Meet Our Staff

Jennifer “Pheff" Basham

Outdoor School Senior Program Administrator
(503) 257-1618 • jbasham@mesd.k12.or.us

Jennifer brings more than 2​4 years of experience working with children of all ages in both residential and classroom settings. She has developed engaging educational programs, supervised staff teams, and built strong, inclusive communities within a wide range of learning environments.​ She has taught 4th and 5th grades in the Reynolds School District, served as a Site Supervisor for Outdoor School programs with NWRESD and MESD, and held leadership roles with summer camps at the Oregon Zoo, YMCA Camp Collins, and Synergo.​ Jennifer holds an Oregon State Professional Administrator’s License and Teaching License, a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies (summa cum laude) from Eastern Oregon University, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy from Portland State University.​ As an Oregonian and Outdoor School alum, Jennifer feels grateful to be part of such a transformational experience for students across the region and to witness the incredible learning and community that unfold each week. Outside of Outdoor School, she enjoys biking around town, walking her two dogs with her husband, baking, crafting, and savoring fresh-roasted coffee.

Andrea “Coho" Hussey

Outdoor School Supervisor
(503) 257-1774 • ahussey@mesd.k12.or.us

Andrea was bread and buttered in Portland Oregon. She attended Howard Outdoor School as a 6th grader and loved it.  She returned as a student Leader and Animals Field Instructor at Collins, and became a Site Supervisor in 2003. Andrea has been the Site Supervisor of the Arrah Wanna, Howard, and Angelos sites. Andrea holds a degree from the University of Oregon in Environmental Studies and Womens' Studies, and she worked in the reproductive justice movement as a patient advocate and helped to start a non-profit hotline for women. While not at Outdoor School, Andrea is a Trivia Jockey in Portland. Andrea loves that everyone is welcome and gets a clean slate at Outdoor School, and that it is a place where kids can find success, even if they struggle in a traditional setting. Each session brings new challenges, and she loves being a part of a Portland legacy. Andrea loves organized fun, and is nicknamed the Ambassador of F.U.N.. She enjoys time in her garden with her spouse and big goofy dog, and going on adventures with friends in the lovely state of Oregon. Andrea recently won the Grand Prize on the NPR radio game show Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and the charming Carl Kasell's voice is now on her outgoing voicemail.

Shauna “Chomps" Stevenson

Site Supervisor on Special Assignment
(503) 257-1623 • sstevens@mesd.k12.or.us

Shauna was born and raised in Portland and graduated from Centennial High School. She attended Collins ODS in 6th grade and volunteered throughout in high school at Trout Creek ODS, inspiring her desire to work with children and youth. After receiving a BS in Elementary Education in Utah, she returned as a Field Instructor at Howard ODS in 1998. She then served as the Education Director for the Friends of Tryon Creek State Park and earned an MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning from the Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley University in Massachusetts. In 2004 she returned to work with the 4th Grade Overnight program, became a Site Supervisor in 2005 and hasn’t left, as playing dress up came naturally to her as a child and she can’t get enough. Missing science, Shauna worked to develop the winter Mazama Mountain Science School program in Government Camp, fitting since she took her first steps at Mt Hood Meadows while her family was out skiing. Now she gets to play and learn in the snow, and she gets to dress up as if she were from the 1800s. It’s the perfect fit. 

Scott “Elk" Sievertsen

Angelos Site Supervisor
(503) 257-1619 • ssievert@mesd.k12.or.us

Scott's experience with the Outdoor School program spans 4 decades, and includes participating as a 6th grade student, serving as a Junior Counselor (Student Leader), on staff as a Senior Counselor (Program Leader), Field Instructor, and Site Supervisor for both the Outdoor School and 4th Grade Overnight programs. Scott has spent sessions at the Howard, Eagle Fern, Angelos / Sandy  River, Namanu, Adams / Milk Creek, and Arrah Wanna sites. Scott once told a group of Student Leaders the year that he started as a staff member at Outdoor School, to which a Student Leader responded, "That's the year I was born!" It was then that Scott knew he qualified as one of the "old" people at Outdoor School.

