Faculty

The World Class team begins with a core of dedicated teachers; professionals in the art of teaching, kayaking, and outdoor leadership. In any given semester, there is typically over a decade of combined leadership experience within the faculty, providing a level of expertise, leadership, and education no other program can offer. Some of our faculty were the first to run a program of this kind. Most importantly, our experience provides parents and cooperating schools with confidence as their students navigate both foreign cultures and foreign waterways in pursuit of their education. This leadership allows World Class the ability to pioneer new and culturally diverse destinations, such as China, Peru and Argentina, while perfecting the ones previously visited. For each destination, World Class teachers strengthen the existing curriculum, providing a college preparatory academic experience that truly impacts the cultural, cognitive, and social development of their students.

At World Class each teacher works as a team member to keep the program running smoothly. They are prepared to handle the challenging positions of teacher, mentor, guide, and friend — all at the same time. With the primary objective of developing students into healthy, well-educated, and stronger individuals, the faculty members at World Class work tirelessly toward the advancement of the school's mission.

When recruiting faculty members, World Class seeks teachers with a degree in a given subject area and professional certifications when applicable. Applicants are also screened to determine paddling proficiency, training in emergency response, Spanish fluency, role-modeling skills, and the ability to be a caring mentor with little personal time and constant travel.

If the idea of working for WCKA appeals to you, send us a cover letter and resume (organized as below) to join the applicant pool. Applicant review for each school year begins in March and all new hires are made with the expectation of a two-year commitment. WCKA provides professional development for faculty where required.

  • Education
  • Work/Teaching Experience
  • Certifications, i.e., ACA, WFR, SRT, Teaching Licensure, etc.
  • Applicable Skills/Experience, i.e., traveling, working with youth, group settings, conversational Spanish
  • Employment Supervisor and
  • World Class Reference Contacts

The following individuals comprise the World Class Faculty and Administration, whether currently teaching full time or working on a semester-to-semester basis.

 

   Scott Doherty – School Founder

Scott began kayaking in 1995 while working as a raft guide for Holiday River Expeditions in Idaho during the summer months. From there he continued working on the rivers during the summers for Rendezvous River Sports in Jackson, Wyoming and paddling during the winter months while attending school in Oregon. In 1999 Scott began teaching English for Adventure Quest in Vermont, working as an assistant coach under Shane Benedict and Lee Leibfarth. Growing up next to the Clark Fork River, Scott’s passion for rivers began early and his love of kayaking extends from expeditionary boating to, most recently, time in his squirtboat. Scott grew up in Missoula, Montana where he finished high school before attending Gonzaga, Oregon State and finally Montana State University to get an undergraduate degree in Bio Medical Sciences with a minor in Literature. Following several years in Hood River and Bend, Oregon, Scott went back to school for a Masters of Teaching Education from Eastern Oregon University. Following his two and a half years with Adventure Quest, Scott founded World Class Kayak Academy along with four other teachers from that program (Erika Peterman, Whitney Lonsdale, Greg Campbell and Howell Cox). Scott's role with World Class has included everything from founder to janitor. Recently Scott has resigned from his position and is no longer working directly with the school, but his legacy remains an integral part of World Class.  


  Aaron “Capo” Rettig – Executive Director

Born and raised in Summit, Oregon, Capo was first introduced to the river through raft trips with his family. At 16, after completing raft guide school in Oregon, he began guiding on several of the state’s numerous rivers. On the weekends, he would drag whoever would go with him to kayak the Cascades. On the way to the Oregon Country Fair, Capo read about WCKA in Paddler magazine and announced, “Mom, Dad, I am going to apply for kayak school.”

Much to the surprise of his family, three weeks later, Capo loaded his van and headed to Tarkio, MT to begin his senior year at WCKA, the first year of the schools existence. 

