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Our Faculty
Our teaching staff consists of twenty faculty members, including a counselor and a transition specialist that are available to students and parents. Small class size ensures students receive individual attention from their teachers. Three additional staff serve in various administrative support roles.
Craig Busic
Mr. Busic is in his 14th year with Thomas Edison High School. He teaches Health, Math, Geography and heads up the Yearbook class and Edison Excursions. He went to Italy in 2004 with students and headed up a trip to Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona in 2006. As he says, “You never know when the next big trip will be!” He has a B.A. in Education from the University of Portland and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University. When not at school, Mr. Busic enjoys home projects, photography, skiing, traveling to new places and a good game of tennis. He appreciates the fact that Edison focuses on students as individuals and works to develop each student’s individual potential. Past students who return to visit say it all; they are happy to have been a part of the Edison program, and he is too.
Andrée Cannon-Fleming
Andrée serves as one of our Counselors at Thomas A. Edison High School. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from Whitman College, and has completed coursework in the Masters of Counseling programs at both Lewis & Clark College and Portland State University. In her spare time, Andrée plays indoor and outdoor soccer, and enjoys reading and yoga. She chose to counsel at TAE because of the unique structure and population of the school. She is able to serve students individually, as well as in group sessions, and work with the parents as well. Due to the size and structure of the school, she feels her time can be spent truly counseling instead of being tied up with scheduling and other administrative tasks.
Nick Dexter
This is Nick's third year as our full-time counselor. He holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis & Clark College, and a B.A. from Cal State Long Beach. Nick’s counseling experience includes the Catlin Gabel School, a current private practice, (where he specializes in working with groups, couples, and families), and as an elected Board Member of the Oregon Group Psychotherapy Society. His passions outside of school include his family (three boys!), baseball, and the beach. Nick feels that Thomas Edison High School represents a unique opportunity to develop personal relationships with each student, and aims to support students and their families through consultation, mentorship, individual and group counseling.
Alice Dickas
Alice is the Transition Specialist at Thomas Edison High School. She works with Sharon Dunne and the Transition Classes to assist students in pursuing opportunities for life beyond Thomas Edison High. She helps students with college exploration and application, as well as career exploration and the search for jobs. Alice graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Education & Social Policy in 1971, with teaching majors in History and Sociology. She worked at
Devan Dunn
Devan wears many hats at Thomas A. Edison, functioning as both the World History and Economics teacher as well as the school’s Technology Coordinator. He graduated from Linfield College with a Teaching Certificate and a B.A. in History. In October 2005 he will complete his Master's Degree in Educational Technology through Lesley University. Away from school, Devan spends his time with outdoor activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, camping and hiking. He also enjoys reading, photography, and coaching and playing basketball. Part of Edison’s appeal for Devan is the small class size, which ensures that his job is not about management, but about teaching. Access his virtual classroom at http://www.taedisonhs.org/devand/ .
Sharon Dunne
Sharon is wearing a different hat this year, that of Special Education/Transition Coordinator. She earned a BA in Anthropology from Western Washington University and an MA in Special Education from Portland State University. She has been working in special education for the last 14 years. Sharon enjoys building relationships with the students and watching them gain confidence over the years and to prepare for transition out of Thomas Edison to college and/or the work force. Outside of the classroom, Sharon enjoys outdoor activities such as camping (in Yurts!), skiing, gardening, and spending time with family.
Mary Kate Fellows Russell
Kate joins the faculty at Thomas Edison as a teacher of U.S. History and English. We are thrilled that Ms. Fellows Russell, an Edison alumna, has chosen to join our team. We are confident that her wealth of knowledge will enhance the educational experience of our students. Kate has an undergraduate degree from The College of Wooster in Political Theory and two Master's Degrees in Special Education from American University and Vanderbilt University. Her degree from American University is centered on an arts-based approach to LD education. Her second degree from Vanderbilt is based on educational research related to High Incident Special Education. Kate taught at a public school prior to starting her tenure at Edison. She enjoys being a Shakespeare geek and is getting married in the summer of 2008. Kate has Dyslexia and ADD and feels her personal life experiences and educational career at Edison will allow her to relate to our students. She plans to teach the essential skills and habits that are needed to thrive as an adult with a learning difference. Kate became a teacher to change the world and that is exactly what she will try to do at Thomas Edison.
Koleen Hall
Koleen is the Business Manager for Thomas Edison High School. She earned a B.A. in Organizational Communication from the University of Montana and has many years of business related work experience. Originally from Montana, Koleen worked as the receptionist and bookkeeper for the Missoula Children's Theatre where she met her husband, Jeff. After moving to Portland, she was the Office Manager and Assistant Controller for the product design and development firm, ZIBA Design. Koleen and Jeff have two children, Kelsey and Michael. Education has always been important to Koleen, and she is grateful to have the opportunity to work at a school with such an important mission.
Kathryn Halpin Robinson
Kassie teaches English and mathematics at Thomas A. Edison High School. She graduated from California State University, Fresno with a BA in English, where she went on to do extensive graduate work in composition and literature, collaborate and contribute to the first Graduate English Colloquium and tutor at the writing center. She attained her California teaching credential from National University in secondary English and language arts, with an emphasis in cross-cultural academic development. In both California and Hawaii, Kassie worked extensively with second language learners, students with learning differences, and at risk youth. Kassie feels that each and every student has boundless potential and her greatest pleasure in teaching comes from helping students achieve academic success and personal pleasure through learning. Beyond teaching, Kassie enjoys spending time with her children and family, yoga, scuba diving, performing arts, photography and travel.