Doug “Flank" Lloyd

Collins Outdoor School Site Supervisor
(503) 257-1605 • dlloyd@mesd.k12.or.us

Doug grew up on Mt. Tabor and attended Trout Creek Outdoor School as a 6th grader in 1986. He began working in the program as a program leader at Howard in 1997 before departing to work for the MESD at Multnomah Elementary & Middle School. After coaching a number of boys and girls basketball and soccer teams, Doug returned to the program working at Namanu for Outdoor School and then later as the camp director for Camp Fire. Prior to becoming a site supervisor in 2012 Flank worked with children at the Oregon Zoo, Girl Scouts of Northern California and a few other places. If you don’t find Doug outside in the woods, then he’s spending time with family and friends or he's on the golf course.

Samantha “Satchel" Wise

Kuratli Outdoor School Site Supervisor
(503) 257-1609 • swise@mesd.k12.or.us

Samantha started her Outdoor School journey as a 6th grader at Collins Outdoor School, and continued as a Student Leader there. She volunteered to help students with specific needs while in college, and served as a Program Leader and Animals Field Instructor at the Milk Creek and Arrah Wanna sites. Samantha holds a bachelors degree in Family and Human Services from the University of Oregon, and has 10 years of experience as a social worker with youth in transition (Foster Care, Homeless / Runaway / Juvenile Justice), including supervising a few different residential programs for youth focused on creating safe spaces for social-emotional skill building and mental health. Samantha loves the sense of wonder and inquiry ODS brings out in young people and the intentional community building components that help build relationships that last a lifetime. Samantha enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching the Blazers, drinking coffee, and dreaming of her next opportunity to travel and see a part of the world. "One is not born into this world to do everything, but to do something." —Henry David Thoreau

Michael “Flea" Braim

Namanu Outdoor School Site Supervisor
(503) 257-1604 • mbraim@mesd.k12.or.us

Michael was born in Portland and grew up in Gresham (Go Gophs!) with short pit stops in Texas and Germany. Michael was a 6th grader at Howard Outdoor School, and worked as a Program Leader and Field Instructor at the Angelos and Namanu sites. Michael has a degree from the OSU College of Forestry in Natural Resources Education and a Master of Arts, Teaching from Concordia. Before becoming the Site Supervisor at Namanu Outdoor School, Michael taught science at Reynolds Learning Academy. Michael loves that Outdoor School makes science an experience, and not just a subject. Every week, a special community is created that physically exists for just that one week, but the positive impacts can be felt for a lifetime. Michael is an Oregon State Beavers and Portland TrailBlazers fanatic (he even has a dog named Cliff Robinson). "If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let 'em go, because man, they're gone." —Jack Handey

Joey ​“Falco" Mata

Westwind Outdoor School Site Supervisor
(503) 257-1610 • jmata@mesd.k12.or.us

Joey grew up in Portland, attended Angelos Outdoor School in 6th grade, and returned as a student leader in high school. After working several years as a Certified Nursing assistant in acute care programs, Joey returned to Outdoor school as a Program Leader. Before returning as a Site Supervisor for the program, Joey worked for Playworks, and directed a camp for the Girl Scouts of Northern California. Joey has a passion for finding the leadership qualities in folks. He thinks that everyone can be a superhero in their own communities if they try. Yes, he consumes a lot of Marvel content in hopes that one day he will be bitten by a radioactive spider.
​"When we help someone, we help everyone." — Aunt May in Spiderman No Way Home.

