Our Team
Cottonwood Day School’s quality and success is at the heart of its excellent teachers, specialists and dedicated administrative and support staff in the classroom. These professionals bring expertise, experience and, above all, a thorough understanding of the challenges facing our students and their families.
Meredith Scully
Founder
Michelle Bjelland
Director
Amy Wood
Executive Director
Anna Allen
Office Administrator
Amanda Cooper
High School Teacher
Nathan Bjelland
Elementary Teacher
Teri Massa
Elementary Teacher
Allison LaFalce
Elementary Teacher
Alycia Kappler
Instructional Aide
Delaney Clement
Instructional Aide
Paula Ream
Instructional Aide
Tonia Stewart
Instructional Aide
Hadley Stonecipher
Speech Language Pathologist
Trina Rainey
Music Therapist
Emma Neal
Occupational Therapist
Amy is the Executive Director of Cottonwood Day School, and has been with the program since its inception. She received her undergraduate degree in History from the University of Wyoming /She continued her education by pursuing her Master is Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ receiving her M.A. Ed. Amy has a passion for at-risk youth of all ages, and paired with her passion for education, Amy obtained her teacher licensure from the Northern Plains Transition to Teaching program in Bozeman, Montana, and currently holds a Secondary History Endorsement. In 2019, Amy completed a Doctoral program at Montana State University, where she completed course work in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership, and earned her Ed.S and Superintendent Certification. She is the proud mother of two beautiful children, and in her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling the globe, reading, always learning, and exploring all of the wonders the Bozeman community has to offer.
I started my education at Baylor University in Waco, TX receiving my bachelor’s in special education. I got my first teaching position in rural Kansas where I taught for five years. During this time, I started to explore higher education and decided to pursue my master’s degree in School Counseling at Fort Hays State University in order to better meet the social/emotional needs of my students. I then taught in China for two years before eventually joining the CDS team. I am passionate about this program and love watching the students’ desire to learn grow. In my free time, I am usually playing games, camping, reading, or spending time with family.
Amanda Cooper achieved her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 1999 at the University of Montana and a Masters Degree in Differentiated Instruction from Graceland University in 2011. She has worked with children with learning and behavioral challenges in a special education setting for 13 years and previously taught 4th grade in West Yellowstone. She has a passion for helping students learn in their own unique ways and focuses on catering to varied learning styles and specialized needs. Amanda lives in Bozeman with her husband Harold and 3 delightful kids ages 9, 12, and 15. She enjoys spending time with her active family and a houseful of rowdy pets.
Born in Atlanta, GA, Anna has called Bozeman home on and off since 2003. After receiving a BA in Biology and Psychology from Middlebury College, Anna worked as a mental health counselor for children and adolescents. She then attended the Physician Assistant Program at Emory University. Realizing her passion for education, her path shifted to teaching; working as the Early Learning Science Department Chair at the Trinity School for 7 years, followed by a role as an Academic Resource Center Tutor at the Lovett School in Atlanta, GA. Since moving back to Bozeman in 2015, Anna has been a substitute teacher at Cottonwood Day School from its beginning and loves being a part of this special community…so much so that she will be a part-time presence in and around the school office.
Anna joyfully spends her time hiking, beekeeping, camping, yoga-ing, fishing, skiing, cooking, dancing, and exploring with her husband, two boys, and quirky Golden Retri
Meredith is the founder and a Board Member of Cottonwood Day School. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She continued her education by pursuing her Masters in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University in New York, receiving a license in Clinical Social Work. Having a strong desire to work with children with learning disabilities, she returned to the academic world to pursue a Masters in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York with a dual certification in Special Education and Elementary Education. She holds state teaching licenses in NY and Montana. At Teachers College, one of her notable professors was Lucy Calkins, founder of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and author of several well known texts including the Art of Teaching Reading. Meredith worked for many years as a 4th and 5th grade special educator in an inclusion classroom in the very well regarded Chappaqua, NY school district. She has also received comprehensive training in the Orton-Gillingham approach from the Institute of Multi Sensory Education. Meredith is happily married to an amazing man and has three terrific children. In her spare time she enjoys trail running, horseback riding, baking with her children, and spending time with friends and family.
Teri is excited to be in Montana and part of the Cottonwood Day School family. She was born and raised in San Diego, California, and has had a love for the outdoors all her life. Recently her family was relocated to Bozeman for her husband’s job. They both come from large Italian families so family is everything to her as are my friends. They are blessed with two incredible children, Laurence (20) and Isabella (16). They also have a very active German Short Haired Pointer, Basil. Teri graduated college from Northern Arizona where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Speech Pathology. She furthered her education, earning a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from National University. She has a certificate in Special Education from the University of Notre Dame and completed a certificate of inclusion from San Diego Unified to name a few of her accomplishments. She has worked in many facets of education. The last 25 years were spent teaching in the Diocese of San Diego, the most recent 6 at a dual language school. She always knew she would be a teacher and has loved her vocation every day since the start. Education is not a job but a passion and her mission. She has a special place in her heart for students who learn differently or have learning challenges. She loves action-based learning and tapping into multi-modality learning and looks forward to this new chapter of her life.
