Lincoln County School District #2 has welcomed 16 new teachers and certified staff members for the 2026-27 school year. All 16 new employees gathered last week to meet administrators and complete training at the district office building. Following is a brief biographical summary introducing each teacher to the community.
Daphne Arbizu is assigned to teach General Music as well as 5th and 6th Grade Band and Orchestra at Afton Elementary School and Osmond Elementary School. With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Weber State University and 20 years of music teaching experience in the private sector, Arbizu “loves anything that has to do with music.” Her specific interests include supporting music education and playing music with her family, friends and students, with a particular love for teaching violin. She has six children and enjoys being involved in the community.
Jessica Bagley is the new Life Skills teacher at Etna Elementary School. Bagley received her degree from Western Governors University in 2023 and previously taught Biology and served as a permanent substitute but is transitioning to teach students in Special Education. She enjoys sports and activities with good people. She and her husband, Tyson, have four children.
Shannon Brown is from Newdale, Idaho and will be working in the Special Education Department at Star Valley High School. Brown holds three degrees in Special Education from Utah State University, including a Doctorate. She enjoys camping, the outdoors, quilting, baking, music, family history and various activities with her husband, Jason, and their two children.
Cameron Christiansen will teach in the Special Education Department at Star Valley Middle School. She completed a bachelor’s degree in special education from Western Governor’s University in December of 2025. She has served as a paraprofessional with LCSD#2 and an Engineering Technician with Northrop Grumman. Christiansen enjoys bow hunting, hiking, fly fishing, reading and gardening. She and her husband, William, have four children.
Melissa Cranney is assigned to Afton Elementary School as a special education teacher to first grade students. She holds degrees from Western Governor’s University in Special Education with certification K-12 and Elementary Education with certification K-6. Cranney loves outdoor activities with her husband, Ryan, and their three children.
Logan Downs, from Glenrock, Wyoming, is assigned as a 6th grade teacher at Cokeville Elementary School and holds a degree from University of Wyoming.
Kelsey Evans is from Saratoga Springs, Utah. She holds a degree in Physical Education from Utah Valley University and is acquiring an endorsement in Health from the University of Wyoming. Assigned to serve at Star Valley Middle School, she loves being outside. She enjoys riding side-by-sides, hiking, fishing, hunting, baking and spending time with her husband, Tanner, and their two children.
Delaney Groll is assigned as a Speech/Language Pathologist throughout the district but expects to primarily serve students in Cokeville. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and a master’s degree from Idaho State University. She served students for two years in Kansas prior to hiring on with LCSD#2. Groll enjoys baking, reading and being outdoors with her husband, Cody, and their four children.
Michelle Hale was raised in Star Valley and will teach second grade at Thayne Elementary School. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Elementary Mathematics from the University of Wyoming. Michelle enjoys being outdoors, hiking, gardening, and reading in her hammock. She is well known for adding music or dance to mundane tasks, transforming them to a party. Her husband, Mark, teachers third grade at Afton Elementary School and the couple has four children.
Brigg Hoopes comes to Star Valley High School from serving as Head Wrestling Coach at Southern Virginia University. He holds a degree from Utah Valley University and is slated to teach Physical Education and Weights, as well as coach the SV Braves Wrestling team. Hoopes enjoys wrestling, fly fishing and CrossFit. He and his wife, Ashlin, have two children.
Misty Hutchison comes to LCSD#2 as a school counselor to students at Thayne Elementary School and Etna Elementary School. She completed her training with Lamar University in Counseling and Development and enjoys hiking with pups, her husband, Mike, and their two children.
Jessalyn Jolly, from Shelley, Idaho is assigned to teach second grade at Afton Elementary School. Jolly holds a Bachelor of Science from BYU-Idaho and a Master of Science from Western Governors University. Having taught first and third grades, she enjoys baking, playing volleyball, basketball and softball, skiing, traveling and planning events. She and her husband, Alex, are newlyweds.
Lacey Jones comes to Star Valley from Nevada. Assigned to teach Life Skills at Thayne Elementary School, Jones completed her degree at University Nevada, Las Vegas. Her experience includes teaching Elementary Special Education in Nevada. She enjoys camping and hiking and loves being a mother to her two children.
Breckany Masciarelli is from Crystal River, Florida, and will teach first grade Special Education at Thayne Elementary School. She received her training from Capella University and Western Governors University. Masciarelli loves outdoors, fishing, paddleboarding, hiking, and hunting. She and her husband, Jake, have a daughter.
Darbi Stoll was raised in Afton and will teach 6th grade at Etna Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Western Governors University. Stoll enjoys spending time with her husband, Caden and their two fur babies as well as camping, riding horses and all outdoor activities.
Kaylee Tomko was raised in Star Valley and will teach Kindergarten at Thayne Elementary. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Central Wyoming College, with an endorsement in special education. Kaylee has spent the last six years working in various other schools. She loves camping, photography and spending time with her husband, Ethan, and their toddler son.
