Meet our Staff!
Administration
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Principal: Trine Dennis
Dä̀nnchʼe?, hello. I am honored to help lead at Kwata kets'adan ku. I have been living in the beautiful Yukon for 24 years on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, and I was fortunate to be able to raise my three children here. Before coming to the Yukon, I lived in Fort Nelson B.C., Port Hardy B.C., and Kamloops B.C.. Kamloops is where I grew up after I immigrated from Kristiansand, Norway. My interests range from reading a good book, CrossFit, hiking, camping, cooking, and fishing. I love getting on the river with my husband to fish for salmon in the summer and fall. My passion for learning is something I hope is contagious with the wonderful staff and students I have the pleasure of working with each day at Kwata kets'adan ku! Nanugishį (see you again soon) |
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Vice Principal - Jon Allen
Danch'e?, hello, my name is Jon Allen and I have been a member of the Hidden Valley School community since 2016. I live in Whitehorse with my wife and our 2 children. I was raised in Southern Ontario and from an early age began making connections to my outdoor surroundings. My peers and I were given the space, time and trust to explore the forests, parks, creeks and trails that surrounded my family home. It was here that my understanding of who I was as a learner, a friend, a creator, an explorer and as a person, began. My love of teaching and education was largely developed through working with children as a young adult. As an educator my desire to create and foster opportunities for the children that I work with is rooted in play, hands-on experience and helping children DO! At the core, I want to help develop happy, kind, thoughtful students that value themselves, our earth, our community, their peers and their families. |
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Southern Tutchone Teacher
On Leave: Tu Shat K’e - Nicole Smith
Primary Teachers
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Kindergarten: Melaynie Campbell
My name is Melaynie Campbell. This will be my sixth year at Hidden Valley School. The Yukon is my home, and I am grateful to be living and working in such an amazing and beautiful place! I live with my husband, my son Damon, and our dogs (Kirby & Mac). My daughter, Ocean is heading to Vancouver for College, this fall. I love the outdoors and enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking, camping, swimming, and exploring with our ATVs. We are so fortunate to have access to wonderful outdoor spaces, trails, and wildlife right out the doors of our school. In Kindergarten, we are outside in our forest classroom, every day so that we create a connection with our community and the environment. We focus on kindness and building our skills for strong relationships. I look forward to exploring, investigating, and learning through play each day, with my students. Learning is always an adventure |
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Grade 1/2: Shari Heal
Danch’e, Bonjour! I’m Mme Shari (she/her). My father was Grant Meekins. My mother is Delaney Barton (Dell Meekins). They were both Yukon teachers and may have taught some of your parents or grandparents. Like my parents, I love working with children and helping them learn and grow. I have been at Hidden Valley since 2011 and have filled all kinds of roles! I have taught all grades from Kindergarten to Grade 4, and Reading Recovery. I have been a Learning Assistance teacher, as well as an acting principal from time to time. I am so happy to be teaching Grade 1 this year. Grade k/1 is such a wonderful year filled with so much growth! In addition to school, I love dancing, hiking, skiing, and learning to play different instruments. I love spending my time reading, or teaching my dog, Ketza, how to do nosework and agility. I have two children (Brianna and Riley) who will be away at university in Ottawa this year. I grew up in the Yukon and am so happy to call this wonderful land home. I feel very privileged to get to work with Yukon students, exploring and learning in this beautiful place. |
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On Leave: Katie Feht
Danch’e, Hello, my name is Katie Feht. This will be my fifth year teaching in the Hidden Valley community. I have called the Yukon home for seven years, which has helped shape who I am as a person and teacher. I spend much of my time hiking, biking, paddling, hunting, fishing and playing hockey. I take any opportunity I can to get on the land both with my husband and dog, as well as with my students. I’m looking forward to the learning, adventures and growth the come with a new school year |
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On Leave: Tracy Klein
My name is Ms. Tracy Klein. I grew up in the West Kootenays, a small town called Edgewood, B.C.. My parents still live there, and my grandma lives with them too. My sister lives in Ontario. We always look forward to seeing each other. I have been teaching in the Yukon since 1998, in Carmacks and in Whitehorse. I have primarily taught Kindergarten to grade 3. I have 3 wonderful children of my own, who are 20, 18 and 14. I love living in the Yukon, taking advantage of all the various outdoor activities that surround us. I like to jog, bike, hike, camp and fish in the summer. In the winter I cross country ski and downhill ski at Mt. Sima, as well as walk my dog Timber. I also have 2 cats, Clover and Buddy. I love creating arts, music, dance, and cooking for my family. This photo is taken from the Dempster Highway, Tombstone mountain range from Discovery Days weekend. I look forward to learning with my new students this year! |
