Administrative Staff
Mariel Butan
Executive Director
Mariel Butan is the Executive Director of Morningstar Learning Center, managing MLC’s finances, development, advocacy, and community outreach, ensuring that MLC can continue serving families for years to come.
Mariel earned her master’s degree in Education Administration and has over a decade in education and nonprofit management experience. She has worked with local, national, and international organizations on strategic planning, finances, and operations, and she cares deeply about using her skills and experience to help people live better lives. Creating better opportunities for teachers, working families, and their children is a major driver of her work.
In her role with MLC, Mariel is determined to improve access, affordability, and quality of early learning not just in our community, but across the sector, as she champions early childhood education’s critical importance for brain development and the economy. So far, that work has included launching need-based tuition assistance, leading the board through a strategic planning process, improving enrollment and operating systems, speaking with business leaders and elected representatives, and raising over $2.7 million to keep MLC open and to support increased pay, housing, and professional development for teachers.
Mariel is grateful to have called Big Sky home since 2017 and has many loves and hobbies; she wouldn’t want to make any of them feel bad by highlighting another as her favorite. Contact Mariel with questions about supporting, partnering with, or advocating for Morningstar and early learning.
Shannon Brennan
Center Director
Shannon Brennan is the Center Director of Morningstar Learning Center. Her mother opened a licensed in-home childcare when she was 2 years old; Shannon has been enamored with the world of child development and education ever since. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree from Boise state she has worked in both childcare and administration. In her past roles she has coordinated the implementation of curriculum and has encouraged staff towards professional development opportunities. She believes that the strongest resource we as a community have for our children’s development is the individual teachers that dedicate their time, talent, and energy into their classrooms.
Shannon is excited to be back in Big Sky after leaving in 2021. Having lived in many different mountain towns throughout the west from Leavenworth, WA to Breckenridge, CO, Big Sky has always been the one that felt most like home. Shannon cannot wait to further engrain herself as a member of the Morningstar team and the larger Big Sky community. When not at Morningstar you can find her in the mountains skiing, climbing, rafting, hiking, or sitting in her hammock with a cup of tea and a good book.
Kimberly Vitou
Office Manager
Originally from New Jersey, Kim relocated to Big Sky in August 2022 with her husband, Jeremy, and their three boys. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts Management. After becoming a mother, Kim transitioned her focus from tiered wedding cakes to tenacious toddlers, and now applies her managerial experience and strong interpersonal skills as MLC’s Office Manager. She has been in this role for two years, where she continues to thrive professionally and personally. Outside of work, Kim enjoys baking with her kids and discovering all the beauty and adventure that the Big Sky community has to offer.
Laura MacPherson
Development Coordinator
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management with a focus on Outdoor Education and a MACTE Early Childhood Teaching Credential. Her experience in various roles, from classroom teaching to curriculum coaching, school administration, and daycare management, supports her role as an advocate for quality early childhood education in the community.
Since moving to Big Sky in 2009, Laura has been deeply involved in the community and shares in the journey of parenting with the local “village” of parents. As a former Morningstar parent, she understands firsthand the importance of having a safe and enriching space for children to learn and thrive.
Teaching Staff
Angela Marshall
Lead Teacher
Angela was born in Bozeman and raised in Arizona and Southern California. She graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Business Economics and Political Science. With 20 years of experience in production, Angela has developed strong organizational and management skills. When she had her daughter, Angela ran an infant/toddler program out of her home for two years, gaining valuable experience in early childhood care. Her diverse background and experience make her a dedicated and adaptable professional.
Brenda Leanos
Lead Teacher
Brenda moved to Big Sky five years ago from Colorado and has been an integral part of the Morningstar team for the past four years. While she has experience working with children of all ages, her true passion lies in working with infants, where she finds immense joy in helping them grow and develop. A proud mom of two boys, Brenda enjoys the beauty and lifestyle that Montana offers, cherishing her time spent with her family. When it comes to food, Brenda has a soft spot for tacos, chocolate, and cheesecake, and her favorite color is pink!
Kelsey Sick
Lead Teacher
Kelsey is originally from Southern California and has taught at MLC for the past 7 years! She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Montana State University and has spent nearly 10 years working with children of all ages, focusing on Social Emotional Development. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys hiking, relaxing by a lake, and drinking coffee. Her dedication to supporting children’s emotional growth and her love for the outdoors make her a passionate and valued member of the community.
