Meet Our Staff
We are passionate about helping young people pursue their interests, achieve their goals, overcome challenges, connect with our community and change their lives through education.
Laura Rose-Lewis
Executive Director
Laura Rose-Lewis is a nonproο¬t executive who brings extensive private and nonproο¬t sector experience to her work. After graduating from the University of Oregon, Laura moved to the Bay Area, where she worked in sales for private sector ο¬rms before transitioning to the nonproο¬t sector.
Impassioned by nonproο¬t sector work, she earned a masterβs degree in public administration from Lewis & Clark College, in Oregon, with program emphasis on nonproο¬t management. She subsequently founded a nonproο¬t consulting ο¬rm in Portland and worked with a range of nonproο¬t organizations on organizational development, strategic planning, and growth. Laura then received her Executive Coaching Certiο¬cation from the Hudson Institute in Santa Barbara to focus on her work with executive leaders of nonproο¬ts.
Laura has consulted for nonproο¬t organizations for over two decades, supporting leaders to build organizational capacity through strategic planning, development, communications, and public relations. Laura has demonstrated expertise in organizational capacity building through the development of strategic growth, partnership engagement, organizational strategy, management, and operations.
In addition to her leadership work as an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Executive Director, Laura has served on the boards of social service and educational nonproο¬t organizations, including Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon, Cascade Aids Project, The Childrenβs Cancer Association, Temple Beth Israel Social Action Committee, and The Advocates in Hailey ID.
When not at work, Laura is passionate about spending time with her husband outdoors and spending time with their three adult children and their signiο¬cant others in NY or Sun Valley and any other place they can ο¬nd time together.
Jennifer Gennuso
Associate Director
Jennifer Gennuso comes to us with over 17 years of non-profit experience serving the Stanford University School of Medicine. She grew up in Mammoth Lakes, California, and graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in communication and a minor in music. Her non-profit career at Stanford Medicine began with working on major grants, then to educational program accreditation, design, and management for the Office of Continuing Medical Education. She became Associate Director of medical alumni relations in 2017.
Jennifer is highly specialized in stewardship, strategy, marketing and communications, grant writing, high-profile program design, and event management.
She is passionate about the value of education, and upon moving to Hailey was thrilled to be offered a position supporting operations, fundraising, and expansion of programs.
When not at work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her rescue pitbull mix, Hazelnut. She loves to cook, is an incredible gardener, a bonsai enthusiast, and an avid outdoor enthusiast. You can often find her in the mountains camping, hiking, or backpacking.
Fernanda Hausske
Director of Education & Impact
Fernanda has spent her entire life as either a student or a teacher. She completed her BA in education and psychology at Swarthmore College, her MA in Educational Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University, and completed her PhD coursework in Education Policy, Organization, Measurement, and Evaluation at UC Berkeley. She has taught in Title I schools in Washington, DC, North Philadelphia, East Oakland, and Richmond, CA, and at Hailey Elementary and Hemingway STEAM School in the Valley. She is a strident believer in lifelong learning and education as a path to social justice.
Fernanda grew up in the Washington, DC area, but has found her home in the Wood River Valley. She lives alongside her husband, three boys, three dogs, and five chickens. She is passionate about gardening, cooking, and childrenβs innate potential.
Pamela Donoso
Program Director
Pamela was born and raised in Santiago, Chile and as a first-generation college graduate, she understands the value and importance of education. She believes every child should have the opportunity to access higher education. After graduating from International House Santiago-London, she worked in Santiago as an interpreter-translator in English, Spanish and Italian.
After several years in the field, Pamela found her passion for education, diversity and compassion for others. Pamela holds a bachelorβs degree in Education and Spanish from the University of Mayor-Santiago and worked as an ESL educator in Chile before moving to Idaho.
Pamela enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons and their beloved dog. She is honored to be part of "Far + Wise and shares the mission to empower young people and help children change their lives through education.
Tayler Sorensen
Administrative Manager
Tayler is an Oregon native who moved to the Wood River Valley with her husband and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Snoopy, in 2021. After graduating from the International Air and Hospitality with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Event Management, she started work as an administrative assistant at a small dog training company. Over the next 6 years, she helped grow the business into Portlandβs number-one dog trainers.
With a passion for helping those around her succeed, she finds that the most rewarding part of her job is being able to support the educators who are making such a difference in the lives of the children they work with and their families.
Lisa Dirksmeier
Elementary Classroom Lead Facilitator
Lisa Dirksmeier has been an educator in the Wood River Valley for over two decades. During her time here she has pioneered multiple programs including a progressive, highly successful Early Childhood initiative at Sun Valley Community school. Lisa understands the importance nurturing a deep appreciation for our geographical, natural surrounding and mountain culture. You can often find her and her class outside participating in the abundance of outdoor activities that the valley offers.