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Grade 3/4: Aviam Soudack: coming soon
Intermediate Teachers
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Grade 4/5: James Mitchell
Hello, Danch'e?, my name is James Mitchell (he/him). Students can call me James Teacher, everyone else can call me James! My family roots reach back to Italy, Greece and Ireland. I grew up in Southern Ontario and have called the Yukon home for many years now. I live in Whitehorse with my partner Emily and our one and half year old named Birdie. As a teacher I believe my childhood really did shape my understanding of education. I was given a lot of freedom to explore when I was a young person. I still love to learn this way the most! I am happy to share that last year I completed my Forest School Certification and can't wait to get students back out and learning on the land! He |
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Grade 4/5: Jennifer Jang
Dännch’e?, bonjour, hello, my name is Jennifer Jang. I am from Vancouver and initially came to the Yukon to fulfill a wish to see the north. Instead of staying for 3 months, I stayed and taught in the Yukon for two years. Afterwards, I worked for the Vancouver School Board as an itinerant teacher but the call of the north was always whispering in the wind. I returned to the Yukon in 2013 to continue as an educator. My favourite time of the year is the fall because I love the crisp, cool fall weather highlighted by the vibrant colours of change. It also means it is the start of a new school year, new friends, and a fresh box of crayons. This year, I am very excited to begin another journey of wonder and learning with the Hidden Valley Family. I am looking forward to learning with the students in the grade 4/5 class and helping them grow into caring individuals who understands the meaning of kindness and perseverance. |
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On Leave: Thomas Cheng
Hello, my name is Thomas Cheng. I grew up in Vancouver, BC and have had my fair share of rain. My wife and I decided to move too Whitehorse in August of 2020 and so far there have been no complaints. We have survived our second winter and cannot wait to see the snow in a few months. My hobbies include hiking, snow-shoeing, walking our samoyed Hyko, and practicing my accuracy at the range. This will be my second term teaching had Hidden Valley and I cannot wait to explore the outdoors with the 5/6 students. My goal as an educator is to empower the students to be able to advocate for their learning and to develop their critical thinking skills throughout all disciplinary areas. |
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Grade 6/7: Marie Belanger
Hello, Bonjour! Danch’e? My name is Marie Bélanger. I grew up moving around Quebec and Northern Ontario, where I enjoyed a wide variety of outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, paddling, and camping. I have been teaching intermediate grades since 2012. I first worked and lived on the traditional territory of the Kaska Dena (Ross River) before moving to Whitehorse. I love teaching at Hidden Valley School because of the beautiful forest we get to explore and the amazing families I have the privilege of working alongside. I look forward to a school year filled with hands-on projects and exciting activities. |
Educational Assistants
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Tammy Reed
Hello, my name is Ms. Tammy. My life is shared with my loving and supportive partner Jeff. We have a large blended family with seven children (ages 10-22) and two fur babies. Our house is very busy but full of love and adventure. I have a background in Early Childhood Development with over 15 years experience working in a variety of rolls within childcare in Whitehorse and this will be my 3rd year at Hidden Valley School as an Education Assistant. I grew up on the traditional territory of the Taku River Tlingit in Atlin and moved to Whitehorse at age 15 to finish my schooling. Growing up in the small community of Atlin gave me a childhood filled with outdoor play and education much like that at Hidden Valley School. I spent my time with friends hiking, canoeing, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, buiding forts, picking berries, playing sports and helping out in the community. Working with, learning alongside and exploring with children brings me joy. Seeing their excitement when they discover new things or achieve new goals makes me smile. I am very excited to continue working with the team at Hidden Valley School and look forward to new adventures this year! |
Dénht'ā? How are you in Kaska. My name is Alexandrea Lutz. I was born and raised in the Yukon. I come from Watson lake, a little community on the bc border. I'm a proud member of the Liard First Nation.
12 years ago I moved to Whitehorse and never left. I met my partner Felix and we started our forever life together. We have two boys and both have autism. Being a mom of two kiddos with autism pushed me into my now career at Hidden Valley. I love being a EA!
12 years ago I moved to Whitehorse and never left. I met my partner Felix and we started our forever life together. We have two boys and both have autism. Being a mom of two kiddos with autism pushed me into my now career at Hidden Valley. I love being a EA!
Dana Wilson -This is my second wonderful year as an Education Assistant at HVS. I feel incredibly lucky to work with such an amazing group of students and staff. My husband and I moved to Whitehorse in May 2023, and we often say we wish we had made the move sooner! We love spending time outdoors, exploring the beautiful surroundings with our dog, Freyja. One of the things I appreciate most about HVS is how much we incorporate outdoor learning and exploration into our days.
