2023 Staff
Mandy Abner – Preschool
Mandy has been with Camp Blue Sky since 2016 as the preschool teacher. She has taught preschool in the public school district for 19 years. Mandy enjoys creating a fun and exciting art camp for our youngest artists.
Kayla Bradley – Words & Music (Tier II)
Kayla, born and raised in Maryville, MO, received her Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education at Northwest Missouri State University. She got her start teaching music part-time for two years at Avenue City School, a small, rural school near Saint Joseph, and then headed southeast to Waynesville to accompany their middle and high school choirs for the next three years. In 2021, she began teaching full-time at Smith-Cotton Junior High School in Sedalia. She directs three concert choirs and one competitive show choir. In her free time, Kayla loves to crochet, play video games, and take way too many pictures of her two cats!
Elizabeth Carter – Theater Enriched
Elizabeth received her BSE in Speech, Theatre and Communication from the University of Central Missouri. She just finished her third year teaching and directing theatre at Smith-Cotton High School. She enjoys theatre with a passion and is looking forward to teaching at Camp Blue Sky!
Lucy Clark – Creative Dramatics (Tier I)
Lucy studied theatre, music, and dance at AMDA in NYC. As the Preschool Director and teacher at Broadway Church Preschool, she shares a lifelong love of learning with her students and their families. She is a director and member of the creative team for many productions at the Liberty Center Association for the Arts. Lucy loves working behind the scenes with young actors and technicians and occasionally enjoys the opportunity to perform on stage as well!
Laura Beth Fisher – Nurse & Director of Counselors
Laura Beth has been a nurse for the last 19 years but this is her first year as the Camp Blue Sky nurse. During the school year, she is the nurse for Smith-Cotton Junior High, and is excited to be with us.
Jordan Fields – Painting & Drawing (Tier II)
Jordan earned her AA in Education from SFCC and her BSE in Art Education from the University of Central Missouri and is currently a grad student at the University of Missouri. She has been teaching for 7 years at Horace Mann Elementary. She was educator of the year for her building in 2020. This will be Jordan’s third year teaching at Camp Blue Sky. She enjoys bringing the arts to children year round and is excited for CBS’s return!
Janice Hargrave – Lead Teacher Enriched
Janice Hargrave has been teaching at Camp Blue Sky since 2011, first teaching Tier 1, then tier 2, and now Enriched. She teaches art at Parkview Elementary to 50, kindergarten through fourth grade students. She has a BFA in studio arts (ceramics), MSE in art education, and is currently completing her MSE in reading.
Haylea Heimsoth – Sculpture & Mixed Media (Tier II)
Mrs. Heimsoth got her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Central Missouri. She taught Art for 3 years at Sweet Springs R VII and now is teaching Art at Heber Hunt Elementary. By volunteering as a counselor for Camp Blue Sky while she was still in high school Mrs.Heimsoth found her passion for teaching art.
Don Luper- Exploring Tilt Brush (Tier II)
An experienced art instructor based in Sedalia, Missouri, with over 20 years of teaching experience in drawing, ceramics, and sculpture at SFCC College. Don holds a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from the University of Missouri. Over the years, Luper has been actively involved in multiple sculpture projects, showcasing his expertise in the field. His passion for art and his dedication to teaching have made him a respected figure in the artistic community.
Stephanie Pate – Enriched
Stephanie Pate graduated from UCM with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. She has taught high school and middle school art at Cole Camp for 9 years. Stephanie is excited to share the love of art and learning with everyone at Camp Blue Sky.
Kristen Patrick – Camp Blue Sky Director & Decorations
Kristen received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Minor in Psychology from Missouri Valley and her Master’s of Special Education from the University of Missouri Saint Louis. She is currently a Special Education teacher at Sedalia Middle School in the Spectrum program. Kristen enjoys helping her students find coping strategies and techniques to help them through difficult situations. Her passion for photography and creative writing fuel and nurture her creative mind.
Kelsey Raines – 3- Dimensional Art (Tier I)
Kelsey Raines has a minor in Fine Art from Missouri State University and a Master in Arts in Teaching from University of Central Missouri. She has been the art teacher at Skyline Elementary in Sedalia, MO for the past 6 years. She was the recipient of Sedalia #200 Teacher of the Quarter in 2021 and a scholarship from the National Art Educators Association in 2020. She also is a professional artist and operates Art by Kelsey Raines LLC. She is excited to teach at Camp Blue Sky in 2022!
Whitney Rupe – Movement: Arts Adventures (Tier I)
As a Physical Education teacher at Washington Elementary for ten years, Whitney teaches K-4th graders and understands the importance of movement. Whitney earned a bachelor’s degree in Science in Physical Education K-12 from UCM and she is excited to join in on the fun this summer!
Joanie Slinger – Music & Words (Tier I)
Joanie received her Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma. She has her certification in Orff Schulwerk from Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas. Having taught music in public schools for 10 years Joanie is currently teaching in Dresden. This will be Joanie’s first year at Camp Blue Sky, and she is very excited about making music with the children at Camp.
Amanda Trelow – Painting & Drawing (Tier I)
Amanda has her BFA in interior design and is certified to teach K-12 art. She is currently in the process of obtaining her master’s degree in gifted education from Truman State University. Amanda has been the K-7 art teacher at Smithton School for the past five years,and has been teaching for over fifteen years. This will be her third year teaching at Camp Blue Sky, and she is super excited to be back at camp!
Chelsea Turner – Theater (Tier II)
Chelsea earned her bachelor’s in Speech and Theatre Education from Southwest Baptist University in 2012. She has been a teacher and director for 11 years at Pilot Grove Schools and Sacred Heart Schools. She also works with Liberty Center Association for the Arts in various capacities, but especially with their Junior Theatre program. Chelsea has a special love for Shakespeare and Jane Austen.
Rena Vanderpool – Kindergarten
Rena Vanderpool is currently a kindergarten teacher in Dresden and has previously taught in the public school system for 28 years. As a past Camp Blue Sky kindergarten teacher Rena is excited to be back this summer to learn and explore through art. Exposing the young campers to all types of media and encouraging her students to explore using their imaginations through creation are Rena’s goals for this year’s camp week.