Meet the Acorn Team
PASSION PREVAILS HERE
Chris Mannen
ELEMENTARY TEACHER 3RD - 5TH GRADES
Chris graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University. She taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in Lexington, Kentucky and in Greeley, Colorado while her husband Tony attended graduate school. They came to Idaho in 1975 for Tony to teach Speech and Drama at The College of Southern Idaho. She then taught kindergarten in Kimberly until their twin sons, Josh and Dan, were born in 1977. When they began preschool in 1980, Chris became involved as an aide and then as a teacher at Horizon Learning Center. Chris, Diana Westermann, and Bernice Roesler started Acorn when Horizon closed. Chris has taught preschool, kindergarten, primary, and advance students. Chris says she has loved watching Acorn grow.
Terri Swensen
ELEMENTARY TEACHER 1ST - 2ND GRADE
Terri graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Elementary Education, after finishing her student teaching in China. She taught 4th grade in Utah for two years and then moved to California with her husband, Andrew, who worked as a civil engineer. While in California, Terri spent time as a substitute for various elementary schools until their first son was born in California. Two and a half years later, they moved back to their hometown of Twin Falls, and eventually, three more boys joined the family, along with a dog, a horse, a donkey, and a pig. Terri has been actively involved in her boys’ learning, classrooms and PTA. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, puzzles, camping, and learning how to be a “cowgirl!” Terri has been teaching Kindergarten at Acorn for years now and is excited to be moving on to the first and second grade primary classes and grow along with her students!
