NVS Faculty and Staff

Rhonda Vahlenkamp

Miss Rhonda is a Colorado native who has always appreciated the outdoors. She has taught in public schools, private schools, homeschool and charter schools. Her passion for seeing students learn and thrive led her to discover outdoor, student centered, whole child teaching. That discovery led her straight to NVS! She loves nurturing the natural pond she built, growing flowers, observing nature, kayaking, camping and rock hounding on the beach. To her, there is no greater joy than seeing a child discover the beauty of learning, and the power of questioning and problem solving! When she isn't outdoors, she enjoys reading, writing, cooking and taking grad school classes to grow her craft. Her next adventure will most likely be a forest school certification. She loves new adventures!

Sam Longenecker

Sam’s experience teaching started in the same place his education began, at his mother’s preschool in Maryland. His grade-school education at The Key School in Annapolis fostered his love of music, humanities, outdoor education, and community-oriented learning. He attended Bard College where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies with a focus in inequality. During his college summers he worked with youths at Wee Lad and Lassie summer camp, attended classes at NYU’s Clive Davis School of Recorded Music, and volunteered at Annapolis Lighthouse homeless shelter. After undergrad, Sam honed his teaching skills as a music educator at Bach to Rock in Nanuet, New York, working with all ages and students with varying levels of ability. In 2019, he left his music teaching position to obtain his teaching license and Master of Arts in Teaching at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Sam secured his degree and teaching license in 2020 amidst the pandemic, and moved to the coast where he taught Social Studies, English, Health and PE to Waldport Middle School 7th and 8th graders. Sam feels right at home in the NVS community. He is a new father as of August 2023, and he cannot wait for his daughter to attend NVS!

Annie Prins

Annie has been an active member of the Neskowin Valley School community since 2022, teaching PreK and school-wide specials classes. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and currently pursuing a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology, Annie combines her scientific background with a passion for play-based, outdoor, hands-on learning. Outside the classroom, she enjoys raising ducks and chickens, painting, and foraging, which enrich her approach to teaching with a love for nature and creativity. Annie is committed to fostering an engaging and nurturing environment where students can explore, grow, and develop a lifelong love for learning.

Chase Prins

Bio coming soon!

Kelsey Leatherman

Kelsey grew up on Vancouver Island, Canada, where she spent all her time outdoors and with her animals. Today, she resides in Neskowin, Oregon, where she is still following the path of an outdoor woman and animal advocate. She is a mother of 2 wild-hearted boys who attend NVS, four horses, three kitties, and a couple of dogs. If she is not at the school sharing her passion for social-emotional development paired with neuroscience and playing in the school garden, you will find her at her farm with her animals or out adventuring with her family. She has joined our team as Interim Executive Director to facilitate a period of regrowth and revitalization of our beloved school. With years of experience in management and running her own business, she brings a creative outlook to our new strategic plan and development.