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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 student travel for nineteen years and has a passion for the outdoors and for parks of the west. 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.
Robin Maxwell: Robin Maxwell is JT's wife and has been in student travel for thirteen years. Because they have young daughters, Savannah and Summer, she works in the office rather than on the trips. Her vision and passion fuel the company towards greater heights, and she is involved in all aspects of Grand Classroom. A California girl who has degrees from UCLA and Northwestern, Robin enjoys time with the girls and other family, running, triathlons, hiking, traveling and an abundance of charity work. Her mother and stepfather are also on staff; the Marshalls mentioned below. She is currently overseeing an office move about a half a mile from the present location.
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 with 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 had guided 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, 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.
Jackie and Darryl Marshall: Jackie and Darryl Marshall work as a team in the West Coast office of Grand Classroom, residing just east of Seattle. Jackie has worked with the company since its inception as a customer service representative. Darryl has worked in sales for the company since 2005.Jackie loves working with teachers and establishing long term relationships with them. Jackie has an extensive science background working as a clinical microbiologist for many years and has taught science courses as well. Darryl retired from a sales career in large companies and loves the scale of Grand Classroom. A fluent Spanish speaker, Darryl particularly enjoys helping to pilot new trips for Grand Classroom, having taken students to Costa Rica in spring of 2008.
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 Grand Classroom in August of 2004. While Dave’s primary responsibilities are accounting and operations, he has also led trips and helped in sales, marketing, customer service. His favorite destination that we offer is Havasupai because of the breathtaking landscape. His life outside 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. Dave is getting married in July to the lovely Emily.
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.
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 the University of Mary Washington with a degree in Environmental Science. This will be her second 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 great 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.
Jackie Rose: New to Grand Classroom this year, Jackie Rose is excited about her position in sales. A self-described humanitarian, Jackie came to us from a position with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a degree in International Affairs, Jackie is deeply interested in the environment. Other than academics, Jackie enjoys both playing and coaching lacrosse. With two years of coaching experience, Jackie hopes to bring her passion for working with students as a Grand Classroom guide.
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. Here, 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, where 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 woods, 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 at a Jail for
juveniles who are charged as adults in the morning (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.
Rita Greenwell: Hi! I'm Rita. I
grew up running amok in Arizona and consider myself a true
westerner...independent, unique, and a sucker for a good canyon. I got my BS in
Chemistry at Northern Arizona University but promptly decided that I prefer
people and sunshine over labs and beakers. So I could not be more thrilled to
find myself as a guide for Grand Classroom, combining my love for science, the
outdoors, and people.
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.
Ben Murphy: Ben Murphy, father of Walter, brings diverse personal and professional skills to Grand Classroom. Ben’s profound respect and appreciation for the outdoors began as youngster and growing up in Vermont with the Appalachian Trail at his back door. As a teen his explorations extended southward through the Blue Ridge Mountains and he became a certified scuba diver, expanding his range to ocean environments of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. While continuing to be an avid backpacker, mountain biker, hiker, skier, and snowboarder; Ben spent four years in the Coast Guard performing Search and Rescue. He ventured West ten years ago, to extensively explore and guide backcountry to luxury tours within the Grand Canyon, Red Rock country, and the Southwestern Four-Corners States. Ben concurrently earned his Bachelor of Science in Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. His education, leadership, nurturing and outdoor skills, combined with an abundance of enthusiasm make him a great guide. The biggest reward for him is fostering a relationship with people and their environment. Ben believes, “The more that people understand and appreciate natural places, the more they will want to protect these places.
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 and 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.
Alexis Kimball: Coming Soon...
Natalie Gentry: Coming Soon...
Katrina Taylor: Coming Soon...
Michelle Weigold: I am a
snowboard instructor in Jackson Hole. I am also a white water raft guide
on different rivers in different locations but usually call my truck home during
those times. I am passionate about the outdoors and will share that love with
anyone willing to listen. I taught elementary school for seven years in southern
California and New Hampshire before taking early retirement. Having only 2
months off a year was not enough to fulfill my need to play. Rivers are my
destination for travel and this has landed me in many extraordinary places such
as Costa Rica, Panama, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, China, Alaska and many states here in
the U.S. Other activities that I delve in is hockey, biking, squid wrestling,
howling at the moon and hiking.
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