Dual Credit Teaching Partners

Paula Bearnson teaches at Marsh Valley High School and is currently in her 18th year of teaching. She has taught dual credit courses of English for U of I for 12 years and has taught Communication 101 for College of Southern Idaho for one year. Paula also teaches AP classes and honors English, and is the Senior Project Coordinator, which gives her the opportunity to teach composition skills to all the MVHS seniors, guiding them through the process of presenting their projects before a panel of adults. When not teaching, Paula is reading, traveling, or crafting.

Stephanie Baxter has taught for 13 years. This is her first year teaching English 102 as dual credit for the University of Idaho. Stephanie enjoys spending time outdoors with her friends and family, riding her horse in the mountains, and reading good books.

Tina Brackebusch graduated from the University of Idaho in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Upon graduation, Tina became a certified teacher with endorsements in English, History, and Government. She initially taught 11th and 12th grade English in Elko, Nevada and then in the Silver Valley. She has over 20 years of experience teaching high school English.  She currently teaches 9th and 12th grade English at Wallace Junior Senior High School.

Rebecca Gonzales has taught high school English for 28 years and has taught dual credit courses for U of I for 10 years. In addition to teaching ENGL 101 and ENGL 175 as dual credit, she has also taught AP Literature, Honors Senior English, Journalism, and co-taught a humanities course with a teacher of U.S. History. She currently teachers at Weiser High School.

When she is not teaching, Rebecca is camping with her husband in Idaho’s stunning forests, attending exciting Wolverine football games, watching and insanely cheering for her glorious Dallas Cowboys, or spending priceless time with her beloved grandson.

Chris Johnson is currently in his 44^th year of teaching high school English and has taught dual credit courses for U of I for 10 years. In addition to teaching ENGL 101 and ENGL 175, he also teaches sophomore English.

Larissa Lyons has taught for eight years and is in her first year of teaching dual credit for U of I. currently teaches English 101 to 11^th graders at Compass Public Charter School. Previously, she has taught 9^th and 10^th grade Honors English Language Arts and has served as the advisor for both Yearbook and the student newspaper. Larissa attended Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington and is certified to teach 6-12 English Language Arts. She also earned an M.S. in Instruction & Curriculum from the University of Kansas.

Outside the classroom, Larissa spends time with her family exploring the Pacific Northwest; hosting game nights; learning new skills such as homesteading, home design, and DIY; and applying her knowledge of research, rhetoric, and argument to real world issues, making for exciting dinner parties.

Pierrette Madrid has taught English and speech at New Plymouth High School for over 25 years. Although this is her first year teaching dual credit for the University of Idaho, she has taught dual credit speech and English for both Northwest Nazarene University and College of Western Idaho, since the early 2000s. She continues to teach Communication 101 for CWI and teaches English 101 and English 175 for the University of Idaho. At New Plymouth she also teaches mythology and American Literature; the things one must do at a small rural high school. In Pierrette's off time she enjoys Pickleball, CrossFit, and golf, as well as reading fiction.

Betsy Sims is in her fourth year of teaching American Literature, Contemporary Literature, College Prep English, Public Speaking, and a variety of English/STEM electives at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy. Prior to joining the team at STEM, she taught in western Montana for the first five years of her career. Betsy currently teaches ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 as dual credit for the University of Idaho. She is also working toward her Master of Arts degree through the Department of English’s Grace Nixon Institute.

Alongside teaching, Betsy is busy chasing around a busy toddler and prioritizes family time on the weekends by riding bikes, discovering new playgrounds, and, of course, reading new storybooks.

Christina Spriggs has taught for over 20 years and currently teachers English 101 and 102 as dual credit for the University of Idaho. She has taught dual credit classes for U of I since 2013. She has also taught dual credit courses through the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance and the College of Western Idaho. Christina is the mother of two, a Seahawks fan, and an avid camper in the summertime.

Kevin Wickersham teaches Senior English and Art History at Fruitland High School.  Mr. Wickersham is a Vandal alumnus and has taught English 101 as dual credit since 2012.

Rebecca (Becca) Davis Winegar teaches English Language Arts to juniors at Fruitland High School in Fruitland, Idaho. Becca began teaching in 2015 and added English 175, Literature and Ideas to her repertoire in 2021 when she began teaching dual credit for the University of Idaho. Outside of school, Becca spends a lot of her time playing board games with her husband, snuggling her dogs, and quilting cozy blankets for her many nieces and nephews.