Rainbow Mountain Fifth/Sixth Grade Staff

Sandra McCassim, 5th/6th Grade Teacher

Sandra’s teaching experience in kindergarten, first and second grades at Rainbow Mountain enables her to address the wide range of developmental abilities that fifth and sixth grades often encompass. Sandra holds a Bachelor’s Degree and certification in Elementary Education and is in the process of completing her Master’s Degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University.

Sandra first became interested in alternative education when she was a student teacher. She was fortunate to work with innovative teachers who encouraged her to use a whole-language approach and thematic curricula that incorporated literature and arts in all subject areas. She saw first-hand how this approach engaged students in the learning process, encouraged cultural literacy, and strengthened problem-solving skills.

Rainbow Mountain’s holistic, community-centered program attracted Sandra both as a parent and an educator. She was especially drawn to the school’s emphasis on social and emotional learning through cultural studies, world celebrations, centering practices, and peer mediation. She also resonated with the school’s use of Positive Discipline to create classroom environments based on mutual respect and personal responsibility.

Sandra’s teaching style is experiential and open-ended, which keeps learning fun and helps children maintain and develop their imagination and creative thinking skills—two assets she believes will enable her students to go anywhere in life.

When Sandra is not sharing her love of science, cooking, reading and nature with her class, she is enjoying these hobbies with her family. While her children sleep, she keeps the owls company and works on her graduate degree.

Rebecca Owens, 5th/6th Grade Teacher

Rebecca hails from the mountains here in Asheville. Since her graduation from the North Carolina School of Science and Math in 1986 and UNC-Chapel Hill in 1990, her interest in science and math has led her to a teaching career in a variety of traditional and non-traditional settings. Many of her passions in education lean toward mathematics and science particularly aligning with her long-time commitment to earth-stewardship and the environment.

Rebecca’s well-rounded work experiences, including outreach education specialist at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham for four years, have been broad ranging with a focus on education in classrooms, museums, riversides, nature centers, and the general outdoors for both children and adults.

In 2007, Rebecca graduated from the University of Vermont with a master’s of education specializing in mathematics curriculum and instruction. Her graduate work affords her a deeper understanding of math content and pedagogy related to many learning styles and levels. It also reminds her that we all could use a healthy dose of the outdoors and the geographic cure of sensing the earth, breathing the air, and witnessing the beauty of our natural surroundings. She enjoys sharing all of this and more with the RMCS community!

Jason Cannoncro, 5th/6th Grade and 4th Grade Assistant Teacher

(coming soon)