Our Staff
Kindergarten

Jordan Marciel
Kindergarten Teacher
I started my teaching career in 2015 at a preschool in Portland, where I discovered my love for educating young children. In 2017 I began student teaching in first grade in the David Douglas school district and finished my Masters degree in elementary education through Warner Pacific College. When I moved back to Central Oregon I became a substitute teacher for the Crook County school District where I was later blessed with the opportunity to teach Kindergarten at Barnes Butte elementary the past two years.
More about Mrs. Marciel
I grew up here in Prineville and live here with my husband, our two dogs and two cats. My husband works for the City of Prineville and we coach middle school basketball together. We enjoy cooking, movies, working out, being outside with our dogs, hunting, and camping. I also love to read, plant flowers, and I have a twin sister who teaches math at the Crook County high school. I love living and working in such a close-knit community.
Next year at Steins Pillar, I hope to share my love for learning, creativity, and laughter with my students and their families. I strive to provide a fun, safe, and communal space where all students feel valued and loved. I hope to form students that feel ready to take on challenges, learn from their mistakes, and create!

Ashley Smith
Kindergarten Teacher
I am a 2007 graduate of Crook County High School. After high school, I attended and graduated from Oregon State University where I majored in Elementary Education and Spanish. My husband and I moved back to Central Oregon after I graduated and I attended OSU-Cascades and received my MAT. When I graduated, I spent one year teaching pre-K, one year subbing and have spent the last 6 years teaching Kindergarten for the Crook County School District, back in my hometown!
More about Mrs. Smith
In my free time, I really enjoy exercising; I am a part owner of the Jazzercise studio in town and have been an instructor for 5 years. I also really enjoy a good cup of coffee and a book, gardening, playing board games, paddleboarding and camping.
Next year at Steins Pillar I hope to create a positive community and culture with our staff, students and families. This is such an amazing opportunity to give a different kind of education to our students and meet everyone’s needs. We are all going to be learning so much together along the way and I am so excited for the ride!
First Grade

Katrina Cross
First Grade Teacher
I am proud to say that I am Crook County at my core. I graduated from CCHS, went on to get my Bachelor degree in Education from the University of Oregon, and then a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Eastern Oregon University. As Steins Pillar Elementary opens I will begin my 18th year teaching in Crook County. I have taught kindergarten, 2nd grade, and I am happy to be adding 1st grade to my experiences this year.
More about Mrs. Cross
Hobbies: In my rare free time I love to read, bake, work in the garden with flowers and vegetables, and be with my family in any capacity. I also LOVE to watch DUCK football!
Next year at Steins Pillar I hope to grow and help grow. It will be my goal to help my students, teammates, and families experience the best educational experience possible, in a caring and supportive environment where every child knows that they are important and able to learn at the highest levels.

Mrs. Thran
First Grade Teacher
More about Mrs. Thran
It is my goal to share my passion for learning with the students and families of Steins Pillar and increase the amount of joy in the classroom. I strive to create a classroom family where each of my students feels empowered to do hard things and continuously grow!
Second Grade

Marissa Stafford
Second Grade Teacher
More about Mrs. Stafford
We love to do everything outdoors, play sports, dance, ride horses. Things I love to do are read books, garden, enjoy the sunshine, snowmobile and golf!
My goal for Stein’s Pillar is to create a positive and loving learning environment. I am so excited to learn new strategies for teaching and am ready for the challenges it will bring. It’s going to be a wonderfully fun new year! I can’t wait to see the students.

Angie Cochran
Second Grade Teacher
More about Mrs. Cochran
Outside of school, I love to make candles. I am part owner of Twisted Wix Candle Co. I also like to root for the Crook County Cowboys & Cowgirls, attend our kids’ sporting events, and enjoy the outdoors in this beautiful place we live in whenever I can.
Next year at Steins Pillar I hope to instill in kids a love of learning and exploring new things and activities. My classroom is a safe place where we will have fun, make mistakes and learn from them, and work hard together. I always have an open door for families, and I love working together with parents to make sure your child gets the best educational experience they can have. We get to experience a new school and explore a new curriculum and I could not be more excited for the journey we are about to take together!
Third and Fourth Grade

Connor Lysne
Third Grade Teacher
More About Mr. Lysne
In my free time I like to learn new skills or explore new places. Some of my hobbies include 3d wood carving, jewelry making, foundry work, rock hunting, programming, and hiking to name a few.
Next year at Steins Pillar I hope to create an environment where students see the connections between what we learn in the classroom and the real world. I want to create a place where creativity, adventure, and learning are all fused together!