Kris Stoffer
Child Development Specialist
Kris has been involved with children and adolescents in numerous capacities since she began working with youth development organizations in the Wood River Valley in 1993. She brings 25+ years of expertise and passion as a licensed professional counselor specializing in child and adolescent development to Far+Wise. She is passionate about supporting youth to develop life skills, find their voices, and reach their potential. A native of Los Angeles, Kris holds a bachelorβs degree in psychology and a masterβs degree in Clinical Psychology.
When not trail running in the woods, Kris enjoys spending time chilling with her husband Michael, their three sons, Jackson, Will and Aidan, and their dog, Piper.
Danielle Carruth
Elementary Academic Program Coordinator
Danielle Carruth brings a background in literacy training and teaching experience supporting young students and adults with literacy challenges and differences.
Danielle worked with literacy expert, author, educator, and consultant, Dr. Louisa Moats, to design a program for our elementary students that supports literacy skills development tailored to each child. Our program includes individual assessments of each child, followed by individualized support, each day. In partnership with βEnriched NYC,β a nonprofit organization based in New York City, Danielle works with tutors and volunteers to deliver 1:1 and small group literacy support.
Danielle is a bit of a βrenaissance womanβ as she is a skilled coach and teacher in a range of settings from Mt. Baldy, to the yoga studio and to her literacy work. Danielle brings all of this experience and skill sets to her work with our elementary program β teaching yoga and supporting our students in outdoor experiences and education.
Dietra Hill
Elementary Classroom Facilitator; High School Caseworker
Dietra is gifted in developing a natural rapport with students and fosters a welcoming and enriching educational environment in her classroom. She divides her time between mornings at Wood River High School, where she works in partnership with high school staff to support students navigating the complexities of the teen years, and the afternoons in our elementary program, providing academic support and enrichment programming to our third graders.
Dietra is gifted in developing a natural rapport with students and fosters a welcoming and enriching educational environment in her classroom. She divides her time between mornings at Wood River High School, where she works in partnership with high school staff to support students navigating the complexities of the teen years, and the afternoons in our elementary program, providing academic support and enrichment programming to our third graders.
Dietra is from Ogden, Utah, and when she has free time, she drives home to spend time with her adult children and family, including a daughter, who is a bank manager in Utah, and a son at Princeton University. Her hobbies include reading, puzzles, and creating beautiful spaces.
Lorena Horne
Elementary Classroom Facilitator
Lorena Horne brings a background in Early Childhood Education to Far + Wise. She has a degree from Piura University in Peru and an Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from the College of Southern Idaho.
Lorena came to the Wood River Valley twenty years ago. Here, she met her husband Grant, with whom she has two children, Gabriel,19, and Camila, 17, and she served as a Case Manager for The Hunger Coalition for three years.
Lorena discovered she had a passion for education when her children were ready to go to school. She got a job with the Blaine County School District and worked there for twelve years. She started in the Dual Immersion Program at Bellevue Elementary. There, she fell in love with early childhood education and decided to pursue an education degree. She worked in the English Language Development department at Hailey Elementary and became the main interpreter and school translator. She spent a year at Hemingway Steam School using her Spanish skills to assist our language learners.
Lorena is enjoying her role now as a far + Wise 2nd Grade Lead Teacher supporting our mission, teaching our students, and working with families.
Fernanda Moya
Elementary Classroom Facilitator
Fernandaβs experience working with children goes back to when she first worked for the Blaine County School District in a special education preschool classroom.β― Her passion and interest in education began there and eventually led her to join our organization.
She loves helping children not only with their academic studies but with their daily social development. βIt's a unique and special feeling,β says Fernanda.
When not working for us in the Far + Wise spaces, you can find Fernanda spending time with her children, enjoying coffee with friends, out on the soccer field supporting her two younger kids, dancing, or practicing a waltz for Quinceaneras.
Millie Reidy (Associate)
College and Career Counselor
Millie has over ten years of college and career counseling experience. While at Wood River High School, she significantly increased the first generation Go-On rate. In addition to her experience in education, Millie worked as an engineer for Frito-Lay and as a technical sales representative for Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems.
Introducing New Teaching Staff
Brenda Torres
Elementary Classroom Assistant
Watch for bio coming soon
Mariyah Cueva
Elementary Classroom Assistant
Watch for bio coming soon
Solange Marquez
Elementary Classroom Assistant
Watch for bio coming soon
Mollie Ramos
Elementary Classroom Facilitator
Watch for bio coming soon
Cris Moya
Elementary Classroom Facilitator
Watch for bio coming soon