WSLA state officers

My name is Faye Rankin. Currently, I am an online elementary teacher and have been teaching online for 13 years. Most of my years online have been spent teaching reading and writing, which is a passion of mine; I love working with students in this capacity and seeing the creativity and development of these skills.

I am a graduate of the University of Wyoming, past board member of the Wyoming State Board of Education, a Top 10 Finalist for the National Pioneer in Teaching Award, and have taught all ages in many different capacities.

I am looking forward to discovering and implementing all that the Wyoming State Literacy Association has to offer, that contributes to helping others learn, teach, and grow in all areas of literacy. I have been a part of Wyoming Young Authors for over 30 years: as a parent, and as a teacher; and am excited about the re-launch of this extremely worthwhile project, and the impact it has upon students in Wyoming.The chair person serves for one year and is President/leader of the organization. fhall@wyva.org

I am a veteran Natrona County teacher with a special interest in literacy for all students. After teaching special education and low achieving students for years, I moved to virtual learning seven years ago. My goal is to engage students in innovative projects by using technology and the computer science standards. Reading and writing are focal points for learning, and when students can engage in real world projects like the Young Authors Contest, they learn the real purpose of writing! jill835@myncsd.org

Diana is responsible for the accountability for all the funds raised, taxes, and financial paperwork.  She works in Cheyenne. wyowedls@hotmail.com

AT-LARGE DIRECTOR

(ALTERNATING 2 YEAR TERM)

VALLI DOBBIN

Valli is our International Literacy Association Coordinator. She is a retired teacher from Cheyenne.

AT-LARGE DIRECTOR

(ALTERNATING 2 YEAR TERM)

AMELIA MOORE

Hi! I'm Milli Moore, a second grade teacher in Cody. I've previously served as the WSLA Treasurer, and currently, I'm involved with our local Cody Literacy Council and the Wyoming Book Awards Committee. At home, I'm busy with three kids, a big garden, and lots of time outside! It's a pleasure to work with other like-minded teachers from around the state. 

Hello, I am Kristine Frey. Before I accepted a teaching position in Cheyenne, Jim and I raised three sons in the small communities of Pinedale and Greybull, Wyoming. Since 2004, I have taught deaf and hard of hearing students at every grade level (K-12) throughout the school district. My commitment to lifelong learning guided me toward the completion of a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on literacy, at the University of Wyoming. The focus of my dissertation was teaching deaf students how to communicate their stories in sign language and translate their stories into written English. A passion for identifying innovative ways to teach students to read and write has filled my life as a mother, teacher, and as a mentor.

Sara Skovgard is a Special Education teacher at CY Middle School in Casper, Wyoming. She has taught special needs students for 27 years. She has three children: Jacob (24)), Sidney (22) and Melonie (20). She graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education (K-12). She received a K-6 & 7-12 Reading Endorsement and Master's Degree from the University of Wyoming in Curriculum & Instruction. She is highly qualified in 9 different areas. Sara has presented at the Wyoming School Improvement Conference twice, and presented at the Northern Rocky Mountain Researchers Association in Rapid City, SD. She enjoys nature, loves teaching, reading, gardening, cooking (favorites are BBQ and anything sweet), spending time with her family, and taking an occasional 2 o'clock nap. It is her 1st year in the WSLA and CLC., and is a P.E.O. member. sara740@myncds.org

  Michelle Ottoes is currently the Elementary Library TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) for LCSD #1 in Cheyenne, WY. She oversees the collections, programming and paraeducators in 27 elementary libraries in the district. Prior to taking on this brand-new position, she was the teacher-librarian at Dildine Elementary in Cheyenne for 6 years. In an ancient time long, long ago, she taught secondary English, U.S. History and government in Sutherland, NE and Casper, WY.  She took a 12-year break to be a stay-at-home mom to two daughters before coming back to teaching in the library setting. She is a Wyoming native and a graduate of the University of Wyoming and Black Hills State University. She is active in the Wyoming Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians and is fully certified in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). Her passion is to create elementary library curriculum and programming that is so engaging and fun, students don’t even notice the tasty and research-based literacy nutrition they are receiving.