SPECIAL EDUCATION
Teresa Lee
SPED Director
Teresa Lee graduated Summa Cum Laude from Utah State University with degrees in Special Education and Elementary Education. Since Promontory’s early days, she has been deeply involved in the school community.
Teresa discovered Expeditionary Learning as a student teacher in Lynette Reeder’s crew while taking a “Teaching Social Studies” class at USU taught by Bryce Passey. Those experiences sparked her passion for Expeditionary Learning and Promontory’s mission and “We are Crew, Not Passengers” culture. She believes all students can be successful when they have the right tools and are empowered to be leaders of their own learning.
One of the highlights of her career was presenting at the 2016 Expeditionary Learning National Conference in Detroit, where she shared her passion and strategies for empowering struggling learners to become independent leaders of their own learning. She loves working with children of all abilities and their teachers to help set and reach challenging goals.
Outside of school, Teresa enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and four kids. She loves fishing, playing games, reading, and preparing delicious and nutritious meals for her family.
Promontory legend has it that Mrs. Lee, the school’s boldest party fowl, brought a live rooster to the faculty white-elephant gift exchange, proving she can handle a few ruffled feathers.
Dianne Kelsey
Special Education Teacher
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Carrie Presnell
Special Education Teacher
Biography
Elaine Bowlus
SPED Teacher
I am excited to join the team at Promontory School as a new teacher! I bring 7 years of experience from the Perkins School for the Blind where I had the privilege of working with students ranging from preschool to 22 years old. My roles included Teaching Assistant, Substitute Teacher, Weekend Recreation Coordinator, and Expanded Core Curriculum Facilitator, as well as running various after-school programs such as Spanish Club, Music Groups, and Art Club. I’ve recently completed my degree with a double major in Special Education and Elementary Education, and I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to student-teach both at Perkins and Hosmer Elementary School, where I worked with first-graders in a public school setting and absolutely loved the experience.
In addition to teaching, I have a passion for music—I play the piano, sing, and enjoy incorporating music into my lessons to make learning more engaging. I am originally from Wyoming and lived in Utah for 10 years before gaining career experience on the east coast. I’m excited to return to the beautiful mountains and be closer to family. The sense of community at Promontory School is something that truly resonates with me, and I am honored to be part of this amazing team.
Danette Mahana
Special Education Teacher
Danette Mahana grew up in the western United States, spending most of her childhood in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. She received an associate degree from Ricks College in General Studies and a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Sciences from Idaho State University. Danette and her family lived in Montana for 11 years, where she raised her family and worked as a special education paraeducator for four of those years. When she and her family moved to Utah, Danette began working at Promontory as a special education paraeducator. She worked there for two years, and this year, she earned her associate degree in special education and became a special education teacher at Promontory. She loves working with children and truly enjoys helping them grow and achieve their potential.
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Danette lives in Brigham City with her amazing husband and five wonderful kids. They enjoy having family adventures and love to travel, seeking new and unique experiences together. They all like to perform and sing, spending a lot of time doing plays together. Danette and her family also enjoy camping, singing karaoke, and playing games. Danette loves reading, crafting, and spending time with family and friends. She is happy to be at Promontory and loves working with the wonderful kids and the amazing staff.
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"Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light a new light in the hearts of people." — Mother Teresa
Sheri Riser
RTI Specialist
Sheri was born in Utah, but her family moved around a lot while she was growing up. She lived in Simi Valley, California, and several cities throughout the Salt Lake Valley. When she got married, she finally felt like she could call somewhere home. She has lived in Brigham City for the past 20 years. She is married to her best friend, has three amazing kids, a dog (who doesn't know she's a dog), and a cat. Her family has been at Promontory since it started. All of her kids have attended Promontory, and her husband is currently serving on the Promontory Board.
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Sheri loves teaching. She has a passion for teaching reading and helping kids learn to read. She started at Promontory as a Special Education Para in 2018 and is currently working in RTI, where she gets to work with kids at every level. Saying she loves it would be an understatement!
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She is a self-proclaimed "nerd" and loves to make learning fun. Her hobbies include reading, being on stage, singing, embarrassing her family, and anything to do with the beach. Her favorite job is being a mom and wife, but being at Promontory doesn't fall far behind.