Kylie Schultz
Lead Teacher
Kylie moved to Big Sky from Chicago, Illinois and has taught at MLC for the past two years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and spent two years teaching elementary physical education. Kylie is passionate about teaching and is excited to transition into a new learning environment, working with toddlers. Outside of school, Kylie enjoys being outdoors, listening to music, traveling, watching Chicago Cubs games, and spending time with her friends and significant other.
Mariana Carreño Russell
Lead Teacher
Mariana is originally from Lima, Peru. After spending 4 winter seasons in Big Sky, she officially moved here full time in December of 2023. She graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2022 and also studied at the Universidad Femenina del Sagrado Corazón (Unife) in Peru, earning a certification in Early Intervention and Motor Skills with Early Childhood in 2023. Over the last five years, she has worked with children of all ages (0-16) as a teacher and assistant psychologist. Bilingual, she enjoys teaching Spanish to young learners. Her favorite part about teaching is discovering and celebrating the milestones of her students every day. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Dillon, and snowboarding during the winter. She loves coffee, dairy-free chocolate, and her favorite color is teal. Mariana is excited to continue her career as a teacher at MLC.
Mayra Cruz
Lead Teacher
Mayra is originally from Mexico and has called the U.S. home for over 20 years, with the past 8 of those spent in Montana. For over 5 years, she has brought her compassion and love to the babies of MLC, creating a nurturing environment for our littlest learners. A devoted mother of three, Mayra balances her family life with a passion for cooking, earning a reputation as an excellent cook. She has a special fondness for foods that include coconut and nuts, and the color red is her favorite!
Mindy Rebholz
Lead Teacher
Mindy was born and raised in Illinois, where she pursued her studies in Education before relocating to Big Sky. She has been a teacher at MLC for the past 7 years and is passionate about teaching children how to become independent and finds joy in watching them develop and thrive. Outside of her teaching role, Mindy loves scrapbooking, basketball, and spending quality time with her husband and children.
Sloan Dalrymple
Lead Teacher
Sloan Dalrymple is a dedicated educator with over 12 years of experience working with children aged 0-12. Having moved to Big Sky from Colorado nearly three years ago, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Sloan holds teaching certificates in Infant Nursery Supervision, Early Childhood Education, and a Director’s Certificate in Early Childhood Education. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and plans to pursue further educational growth. Sloan finds inspiration in the fun and fresh perspectives that children offer, especially when life’s adult responsibilities feel overwhelming. She believes in the power of learning and is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with younger generations to continue to inspire and shape young minds.
Vanessa Thompson
Lead Teacher
Vanessa is originally from Miami, FL and moved to Montana in the summer of 2022. She comes from a Cuban-American family. Vanessa graduated with a bachelors degree in Hospitality Management. She has worked as a babysitter since she was young and has managed children’s programs at luxury hotels. She finds great fulfillment in creating meaningful experiences for kids while supporting their development. Vanessa is a proud mother to a beautiful daughter and she loves baking, crafting, romance novels. In her free time you can find her on adventures with her husband and daughter, embracing life’s special moments.
Shontera Jones
Assistant Teacher
Shontera is originally from Southern Maryland, where she spent the majority of her life before making the move to Big Sky in 2024. She graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Educational Studies, where she developed a passion for both music and education. Outside of her professional pursuits, Shontera enjoys binge-watching TV shows, cooking, getting lost in a good book, and spending quality time socializing with friends and family.
Ellianna Belmont
Assistant Teacher
Ellianna grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado, and moved to Big Sky in 2022 after spending two years studying in Nebraska. With 7 years of experience teaching dance to kids of all ages and a long history of babysitting children aged 0-8 since she was 13, Ellianna is passionate about working with children and is excited to be in a new classroom setting at Morningstar. Outside of school, Ellianna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, trying new things, being outdoors, and, of course, dancing.
Leslie Cerros
Assistant Teacher
Leslie was born in California and raised in Mexico. She has been teaching at MLC for the past two years and is thrilled to work in the infant center, where she provides babies and toddlers with both educational and fun experiences as they grow. In her free time, Leslie enjoys spending quality moments with her family and loves traveling. Her favorite color is red, her favorite food is pozole, and spring is her favorite time of year.