Capo went on to the University of Oregon to study journalism, but continued to be involved with World Class, joining the Board of Directors in 2005. While working on his journalism degree, Capo continued to pursue kayaking adventures taking trips to Uganda, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Norway, Panama, Chile, and Canada. Capo joined fellow WCKA student Tyler Bradt along with Seth Warren for the Colombia-Ecuador portion of the “Oil and Water Project”. Two years later, Capo again joined his former classmates to do a 13-country tour of Africa called the “Africa Revolutions Tour”.

Capo continued to pursue his degree in journalism, shooting and producing a documentary film about U.S. foreign policy towards Colombia and its impact on the Colombian people called “Lo Demas Es Loma.” Capo graduated from the University of Oregon in 2008 with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Latin American studies. Capo then went back to Colombia where he finished the country’s first whitewater guidebook, Colombia Whitewater, published in 2009. Completing the full circle of his WCKA experience, Capo then joined WCKA as the Spanish and Literature teacher for the 2009/10 school year, a year in which WCKA went to Peru for the first time. In 2010 Capo became the new executive  director of World Class Academy.

 

 
Niceto "Nice" Jose Yalan Quintana - Program Director and Spanish/History Teacher

I was born in the small town of Chosica at the foot of the Andes in Peru. When I was nine, I was playing at the beach with my dad and saw my first kayak. I begged him for one, and later that year he finally gave in and I instantly fell in love with kayaking. When I was 14, I was introduced to white water kayaking, and by 18 was honored to paddle for the Peruvian National Kayak Team, participating in the World Cup and World Championships. 
When I returned from Europe to South America, I participated in several first descents (waterfalls that have never been run) and expeditions in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, India and Nepal. My love for kayaking was set! 

I studied at the University of Lima and got a degree in journalism. I started working in a small news paper when I decided to travel and kayak for a little bit .  After spending some time working as an english teacher in a small town in Bahia, Brazil, I was fortunate to be invited to work for Kumsheen Rafting in BC's interior where I spend my summers During the school year I teach at World Class Academy .  
On a personal note, I love to travel,  and am very passionate about photography.




Adam Elliott - Outreach Coordinator and Media Instructor

Adam grew up in a kayaking and rafting family in Northern Arizona. He started kayaking in 1990 and paddling class V in 1996. The rivers brought him to California and then to Oregon where he studied Architecture, Photography, Industrial Design and Design Management. 

Adam's first experience with World Class Academy was as part of the guiding and logistics services in China in 2007 and again in 2009. In 2011, Adam became the Director of Outreach and Marketing. He lives in Portland, Oregon and manages a small design studio. 

"Kayaking is not about the linear progression for me. I'm in this for the long haul - to keep growing and learning, yes, but never for the sake of progress only. It's always been about ... getting connected - to the place, to the people, to ourselves."  

Although Adam is busy in the office most days, He makes a point to spend a couple weeks travelling with the school every semester. He guest lectures on the fundamentals of photography, blog writing, media management and the occasional metaphysical "mystery move". 

 Jessica Land - Academic Advisor

Jess works for World Class as the academic advisor, supporting teachers and students at headquarters and in the field. Jess works part-time for World Class in this role. In 2007, she graduated from Prescott College in Arizona with a master's degree in experiential education, and has been teaching and traveling since then. She is a certified teacher in Oregon, with a diverse background in outdoor leadership, writing, and art. Her favorite roles as an educator have included nature, travel, art, writing, and almost any kind of outdoor adventure. Generally, she enjoys helping students engage in positive experiences that challenge them.

Recent travels have taken Jess to Burma, Thailand, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Southern Mexico, both by land and by sea. During travels, she seeks ancient ruins, lofty viewpoints, and conversations with local people. When in Oregon, Jess teaches IB Literature at Eugene International High School and facilitates team-building courses at Spencer's Butte Challenge Course. In her leisure time, she likes to paint murals, grow vegetables, backcountry snowboard, hike, surf, and ride her bike. 










