Grand Classroom Staff

Introducing the fine folks (including those behind the scenes) that makes these trips so unforgettable!

J.T. Maxwell, Founder, Grand Classroom

JT Maxwell practically invented student travel to National Parks. He has been involved with student travel for nineteen years and has a passion for the outdoors and for parks of the west. Armed with his trademark black vest and baseball cap, JT can be seen leading groups of wide eyed young men and women on journeys of discovery, education, and self-actualization. JT has two wonderful daughters and a wife that also works in the office. He hails from the Chicago area, went to Indiana University, and loves the Cubs and Hoosiers despite the social stigma. In his free time, he also enjoys fishing, biking, hiking and camping. JT’s enthusiasm for travel is infectious, and if you are lucky enough to have him as a guide, you are in for an unforgettable experience with one of the best in the business.

John Raymond, Director of Sales and Marketing

John is in charge of the sales effort for Grand Classroom and has been in student travel for sixteen years. He is an avid sports fan whose humor and wit carries the day. A graduate of James Madison University, he is married to Jennifer and has three young sons with very western names; Carson, Tucker and Wyatt. John is a coach and volunteer in their classes, and always has an abundance of hilarious parenting anecdotes. John travels extensively and is very close to his immediate family who also live in Virginia. John's favorite Grand Classroom destination is Yellowstone, and he spends many weeks of the travel season sharing his expertise there and at the Grand Canyon. Those that John guides comment that they have made a friend for life

Jon Taffe

Jon has spent his entire ten-year career in student travel, and is currently a full-time salesperson and seasonal guide. Jon is known as the medium sized “Jon” in the office. Jon is a tireless tee-ball coach who enjoys all sporting events, especially anything to do with UVA. Most of all he enjoys spending time with his family, wife Courtney and two sons, Aidan and Luke. Born in Virginia, Jon has developed a passion for the west and feels at home in the Grand Canyon. Should you get Jon on the phone or as your guide, you will be impressed with his warmth and humor.

Logan Martin

Logan graduated from the University of Virginia where he majored in Environmental Sciences with and emphasis on Geology. He spent much of his free time beforeand during college exploring the National Parks of the United States and Costa Rica. After graduation, illness in his family forced him to skip grad school and enter the family business. He recently sold the business and fatefully stumbled into a custom made career at Grand Classroom where he now uses his knowledge of geology and the natural sciences in conjunction with his business skills. In his spare time, Logan enjoys all types of music, medium distance running, soccer, tennis, cooking and cheering for his wife and his four kids in their respective sports and activities.

Dave Henley

Dave graduated from the University of Virginia in 2002 with a degree in history. Despite the overwhelming demand for history majors, he ended up joining GrandClassroom in August of 2004. While Dave’s primary responsibilities are web maintenance and operations, he has also led trips and helped in sales, marketing, and customer service. His favorite destination that we offer is Havasupai because of the breathtaking landscape. His life outside of Grand Classroom includes kickball, bowling, and working on the promotions staff for the University of Virginia Athletics Department as a member of the Fan Patrol. 

Jil Stanislaus

Jil came to Grand Classroom right out of a Hollywood script. She began her career as a part-time employee and rose, Melanie Griffith in Working Girl style, to be the head of the air department. Jil is personally responsible for making sure each and every student arrives on tour in one piece. Being the youngest, most vibrant member of the team Jil is often called on to baby-sit for the families on staff. Outside the office Jil is working on her pilot's license.

Steve Raymond- Director of Customer Service and Account Management

Steve comes to Grand Classroom with fifteen years of experience in student travel. He has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the industry and is an excellent resource for our customers and staff. In the many years that Steve has been working with student groups, he has seen many stories unfold; some comedies, some dramas and some action/adventures-but mostly he's seen heartwarming stories of students having the time of their lives and enjoying the experience of travel with their friends!

Steve has been married to his lovely wife, Cristi, for 4 1/2 years of the most blissful years known to man. They have an energetic 3 1/2 year old daughter- Emerson, a husky 9-month-old son, Jake, as well as a spry 11-year-old chocolate Labrador, Maddie. When away from the office, Steve is usually chasing after Emerson, rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs, following his alma mater James Madison University's football and basketball teams, and knitting wool socks for cottonmouth snakes. Steve is very happy to be with Grand Classroom and working with so many great people, including his big brother John.

Tim Maxwell

Tim Maxwell has been with grand Classroom for several years, serving in the operations department and most recently as an Arizona travel specialist. Tim enjoys working with studentds, and has taught computers and networking at a local Boys/Girls Club.

Originally from the Chicago area, Tim attended the University of Texas and currently lives in Mesa, Arizona. He has a Wilderness First Responder Certification, and has also volunteered with a bird rescue operation. In his free time he loves to be outdoors, travel, to spend time with family and follow Chicago teams.

Lauren Neese

Lauren Neese grew up living next door to JT and Robin Maxwell, owners of Grand Classroom. She is a huge environmental enthusiast, and graduated from theUniversity of Mary Washington with a degree in Environmental Science. This will be her third season guiding for Grand Classroom. By day Lauren works in the Grand Classroom home office as an account rep, and she works with about half of the teachers that travel. If she had her pick, she would be guiding trips every day, and is often found walking through the parking lot just to get fresh air.

Greg Mondello

Greg earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007. Greg’s main focus during his years at VCU shifted towards environmental studies, parks, recreation and tourism. This is how Greg found himself among the fantastic Grand Classroom sales staff!  When he’s not working hard in the office or out guiding trips, you can find Greg on the ice playing hockey, hiking, teeing off on a disc golf course, or simply cruising for burgers.

