Staff Spotlight

JAMI NICHOLLS

Jami Nicholls, of Kinnear, works as a Title 1 intervention for Wind River Elementary and has been with the district for 23 years.

Jami graduated attended college at the University of Wyoming where she earned a degree in Elementary Education. She has been an educator for 29 years, most of that time has been spent in this district.

She has held many titles during her time in Fremont County School District #6, including:

  • BIT/At Risk Coordinator

  • Native American Liaison

  • Middle School Home Economics Teacher

  • PE Teacher

  • Kindergarten Teacher

  • 1st Grade Teacher

  • 2nd Grade Teacher

Jami started out in nursing, but quickly realized she enjoyed working with children. She went to work at Lander Head Start, then started subbing. When asked what inspired her to become an educator, she said, "I loved working with kids so much I got my teaching degree. I did my student teaching at Wyoming Indian Elementary then when my own kids started school at Wind River I started working here too. I have been teaching here ever since."

She and her husband have a ranch by Diversion Dam and run cattle and horses. They have three grown sons and seven grandchildren.  Their youngest son team ropes professionally and the rest of their family loves to team rope and rodeo together, including the grand kids, who also help on the ranch working cattle and riding horses. 

Jami Nicholls and husband

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her grand kids and watching them compete at rodeos, riding horses on the ranch, working cattle, and her family enjoys competing at team ropings together. They also spend time fly fishing when they can.

Jami Nicholls with her family

A few of her favorite things include:

  • Favorite Book: Killers of the Flower Moon

  • Favorite Sport: Rodeo timed events

  • Favorite Movie: Dances with Wolves

  • Favorite TV Show: Castle

  • Favorite Food: Prime Rib

  • Favorite Color: Turquoise Blue

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Camping in the mountains or warm places like Florida, Hawaii and Arizona.

  • Favorite Band/Song: Lainey Wilson – Wildflowers and Wild Horses

New Staff Spotlight

Troy Anderson, new SPED teacher at Wind River High School

TROY ANDERSON

Troy is from Crowheart and is the new Special Education Teacher at Wind River High School.

He attended Dakota Wesleyan University and Western Governors University where he earned a Social Studies Teaching Degree as well as a Masters Special Education Generalist. He has been an education for seven years.

He and his family enjoy sushi as well as outdoor activities and sports. A few of his favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Jocko Willink

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Alabama Football

  • Favorite Movie: Gladiator

  • Favorite TV Show: Last Chance U

  • Favorite Food: Sushi

  • Favorite Color: Black

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Beach - Preferably Warm

  • Favorite Band/Song: Anything by Zach Bryan (right now)

Jessie David new MS/HS Secretary

JESSIE DAVID

Jessie grew up in Crowheart and is one of the new secretaries at Wind River Middle/High School this year. She graduated from Wind River in 2019. Welcome back Jessie!

She and her husband Lincoln moved back to Pavillion this summer. They live on the David family farm and help raise cattle and hay. She and her family also put on rodeos in Dubois during the summer. She enjoys fishing and spending time with her family and horses. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Basketball

  • Favorite Movie: Lonesome Dove

  • Favorite TV Show: S.W.A.T.

  • Favorite Food: Spaghetti

  • Favorite Color: Blue

Sydnie Eller, new fourth grade teacher at Wind River Elementary

SYDNIE ELLER

Sydnie grew up in Glendo and is the new fourth grade teacher at Wind River Elementary.

She graduated from the University of Wyoming at Casper with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education with a minor in literacy. She has been a teacher for 4 years.

She comes from a teaching background, as her mother has been a teacher for over 30 years. She is engaged and will be married before next summer.

She enjoys being active, whether at the gym or out exploring and hunting with her fiance. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Harry Potter Series but also loves Kristin Hannah

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Wyoming Cowboys, Huskers, and the Buffalo Bills (go Josh Allen)

  • Favorite Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy

  • Favorite TV Show: The Office

  • Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese

  • Favorite Color: It changes every day but currently pink

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: The mountains

  • Favorite Band/Song: Casey Donahew and Taylor Swift

Dee Harrison and family

DEE HARRISON

Dee is from Rigby and is the new Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Wind River Middle/High School.

He has been an educator for 20 years. He attended college at the University of Wyoming, Eastern Oregon University,  United States Sports Academy, Idaho State University, and Ricks College  and earned a Masters in Teacher Education, Masters in Sports Administration, Bachelors in Physical Education/Health and an Associates Degree in General Studies.

Dee has four biological children and two foster children ranging in ages from 2 to 25 years old and one granddaughter.

He enjoys riding four-wheelers and building projects. He just loves to be active doing anything athletic. A few of his favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Steve Covey

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Track and Field

  • Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans

  • Favorite TV Show: Murders in the Building

  • Favorite Food: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

  • Favorite Color: Depends on the Day

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Costa Rica

  • Favorite Band/Song: Aerosmith

Melissa Horn, new paraprofessional at Wind River Elementary

MELISSA HORN

Melissa is from Yampa, Colorado and joined Wind River Elementary's staff as a paraprofessional this year.

