Learn about our staff members and read their bios.
There areten full time staff members at TMCC High School. All individuals are passionate about working with young people. They have created a professional learning community that maximizes opportunities for team teaching, cross-curricular, project-based instruction and collaboration among staff, students, parents and college instructors and administration. The district contact list can be found here.
Melissa Olsen – Principal
I have been a WCSD educator for twenty-six years, and I have been blessed to work at a variety of schools with amazing people! Whether at high school, elementary school or the central office, I have always found smart, creative teachers and students seeking high levels of success. I am proud and pleased that my journey has brought me to TMCC HS. I look forward to working with the folks here and when not here I can be found laughing with my family and friends, playing with my pup, or sitting in some beautiful outdoor spot.
Melissa’s email is
Kati Swanson – Counselor
I have a Bachelor and Masters degree in Geology and a Masters degree in Counseling. Working in the field of geology kept me busy for a few years before moving on to a new career in counseling. I have been working as a high school counselor since 1995.
Kati’s email is
Kelli Marchand – Front Secretary
Kelli’s bio will be coming soon…
Kelli’s email is
Jenny Goodfellow – Secretary
I joined the TMCC HS staff as Administrative Assistant and Registrar after working for ten years in other positions in WCSD. I have two beautiful Siberian Huskies that keep me very busy. One of their favorites activities is to go snowshoeing with me and my husband.
Jenny’s email is
Launie Gardner – English Instructor
After 20 years of teaching, I feel fortunate to say I still love my job, and love the place where I teach. Nevada’s stark, rugged beauty and the frame of mind that open spaces create is very similar to the classroom full of a range of amazing potentials not yet tapped. When I’m not teaching, I’m heading across borders, or reading, writing, and ruminating about frontiers yet to be explored with my family and close friends.
Launie’s email is
Kathleen O’Brien – English Instructor
Raised in a family that valued nature, science, curiosity, and the arts, I never foresaw becoming a teacher. After graduating from the University of California, Davis with a degree in English that reflected my passion for the language, I did not—much to my parents’ distress—apply that degree to leading a classroom or pursuing a language-rich career like law or political science. Instead, I followed through with my plan to become a dog trainer. You could say I’ve been teaching for 33 years if you include the time I spent schooling dogs in obedience, protection, and drug detection. Although that was fun, I eventually decided I wanted to offer more to the community and decided encouraging teenagers’ curiosity might be a suitable way. Since earning my teaching certificate at Sierra Nevada College in 1993, I’ve taught at Hug High School and TMCC High School. My loves are much the same as always; among them, I count my family, friends and pets, the Earth, poetry, and the weird and wonderful energy my students and I share.
Kathleen’s email is
Scott Millard – Mathematics Instructor; Leadership Advisor
Hello, my name is Scott Millard. I started teaching Math in 1994. I spent 19 years at Hug High School before getting the chance at my dream job; teaching here at TMCC High School in 2013. My father was a preacher in small communities when I was growing up so we moved around some. I was born in Yerington, NV., spent my elementary school years in Sonoma, Ca., middle school was in Jackson, CA., and high school in big ole’ Carson City, NV. (Don’t hold that against me). I earned my teaching degree and Master’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. I was lucky enough to spend one year on exchange at the University of Hawaii. I have an amazing wife named Michelle, an adult daughter, Kori, and a teenage son, Gage. I love all kinds of sports and have coached many sports for my kid’s teams.
Scott’s email is
April Doerr – Mathematics Instructor; FBLA Advisor
Hello, my name is April Doerr. This is my 8th year teaching secondary math, and TMCC High School is my favorite place to teach because of the awesome students and staff! I am a native Renoite, and earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in math education from UNR. My parents and my brother’s family all live here as well, so I am lucky to get to see my family often. I am dating a wonderful man named Sig and we have a sweet cat named Duma. On the weekends we like to hang out with friends, hike, watch/play soccer (he plays, I watch), eat out, and study really hard math equations for fun.
April’s email is
Carlos Hatfield – History Instructor
In late August 2007 I moved from a temperate rain forest (Bellingham, WA) to a desert (Reno, NV). This move has added to my broad and varied life experiences. In addition to teaching I have worked as a social worker and a photographer. When I am not teaching, you can find me skiing, mountain biking, or watching movies. I also have an extensive background in climbing (all disciplines). Music is another of my passions; I have played guitar for over 20 years. Finally, I am a huge fan of Moto Grand Prix motorcycle racing and Formula One car racing.
Carlos’s email is
Travis Stransky – History Instructor
My name is Travis Stransky, I was raised in Dayton, Nevada. I graduated from UNR with a degree in secondary education with a major in history, and began my teaching career in the tiny town of Gerlach. I am married with two girls and enjoy living in the small Reno community of Cold Springs. When I am not busy molding minds; I enjoy football, exploring the outdoors, playing music, painting, and chess. This year I am looking forward to the new journey awaiting me at TMCC High School teaching U.S. History.
Travis’s email is
