Staff & Board

Shan Rao has spent the past decade focused on community-based nonprofit work. Originally from rural Minnesota, she created an initiative offering local opportunities for Southern Minnesota students in the literary, visual, and performing arts. She then spent six years in New York City, where she worked at a variety of literary and arts organizations, spearheading fundraising efforts and community-centered programming. Shan has worked with students in public school and performing arts settings. She holds a degree in English and Creative Writing from Fordham University. She is thrilled to be stepping into the role as Executive Director of Writing Coaches of Montana and to support this community-focused, student-centered approach to literacy work. Shan calls Missoula home and enjoys spending time in nature, scouring the local events page for exciting happenings, and writing poetry and fiction.

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.

Becca Escobedo has spent her career working with a diverse population of youth participants and their caregivers in a variety of nonprofit settings. Most recently, she served as Community Engagement Director for Girl Scouts of Alaska, where she worked to expand the organization’s reach across the state. Becca is passionate about building a community that empowers the next generation with the tools, confidence, and support they need to thrive. She holds a B.S. in Geography from Arizona State University. Her husband’s career as a U.S. Air Force pilot has taken them across the country, and they, along with their rescue husky, now call Florence home. In her free time, Becca can be found fly fishing, reading, and traveling.

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.

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!

Bill became a writing coach eight years ago. He wanted to share his love of words and help students find their inner words. Bill believes everybody has a story, even a retired chef like himself! Bill is proud to be a writing coach and honored to be on the board. He feels writing is an important part of all of us and we all need to share our stories.

Lynda started coaching for WCM 7 years ago, shortly after she retired. She worked as an RN in several states and in various roles. Most of her experience is in adult critical care hospitals. She is an avid reader, and especially enjoys historical fiction, modern literature, and a Stephen King novel once in a while! Her coaching experiences with the students, and the relationships she has developed with teachers and other coaches, have been very special.

Krista Hodges’ early years were spent as the middle daughter of an Air Force Staff Sergeant, moving every few years to new places and new experiences. She completed grade school, high school and community college in the Flathead Valley following her father’s retirement from the Air Force. She holds a combined master degree in Management and Finance as well as masters in Sociology and Public Health and is ABD in Medical Sociology. Krista has taught at the university, community college and high school (through the Running Start program) levels and is a strong advocate of writing intensive courses. Krista also worked as a health services researcher, program manager, bookkeeper and legal secretary. She joined Writing Coaches of Montana in 2022 as a writing coach and joined the board in 2024. Besides collecting degrees, Krista enjoys adventures in the great outdoors, trying to keep houseplants alive and being involved in her community.

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.

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.

Tiffany Rehbein is currently the principal at Washington Middle School in Missoula. She has been an educator for more than 20 years and started her teaching career at Arlee High School. She was in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for 17 years, where she taught high school – including dual enrollment writing courses – and was an administrator for the district and at an elementary school. She has experience teaching college-level writing and teacher pre-service methods classes. Tiffany has a deep passion for literacy. She is a member of the Charlotte Huck book award for children’s and middle grade fiction for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). She has been very involved with the National Writing Project through the years. Tiffany has a wife, two sons, and a cat and a dog.

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.