 		 Tyler Fox (Fall) – Guest Coach and Video Productions

Tyler Fox, 29 years old, grew up in a small town not far from the banks of the Ottawa River, where he started his paddling career, some 13 years ago.  It wasn’t till after he had finished his degree in Wildlife Biology that he fully immersed himself into his now year round paddling lifestyle.  

Coming up through the ranks on the warm waters of the Ottawa River, Tyler was lucky enough to not only have the worlds best play features at his disposal but he was able to study the art of kayak instruction from some of the worlds top instructors (Ken Whitting, Tyler Curtis,  the Hitchins brothers etc…). Inevitably the lure of adventure drew him around the world in search of steep creeks, expedition paddling, and cultural experiences.  An avid film maker and photographer you can expect him to have a camera in tow on most of his adventures, as he enjoys sharing the beautiful places he is fortunate enough to visit with his sport, his travels, his life.

 

  Andy McMurray – Head Coach, American History, Video Production

Andy bought his first whitewater kayak on a whim after a climbing trip in Mount Rainier National Park. Curious about a new outdoor pursuit, he strapped it on his car and drove back home to Minnesota quickly taking to the creeks of Lake Superior's North Shore. Knowing nothing of the sport, he relentlessly bothered any and all paddlers he came across in hopes to learn how to use his new toy. Under the guidance of a dedicated group of caring and passionate boaters, his curiosity turned to obsession, where he quit his career job a year later, sold what he could and took to the rivers.


Since then, his nomadic journey has taken him and his kayak to places such as Africa, Asia, the America's, and the South Pacific. To afford both the time and financial means of such travel, he began working seasonally as a guide and outdoor instructor. These experiences have primarily focused on river work but also climbing, trekking, and sea kayaking. Andy has worked in the mountains and waters of Alaska, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest. This Fall, he now joins the World Class faculty as a head coach, in addition to teaching Biology and American History. 

Andy graduated from St. John's University in 2006 with bachelor's degrees in Spanish and Business Management highlighted by studying abroad in both Spain and Chile. In addition to his various World Class roles, he is currently perusing another bachelor's of science degree in Nursing. Andy has called the Columbia River Gorge home since 2010 and is ecstatic about this new role with such a unique program.   

 

  

 

Sandra Hyslop – Math and Science

Having travelled around the UK and briefly to the US as a child Sandra’s family finally settled in the market town of Hexham in the North-East of England.  This is where she completed her secondary education and also learned to kayak with the local canoe club.  After completing high school she started studying a BSC in Natural Sciences at Durham University, UK.  The flexible style of the degree course allowed her to study modules in physics, maths and philosophy as well as her favourite subject, chemistry.  Graduating with a 1st class honours degree but not much idea of what to do Sandra began a 1 year teacher training course (PGCE) to become a qualified chemistry teacher.  Whilst she enjoyed the year she found the English public-school system very restrictive so began looking for alternative ways that she could share a passion for both Chemistry and kayaking.  World Class was the ideal solution!

Sandra started kayaking with the rest of her family at age 10 on the River Tyne.  After about 3 years of general-purpose paddling, building skills and confidence on local rivers, she started whitewater (or downriver) racing.  This exciting and physically challenging discipline requires athletes to race down a 12-20min section of Grade 3/4 whitewater in fast yet unstable racing kayaks.  Sandra dedicated most of her time in high school to training and racing whitewater which led to her becoming both Junior World and European Champion in the discipline.  Such successes allowed her to attend Durham University on a sports scholarship so that she could continue to be competitive at a senior level whilst studying for her degree.  While studying at University, she started doing more creeking and playboating enjoying trips to the French Alps, Norway, Uganda and an exploratory expedition to Venezuela during school holidays in addition to the competitive racing.  World Class is the perfect opportunity for her to expand her own paddling horizons and share what she has learnt so far in her paddling career, in particular a highly competitive approach and a great love of whitewater paddling.

