Our Teaching Staff

Josephine Colburn She/Her | Social Sciences | Drama
colburnj@nwasco.k12.or.us

Ms. Colburn is originally from the Portland area, and graduated from Western Oregon University with a degree in History before studying education at Concordia University in Portland. Prior to starting at Riverbend Community School, Ms. Colburn taught 9th Grade English at Brookings Harbor High School in Brookings, Oregon and then moved to teach Seventh Grade ELA and Eighth grade ELA and Social Studies at The Dalles Middle School. While Ms. Colburn would describe herself as a Hufflepuff, her friends know she is totally a Ravenclaw. When she is not busy teaching Social Studies courses, Ms. Colburn enjoys easy hikes, paddleboarding, and having adventures with her family and friends.

Kieran Connolly He/Him | Language Arts | Journalism | Music
connollyk@nwasco.k12.or.us

Kieran’s professional educational journey began in 2002 working as a teaching assistant in the Reynolds School District.  This was followed by trail work with students on Mt. Hood, environmental education work in Maine, Washington, and Guatemala, classroom teaching in alternative education environments in Hood River, and school administration positions in both Portland and Mosier. Along his journey, Kieran has developed a belief that people learn best through experience and reflection, that the community around us is filled with important learning opportunities, and that critical connections and authentic relationships deeply impact who we become.  As the language arts and social studies instructor at Riverbend Community School, Kieran facilitates students finding themselves as writers, journalists, critical thinkers, and problem solvers for needs that impact our local communities now and in the future.  Kieran has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Masters Degree in Teaching. When he is not teaching you can find Kieran hiking and running the trails of the Pacific Northwest, in his garden growing food, plucking away on his bass guitar, or reading a good book

Sean O'Connor He/Him | Media Arts
Sean.oconnor@nwasco.k12.or.us

Sean is an award-winning visual storyteller, media educator, internationally published photographer and contributor to an Emmy Award. Since 2002, he has been dedicated to creating socially responsible stories and empowering others to do the same. Sean works to cultivate global relationships with social and environmental impact. His film credits include REI, PBS and BANFF as well as print and web photography publications with Smithsonian, Outside Magazine, Boston Globe and others. Sean currently owns and operates Story Gorge, an impact media and media arts education studio located in Hood River, OR. Sean serves as a teaching artist with Riverbend Community School, Wildwood Academy, Columbia Gorge Community College, and Arts in Education of the Gorge. When not teaching or filming, you will find him in pursuit of wilderness adventures and ample garden time with his wife and two children.

Jocelyn Paris She/Her | STEM | Shop | American Sign Language | Culinary Arts | Work Experience | PE | Health
parisj@nwasco.k12.or.us

Jocelyn Paris has taught in a wide variety of settings and has gleaned much knowledge from the various populations she has found herself lucky enough to teach. She has taught  in all levels of education, preschool through college, for the past 18 years. She holds a Master of Education degree from Northern Arizona University (with a focus on science) and her BA of Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. 

She believes that STEM is a way of life and can often be found “STEMming” all sorts of things in her daily life. Ms. Paris loves learning through mistakes and just building something to see if it works. 

Jocelyn grew up with two parents who taught at the Illinois School for the Deaf. Her babysitters were all High School students who were deaf or hard of hearing so she learned at a young age the importance of being able to communicate in a variety of ways. Her most vivid memory is learning to breakdance from her mom’s HS English students from Chicago and to this day she can still do the windmill! 

Fast forward to college years and you would find Jocelyn taking ASL as her foreign language and getting a job working at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind. She worked there as first a HS basketball coach then a PE teacher and then a classroom teacher. She has been a part of the coaching staff for the USA Women’s Deaf National Team as well as an integral coach in Camp Abilities - a sports camp for students with visual impairments. Jocelyn believes that communication is a vital part of being a human and strives to ensure that everyone she encounters feels heard and listened to.

In her spare time she can be found climbing a rock face, building a micro farm, hanging out with her 3 fur babies, adventuring in nature with her partner, signing songs on the radio, cooking up a storm in her kitchen, and coaching the Gorge Roller Derby (Who are we?!? GRD!!!)