Jennifer Hogan
Jennifer is our Development Director here at Thomas Edison. She was recently promoted to this position after four years here in our development office. Her past life includes marketing and sales positions in the hospitality and travel industries. Jennifer graduated from the University of Montana with a BA in Communication. She loves being a part of the Thomas Edison environment and working with such a dedicated group of teachers and dynamic, fun group of kids. When not at the school she is spending time with her husband and two children and also enjoys reading, hiking, cooking and traveling.
Linda Johnson
Linda Johnson joins the staff as the Office Manager. Ms. Johnson graduated
from Pepperdine University with a Business Administration degree. For the
past 11 years Linda has been busy raising her three children. Ms. Johnson
looks forward to working full-time at Edison and making our office
operations run smoothly. Outside of work, Linda enjoys going to the beach
with her family, hiking, skiing, playing indoor and outdoor soccer, as well
as coaching her boys in baseball and soccer. She also enjoys coaching her
daughter's basketball team. We are thrilled to have Linda join our staff
and look forward to sharing our work with her over the years.
Colin Livesey
Colin teaches math at TAE. He earned a BSE in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University, and has spent the years since working primarily as an experiential educator with Outward Bound, instructing kayak, canoe, and backpacking courses from Florida to Alaska. He has been unable to put his mechanical brain to rest, however, and has also spent time working as a laboratory research assistant and a sea kayak builder. His interests include kayaking, skiing, woodworking, and swing dancing. What Colin likes best about Thomas Edison is the opportunity to combine his passion for teaching with his interest in math and physical science.
Mai-Lill Magi
Mrs. Magi is a Math teacher here at Thomas A. Edison High School. She comes to us with a BA in Sociology, a Graduate Diploma in Communication Studies, and a Masters Degree in Teaching. Her interests include spending time with her 2 children, hiking, working in her yard, attending live concerts, and staying involved with numerous artistic and musical endeavors. She loves teaching math and being able to work with students in a small private school environment.
Patrick Maguire
Our Director, Patrick Maguire, received his B.A. in Education from the University of Arizona and his M.A. in Special Education from Portland State University. In addition to teaching at several other alternative schools in California and Oregon, Mr. Maguire has been a teacher and assistant director for many years at Thomas Edison. His favorite activities (in additon to spending time with his wife, Debbie, and two terrific daughters) include playing, watching and coaching basketball as well as coaching soccer, playing chess, reading, and running. His rewards from working at Edison include experiencing the individual improvement and success of each student, academically as well as behaviorally.
Maureen Manning
Ms. Manning teaches English and Drama at Thomas A. Edison High School. She graduated from Eastern Montana College, in Billings, with a BSED in Secondary English. She completed a Masters program in Education with Lesley University, earning a degree that focuses on integrating the creative arts into Secondary English curriculum. Maureen’s interests outside of school include reading, backpacking and spending many hours working with the Young People's Theatre Project, a community service-oriented children's theatre. She claims that she first came to TAE after several unsuccessful attempts to "escape" working with kids. In the end, it turned out for the best—other jobs are just too boring.
Ashley Peterson
Ashley is a recent addition to Thomas Edison as the new Development Associate. Ashley is a new resident of
David Pontious
David is the Assistant Director and the Chair of the English department. He has an MA in English and a MS in Rehabilitation Counseling with a specialization working with individuals that are Deaf, hard of hearing, or late-deafened. David’s teaching experience is varied and expansive having taught at four-year universities, community colleges, and high schools. Recently, David taught Reading and Writing courses at Portland Community College on the Rock Creek Campus. His passion and energy is helping students transition into employment, vocational training, or postsecondary education. David’s interests are reading and music. He is a lover of the great Northwest—the plants, food, and nature are truly exhilarating! He is here at Edison to continue to facilitate a strong, healthy community focused on empowering students!
Marco Puccio
Marcangelo Puccio teaches science and holds an MA in Education from Stanford, an MS in botany from the U.W., and a BA in Honors Biology from Williams College. He has taught science at the University of Washington (as a teaching assistant and teaching associate), at Everett Community College near Seattle, at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, CA, and most recently taught both math and science at St. Clare School in Portland. He has contributed to scientific projects and papers focused on the systematics and biodiversity of fungi in Washington forests, ecological succession, molecular biology, salmon pathology, and (dearest to his heart) the evolution of mating systems in fungi. He loves teaching, spending time with his wife and daughter, playing guitar and banjo, listening to music, reading science and science fiction, dabbling in photography, and (last but by no means least) regularly and methodically training on his XBox and PSP to improve his hand-eye coordination and visual acuity.
Fred Stamps
Fred teaches American Sign Language at Thomas Edison High School. He earned a BA in English at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. He also studied American Sign Language and Psychology at PCC and is currently enrolled at Portland State University, working towards a Master’s in Education. Prior to going to college in Hawaii, Fred served as a volunteer missionary for two years in Japan where he learned Japanese. He learned ASL from his wife who is Deaf and from his studies in college. After graduating college, Fred worked in the translation industry before finding his dream job at Edison. He enjoys working with students, camping, web design, linguistics, and Samoan fire knife dancing.
Sherilyn Wilson
Sherilyn teaches Art at Edison and is a part-time councilor as well. She received her BA from George Fox University, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Art. She also has a Master's of Arts in Art Therapy from Marylhurst University. She works for her church in Pastoral Care, primarily being involved in counseling, women's ministries, and children's/youth ministries. Her interests include soccer, painting, sculpture, writing, music, church activities, and family time. Sherilyn completed her practicum for her Master's Degree at Thomas Edison, and has been drawn to this community ever since. She is excited to be involved with a school that not only guides students academically, but also supports them to become successful people in every aspect of their lives.
