Bear Creek Schoolhouse

Lindsey Jackson

administration

Lindsey Jackson is the co-founder and administrator of Bear Creek Schoolhouse. For the past five years, she’s had the unique privilege of living next to the school, sharing her property while pouring her energy, creativity and heart into every part of the school. Her favorite part of her role is bringing joy through planning special events—from apple cider days and fishing derbies to fun-filled holiday celebrations. 

Originally a city girl, Lindsey is now learning to embrace life on 200 acres and slowly becoming a country girl at heart. She lives in Creswell with her husband, Luke, and their three children: Cole, Calvin, and Ruthie.  She’s active in her church, supports a handful of local nonprofits, and keeps busy with all things homemaking—especially diving into home building and design. When she’s not in project mode, you’ll probably find her cheering from the sidelines of her kids’ ball games. 

Courtney Long

administration

As a co-founder of Bear Creek Schoolhouse, Courtney Long brings her deep roots in rural Creswell and a passion for education to the heart of the community. Raised on her family’s ranch, she understands the value of hard work, tradition, and the power of a strong community.

Courtney holds an Associate’s Degree in Business along with several other professional licenses, showcasing her dedication to continuous learning and professional growth. Her professional journey has taken her across various industries, but one thing has always remained constant—her love for serving others.  

Above all, her greatest pride and joy is being a mom to her two children, Gattlin (14) and Sterling (9), both of whom have attended Bear Creek Schoolhouse. Wanting something different and special for her own children, Courtney reached out to Lindsey to help create a school that provides a nurturing environment where respect, kindness, and strong values are at the core.

Her vision for BCSH is simple: to give kids a place where they feel supported, inspired, and ready to take on the world!

Chemen Clearwaters

6th-8th grade Teacher

With a wealth of experience and expertise, Chemen Clearwaters has lead instruction in Bear Creek’s Middle School since 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, from the nearby University of Oregon, along with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, and certified endorsements in Early and Upper Elementary. Before Bear Creek, she served for 22 years in Oregon’s public school system, teaching a variety of grades K-4, and working as an Instructional Coach and School Improvement Specialist.

Chemen is dedicated to helping every student achieve a proficient understanding of their core academics, alongside a focus on relevant historical events which helps students become well-rounded and knowledgeable individuals. She encourages students to be responsible, organized, self-starters and to take pride in every part of their school experience. Chemen’s goal is to help our students construct and make meaning out of their own lives and not try to model them after ourselves. She believes learning should be active, stimulating, interesting, and preparing students for their unique futures.

Courtney Leitner

3rd-5th grade Teacher

After receiving her Master’s Degree in Literature and Writing Studies, Courtney Leitner moved to Eugene with the intent of becoming a teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies and has been working in education for 5 years doing everything from tutoring elementary school students to teaching college literature courses. As a young adult, she was recognized with a Girl Scout Gold Award for establishing a crafting summer camp for K-12 which aims to bolster self-esteem, and she brings that passion for self-confidence to her work with students.

Courtney has been teaching at Bear Creek since 2023 and believes this school has something to offer that no other place can: an opportunity to blend experiential education with core academics. Specifically, Courtney has a drive to teach others in a way that is not only successful but entertaining and focused on critical thinking. She prides herself on forming strong student relationships and guiding each student’s experience in a tailored way.

Amie Pierzina

1st-2nd Grade Teacher

Amie Pierzina has been teaching at Bear Creek since 2023, where her two children attend.  She has been teaching Kindergarten and First Grade since 2007 and served as a District Math Leader and Team Data Analysis for her local school district. Amie has a strong desire for Project Learning for her students.  One of her Kindergarten classes was a winner in the BRING Product Design Challenge for building an Educational Bug Hotel with sustainable materials, which enabled her  school district to purchase an Educational Bee Hive. One of her First Grade classes received an award from Community Sharing for their innovative work in their local food drive by focusing on providing nutritious donations as opposed to donations by weight.  She enjoys planning engaging field trips and educational experiences for the students at Bear Creek.

Amie has a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor’s in Human Development/Family Science with an emphasis on Early Childhood Development and Minor in Animal Science.  Amie was accepted to the Honors College at OSU with an academic scholarship for Diversity Achievement and was a Nationally Ranked Varsity Equestrian member. Amie’s experiences in Early Childhood makes her an advocate for Developmentally Appropriate Practices for young learners.  She knows young children learn best through play and hands-on learning experiences. Amie uses her background in Animal Science by incorporating Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Curriculum into students’ learning at Bear Creek. 

Debbie Windheim

Educational Assistant

Debbie Windheim has been part of the Bear Creek family for the past two years as an Educational Assistant. Her roles include supporting Middle School students, working with the younger learners, monitoring recess, and coordinating arrival/dismissal; with a variety of duties, she goes above and beyond to step in wherever she’s needed. Debbie is an intervention specialist and takes pride in helping students fill gaps and reach their goals. She’s enthusiastic about teaching students cooking and life skills, and celebrating special school moments in unique and fun ways. To describe her experience at Bear Creek, Debbie says, “Every day brings new challenges and rewards, and I wouldn’t have it any other way—I truly love what I do!”

With over 35 years of experience working with children, her passion for education runs deep. Debbie began her journey as a teacher at KinderCare, followed by 19 wonderful years at Creslane Elementary as an Educational Assistant. Helping kids learn, grow, and succeed has always been at the heart of her career. and that mission continues to drive her work at Bear Creek.

Margaret Crockett

Educational Assistant

Margaret Crockett has been an essential part of Bear Creek since starting at the school in 2021. She is passionate about student success and delivers a one-of-a-kind experience. Margaret works in both classrooms of the schoolhouse, co-teaching in 1st-2nd grade, and helping run groups in the 3rd-5th class. She helps students discover a passion for learning by constantly engaging them in unique experiences that make school dynamic and ever-changing.

Margaret spent 12 years working as a Computer Lab Assistant at the Rio Linda Union School District in California during which she was recognized as Classified Employee of the Year and featured on Channel 3 KCRA News for her success with student math progress. Since moving to Creswell, Margaret has poured her love for education into Bear Creek. She surpasses expectations, providing students with lots of new learning adventures.