middle School Spanish Teacher	Karim joined MIS’ K/1 team in the fall of 2008. Karim was born and raised in Peru. She graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with Highest Honors. She holds a degree in Education and Spanish Literature. She has been involved in teaching for over 10 years and has taught in a variety of settings.
Lynn Hudorovich 2nd/3rd Grade Multiage Teacher & Middle School Spanish Teacher	Lynn is a Montana native, but she came to MIS in 2007 after seven years of teaching in Mexico. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Concordia College and an M.A. in Education from Mexico City’s Alliant International University.
Gillian Kessler 2nd/3rd Grade Multiage English Teacher	Gillian has two B.A.'s from Santa Clara University in English and Theatre/Dance. She brings fourteen years of teaching experience to her students as well as international experiences throughout the Spanish speaking world in Europe and the Americas.
Sandra Patricia Cano 2nd/3rd Grade Multiage Spanish Teacher	Born and raised in Tuta, Colombia, Patty has a B.A. in Spanish and English language from La Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia. She recently completed her M.A. in Linguistics at UM. She taught English in Colombia for seven years prior to coming to MIS in 2002.
Ted Muhs 4th/5th Grade Multiage Spanish Teacher	Ted is an Idaho native with both a B.A. and an M.A. in teaching from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. In addition to 17 years of teaching experience, Ted brings extensive international experience to his classroom; he is part of partnership that owns 2700 acres of tropical rainforest in Bolivia that is held for ecological and educational use.
Brad Chumrau 4th/5th Grade Multiage English Teacher	Brad joined MIS in the fall of 2008 when he returned home to Missoula after teaching abroad for seven years in the Philippines, Germany and El Salvador; prior to that he taught in the Corvallis, MT schools for two years. Brad’s teaching experience in Germany was at a PYP school. He brings great experience and training in the principles, philosophy, and strategies for teaching effectively in a PYP environment.
Jeff Kessler Middle School English & Humanities Teacher	Jeff came to MIS in 2003 with a B.A. in History from Willamette University in Salem, OR. He also has an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. Jeff has traveled throughout Central and South America as well as Europe.
Helena Koelle Middle School Advisor, Math & Science Teacher	Helena joined MIS in the fall of 2008. Helena is a bilingual German/American who spent a large part of her childhood in both countries. She is a graduate of the Munich International School (MIS, also!) in Germany with an IB Diploma. She completed her undergraduate work in Environmental Analysis at Pomona College in California and is completing her M.A. in Education at UM next summer.
Laura Bovard Librarian	Laura received a B.S. in Business Administration and International Studies with a minor is Spanish from Iowa State University. While a university student, she studied for one semester in Valencia, Spain. Laura and her husband, Scott, are the parents of Gillian (one of MIS's first graduates, now a sophomore at Hellgate High School) and Andrew (a senior at Loyola Sacred Heart High School).
Feather Sherman Art Teacher	Feather comes to MIS with a Bachelors of Science in Art Education from Towson University in Baltimore, MD and an M.F.A. in Integrated Arts in Education, The Creative Pulse, from the University of Montana. Feather is a talented and award-winning teacher and artist who came to MIS in the fall of 2007.