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On Leave - Deanna Paquin
My name is Deanna Paquin and I have been an EA at Hidden Valley Elementary for the past 6 years, however I have worked as an EA for over 17 years. I am a born and raised Yukoner and enjoy any opportunity to get out on the land with my husband and two boys whether it be hunting in the mountains or fishing on one of the many Yukon lakes. I started my life living in Teslin and moved to Whitehorse just before starting kindergarten. My great-grandparents on my mom’s side, Elly and Robert Porsild built Johnson’s Crossing Lodge in the 1940’s and ran it until my Grandparents, Phil and Ellen Davignon took it over and operated it until 1990. I spent many hours as a little kiddo helping my Grandma in the kitchen of the lodge making doughnuts and rolling out dough for her famous cinnamon buns. On my Dad’s side, his parents Ben and Hendrin Schonewille, Oma and Opa, operated a highway business named Territory just south of Teslin for many years. It is a joke in my family that my Mom married the competitions son (my Dad). My family is very important to me and I consider the students and staff at Hidden Valley Elementary School part of my extended family. I look forward to what the new and exciting activities this school year will bring!
My name is Deanna Paquin and I have been an EA at Hidden Valley Elementary for the past 6 years, however I have worked as an EA for over 17 years. I am a born and raised Yukoner and enjoy any opportunity to get out on the land with my husband and two boys whether it be hunting in the mountains or fishing on one of the many Yukon lakes. I started my life living in Teslin and moved to Whitehorse just before starting kindergarten. My great-grandparents on my mom’s side, Elly and Robert Porsild built Johnson’s Crossing Lodge in the 1940’s and ran it until my Grandparents, Phil and Ellen Davignon took it over and operated it until 1990. I spent many hours as a little kiddo helping my Grandma in the kitchen of the lodge making doughnuts and rolling out dough for her famous cinnamon buns. On my Dad’s side, his parents Ben and Hendrin Schonewille, Oma and Opa, operated a highway business named Territory just south of Teslin for many years. It is a joke in my family that my Mom married the competitions son (my Dad). My family is very important to me and I consider the students and staff at Hidden Valley Elementary School part of my extended family. I look forward to what the new and exciting activities this school year will bring!
CLAUDIA HARDING- Hello! My name is Claudia Harding, and I’m originally from Australia, though I’ve been fortunate to call Canada home for the past 20 years. Recently, my family and I made the move to the beautiful Yukon after living in central BC.
I’m passionate about spending time outdoors and love hiking, camping, canoeing, biking, and skiing with my husband and two young children. Nature truly is my happy place.
I was drawn to Hidden Valley because of its unique focus on getting children outdoors, connecting with nature, and fostering their curiosity through hands-on, engaging experiences. What has kept me here, however, is the incredible sense of community—the passionate and supportive students, as well as the amazing team of educators. (photo to follow)
I’m passionate about spending time outdoors and love hiking, camping, canoeing, biking, and skiing with my husband and two young children. Nature truly is my happy place.
I was drawn to Hidden Valley because of its unique focus on getting children outdoors, connecting with nature, and fostering their curiosity through hands-on, engaging experiences. What has kept me here, however, is the incredible sense of community—the passionate and supportive students, as well as the amazing team of educators. (photo to follow)
Bios to follow for: Tannen Elliot, Shantell Risby, Laurence Berube, Bethany Lanzo, Ocean Campbell, Janice Anonuevo, Harkirat Kaur, Haileigh Hillock, Gilbert Tagalog, Erin Neufeld.