              









 

 

 Anna Bruno - Literature and Budget Director

Anna first fell in love with kayaking during a trip to the Ottawa River in 2005. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Colby College in 2007 with a degree in French Language and International Relations, Anna watched her friends head off to cubicles in various east coast cities before boarding a plane to the White Nile with her kayak for a 10 week trip.

Anna left Uganda one year later, having fallen in love with the Nile River, the luxury of kayaking everyday, and the surprises of working from an unconventional office. Since that initial trip, Anna has spent two additional seasons on the Nile as the Operations Manager for Kayakthenile.com, two summers working on the Ottawa River as the head of Wilderness Tours’ infamous Keener Program, and a year teaching Literature and Government for New River Academy. All of these have only further cemented her passion for teaching, kayaking, travel and the outdoors.

The time she spent on the Nile has continued to shape her life in surprising ways. It was in Uganda, in 2007 where Anna first encountered World Class Academy, and again in the fall of 2009.  Five years later, Anna is excited to join the World Class family, and to continue to learn, teach, laugh and grow with them. When not in the classroom or her boat, Anna can be found reading in her hammock, behind a camera, hoola hooping, or on her yoga mat.

 

Tom Simenc (Spring) - Math and Science

Northern California native Tom Simenc began kayaking with family at the age of eight and has since paddled rivers in the Pacific Northwest, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Alaska.

In May 2012 Tom graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boise State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics. While attaining his undergraduate degree, Tom worked as faculty for the College of Idaho and for Boise State University teaching rock climbing. An outdoor enthusiast, he also worked at the BSU Outdoor Program as a student manager and guide on a variety of rafting, climbing, and other outdoor adventure trips.

Tom was first exposed to a kayak high school when in 2004 his dad worked as a science and math teacher for New River Academy. Tom attended NRA as a student during a semester in Costa Rica.

Other hobbies that Tom enjoys are backcountry skiing, reading, and cooking. Tom looks forward to sharing his love of teaching, whitewater, travel and science with the next generation of kayakers.


Kile Wetlaufer (Fall) - Math and Science

Kile Wetlaufer is from Southwestern Colorado. He grew up running rivers all around the Southwestern US and started kayaking at age eleven. He has watched the sport grow and change for the last 17 years, and continues to be a part of its development both as a paddler and a member of the community. 

After high school he moved his paddling and educational endeavors from Colorado to the Pacific Northwest where he continued to kayak progressively difficult whitewater as he pursued and obtained a degree in physics at Lewis and Clark College. Kile has devoted his life since then to travel, education and exploration of the outdoors in different parts of the world. 

Having spent the last several years living and working in various countries in various hemispheres he is now rejoining World Class Academy in the PNW to share his knowledge and experiences as our math and physics teachehopes to continue exploring the world and enriching both his perspective and that of those around him.  

 

Michael "Miguel" Shields (Spring) - Head Coach, American, History, Video

Originally hailing from Maryland, I grew up paddling on the Youghiogheny River at Riversport School of Paddling. When I was old enough to drive they hired me as a 'kitchen slave'- working for room and board but living on the river and paddling every day. That first summer cemented the lifestyle in me and throughout high school and college I returned every summer to teach kayaking at Riversport. I graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Tech  in 2007, with a degree in Spanish, International Studies and Latin American Studies. Kayaking was just as important as classes however, and living there meant close proximity to the New and Gauley drainages and other great runs of the Appalachians.  My junior year was spent abroad, living and studying in Ecuador- an invaluable experience that sparked my obsession with international travel. Since then I have toured multiple Latin American countries, BC and New Zealand, usually with river-running as the primary mission.
 
Since 2007, and in between trips to the southern hemisphere, I have called the Columbia Gorge in WA home. Here I work as a raft guide and substitute teacher while being able to explore rivers up and down the Cascades, Siskiyous and Sierras. While kayaking remains a central passion in my life, I also enjoy skiing, backpacking, reading, history, woodworking and photography. I am also a huge ice hockey fan.
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