Miranda “Urchin" Gonzales

Community Engagement Specialist
(503) 257-1539 • mgonzales@mesd.k12.or.us

Born in Texas, but raised in The City of Roses, Miranda grew up in the Outdoor School community. She attended Arrah Wanna Outdoor School as a sixth grader, but what kept her coming back was her experience as a High School Student Leader. Being a Student Leader helped Miranda find her voice and a career she was passionate about. After many years of working as a Program Leader and Field Instructor with Outdoor School, Miranda comes back to the program with a degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies and a passion for people. She knows firsthand the incredible potential this program has to impact the lives of young people positively and is honored to be a part of the Oregon Legacy that is Outdoor School. When not working, Miranda loves to spend time in her garden with her partner and their three dogs, Butterball, Reggie, and Roly Poly. 

Lena “Dove" Coleman

Outdoor School Secretary
(503) 257-1601 • lcoleman@mesd.k12.or.us

Lena attended Howard Outdoor School as a 6th grader in 1972, and she will never forget her JCs, Rain and Puppy. Lena was never a Junior Counselor or Student Leader herself, but she has manufactured two of them, and was incubating the younger one when she began working as the Outdoor School Knower of All Things. Lena wants to adopt every Student Leader and seasonal staff member she meets; Lena loves you more than you will know. Lena's snark filter begins to fail at about 3 pm, so make sure you schedule all serious conversations for early in the day. Lena Coleman is a wizard. Lena Coleman speaks newt. Lena Coleman for President 20_ _.

Kitty “Kitty" Boryer

Student Services Specialist
(503) 257-1607 • kboryer@mesd.k12.or.us

Kitty was born in Portland, and went to Howard Outdoor School as a 6th grader in 1974, and served as a Junior Counselor at Arrah Wanna Outdoor School in 1980 and a Senior Counselor at Trestle Glen Outdoor School from 1986 to 1988. Kitty earned a BS in Psychology from from Portland State University, and she worked for the Forest Grove School District Cascade Education Corp throughout the 1990s. Kitty has been the Student Services Specialist since 1999, and she loves working with our amazing High School Student Leaders.

Tom "Giraffe" Eby

Program Nurse
(503) 257-1606 • teby@mesd.k12.or.us

Jeff “Snake" Dallas

Program Specialist
(503) 257-1608 • jdallas@mesd.k12.or.us

Jeff grew up in the Estacada area near Portland. He attended outdoor school in sixth grade at Camp Kuratli, and later was a Junior Counselor for the MESD Outdoor School program in the late 70s and early 80s. He spent 6 sessions as a Senior Counselor, and 5 sessions as a Resource Specialist with Outdoor School. In addition to Outdoor School, Jeff worked at a variety of summer camps including Camp Tadmor in Lebanon, OR; Camp Westwind in Lincoln City, OR; Pacific Science Center Science Alive camps in Seattle, WA; and the National Wildlife Federation's Eastern Wildlife Camp in Hendersonville, NC. Jeff completed a degree in General Science and a teaching certificate in Elementary Education from Seattle Pacific University. After graduation he accepted a position with Outdoor School as Site Supervisor at the Angelos / Sandy River Outdoor School site from 1996-2014. He now serves as Program Specialist at Outdoor School restocking supplies and materials, overseeing kitchens, and transporting gear for the outdoor school sites. Jeff's hobbies and interests include science, nature, gardening, natural history, pyrotechnics, reptiles and carnivorous plants. He is also founder and co-owner of Sarracenia Northwest carnivorous plant nursery. When not working, Jeff can usually be found looking for a bog or a really good cup of coffee.

Lafcadio “Lafcadio" Adams

Minion / Overlord
(503) 257-1600 • ladams@mesd.k12.or.us

Though born in Oregon, Lafcadio spent her 6th grade and high school years away from the Portland area, and did not get to participate in Outdoor School until adulthood. Lafcadio worked for an environmental education program in Wisconsin before making her way back to the Pacific Northwest to work for the MESD. She spent 28 sessions as an Animals Field Instructor at the Namanu and Howard sites, beginning in 2001. Lafcadio now works in the Outdoor School office primarily spending time aesthetically arranging electrons. Lafcadio wrote a book, Stargazing for Beginners, based on lessons developed for the StarLab.