Dr. Karl Topper
3/4 Blend Teacher
More about Dr. Topper
Next year at Steins Pillar, I hope to engage students with deep learning experiences based upon Place Based Education projects that allow us to grow and learn as we explore the local resources and community within Crook County.

Janelle Deedon
Fourth Grade Teacher
I am currently finishing my 21st year of teaching. During my time in the classroom I have taught many grades. I started teaching at a private school in Eugene where I taught 7th/8th grade all subjects, high school geography, girls PE, and elementary music. I then moved to kindergarten and fell in love with working with elementary students. I moved to Prineville in 2003 and feel very honored to be teaching in Crook County. While in Crook County I have taught K, 1, 2, 3, and 4. I went to Lane Community College, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Pacific University.
More about Mrs. Deedon
When I have a few extra minutes I love to craft and be creative. I enjoy playing trumpet with my son and listening to live music when possible. When we are able to get away I like taking family drives to explore our beautiful state.
I am so excited about our new adventure at Steins Pillar and the unique learning opportunity it will provide for the students. My goal is to provide a hands-on approach to learning centered around deep exploration. I am excited to share my passion for learning in a loving, safe, and fun classroom. I feel very fortunate to be part of this new experience.
District Math Coach

Shannon McCaw
District Math Coach
More About Mrs. McCaw
We are pleased to introduce our newest staff member, Shannon McCaw, as our half-time math coach for all Crook County Schools. Shannon will be working with math teachers in our district to
improve all aspects of our math instruction, data analysis,
assessment, and standards alignment. Shannon has been the preeminent math consultant in the state of Oregon with over
20 years of consulting experience and curriculum development.
She’s worked with over 300 districts and has overseen dramatic improvements in student outcomes. Shannon also happens to be
the author of “Oregon Focus on Math” our current middle school textbook for math instruction.
Shannon will continue providing staff development, such as our summer math work (details coming soon), along with her partners –
Jen Hunt and Laura Nelson – for math teachers at all levels. Her office will be located at Crook County High School. Shannon has recently re-located from the Willamette Valley to Powell Butte with her family.
School Counselor

Darla Fletcher
School Counselor
Hello! I am Ms. Darla
I am a mother to three beautiful daughters, a step-parent of two, and a foster parent of three. I also have one amazing granddaughter and six bonus grandchildren.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and going for hikes. I especially love listening to all types of music and going to the beach, as the beach is my happy place.
I graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development, with a minor in Psychology. In 2017 I graduated from Oregon State University with a Master’s degree in Counseling and I am currently working to obtain my license for clinical mental health (LPC).
As your school counselor, I am here to help students, families, and staff work on skills that will help you become resilient so you can pursue all of your dreams.
Office of Administration

Jim Bates
Principal
I am so excited to be your principal at Steins Pillar Elementary. This is my twenty-fifth year with Crook County Schools. I’ve been privileged to teach at Ochoco Elementary, Paulina Elementary, and Crooked River Elementary. I was Principal at Cecil Sly Elementary for eight years and then at Barnes Butte Elementary for five years. The best part of my job is watching students grow up and enjoy seeing them as successful citizens years later.
More about Mr. Bates
I’ve been riding back-country Oregon on my motorcycle for eleven years with good friends. If I’m not on a dusty trail, my wife and I are in the RV with our dog Juno out camping along the river or forest. I also enjoy fly fishing, reading, gardening and cooking on the smoker grill.
Opening the Steins Pillar Elementary school means a lot to me. I want to be a part of offering a place where students, parents and community members work together to construct a modern learner through adventure, art and technology.

Sarah Klann
More about Mrs. Klann
I am a pollinator advocate and cherish the time I get to spend in our large garden. I love playing games with our two beautiful children, reading books, and adventuring in our motorhome whenever we can sneak away from the farm.
Next year at Steins Pillar I hope to help create a one of a kind theme school. I am eager to establish our Steins family and I am honored to be involved in helping to construct a community of modern learners.
Custodians

Jean Anderson
Building Engineer I
Email Mrs. Anderson

Jennifer Steele
Custodian
Cafeteria and Instructional Assistant

Jenny Cholin
Production Assistant

Lyn Williams
Instructional Assistant II

Sheilah Fairless-Bafus
Instructional Assistant II

Jeannine Countryman
Instructional Assistant II