Lynda Chase

Welcome to KinderREADy! My name is Lynda Chase and I have been teaching for over 30 years. I graduated from Eastern Montana College with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education in Curriculum from MSUB. My teaching experience includes teaching Kindergarten through second grade as well as  being an Early Literacy Reading Interventionist. I am married to an educator who is also a coach and we have four amazing children and one awesome grandson I look forward to helping children in the KinderREADY program to grow and be successful in their education.  

Becki Risser

Hello and welcome to KinderREADy! My name is Becki Risser and I have been teaching for 20 years. My experiences have been in both first grade and kindergarten, and I am super excited to be a part of KinderREADy! I have my BS in Elementary Education from MSU-B and my Masters in Early Childhood Education from Capella University. I am so excited for your kiddo to be a part of our classroom where we will learn and grow with fun, hands-on opportunities!

Beth Johnson

My name is Beth Johnson, and I’m still excited to be a part of the KinderREADy team! This will be my 24th year in education. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Wyoming and my Master’s Degree in Literacy, Curriculum, and Assessment.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work as an Early Literacy Intervention teacher and spent the last 16 years teaching Kindergarten before joining the KinderREADy team. I’m passionate about helping young learners build a strong foundation for reading and developing a lifelong love of learning. 

Outside of school, I’m a proud mom to four amazing adult children (ages 23, 25, 30, and 32), a mother-in-law to a wonderful son-in-law and daughter-in-law, and a very proud Grammy to two beautiful grandsons, ages 5 and 8! When I’m not at school, I love reading, dancing, and traveling.

Talia Byram

My name is Talia Byram and I have been teaching for over 15 years. My first 10 years were teaching 1st grade, then K-5 Intervention and now KinderREADy. I enjoy teaching, spending time with my husband and 2 kids, running and caring for all of our animals. The most magical part of my job is making a positive impact on each child that walks through my classroom door.  We learn through hands on activities, exploration and get messy with projects. I’m excited to be a part of your child’s learning journey!

Mallory Hexum

Hello! My name is Mallory Hexum. I graduated from Bozeman (Go Cats!) with my Elementary and Special Education teaching license. I completed my Masters of Education with an emphasis on Reading at MSUB. Before teaching KinderREADy, my classrooms were focused on helping students learn and practice expected behaviors in the classroom. This provided me with invaluable experience in creating a positive, structured, and supportive environment for all learners. Teaching KinderREADy has been such an exciting adventure! Everyday, we are eager to learn new things, explore ideas, and develop essential skills that set the foundation for a love of learning. It’s truly rewarding to see my students grow and thrive in such a fun and dynamic learning environment!

Erin Neville

Hello! My name is Erin Neville.  I graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD.  I have degrees in elementary education, special education, and early childhood education.  I have been a teacher for 17 years; 3 of them in kindergarten and 12 in pre-kindergarten.  This is my family’s first year in Billings, MT, and we are so excited to be here! I have two children, ages 12 and 10.  My husband coaches men’s basketball at Rocky Mountain College, so we spend most of our free time at the gym or at my children's activities.  Nothing makes me happier than working with my “littles” at school every day! It fills my heart to watch them grow, learn, and share their joy with others!

Traci Piltz

Hi! I am a former kindergarten teacher, current PK-3 Instructional Technology Coach and KinderREADy program coordinator for Billings Public Schools with over 20 years of teaching experience. I am so excited to help the district bring this amazing early literacy program to our schools. It is a joy to work with these fantastic teachers who focus on play and hands-on learning to instill early reading skills and a love of learning in their young students. Reach out to me with any questions about the KinderREADy program.