Our Staff

River Farm Forest School is a cooperative.

What does that mean?

Our teachers focus on their students, lesson planning, and the classroom. Parents support the school through active participation, such as assisting teachers during recess and hikes during the school day, leading parent passion projects, fulfilling family jobs, serving on the school board, and more. Don’t worry if you can’t volunteer during school hours! We have other opportunities. The benefit of a cooperative is being involved in your child’s education.

Katy joined the River Farm staff in 2024 as the instructional aide and Nature Teacher. The next year she moved up as a lead teacher in the first grade classroom. Katy holds several professional certifications, including Orton-Gillingham Comprehensive and OG Phonological Awareness, Forest School Teacher Training, and a 30-hour Children’s Yoga credential, and she has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Educational Studies.

This year, Katy has stepped into the role of Director while continuing to teach second grade. She is excited to help guide River Farm into its next chapter while staying rooted in the qualities that make the school special: strong academics, meaningful time outdoors, and a learning environment where children are encouraged to be curious, capable, and fully themselves. As both a classroom teacher and director, she is committed to building a school community where students, families, and teachers feel supported, connected, and excited to learn.

Katy is passionate about nature and believes children thrive when they can learn through play. She loves creating opportunities for kids to explore the outdoors, move their bodies, and follow their curiosity. Her focus on nature-based learning helps children build confidence, creativity, and a deep connection to the world around them.

In her free time, Katy enjoys camping, hiking, reading, knitting, gardening, and being a mom. She loves activities that help her slow down, recharge, and feel connected to the world around her.

Director | 2nd Grade Teacher

Bachelor’s in Elementary Educational Studies

katy@riverfarmcooperative.com

Katy Ribadulla

Kindergarten Teacher | Art Teacher

Bachelor’s in Speech Communication Studies & Master’s in Humanities

Certified Yoga Instructor

andrea@riverfarmcooperative.com

Andrea Kantrovich

Andrea believes children learn best through curiosity, creativity, and meaningful connections. She strives to create a classroom where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired to explore.

Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication Studies from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Humanities with concentrations in Communication and Education from Tiffin University. She is Orton-Gillingham certified, has specialized training in K–8 Art Methods, and holds multiple certifications in yoga, mindfulness, and meditation with thousands of hours of study, practice, and teaching. She enjoys weaving literacy, the arts, mindfulness, and social-emotional learning into her classroom whenever possible.

When she's not teaching, Andrea enjoys traveling, visiting Renaissance Faires, photography, reading, theater, and spending time with her two dogs, Meeko and Marlow. She loves bringing her experiences into the classroom to help students connect with the world around them and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

1st Grade Teacher

Bachelor’s in Journalism

Orton-Gillingham Plus Certified Instructor

Caitlin@riverfarmcooperative.com

Caitlin Masson-Breen

Caitlin earned her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi where she studied abroad throughout Europe and completed an internship at the Eur-Am Center for International Education.

After college, Caitlin joined the Navy and worked as an intelligence analyst specializing in expeditionary and electronic warfare. In 2020, she transitioned to civilian life and shifted her focus to raising her three tiny-yet-feral children.

When her oldest was ready for kindergarten, Caitlin sought a school as wonderfully unique as her child and found exactly that at River Farm. She never expected RFFS to become such a meaningful part of her family’s story or ultimately lead her to the classroom.

Caitlin is an Orton-Gillingham Plus certified instructor passionate about building strong literacy foundations and sparking a love of reading. As a first grade teacher, she believes academic rigor and childhood joy can, and should, coexist.

Caitlin can often be found outside with dirt under her fingernails, exploring plants and fungi, tending her garden, or dreaming up her next creative project. Whether at school or home, she finds joy in creating, learning, and adding a little extra whimsy to everyday life.

Erin Arras

3rd/4th Grade Teacher | Upper School Math Teacher

Bachelor’s and Master’s in Psychology

erin@riverfarmcooperative.com

Erin has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Psychology and recently earned another Master's degree in Computer Information Systems. Her experience includes working with children as both a Preschool Teacher's Aide and a Behavior Specialist.

During the pandemic, she homeschooled her children for two years before enrolling them at River Farm in 2022, where she served as a Core Co-op Parent. In 2023, she became a teacher’s assistant, and she is thrilled to join the River Farm team as a teacher this year so can continue to make a positive impact on students’ lives.

Scott Beggs

Administrator | Upper School Lead

MFA in Creative Writing, BA in Politics and Philosophy

admin@riverfarmcooperative.com | scott@riverfarmcooperative.com

As the school's Administrator, Scott oversees operations. In addition to keeping the school running smoothly, he teaches composition and social studies to the upper school students. In the classroom, Scott believes in letting students be exactly who they are—nurturing their creativity and curiosity while sharing the tools of strong writing. His composition curriculum focuses on grammar fundamentals and critical thinking through research papers, persuasive essays, creative writing, and poetry. In social studies class, students learn the specifics of American History while asking fundamental questions about government, society, and their place in it.

Scott holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Texas at El Paso and has taught writing programs since 2001. In a previous life, he was the managing editor of a popular film magazine and film critic with pieces in Vanity Fair, Mental Floss, and other fine publications. He earned his BA in Political Science and Philosophy from Baylor University in 2006. He has also served as the business manager for multiple think tanks and for the United States Employee Recreational Association at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Danielle Walker

Science | Specials

Master’s in Science

danielle@riverfarmcooperative.com

As a nurse with a Master of Science, Dani is excited to bring a practical, real-world perspective to science lessons. She loves stepping outside of the traditional classroom and using nature as a hands-on lab to help students connect concepts to the world around them.

In healthcare, a large part of her work was translating complex concepts into clear, accessible language; a skill she will bring to our classrooms. Dani is excited to help our students stay wildly curious, ask the big questions, and develop true ownership over their learning. She plans to foster this by cover Science fundamentals and the scientific method, and then synthesize their learning into interest driven projects, allow students to take the lead.

Alissa Werres

Aid | Specials

TBD

alissa@riverfarmcooperative.com

Alissa is a former practicing architect and educator. She has a background in design, spatial thinking, and physical creation. Alissa is passionate about empowering the next generation of creators. Alissa currently guides students through hands-on projects and directing immersive camps at the Art League, fostering an environment built on curiosity and experimentation.

Alissa will be acting as the school Aide, and will facilitate Specials in our Upper School Classrooms, where the students will tackle projects big and small, and that covers many different concepts.