Learning Assistance
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Denise McDiarmid
Danch'e?, bonjour, hello! My name is Denise McDiarmid (she/her) and I have the wonderful pleasure of teaching at Hidden Valley School. I was born and raised in the small Yukon community of Stewart Crossing/Mayo, where my childhood saw me engaging in the vast outdoor experiences our territory has to offer. From horseback riding, dog sledding, salmon fishing, and trekking through the natural wilderness, I was able to learn and experience my local environment in a fun and hands-on manner. Play was the vehicle for my daily adventures in the forest in my backyard, and all of these experiences have shaped how I approach teaching. I hope to provide the students at Hidden Valley with an opportunity to connect with themselves, their local environment, and feel a sense of belonging and success by building on their strengths and interests. |
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Nicole Birkeland
Hello! My name is Nicole Birkeland, and I am excited to return to the Hidden Valley community this spring as an intermediate literacy teacher. Originally from Salmon Arm, BC, I moved to the Yukon eight years ago with my husband, Phil, and our daughter, Rémi. We spent three years living and working in the traditional territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin in Old Crow before returning to Whitehorse in 2020. In 2024, we welcomed a new addition to our family—a son, Ember. As an educator, I am dedicated to continuous growth and improving my teaching practice. I am passionate about fostering community and a love learning in my students. Outside the classroom, I enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends, as well as exploring my creative side through textile arts. |
Danch'e? Hello, and Kia Ora. My name is Stephen Horton (he/him) and I am excited to be a learning assistance teacher for numeracy at Hidden Valley School. I am the proud parent of 3 children with my beautiful wife. My family and I recently returned to the Yukon following many years in New Zealand. Seeking to raise my family with the same type of experiences that I grew up with, we now spend our time enjoying the Yukon outdoors, skiing, hiking, canoeing, boating and enjoying the wilderness. It is these types of experiences that I strive to immerse students learning in as well as we explore numeracy together. |
Kyle Melnyck - Hello! Danch’e? My name is Kyle Melnyck (he/him) and I am one of the Learning Assistance Teachers at Hidden Valley School. I grew up in Alberta, where I first began fostering my passion for outdoor adventure and the search for another good story (saying I love reading is an understatement)! My partner and I feel so fortunate to call the Yukon home now. We love being part of such a vibrant community! What can I say, we came for the outdoors and found our people. Every opportunity we get, we are out running, skiing, biking, paddling… pretty much anything that brings us into the wilderness and self-propelled! My teaching philosophy strongly aligns with guiding children to be part of a positive community with emphasis through relationships, learning on the land, and experiential learning. I am very excited to be teaching at Hidden Valley School for another year so I can share my passion for literacy and the outdoors with our students.
Specialists
D'Arcy Hill - Physical Education Teacher
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Hello, my name is D’Arcy Hill (he/him) and I am excited to be the new Physical Education teacher for Hidden Valley School. I am originally growing up in Whitby (just outside Toronto), Ontario and played a lot of sports growing up. I was lucky enough to play Basketball, Baseball and Lacrosse for York University while I was getting my degree in Kinesiology. I then ended up doing my teacher degree, with a focus on Health and Physical Education, at the University of Queensland in Australia. I moved to Whitehorse 8 years ago and now have two boys, Sean (1 yrs) and Douglas (3 yrs) with my partner Julia. As you can see, I love all types of sports and activities and value participation, fair play and fun when doing any sport or activity. I look forward to a great active school year, GO HUSKIES!
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Allen Penny - ADST/Music Teacher
Hello, Danch'e?, my name is Allen Penny (he/him) and I am the music and learning commons teacher here at HVS. I am originally from New Brunswick but 3 years ago my partner Greg and I took a chance at moving to a new place we knew very little about at the time and since arriving - it has very much felt like home and is now the place where we have started our family. We love the Yukon so much we named a little one after it! Aside from music and performing as hobbies – I enjoy exploring the outdoors, gathering with friends and family and as all the kids know – gaming J. I am excited to be starting my 4th year here at HVS and I look forward to collaborating, creating and seeing all the amazing upcoming engineering and musical productions.
Hello, Danch'e?, my name is Allen Penny (he/him) and I am the music and learning commons teacher here at HVS. I am originally from New Brunswick but 3 years ago my partner Greg and I took a chance at moving to a new place we knew very little about at the time and since arriving - it has very much felt like home and is now the place where we have started our family. We love the Yukon so much we named a little one after it! Aside from music and performing as hobbies – I enjoy exploring the outdoors, gathering with friends and family and as all the kids know – gaming J. I am excited to be starting my 4th year here at HVS and I look forward to collaborating, creating and seeing all the amazing upcoming engineering and musical productions.
Laura Erickson - Student Support
Hello, Danch'e? My name is Laura Erickson, and I am happy to be teaching at Hidden Valley for the remainder of the school year. I come to Hidden Valley from Yukon University where I have been instructing in the Early Learning program and Yukon Native Teacher Education Program (YNTEP). Prior to my time at YukonU, I was a classroom teacher in Mayo, Ross River, Northern BC and in the NWT. While I enjoyed my time at YukonU, I greatly missed being in the classroom. I am very excited and so happy to be teaching at Hidden Valley School!
Hello, Danch'e? My name is Laura Erickson, and I am happy to be teaching at Hidden Valley for the remainder of the school year. I come to Hidden Valley from Yukon University where I have been instructing in the Early Learning program and Yukon Native Teacher Education Program (YNTEP). Prior to my time at YukonU, I was a classroom teacher in Mayo, Ross River, Northern BC and in the NWT. While I enjoyed my time at YukonU, I greatly missed being in the classroom. I am very excited and so happy to be teaching at Hidden Valley School!