Erik Bonesteel

Degrees: B.A. University of Nevada, Reno (Est. 2007)
Network Administrator
Appointed: 2000
Phone: 775.852.6222 x501
Email: ebonesteel@sageridge.org

Profile: Mr. Erik Bonesteel has ten years of experience working with computers in schools and corporate environments.  He previously worked for IQ Systems as a Network Technician providing various corporate clients with network solutions, installing networks and maintaining them.  He supervised production of workstations, portable systems and server systems.  Mr. Bonesteel has extensive experience with Microsoft operating systems, productivity software as well as various other software applications.  He lived in Germany for 12 years and is fluent in German.  Erik has lived in the Reno/Tahoe community for the past 15 years and is an experienced skier, snowboarder and rock climber.
 

Mary Dini
Degrees: B.S.  Business Management, UNR
Business and Development Assistant
Appointed: 2007
Phone: 775.852.6222 x502
Email: mdini@sageridge.org

Profile: Mrs. Mary Dini is a recent graduate of the UNR School of Business. She looks forward to pursuing her Master’s Degree in Management.  She is married to Domenic Dini, a teacher for the Washoe County School District.  Mary enjoys spending time with her husband, reading, skiing, Star Trek, and WWE Wrestling.

Bill Heim

Degrees:  B.S., M.S. Health, P.E., Rec.,  The Pennsylvania State University
Headmaster
Appointed: 2002
Phone: 775.852.6222 x506
Email: bheim@sageridge.org

Profile: Mr. William (Bill) Heim came to Sage Ridge in July of 2002 from Bentley School in the Bay Area where he had been hired in the mid 90’s to create a new Upper School.  With nearly 40 years experience in independent secondary school education both in the U.S. and abroad, Bill literally brings a world perspective to Sage Ridge. Overseas, Bill held both teaching and administrative positions at the American International School of Kabul in Afghanistan, Colegio Roosevelt in Lima, Peru and at the American Schools in Cobham, England, The Hague, Netherlands, and Madrid, Spain.  In the U.S., Bill held the post of Upper School Director at Sayre School in Lexington, KY and Flint Hill School in Fairfax, VA.  In 1999, Bill was named a Johns Hopkins Exceptional Administrator.  A former Peace Corp volunteer, Bill annually leads international student trips (to London, Prague/Vienna, Peru, Spain) and teaches an elective course in Asian Subcontinent History. In his rare spare time, Bill travels with Heidi, his wife, devours history books, and works on his model trains.

Cathy Hill

Degrees: B.S. Accounting/Business, University of Nevada, Reno (est. 2008)
Business Officer
Appointed: 1998
Phone: 775.852.6222 x511
Email: chill@sageridge.org

Profile: Ms. Cathy Hill came to Sage Ridge School from southern California and has over 20 years in the fields of accounting, business administration, and international business.  She is the single mother of two children.  

Andy Jorgensen

Degrees: B.S. Information Systems, University of Nevada, Reno
Director of Technology
Teaches: AP Computer Science
Appointed: 2006
Phone: 775.852.6222 x527
Email: ajorgensen@sageridge.org

Profile: Mr. Andy Jorgensen brings to Sage Ridge a decade of experience in the field, a degree in Information Systems and a lifelong fascination with technology. A longtime local, he went to high school in Virginia City and to university in Reno. Before his family moved to the Virginia City Highlands, he grew up in Whittier, California. He is an active musician who plays guitar and bass guitar. His other interests include enjoying the outdoors through hiking, biking, backpacking, swimming, and snowboarding.

Dr. Gaye McCollum-Nickles

Degrees: B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. English Literature, University of Nevada
Upper School Head
Teaches: Upper School English
Appointed: 2000
Phone: 775.852.6222 x518
Email: gnickles@sageridge.org

Profile: Dr. McCollum-Nickles, named Upper School Head in 2006,  was originally hired to teach English in 2000. Dr. McCollum-Nickles joined the faculty at Sage Ridge after a distinguished thirteen-year teaching career at the University of Nevada, Reno, the last six as a full-time, post-doctoral fellow on an NEH grant. Her experience includes the development of curricula for general humanities and honors courses, as well as for courses in American diversity, culture, and ideas.  Her published writings include  "Atonement in Seize the Day", reprinted in Small Planets, a collection of scholarly articles on Saul Bellow, several review articles on 17th and 18th-century literature and culture, and one most recently was co-authored with her husband, Dr. Thomas Nickles, on William James for Hermeneutics and Philosophy of Science.  She recently presented "Writing after Columbine: Institutional Pressures and Real Lives" at a national conference on college composition. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Gaye continues to teach and serves as the faculty advisor to the Honor Council and to the student newspaper, The Ridge.

Carol Murphy

Degrees: B.A. Business & English, Marygrove College, Detroit, MI
Director of Admissions
Appointed: 2000
Phone: 775.852.6222 x503
Email: cmurphy@sageridge.org

Profile: Ms. Carol Murphy came to Sage Ridge School after having taught middle school English at the Iolani School in Honolulu, HI for 20 years. During her tenure at Iolani, Carol held the positions of English Department Head and Middle School Coordinator as well as serving as a member of Iolani’s Admissions Committee. In 1996, Carol was named a recipient of the William Fulbright Scholarship.  Ms. Murphy has done graduate work in English and Education at the University of Hawaii, Iowa State University, and at the University of Nevada at Reno.  In addition, Carol is a fellow in the Hawaii Writing Project. Carol enjoys the seasonal changes in Nevada, especially the snow as her interests include skiing, reading; and tennis.

Colburn Shindell

Degrees: B.A. English, Hobart College, M.S. Education, Johns Hopkins University
Middle School Head
Appointed: 2006
Phone: 775.852.6222 x510
Email: cshindell@sageridge.org

Profile:  To serve a growing student population, Mr. Colburn Shindell assumed the position of Middle School Head in 2006  from his original role as 6th grade English and history teacher and 5th/6th grade level team leader. In addition to his divisional responsibilities, Colburn is the advisor to the Middle School Honor Council and lead the Accreditation Self Study committee for Administration and Personnel. Colburn was a faculty member  and grade level dean for four years at St. Paul’s School in Brooklandville, Maryland - his alma mater.  It was here that he developed a passion for working with middle school children and their families in an independent school setting. Mr. Shindell enjoys sea-kayaking and backcountry skiing and hiking with his family. He and his wife have traveled throughout the world, including Tibet, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand and Belize. Mr. Shindell, Deborah, and their two children, McCann and Lucia, reside in Reno.

Laura Stephens

School Secretary
Appointed: 2004
Phone: 775.852.6222 x508
Email: lstephens@sageridge.org

Profile:  Having helped start a new high school in Scotts Valley, California, Ms. Laura Stephens came to Sage Ridge well equipped to tackle the myriad of student issues that cross her desk in her capacity as school secretary.  Prior to her administrative support roles in schools, Laura spent many years assisting with government contracts for a number of companies in San Jose, CA. Laura enjoys scrapbooking, spending time with her family--some close by and some some further a field, and walking and playing with her dog, Cody.