Teacher Leaders

KCA is run differently than most other schools:

  • KCA is a teacher-run school without a principal
  • Teacher Leaders share teaching and administrative responsibilities
  • Teacher Leaders earn the same starting salaries in the spirit of cooperative parity
  • Like all charter schools, KCA staff are overseen by the KCA Board of Directors

To learn more about teacher-run schools, visit Teacher-Powered Schools.

Meet our Teacher Leaders


Teacher Leader Melissa DeNardo

  • Teacher Leader
  • Academic and Social-Emotional Advisor
  • Nutrition and Wellness Chair
  • Physical Education Chair & OSAA Liaison
  • Restorative Justice Chair/Student Discipline 
  • Student Services Liaison
  • Facility and Grounds Chair
  • Social-Emotional Learning Co-Chair
  • McKinney-Vento Coordinator

Teacher Leader Kaci Elder

  • Teacher Leader
  • Academic and Social-Emotional Advisor
  • Social Studies Department Chair
  • Performing Arts Department Chair
  • Academics Coordinator
  • Talented and Gifted Program Coordinator
  • Three Rivers School District Liaison
  • Oregon Department of Education Liaison
  • United States Department of Education Liaison

Teacher Leader Ryan Forsythe

  • Teacher Leader
  • Academic and Social-Emotional Advisor
  • Math Department Chair
  • Literary Arts Department Chair
  • Financial Integrity Management & Bookkeeping
  • Human Resources & Payroll
  • Lead Graphic Designer

Teacher Leader Sara Kinstler

  • Teacher Leader
  • Academic and Social-Emotional Advisor
  • English Language Arts Department Chair
  • Spanish Department Chair
  • Civil Rights Coordinator
  • Multilingual and Migrant Learners Support
  • Indigenous Learners Support
  • College and Career Coordinator 
  • State Testing Coordinator

Teacher Leader Taryn Roberson

  • Teacher Leader
  • Academic and Social-Emotional Advisor
  • Science Department Chair
  • Fine Arts Chair
  • Safety and Risk Management
  • Social-Emotional Learning Co-Chair 
  • Tutoring Coordinator
  • LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Support
  • Restorative Justice Co-Chair/Student Discipline 

Office Manager Kayla Rau

  • Registration, Enrollment & Attendance Management
  • Transportation Management
  • Communications (social media, website, family newsletter)

Co-Creators of the Past

It takes a village to raise a school, and the KCA village is more than the folks described above. We wouldn’t be here without inspiration from the Dome School; friends who have read our newsletters, completed surveys, offered help, answered questions, and donated their money and time; local teenagers who created and shared artwork through The Kalmiopsis Collection; and the dedicated former co-creators who worked so hard to bring KCA this far:

Kimiko Maglio

Kimiko spent two years as a Teacher Leader, working with Sara, Melissa, Ryan, and Kaci from 2020-2022. After the KCA proposal was accepted by the school board in September 2022, Kimiko transitioned to helping create a strong school board, serving as board chairperson, 2022-2023.

Gina Angelique

Gina joined Kaci and Ryan from 2018-2020 to begin developing a new high school for the Illinois Valley. Gina helped name the school, apply for our first grants, shape the school philosophy, and catalyze KCA with her passion, wit, and drive. Gina is the Artistic Director of Dancefarm.