Northwest Youth Corps

Rural School AmeriCorps Members

Kathleen Beeson - Kathleen hails from the north suburbs of Chicago and is very much enjoying her rural adventures in Oregon. She has the luxury of living on a farm, which is teaching her a world of skills and country know-how. She is currently serving as the Garden and Outdoor School Coordinator at Central Linn School District. She received her BA in Neuroscience from Knox College, though she beams about all things Biology (most recently, birds and mushrooms). Kathleen plans on continuing her education out west, and in the meantime, enjoys hiking, art, cooking, reading, traveling and her fat barn cat, Larry.

Katy Pelissier - Katy graduated from the University of Oregon with dual degrees in theatre arts and family and human services. As a student, Katy had the opportunity to volunteer as an intern with a variety of local organizations, and developed a strong connection to the Willamette Farm and Food Coalition’s Farm to School Program. She graduated and spent a summer riding her bike abroad before returning to Eugene to settle in as an AmeriCorps member for the Willamette Farm and Food Coalition. She takes kids on farm field trips, teaches about food, nutrition and the benefits of eating locally, and just generally loves the local food world in Eugene. In her spare time she enjoys riding her bike, cooking, raising a cat and going to the theatre.

Marty Walton - My name is Marty Walton. I have been raised in the Cottage Grove area and lived here most of my life. I enjoy the small town lifestyle where everyone knows you. I am lucky to work only five minutes from home and I often ride my bike to Lincoln Middle School where I have my office. A great friend told me about the position at AmeriCorps where I would have a variety of jobs, never doing the same thing twice. I get to meet new people and work with kids. I love to talk and have high energy so I applied for the job with the Northwest Youth Corps and here I am!

Bridget Kerner - Bridget is the new Rural Schools AmeriCorps member serving at Marcola Elementary. She grew up and attended college in Maryland. While in college she traveled to Costa Rica to study permaculture and traveled to India to study environmental resource management. Last May Bridget graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies. Throughout college she worked with the STARS after school program at a local elementary school, it was this experience with education that made her decide to come volunteer with AmeriCorps at Marcola Elementary. Bridget is interested in environmental issues and their connections to larger social issues.

Terri Gardner - I am currently serving at the Oakridge High School for the Americorps (Rural) program with NYC. I have worked in schools for 12 years in Special Education as an Educational Assistant. I really enjoy the challenges of working with a variety of students and this position allows me to continue working with young adults. I was born in Payson, UT but have lived most of my life in the Oakridge area where I went to school, married and raised 4 children. After 26 years of marriage I divorced and became employed by the Oakridge School Dist. I love Oakridge and all the opputunities for outdoor activities that are available to me either by walking or a quick drive into the woods. I took one year off from my job after my last two children graduated and moved to Petersburg, AK, I lived way out of town in a small cabin with no running water except what you collected off your roof into a barrel or packed from a nearby stream or generous neighbors. I got to experience the worst winter they had in 49 years in Petersburg and did not see my car from Oct. until May (snow). In Alaska I was able to do some gill net fishing which was an incredible experience plus some crabbing, shrimping and caught a 75lb Halibut. I was also able to see some beautiful country and great wildlife first hand. I also made some life long friends.

I enjoy being with my family and friends, camping, swimming the rivers, reading and my grandchild with another one on the way. I feel very fortunate to be able to call Oakridge home and live and serve here, where I know just about everyone and it is easy to get to know new people thru the school, students, staff and the many activities that you can still do in a small town.

Kids really are a passion with me, I enjoy their company and appreciate what they bring into my life. I also hope that I am a good role model and can enrich their lives in some way.