Michael Barger

Michael Barger has shared the title “sons of nerds” with his brother since infancy, witnessed intense riots of jealousy over his locks of red hair from older women since birth, and found true love as a child in the wilds of Arkansas: the Natural State. After graduating college he floated out onto the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota as an Environmental Educator escaping to Flagstaff just before winter to begin work with the National Park Service as a School Group Coordinator. To appease his addiction for travel and to avoid the adult workforce he began working as a Guide for school group tours around the southwest United States and China interspersed with substitute teaching.  Calling Flagstaff home while teaching a diversity of subjects from how to roast fresh pig testicles in China to explaining the mysterious rings orbiting Uranus; Michael has found himself a niche in the world of outdoor education. 

Bob Cheeseman

Bob started with an early passion for the great outdoors, reinforced by May trips and summers around New England's lakes and mountains. Several trips as young man to Colorado's Rocky Mountains made him dream of the West and would eventually lead him to the mountains and canyons of Northern Arizona. Many years in the Boy Scouts gave Bob a good foundation for camping and outdoor survival. Bob attended a small college in New Hampshire. There, he was active in the Outdoor Club, Lacrosse Club, mountain biking, kayaking, and was a peer advisor for incoming freshman. Bob received his Bachelor's Degree in Education with a minor in Art. He specialized in creating stained glass windows and painting. While student teaching, Bob lived in a small cabin in New Hampshire's rugged White Mountains. In this setting Bob was fully able to concentrate on studies and explore the wilds just outside his doorstep. A year after graduation, Bob made a life changing decision to move west to Arizona. Never having been there, this turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life. He immediately fell in love with his newfound natural surroundings. After a couple of years of carpentry and excursions into the wilderness every chance he got, Bob landed a part time job making stained glass windows. This rewarding job eventually led to making connections in the canyon and becoming a guide. The story continues with Bob enjoying backcountry adventures with new friends most of the year, and still doing artwork in his off-trail time. This will be Bob’s 7th year guiding in the canyon.

Adrah Parafiniuk

Adrah was born the oldest of 8 children and knew he was born to lead but he didn't know where to lead; not then.  When not working for non-profits or teaching, Adrah is found in the garden, in the woods with kids and wife, on the trails with family, friends, and Grand Classrooms, or in the air with his mountain bike following close behind.  During the school year, Adrah teaches each morning at a Jail for juveniles who are charged as adults (teaching everything 1 room schoolhouse style.)  To find balance with less naughty children, Adrah teaches Spanish to 1st thru 6th graders at a Montessori school in the afternoons.  Be aware, Adrah likes to climb rocks, play guitar, and occasionally break into song on the trail (spirituals, blues, and old-tyme country are most frequently reported.)  While not dangerous, Adrah has been known to talk extensively when presented with topics such as history or edible plants of the Southwest. Adrah has been hiking and camping in AZ most of his life and can't wait to lead you out into the wild and beautiful Southwest.
 

Gregg Wachtelhausen

Gregg Wachtelhausen is an earth science teacher on the south shore of Massachusetts, traveler, outdoorsman, and self-admitted “geo-nerd.”  Gregg studied geosciences at the University of CT and has numerous earth science related field research experiences that span the globe from the deserts to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.  He is proud to have the most extensive rock and exotic sand collections of anyone he knows.  At his school, Gregg is an advisor to an outdoor adventure club, which brings his middle schoolers on hiking, camping, kayaking, climbing, biking, skiing, and whitewater rafting trips throughout New England.   He has been on both sides of the Grand Classroom experience as a teacher bringing his own students and as guide for others.  Gregg is passionate about travel, exploration, adventure, and aloha shirts and finds great satisfaction in helping to instill this appreciation in others.

Ryanne Seibert

Ryanne grew up in a small town in the foothills of Colorado. Every day was spent outdoors fostering her love and appreciation for the environment. As a child Ryanne passed time on camping trips with her dad, and spent days at Mom's health food store developing interests in the outdoors, fitness, and health. Upon completion of high school in the Denver area, Ryanne searched for a place to attend college. Northern Arizona University came up first on the list, so in 1992 she packed up and headed south to Flagstaff, AZ, where she developed an interest in the arts. Ryanne completed two bachelor degrees at Northern Arizona University; one in fine arts, and the other in art education. Ryanne experienced her first Grand Canyon backpacking trip down the Hermit trail. That first trip was an eye opener, a jaw dropper, and it began a life long addiction to the vast canyon country of the southwest. Many years later, she has become an experienced backpacker and canyon explorer,  practices "leave no trace" ethics, and is a certified wilderness first responder. When Ryanne is off the trail, she creates fine art jewelry which shows in galleries throughout AZ. Much of her work is inspired by her canyon visions, her interpretation of her surroundings, native plants, and even insects.

Eric Retterbush

Eric currently resides on planet Earth and doesn't plan on moving from here for a little while.  Mostly because he has too much fun romping around and giggling in the many beautiful places Earth has to offer.  Eric can be found tossing the frisbee disc in nearly every country and state he has visited.  He tries to escape flagstaff, and the States, at least once a year only to fall in love with it all over again when he returns.  He works with wood and paint to create colorful pieces of art inspired by the stories he finds himself in along the country highways of life.  He has worked with children since he was one, often finding himself being inspired by the innocence and simplicity all over again.  He will be found with ski's below in the winter, and a bike in the summer.  Eric eats food every day, and tries to breath at least 12 times every minute.  As long as this is still happening Eric will be enjoying life as it comes along.

Alexis Kimball

Coming Soon...

.