Who we are
We are small, vibrant and growing. We are based in the historic Mt Hood Town Hall, a 100 year old beautifully restored school house and community hub.
We have a dynamic, brilliant, and experienced classroom teacher, an energetic, skilled, and inspiring Adventure Monday teacher, guest teachers from the community, and two administrators.
Wildwood strives to help our students prepare for the rest of their lives. We’re passionate not just about academics, but about the development of complete, well-rounded people. We value emotional and social intelligence just as highly as math and literacy skills.
the wildwood story
Wildwood Academy was founded in 2019 with a vision for meaningful, community-centered education in the Columbia River Gorge. In its early years, the school grew through the energy, creativity, and care of dedicated educators, students, and families who helped shape its culture and spirit.
In 2024, Wildwood entered a new chapter when Wildwood parents Ross and Jess stepped in to steward the school. This transition marked a moment of reflection and renewal — an opportunity to simplify, refocus, and thoughtfully evolve while honoring the foundation that had been built.
As part of this new chapter, Wildwood relocated to the Mt. Hood Town Hall in Parkdale. With greater access to the outdoors and a smaller, more intentional school community, we are able to offer deeper connection, increased flexibility, and learning experiences closely tied to place and relationships.
Today, Wildwood is both grounded and growing — shaped by its history and guided by a clear sense of purpose. We carry forward the spirit, care, and commitment that have always been at the heart of the school, while continuing to listen, learn, and adapt in service of our students and families. We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed to Wildwood over the years and are excited and committed to this new era.
Meet the team
Laura Bergner
Lead Teacher
Laura grew up in North Carolina, spending a good part of her childhood catching salamanders in the Appalachian Mountains. She spent her early adulthood managing farms and developing sustainable living skills in Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico, as well as working for several years as an early childhood educator.
In 2014 she left the southwest to study at Southern Oregon University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Field Biology in 2017 and continuing on with both a Master of the Arts in Teaching and a Master of Science in Environmental Education in 2019. She has lived all over Oregon for the past several years, and has had the opportunity to develop educational curriculum for farm education programs, design programming for summer science camps, lead outdoor school programs for K-12 classes, and teach 5th grade in Mosier, Oregon.
She loves bringing her passion for nature and science into the Wildwood classroom and to be part of a school that is so driven to give children access to the outdoors. When she is not learning or teaching, she prefers to spend time hiking, birdwatching, and exploring the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.
Lisa Kosglow
Adventure teacher
Lisa is a prolific adventurer, explorer, educator, writer, and avid outdoors person. Lisa specializes in fostering a sense of wonder in children with a focus on nature based connection. For 20+ years she has instructed children and adults both across the US and internationally in both snowboarding and outdoor programming. Lisa is passionate about land stewardship, outdoor adventure, and creating deep and lasting connections between people and the land. She is also trained as a NOLS Wilderness First Responder to help manage risks while kids play in the woods.
Lisa is also the Director of Let’s Get Out Adventures, LLC a Columbia Gorge based outdoor education program. An entrepreneur at heart, she is the co-author of Kidding Around the Gorge-The Hood River Area’s Ultimate Guide to Family Fun, and co-author of Let the Kid Guide: Putting Nature Back Into Our Lives. She’s also a two-time Olympian! When she isn’t out on her bike, snowboarding or surfing you can find her exploring the Columbia Gorge with her family.
We will be adding a 3-5th grade teacher as well as other supporting faculty for the upcoming 2026-27 school year here shortly!
Jessalyn fey
Admin & school nurse
Jessalyn serves as the school administrator. A nurse with over 8 years experience serving communities across the Gorge, Jessalyn wants to be friends with every animal and will probably be the cause of at least one dance party.
ROSS DONALDSON
Head of school
Ross and Jess became owners of Wildwood in 2024. Ross is a working software engineer and software development educator with a penchant for cooking and a life-long love of learning. Ross tries to help the school along without getting in the way, and can typically be found cooking, eating, or getting things from tall shelves.