She and her family moved to the area in 2021. They bought a farm and began to build our new lives right here in Fremont County! She and her husband and have four kids together, One in high school, two in elementary and one who now lives in heaven. She is excited to be working at Wind River Elementary and is looking forward to many years of helping with the education of our community's children! She enjoys helping on the farm, fishing with her kids, and traveling to visit family. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Wrestling - Her favorite team is the Cougars!

  • Favorite Color: Teal - but the Cougar colors are rapidly growing on her

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: She enjoys getting away to the mountains where it is quiet and peaceful

  • Favorite Band/Song: All kinds of music

Karissa Millward, English teacher at Wind River High School

KARISSA MILLWARD

Karissa is from Rowland Heights, California and is returning to Wind River High School this year as one of the high school English/Language Arts teachers. Welcome back, Karissa!

She received her bachelors degree in Engish education from Cal Poly Pomona and earned her masters in teaching from Western Governors University. This is her fifth year in education.

In her spare time she enjoys running through the streets of Pavillion with her dogs, reading a good book on the porch, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: There is too many to list. She recently has been fascinated with anything Steven King.

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: The Anaheim Ducks (Hockey)

  • Favorite Movie: Sweet Home Alabama

  • Favorite TV Show: Hart of Dixie

  • Favorite Food: Mexican

  • Favorite Color: Teal

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Southern California

  • Favorite Band/Song: The Counting Crows

One of the new secretaries at Wind River Middle/High School, Lacy Nichols

LACY NICHOLS

Lacy is from Lander and is one of the new faces in the Middle School/High School office this year.

Though she originally went to school for rodeo, she transferred to the University of Phoenix and received an associates in business management. This is her second year at Wind River, as she was a paraprofessional during the 2022-2023 school year.

She and her husband live in Pavillion from Morristown, Arizona and have three dogs and lots of other animals. She enjoys barrel racing, breakaway roping, and riding futurity colts. She also love to read and spend time with my family. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Rodeo

  • Favorite Movie: Anything Adam Sandler

  • Favorite TV Show: Expedition Unknown

  • Favorite Food: Tacos

  • Favorite Color: Pink

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Mexico

  • Favorite Band/Song: Moneytalks by AD/DC

Jessie Rider 2nd grade teacher at Wind River Elementary

JESSIE RIDER

Jessie is from Riverton and joined Wind River Elementary as a second grade teacher this year.

She earned her Bachelors in Elementary education from the University of Wyoming and has been an educator for three years.

She and her husband have two children, a boy and a girl. She enjoys reading and taking care of her chickens. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Harry Potter series

  • Favorite Movie: The Goonies

  • Favorite TV Show: The original MacGyver

  • Favorite Food: Spaghetti

  • Favorite Color: Blue

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Camping at Sinks Canyon

  • Favorite Band/Song: All kinds of music

JUDY SCHIFFERNS

Judy is from Riverton and has returned to Wind River as the Accounting Clerk this year. Welcome back Judy!

She earned an associates in Career Accounting from CWC and has worked in Fremont County schools for 18 years.

She enjoys crocheting, camping and fishing. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: All of them

  • Favorite Movie: Last of the Dogmen

  • Favorite TV Show: Devious Minds

  • Favorite Food: Tacos

  • Favorite Color: Red

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: The Mountains

  • Favorite Band/Song: All Music

Nadine Stotts, new teacher at Crowheart School

NADINE STOTTS

Nadine is from Farson and is the new teacher at Crowheart Elementary.

She earned a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Valley City State University in North Dakota. Although she has been a substitute teacher for many years this is her first job as a teacher.

She is married with four children and three granddaughters. Three of her children are married and the fourth just started college in Rock Springs.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, crochet, needlework, gardening, horseback riding, hunting, camping, and spending time with family. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Louis L'Amour

  • Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Green Bay Packers

  • Favorite TV Show: MASH

  • Favorite Food: Spaghetti and Meatballs

  • Favorite Color: Blue/Green

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Alaska

Mickayla Walker is a para at Wind River Elementary School

MICKAYLA WALKER

Mickayla is from Halfway, Oregon and moved to Pavillion with her family in October. She is a paraprofessional at Wind River Elementary School.

She and her husband have five children. She enjoys canning food, baking, quilting, sewing and emboidery work. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Maude by Donna Foley Mabry

  • Favorite Movie: John Wayne's McClintock

  • Favorite Food: Pork Chops or Cow Tongue

  • Favorite Color: Blue and Grey

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Camping

  • Favorite Band/Song: Dinosaur by Hank Williams, Jr.

Paige Walker, Social Studies teacher at Wind River High School

PAIGE WALKER

Paige grew up in Gillette and is the new Social Studies teacher at Wind River High School.

She earned her secondary social studies education degree from the University of Wyoming. She is the youngest of three and loves being an aunt to her two nieces and nephews. She also enjoys playing with her dog, reading and hiking. A few of her favorite things are:

  • Favorite Book/Author: Night by Ellie Wiesel

  • Favorite Movie: Harry Potter

  • Favorite TV Show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

  • Favorite Food: Tacos

  • Favorite Color: Green

  • Favorite Vacation Spot: Jamaica

  • Favorite Band/Song: Zach Bryan