Meet Our Middle School Team

  • Middle School | Camila Restrepo-Botero

    MA Education

    MA English

    BA English

    Camila moved to Missoula this summer from Chicago when her new husband joined UM as a professor. She has her master’s in education from University of Chicago, a masters in English from DePaul University and a BA in English from University of Arkansas.  She taught for two years in Chicago as a bilingual teacher in 5th grade and did her resident teaching in 6th and 8th grade. Camila is also an artist and has taught improv and devised theater at schools. Camila joins our middle school team teaching Spanish to 6th -8th graders. 

  • Middle School | Gillian Kessler

    BA English

    BA Theater/Dance

    Gillian has two B.A. degrees from Santa Clara University in English and Theater/Dance. She has extensive teaching experience and international experience throughout the Spanish-speaking world in Europe and the Americas. Gillian joined MIS in 2005.

  • Middle School | Jeff Kessler

    BA History

    MS Environmental Studies

    Jeff has a B.A. in History from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. He joined MIS in 2003 and has taught at all grade levels from first to eighth grade. Prior to MIS, Jeff taught for three years in Southern California as a Teach for America Corps member.

  • Middle School | Jen Gebo

    BS Zoology

    Jen joined the MIS team in 2014. She enjoys inspiring our middle school students through an inquiry-based science curriculum, paying special attention to the role of science in critical thinking skills, environmental responsibility, and social justice. She is also a Middle School Advisor, sharing her experience in Responsive Classroom techniques to bring social and emotional learning into focus.

  • Middle School | José Diaz

    MA Education

    BS Spanish Literature

    José Diaz is from Caracas, Venezuela where he was the head of the language department at his former School "Colegio Fundacion Carlos Delfinos" He is currently working on his Ph.D. in Education. He loves reading and traveling to new places. His favorite book is One Hundred Years of Solitude by the Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. He loves spending time with friends and family and his favorite places to visit are New York, NY and Atlanta, GA. He also loves living in Missoula because people are really friendly. José joined MIS in 2017.

  • Middle School | Linda Gazzola

    MA Teaching Mathematics

    BS Industrial Engineering

    Linda has been teaching high school and middle school math since 1992. For 13 years, she worked at the Latin School of Chicago before moving to Montana in 2009. At the Latin School, she taught a wide range of courses, from pre-algebra to AP Computer Science, ran the Geography Bee, and coached cross-country. Linda speaks Italian and appreciates any opportunity to use it. She enjoys traveling with her immediate family and her large extended family. Linda joined MIS in 2015.

  • Middle School & Library Specialist | Liz Parris

    BA in Spanish with a Minor in Japanese, University of Montana

    Certificate in Elementary Education, University of Alaska Fairbanks

    Since 2002, Liz has worked in education at various levels from Preschool through 6th Grade. She is our 2/3 multiage English Teacher and MIS Library Specialist. Liz loves to read and write with her students. Gardening and hiking are two of her favorite things to do in her free time.