Staff Bios
Jesse grew up in Portland and began teaching swimming lessons at the age of 14. He found joy in teaching others and sharing the experience of learning. He studied at the University of Oregon and focused on Comparative Literature and French. After graduating, he spent a year in France teaching English in a high school. The year abroad led him to continue his studies in education and complete the middle/secondary teaching program at the University of Oregon.
He worked at the International High School in Eugene as a 9th and 10th grade global literature teacher. After receiving his masters in education he worked as an English teacher in Poland before relocating to southern Oregon. He assisted Miss Amy in the kindergarten during the 2008-09 school year.
Mr. Gammon is currently Madrone Trail’s 2nd grade teacher.
Mateo Tryllium was born and raised in the beautiful woodlands surrounding Birmingham, Alabama. He fell in love with the outdoors at an early age and traveled from Canada to South America reveling in the natural beauty of the Earth.
He graduated from Fairhaven College of Western Washington University in Bellingham with a concentration focused on human sustainability. Shortly before his graduation, he discovered Waldorf education and realized a calling to bring new ideas to children in an invigorating way that had lain dormant since he daydreamed his way through primary school. He immediately left for the other side of the continent to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education and a Waldorf Training at Antioch New England Graduate School in New Hampshire. He has taught classes in British Columbia and Hawaii. Mateo is passionate about music, art and dance, and loves to share these passions with his students.
Mr. Tryllium is currently Madrone Trail’s 5th grade teacher.
Allison Casenhiser grew up in northern Ohio, a daughter of two public school teachers. She attended Kent State University and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After traveling in Costa Rica and meeting a group of Waldorf students, education showed a much more exciting and exploratory approach. As she learned more about Waldorf education, Allison realized the caring, conscientious, and environmental awareness quality involved in the philosophy of this education.
Allison attended the Eugene Teacher Education Program to become a Waldorf grades teacher. She worked at the Olympia Waldorf School as the Handwork teacher and the First grade assistant.
Miss Casenhiser is currently Madrone Trail’s 3rd grade teacher.
Jill Leonard grew up in Oregon in the Willamette Valley. After
graduating high school she pursued studies in music as well as the
French language. She studied abroad at several universities in France
in cities such as Dijon, Perpignan, and Angers. While there she took
many cultural classes as well as graduate courses for future teachers
of French as a foreign language. In 2006 she received a Bachelors of
Music from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. This summer
she graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Masters in the
Arts of Teaching and an Oregon Initial I teaching license. She will
be endorsed to teach French, Spanish, and English Language Development.
Jill has spent time studying American Sign Language and enjoys using
the signs in her teaching to help with vocabulary retention. Aside
from studying and teaching languages she enjoys dancing and teaches
Salsa. Other interests include studying health and preparing food as
well as spending time outdoors doing various activities including
playing tennis, hiking, rock climbing, running, camping, and cycling.
Though she is not currently performing, she also continues her
appreciation of music.