Staff & Board

Cassie Sheets has been an educator for over two decades, teaching students from preschool to college. She moved to Montana in 2009, worked in the nonprofit sector, earned a Master's in Sociology from University of Montana, and taught as an adjunct in the department for several years. Then she transitioned to the publishing industry, earning a Master's in Children's Literature, running the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and working for School Library Journal as a teacher educator. She returned to K-12 work as Writing Coaches of Montana's Executive Director in 2020 and earned a Master of Education in Teaching & Learning from University of Montana in 2023. She is thrilled to support innovative literacy pedagogy fueled by community relationships. She enjoys home life with her husband, toddler, and newborn.

Jeanne Wdowin retired from public education after spending 39 years as a classroom teacher. She started at the intermediate elementary level and moved to middle school science, math, and teacher of students in English as Second Language (ESL) classes. She holds a Masters plus a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education from NYS, and Arizona endorsements in ESL and middle school ELA. After leaving the classroom, she worked for 6 years as the district assessment specialist in Tempe, Arizona, K-8 District #3, in the Research, Evaluation & Assessment Department. She knows it’s important to facilitate students’ learning, in order for them to reach their full potential. Currently, and for the past 40 years, she has managed her wood turning artist husband’s business, Natural Nook Wooden Vases. She is passionate about all things natural and can be found selling home grown rhubarb and eggs at the local markets; as well as around the county selling waterproof wooden vases at local art festivals.

Kat Jackson is a graduate student and teaching assistant at the University of Montana studying environmental philosophy and nonprofit administration. She serves as a private writing tutor for a group of middle school students, and she has previously worked as a youth counselor and program coordinator in a group home setting. Kat had the privilege of becoming Writing Coaches of Montana's inaugural intern in 2021, and she joined WCM's staff as Missoula/Ravalli Coordinator in 2022. She is passionate about promoting literacy and critical thinking skills, and she loves working with WCM's passionate and multi-talented volunteer base.

Jay Shaver has lived in Whitefish since 1987. He is a retired physical therapist and graduated from the University of Montana in 1984. He has been a writing coach for four years and recently joined the board of directors. He is a believer in volunteerism and has enjoyed working with various nonprofit organizations. Jay is passionate about WCM’s role in helping students become better writers through development of critical thinking skills and is excited about WCM’s potential to coach students throughout the state.

Rita Braun began working with the Writing Coaches of Montana (WCM) as a coach in 2015 in the Flathead. In 2019 she joined the WCM staff as the Flathead Director, working through the pandemic as WCM developed and rolled out its online coaching program in 2020, then joined the WCM board in June of 2021. Prior to WCM, Rita worked diligently with various entities as a writer, editor, sales rep, and in the life-saving position for indecisive career seekers: waiting tables. Rita's guiding light: do your best, and hang in there! Don't give up!

Wolf was born and raised in Munich, Germany. He came to Missoula as a foreign exchange student attending his senior year at Hellgate High School and also catching the Montana outdoors bug. Returning to Missoula several years later, Wolf graduated from UM with a BS in Finance and Economics and afterwards an MBA in Phoenix, AZ. After an international corporate career Wolf subsequently served as Missoula Job Service Director before retiring. Wolf loves to travel, hike, camp and above all - read, read, read. WCM has recently become a new passion for Wolf after experiencing the value it brings to our students, as well as the joy of sharing and expressing thought through writing.

Stefan Olson teaches middle school English Language Arts at Frenchtown School District. He recently graduated from the University of Montana with an MA in English Teaching and also holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing and a BA in English Writing, History, and Political Science. Stefan joined Writing Coaches of Montana as a Writing Coach and then helped develop WCM's online coaching capabilities before joining the board in June 2021. Stefan is most inspired by WCM's ability to support teachers and by the coaches' commitments to engaging Montana's budding writers. In his spare time, Stefan enjoys reading a good book, gardening, hiking, canoeing, camping and generally enjoying Montana's great outdoors.

Hą́ midáguyebi, Ową́hįkne Wamní emájibi Namákoda. Wadopaȟnatuwa žemaca. Matt Bell is Nakoda and Aaniiih from Fort Belknap. He is currently serving as the Language and Culture Specialist at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. His recent background experience includes teaching Native American Studies and English in Missoula, as well as Graduate studies in Linguistics, Native American Studies, and English Teaching. He is a University of Montana graduate, Missoula resident, and proud father of one amazing four year old.

Denise was born in Lancashire, England, and spent her formative years on the British Channel Island of Jersey. She emigrated to the US in the mid-1980s when her husband was transferred to RCA’s New Jersey office. It wasn’t until later in life that she fulfilled her dream of becoming an English teacher gaining both her bachelor’s degrees in English Literature and Secondary Education, and then her Masters in Teaching from Rider University in New Jersey. Before moving to Florence, Montana, she taught for 13 years at Allentown NJ High School. Looking for a volunteer opportunity that would enable her to continue working with students and helping them with their written assignments, Denise joined Writing Coaches of Montana when the organization expanded into the Bitterroot Valley in 2016. Since then, she has coached both in the Bitterroot Valley and Missoula as well as the Flathead during Covid. Over the years she has also assisted in training new coaches and last year served as a mentor to novice volunteers. Aside from writing coaching, Denise enjoys travelling, reading, gardening, cooking and quilting.

Tery Solomon taught high school English for 30 years in New Jersey, and moved to Kalispell in 2020. As a teacher, Tery specialized in writing courses including journalism, creative writing, playwriting, and classical rhetoric. For many years, she ran a summer College App Camp, and since retiring, she coaches private students online in writing their college applications. Prior to becoming a teacher, Tery worked as a journalist and business writer. She has a B.A. in English Literature and in Creative Writing, and was the 2007 NJ Governor’s Teacher of the Year. Tery joined WCM in the fall of 2020 and is continually impressed by the effects writing coaches can have on student writers.

Beverly Ann Chin, Ph. D., is Professor Emeritus of English and Former Director of the English Teaching Program, the Montana Writing Project, and Composition Program at the University of Montana. She is a Past President of National Council of Teachers of English, Past President of the Montana Association of Teachers of English Language Arts, and a former Board Member of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Beverly was the Senior Project Consultant for the 2011 and 2017 NAEP Writing Frameworks—“The Nation’s Report Card.” A respected leader in English language arts standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessment, Beverly has worked with students and educators across our nation and the world. She is the author of articles, e-books, and textbooks on the teaching of reading and writing. She is also the editor of video programs on teaching multicultural literature. With over 45 years of experience, Beverly has received numerous honors, including the NCTE Distinguished Service Award, the NCTE Outstanding Middle Level Educator Award, the NCTE Rewey Belle Ingles Award for an Outstanding Woman in English Education, the MATELA Distinguished Educator Award, and the University of Montana Distinguished Teacher Award.