Loren Bixby
Assistant Teacher
Loren grew up in Northern Michigan and moved to Montana in 2011 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. She has spent the last four years at MLC working with infants and toddlers, providing nurturing care and support. Loren enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle, including cross-country skiing, hiking, canoeing, camping, and attending concerts. Having lived in Alaska, Colorado, and Wyoming, Loren has found her home in the mountains of Montana. She is also a proud mom of two boys, Arlo and Bill, and loves raising her family in such a beautiful, adventurous place.
Paige Miller
Assistant Teacher
Originally from just outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Paige has called Big Sky home for nearly two years. With six years of experience working with children aged 0-5, Paige is deeply passionate about supporting her students’ growth and development. She finds great joy in helping each child learn and grow every day. Outside of the classroom, you can often find Paige traveling, skiing, reading, or spending quality time with her friends and family.
Renee Carter
Assistant Teacher
Renee moved to Big Sky from Richmond, Virginia, 7years ago to be closer to her two daughters. She attended Radford University, where she studied Finance and Insurance, and later pursued a degree in Education at the University of Richmond. Renee brings valuable experience from teaching Kindergarten and 3rd grade, which she now shares with the Preschool class. In her free time, Renee enjoys playing golf and cheering on all Cleveland Sports teams. She feels blessed to be a part of the Big Sky community and is excited to contribute to the growth and development of the children she works with.
Board of Directors
Stephanie Kissell
President
Stephanie Kissell grew up in Washington State and moved to Big Sky with her husband in December 2005. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education with an Elementary Education endorsement and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Literacy Specialization. She taught elementary grades at Ophir School for eight years before taking time off to raise her children. In 2016 she became the Executive Director of Morningstar, however, she desired to serve MLC in a different capacity after the birth of her son. Becoming a member of the board seemed a logical way to merge her passion for education with service. She hopes that her background as an educator and as former director of MLC will be an asset to this board and to the children and families of Big Sky.
Ben Holst
Vice President
Ben is a husband to Kim, father to Isaiah, Dominic, Lincoln, coach of many sports, and jack of all trades. He joined Lone Mountain Land Company in 2015 with 12 years’ experience in the construction industry and a Master’s of Architecture from Iowa State University. As Director of Property Management, he oversees all of LMLC’s residential and commercial properties from Big Sky to Four Corners. Since moving to Big Sky, Ben has been actively involved in building community through service on multiple non-profit boards and committees.
Chris Oliver
Treasurer
Chris Oliver is a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot who first started living in Big Sky part time in 2011 to fulfill a childhood dream of being a ski bum. He and his family now split their time between Austin, TX and Big Sky, spending at least part of the ski season and most of the summer in “the last best place.” Chris is heavily involved in business development and asset management, running several businesses, and managing large portfolios. He was a member of the board of directors of Warriors and Quiet Waters for seven years and currently sits on the National Advisory Board for WQW. Chris hopes that his knowledge and experience working with non-profits and business will help Morningstar grow and expand to match the needs of the Big Sky community that he has come to love.
Marie Goode
Secretary
Marie Goode has lived in Big Sky full time since the fall of 2002 and together with her husband Mark raised their three children here. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and has nearly 15 years of experience in the business side of education. She previously worked as the district clerk at the Big Sky School District for 9 years then for almost 5 years as the business/office manager of Big Sky Discovery Academy. Marie was also a charter member of a local Early Childhood Enrichment Fund Board which was responsible for raising funds and awarding scholarships for early childhood programs. Her passion for education and children led her to serve on the Morningstar Learning Center Board of Directors. She wholeheartedly believes in and supports Morningstar’s mission and vision for the Big Sky community.
Wes Hoecker
Board Member
Wes Hoecker owns and operates Two Pines Properties in Big Sky with his wife, Alex. Wes is an outdoor enthusiast with a commitment to facilitating community partnerships.
Emily Reierson
Board Member
Emily moved to Big Sky in 2014 to take advantage of the incredible outdoor opportunities the area offers. She lives in Big Sky with her husband, Bradley, and their two children, Wesley, who attends Ophir Elementary, and Eleanor, who is a student at Morningstar. Emily serves as the Operations Manager for The Big Sky Chapel and also works as a bookkeeper and administrative assistant for All Saints in Big Sky. She is dedicated to supporting families in the community and sees Morningstar Learning Center as a vital resource for local families.