I love working with the students at Cottonwood Day School and being back in my hometown, Bozeman. Prior to joining CDS, I was living and teaching in China for two years with my wife Michelle. Before moving overseas, I was a 7-12 High Incidence Special Education Teacher in Kansas where I worked in a more inclusionary setting while working on my Masters in Special Education. I love teaching because I get to know some of the most incredible students each year. I learn just as much from them as they do from me. The comradery and care we build in class is one thing I look forward to each and every day.
Alycia is an Aide at Cottonwood Day School. She grew up in Big Lake, Alaska and has been a resident of Bozeman, Montana for over 10 years. Over those 10 years she has worked in positions varying from Special Ed Substitute Teaching/Assisting, Family Support Assistance, and working with children with Autism in a home based early intervention program using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She also worked as a certified Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) working with families and children using ABA principles to increase positive behaviors and social interactions at home, school, and in the community. She has a passion for empowering youth and their families by exploring creative solutions for unique needs. She has a drive to uplift, inspire, educate, and support children with a colorful range of needs as well as their families.
In their downtime, Alycia, her husband, and their canines enjoy the mountains, the trails, whatever local fundraiser run is taking place that weekend, a home cooked meal, and time with family.
Trina Rainey
Music Therapist
Trina Rainey, MT-BC is a Board Certified Music Therapist who has had a private practice in Bozeman, MT since 2006. www.healingharmonymt.com It is Trina’s goal to facilitate meaningful musical interventions with anyone she is working with. Populations she has served include adults and children with developmental delays, hospital and hospice patients and nursing home residents. Trina’s husband Neal is a teacher and together they have two amazing children. She loves to be outside and spread music whenever and wherever possible! She is so excited to be part of Cottonwood Day School!
Emma has been practicing occupational therapy for 7 years, in which time she has developed a treatment approach centered around making a child feel comfortable and confident while engaging in therapeutic activities. She excels at developing therapeutic relationships, communicating with families, adapting activities to suit the child’s needs and providing high quality treatment. Emma received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Duquense University in 2011, where she graduated with honors. While in school Emma conducted a study to learn about the way therapists develop and sustain international partnerships. This experience taught Emma about respecting each person’s individuality and culture when providing therapy. Emma is nationally certified through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and is state licensed in Montana. She has studied DIR/Floortime approach to therapy, Craniosacral Therapy and Therapeutic Listening.
Paula recently moved back to Bozeman after living in Germany for a few years, which is where she gained valuable experience as an Instructional Aide in a special education program working one on one with students as well as with small groups. She is originally from Germany but has previously lived in Bozeman for several years and obtained her Master’s degree in Animal and Range Science from Montana State University. She is very excited to be back in Bozeman and to join the team at Cottonwood Day School as an Instructional Aide! In her free time, she enjoys long hikes and camping trips with her husband and their Border Collie Ellie, horseback riding, climbing and all the other amazing outdoor activities the area has to offer.
Hadley is the Speech Language Pathologist at Cottonwood Day School. She grew up in Bozeman, and then moved to Portland, OR to pursue her education. There she received her Master’s of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences at Portland State University, specializing in bilingual speech-language pathology. Hadley interned at Oregon Health and Sciences University and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, where she treated a wide range of patients, from infants to teenagers, in the areas of language development, speech development, feeding and swallowing, augmentative and alternative communication, and social communication. She then worked for the Portland Public School District before returning to Bozeman in late 2019. Hadley is dedicated to incorporating linguistic and cultural factors into her communication therapy to increase effectiveness of communication with each individual’s social community. Hadley is nationally certified through the American Speech and Hearing Association, and licensed in the state of Montana. She is very excited to be a part of the CDS community!
Delaney is originally from Billings, Montana. She moved to Bozeman to attend MSU where she received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Right now, she is going to school at the University of Montana to become a Speech Language Pathologist. She is so excited to work at Cottonwood Day School as an Instructional Aide and enjoys meeting their needs and giving support to the students! She enjoys camping and hiking with her husband and their dog, Riley.
Allison is so happy to be a part of the team at Cottonwood Day School! After moving to Bozeman with her husband in 2018, they quickly decided Montana was their forever home. Allison graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and an endorsement in Early Childhood Education. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction through Montana State University. Allison has a passion for teaching and learning, and believes in her core that every student deserves an equal opportunity to learn in the way that is most accessible to them. She strives to form meaningful relationships with all her students and their families, and works hard to ensure that students’ needs are met. In her free time, Allison enjoys spending time with her husband Daniel, and their German Shepherd puppy, Vex. They love exploring the state of Montana, playing outside, or snuggling up for a movie night.
Ms. Tonia moved to Montana last year directly after completing a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. Prior to her six month journey on the Appalachian Trail, she lived in Florida working as a contractor for the U.S. Government. Ms Tonia also worked part time as a horseback riding instructor, summer horse camp counselor, and field trip guide at a working cattle ranch. For numerous years, she volunteered for a hippotherapy riding program. Ms Tonia is looking forward to bringing her vast work and world experience to the kids at Cottonwood Day School.